MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Washington, D.C. – On Friday, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) reintroduced the Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act and the Cost Openness and Spending Transparency (COST) Act.

The Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act is co-sponsored by Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), and Rep. Keith Self (R-TX). The bill has the support of the National Taxpayers Union, Heritage Action, and Club for Growth

The COST Act is co-sponsored by Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) and Rep. Keith Self (R-TX).

Background Information: Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act

Between student loans and home ownership, the federal government provides various types of direct loans or loan guarantees to individuals and businesses. However, when it comes to making budget assessments in federal loan legislation, Congress does not currently use accounting guidelines that reflect the true value, or net impact, of loan defaults. A supplemental assessment method, fair-value accounting, is a tool that can be used by legislators to calculate a broader measure of an asset’s worth that would consider such risks.

Rep. Norman’s Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act seeks to provide Congress with better oversight and information on market risk in federal lending, ensuring a more accurate assessment of costs to taxpayers. Without fair-value accounting, legislators may continue to misjudge deficit reduction, leading to budget confusion and reckless spending.

The Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act includes several provisions related to fair-value accounting:

(1) Allows the Chair or Ranking Member of the House and Senate Budget Committees to request a supplemental fair-value estimate for any legislation that establishes or makes changes to loan or loan guarantee programs;

(2) Provides CBO to include fair-value estimates in its Budget and Economic Outlook;

(3) Provides the option for Congress to use fair-value estimates to determine budget compliance and enforcement; and

(4) Requires OMB to provide an annual report on fair-value estimates and the costs of federal credit programs.

Background Information: COST Act

The federal government utilizes hundreds of companies, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and other entities to implement a wide variety of programs, projects, and other activities. Under current law, entities that receive funding from some federal agencies are required to publicly disclose information about how those dollars are used, and what percentage of a project’s total costs were paid for by taxpayers.

Unfortunately, this law is often ignored by recipients of taxpayer funds and the federal agencies distributing them. Currently, it only applies to the Departments of Labor, Defense, Health & Human Services, Education, and related agencies, resulting in limited transparency on how taxpayer dollars are spent.

The COST Act would improve this by:

(1) Requires the entity disbursing federal funds for a project to certify whether the recipient complied with all necessary disclosure requirements;

(2) Directs the OMB to review a random sampling of public communications issued by agencies and recipients of federal funds and make them available to the public; and

(3) To ensure compliance, this legislation adds avenues for people to report individuals or entities that don’t comply with the requirements set forth in this bill. 

Statements

“For far too long, our government has operated inefficiently, leading to poor lawmaking with hefty costs to the American taxpayer,” said Rep. Norman in a statement on Friday. “I am proud to sponsor these budget reform bills to streamline cost estimating and ensure accurate information is given across agencies. Every member of Congress should support greater transparency in government spending.”

On the Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act: “The federal government has dramatically expanded its portfolio of direct loan and loan guarantee programs in recent years, exposing taxpayers to systemic and political risks,” said Paul Winfree, President and CEO, of the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC). “Unfortunately, the way these credit programs are accounted for in the budget understates the actual costs to taxpayers because it fails to account for market risks. Rep. Ralph Norman’s Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act would instead use fair value accounting for credit programs. Even the Congressional Budget Office acknowledges that fair value scoring is a better method.”

On the COST Act: “The American people deserve to know how their money is being spent by their government,” said Paul Winfree, President and CEO, of the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC). “The Cost Openness and Spending Transparency (COST) Act from Rep. Ralph Norman is a commonsense proposal to do just that. This legislation would promote transparency by requiring projects using federal funds to publicly clearly and publicly disclose how much taxpayer money is used.”

“NTU applauds Rep. Ralph Norman for introducing the Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act, a crucial reform to provide a more accurate assessment of the risks of federal loan programs,” said Nick Johns, Senior Policy and Government Affairs Manager, National Taxpayers Union. “In 2024 alone, taxpayers were on the hook for over $1.5 trillion in loans, yet the current scoring methods obscure the true cost to the federal balance sheet. By adopting fair-value practices, this legislation will provide Congress with a better understanding of the ballooning federal loan liabilities, and help protect taxpayers from hidden fiscal risks.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Washington, D.C. – On February 10th, Rep. Ralph Norman (SC-05), along with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), filed an “amicus curiae” (or “friend of the Court”) brief in the case of Medina v. Planned Parenthood. The brief supports South Carolina’s determination that Planned Parenthood does not qualify to receive Medicaid funding. The South Carolina Republicans were joined by 14 other Senators and 76 other members of the House of Representatives.

Background

Under federal law and guidance, states administer Medicaid plans, including deciding which medical providers qualify to receive payments for certain services. In 2018, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster ordered the state’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to deem abortion clinics unqualified to receive Medicaid funding based on their far Planned Parenthood’s largest federal funding source, providing $1.5 billion in reimbursements nationwide over three years. 

Following South Carolina’s determination, Planned Parenthood and one of its clients sued the DHHS Director in federal court claiming a right to force DHHS to reverse that decision. There have been four appeals, each of which Members have supported with similar briefs. 

This brief has the support of Alliance Defending Freedom, Americans United for Life, CatholicVote, Family Research Council, Students for Life, and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

Statements

“Private parties like Planned Parenthood have no right to undermine congressional intent by forcing states to say that Planned Parenthood is a qualified Medicaid provider,” said Rep. Norman in a statement on Monday. “South Carolina has every right to determine what qualifies and disqualifies Medicaid healthcare providers operating within our state. That was precisely the intent of Congress. My hope is the Court will see this lawsuit for what it truly is: a misguided attempt to undermine that authority.”

“As a pro-life state, South Carolina taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize the abortion industry,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “I am grateful for the support of members of the South Carolina delegation and the many other members of Congress who recognize the importance of this case and are standing with South Carolina as we defend our values.”

“Most Americans oppose their hard-earned tax dollars being used to subsidize abortion,” said Senator Lindsey Graham. “I am honored to join my South Carolina Republican colleagues and lend our voices to Governor Henry McMaster’s effort to make sure Medicaid funding cannot be used by Planned Parenthood in South Carolina in any fashion.”

“The purpose of Medicaid is to provide essential healthcare services to parents and children in underserved communities where access to quality medical care can be limited,” said Senator Tim Scott. “Using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion not only diverts resources away from Medicaid’s mission, but undermines the intent of both the law and the program itself. I’m proud to join my colleagues from South Carolina in standing up for the right to life and against this government overreach.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act. This legislation seeks to incentivize states to report abortion data to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in order to receive targeted Medicaid funding for family planning programs.

This bill reaffirms that Rep. Norman consistently fights for life, as does his recently earned “A+” on the Susan B. Anthony List National Pro-Life Scorecard.

Rep. Norman had previously introduced this bill in the 116th, 117th, and 118th Congresses.

Background

Currently, states are not required to provide abortion statistics to the CDC, which results in incomplete data regarding abortions and survivors of abortion attempts. There is presently not a reliable single point of abortion data for all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

The American taxpayer continues to fund family planning programs despite having little understanding of how effective those programs are at reducing the number of abortions throughout the country. If all states were to submit accurate abortion data to the CDC, lawmakers would be better informed on family planning policy decisions and Medicaid funding for those programs could be more suitably allocated.

Statements

“Abortion is NOT family planning. Because reporting abortion data is voluntary, the data collected severely underestimates the number of abortions taking place. The reality is tax dollars are being blindly allocated to family planning programs without a clear picture of efficiency,” said Rep. Ralph Norman. “If these programs are effective, then we should see states’ abortion rates either lower or trend downwards.”

“Every life is precious, and we cannot allow tax dollars to pay for abortions on demand,” said Senator Ernst. “The full extent of government funding should not be a mystery, and my bill will require transparency from all 50 states. We need a complete and accurate understanding, including tragic cases where babies are born alive during abortions, to ensure that no life is ever ignored, hidden, or forgotten.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13)

Michigan’s 12th Congressional District is a beautifully diverse place where Black folks make up the largest plurality, several different ethnicities comprise its population, many languages are spoken, and much of its population is foreign-born. Our residents may have different needs and priorities, but at the most basic level, we must protect civil rights and voting rights and ensure a quality education for all. It is also imperative that we work to help create a better pathway toward citizenship for our immigrant communities. Justice for All Civil Rights Act Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) re-introduced the Justice for All (JFA) Act of 2023, historic legislation that pushes back against decades of conservative court rulings to restore the original intent of our civil rights laws by reaffirming the availability of discrimination claims based on disparate impact. The JFA Act includes a private right of action and a prohibition on forced arbitration, both essential to allowing victims of discrimination, actual or perceived, to vindicate their rights, enjoin discriminatory behavior, and/or receive an award of damages and attorneys’ fees. Specifically, Justice For All restores and expands protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. America’s most critical civil rights laws have been significantly undermined by conservative court rulings over the years, including the elimination of the availability of civil rights claims based on disparate impact rather than the more difficult to prove discriminatory intent. Tlaib’s bill would result in expanded protections, stronger civil rights, and a more inclusive America by, in part: Amending the aforementioned civil rights laws to prohibit actions which have a discriminatory effect, regardless of any discriminatory intent, and providing tools – including a private right of action – to combat intentional and unintentional discrimination against people based on (actual or perceived) race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, or national origin. Protecting people from discrimination in all aspects of life, including housing, schooling, public accommodations, employment, government facilities, privatized government functions, federally funded programs, and any commercial establishment (online or physical). Prohibiting the use of compelled arbitration clauses, which are frequently used to extinguish consumer and employee rights. Eliminating qualified immunity for government employees, which allows them to escape responsibility for their actions, and establishing that units of government are liable for the acts of their officials, including, most importantly, police officers who violate people’s civil rights. The bill also prohibits racial and gender profiling in police investigations and activity. Holding all employers accountable for the actions of all employees and eliminating court-created defenses that allow employers to escape liability for creating hostile work environments. Giving victims of disparate impact discrimination the compensation they deserve and the attorney’s fees necessary to allow civil rights lawyers to take up their cases. Clarifying the definition of “sex” for purposes of civil rights to include sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity, sex stereotypes, or any sex-related traits. No matter how you identify, our civil rights laws must protect you. A summary of the Justice For All Act can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13)

Michigan’s 12th Congressional District is a beautifully diverse place where Black folks make up the largest plurality, several different ethnicities comprise its population, many languages are spoken, and much of its population is foreign-born. Our residents may have different needs and priorities, but at the most basic level, we must protect civil rights and voting rights and ensure a quality education for all. It is also imperative that we work to help create a better pathway toward citizenship for our immigrant communities. Justice for All Civil Rights Act Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) re-introduced the Justice for All (JFA) Act of 2023, historic legislation that pushes back against decades of conservative court rulings to restore the original intent of our civil rights laws by reaffirming the availability of discrimination claims based on disparate impact. The JFA Act includes a private right of action and a prohibition on forced arbitration, both essential to allowing victims of discrimination, actual or perceived, to vindicate their rights, enjoin discriminatory behavior, and/or receive an award of damages and attorneys’ fees. Specifically, Justice For All restores and expands protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. America’s most critical civil rights laws have been significantly undermined by conservative court rulings over the years, including the elimination of the availability of civil rights claims based on disparate impact rather than the more difficult to prove discriminatory intent. Tlaib’s bill would result in expanded protections, stronger civil rights, and a more inclusive America by, in part: Amending the aforementioned civil rights laws to prohibit actions which have a discriminatory effect, regardless of any discriminatory intent, and providing tools – including a private right of action – to combat intentional and unintentional discrimination against people based on (actual or perceived) race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, or national origin. Protecting people from discrimination in all aspects of life, including housing, schooling, public accommodations, employment, government facilities, privatized government functions, federally funded programs, and any commercial establishment (online or physical). Prohibiting the use of compelled arbitration clauses, which are frequently used to extinguish consumer and employee rights. Eliminating qualified immunity for government employees, which allows them to escape responsibility for their actions, and establishing that units of government are liable for the acts of their officials, including, most importantly, police officers who violate people’s civil rights. The bill also prohibits racial and gender profiling in police investigations and activity. Holding all employers accountable for the actions of all employees and eliminating court-created defenses that allow employers to escape liability for creating hostile work environments. Giving victims of disparate impact discrimination the compensation they deserve and the attorney’s fees necessary to allow civil rights lawyers to take up their cases. Clarifying the definition of “sex” for purposes of civil rights to include sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity, sex stereotypes, or any sex-related traits. No matter how you identify, our civil rights laws must protect you. A summary of the Justice For All Act can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13)

Michigan’s 12th Congressional District is a beautifully diverse place where Black folks make up the largest plurality, several different ethnicities comprise its population, many languages are spoken, and much of its population is foreign-born. Our residents may have different needs and priorities, but at the most basic level, we must protect civil rights and voting rights and ensure a quality education for all. It is also imperative that we work to help create a better pathway toward citizenship for our immigrant communities. Justice for All Civil Rights Act Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) re-introduced the Justice for All (JFA) Act of 2023, historic legislation that pushes back against decades of conservative court rulings to restore the original intent of our civil rights laws by reaffirming the availability of discrimination claims based on disparate impact. The JFA Act includes a private right of action and a prohibition on forced arbitration, both essential to allowing victims of discrimination, actual or perceived, to vindicate their rights, enjoin discriminatory behavior, and/or receive an award of damages and attorneys’ fees. Specifically, Justice For All restores and expands protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. America’s most critical civil rights laws have been significantly undermined by conservative court rulings over the years, including the elimination of the availability of civil rights claims based on disparate impact rather than the more difficult to prove discriminatory intent. Tlaib’s bill would result in expanded protections, stronger civil rights, and a more inclusive America by, in part: Amending the aforementioned civil rights laws to prohibit actions which have a discriminatory effect, regardless of any discriminatory intent, and providing tools – including a private right of action – to combat intentional and unintentional discrimination against people based on (actual or perceived) race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, or national origin. Protecting people from discrimination in all aspects of life, including housing, schooling, public accommodations, employment, government facilities, privatized government functions, federally funded programs, and any commercial establishment (online or physical). Prohibiting the use of compelled arbitration clauses, which are frequently used to extinguish consumer and employee rights. Eliminating qualified immunity for government employees, which allows them to escape responsibility for their actions, and establishing that units of government are liable for the acts of their officials, including, most importantly, police officers who violate people’s civil rights. The bill also prohibits racial and gender profiling in police investigations and activity. Holding all employers accountable for the actions of all employees and eliminating court-created defenses that allow employers to escape liability for creating hostile work environments. Giving victims of disparate impact discrimination the compensation they deserve and the attorney’s fees necessary to allow civil rights lawyers to take up their cases. Clarifying the definition of “sex” for purposes of civil rights to include sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity, sex stereotypes, or any sex-related traits. No matter how you identify, our civil rights laws must protect you. A summary of the Justice For All Act can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, DC — Responding to reporting today in the Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration is moving to freeze tens of millions of dollars in Title X federal family-planning grants, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus’s Contraception, Family Planning, and Education Task Force, released the following statement: 

“I strongly condemn the Trump Administration’s plans to illegally freeze millions of dollars in Title X family planning funds—critical support that millions of people rely on for birth control, STI treatment, cancer screenings, and more. This move isn’t about oversight—it’s about control. The Trump-Vance-Musk administration is targeting organizations such as Planned Parenthood that provide legal abortion care and ripping away other health care in the process under an “anti-DEI” guise. Republicans should just admit their real goals: continue to advance this country to one of forced birth. My colleagues on the Reproductive Freedom Caucus and I will continue using every lever of power we have to fight back in Congress, courts, and the streets.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

The bill would prevent and address intentional misuse of subgrant funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Danny K. Davis (IL-07) – along with their colleagues Gwen Moore (WI-04), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), and Bennie Thompson (MS-02) – introduced H.R. 2108, the TANF State Expenditure Integrity Act, which would give the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the statutory authority it needs to prevent, monitor, and penalize the intentional misuse of federal funds by contractors and other subrecipient grantees of the $16.5 billion TANF block grant. 

“Public TANF dollars are meant to support low-income families, not be funneled to wealthy individuals and their pet projects—exactly what NFL star Brett Favre did when he conspired with Mississippi officials to direct millions of TANF dollars to build a new volleyball stadium at his daughter’s college,” said Rep. Chu. “Rep. Davis and I are introducing the TANF State Expenditure Integrity Act to address what happened in Mississippi by finally giving the federal government the authority to oversee states’ use of non-cash assistance TANF funds, which is about 80% of all TANF spending. Our legislation would also require states to recover misused funds and reinvest them in low-income families. As our Republican colleagues regularly decry the fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds, I would think that joining us on this legislation would be a no-brainer.”

“Democrats are committed to increasing stability and reducing adversity for low-income children and families. When used correctly, cash assistance is a critical tool in lifting families out of poverty,” said Rep. Davis. “The TANF State Expenditure Integrity Act will prevent and address intentional misuse of federal cash assistance by contractors to ensure children and families – and not fraudsters – benefit from this critical federal investment.” 

HHS is prohibited by law from issuing regulations to monitor TANF contractors and subgrant recipients and ensure that they are penalized, even for egregious misuse like what occurred recently in Mississippi.

The TANF State Expenditure Integrity Act gives the HHS Secretary the ability to establish a formal system to closely monitor the use of TANF funds, ensures consistent data reporting to identify misuse, and creates a TANF Program Integrity Unit to carry out grantee monitoring. The bill would also impose a new penalty for intentional misuse of funds where the state must spend at least an equivalent amount of the misused funds in the form of cash assistance directly to families who are very low income. 

“When designing TANF, Republicans neglected to include proper accountability measures to prevent states misuse of TANF funds. As a result, TANF is failing the vulnerable individuals it was supposedly meant to help.  When federal dollars are intentionally diverted from beneficiaries into the hands of bad actors, it hurts the women, children, and families who are struggling with poverty.  These new tools will help ensure that the federal government can take action against bad actor contractors or others who prey on TANF for their own benefit while increasing accountability for states,” said Rep. Moore.

“I thank Ranking Member Davis for his leadership on this issue,” said Rep. Evans. “This bill would bring much-needed accountability to help ensure that these lifeline benefits reach those in need. Most TANF recipients are children. About half of the families receiving TANF income support include a child under age 5, and a quarter of TANF households include infants.”

“Federal assistance should help working parents and kids who need it, not the ultra-wealthy who exploit the system for their own benefit,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “Our TANF State Expenditure Integrity Act will ensure these funds are used as intended—not wasted on luxury projects for the rich and famous.”

“I have witnessed the ongoing mismanagement of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds in my home state of Mississippi, particularly by greedy ineligible individuals,” said Rep. Thompson. “H.R. 2108 is essential to correcting the misuse of federal resources meant to assist our families in need. It is time we put a stop to wealthy individuals benefiting from TANF funding meant to help needy families.”

Click here for a summary of the bill.

Click here for a section-by-section of the bill.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) released an updated resource guide to help residents and businesses affected by the Eaton Fire access available support. This revised guide builds on the original version she released in January, ensuring those impacted have the latest information on the resources available to them as they recover and rebuild.

Residents affected by the Eaton Fire are reminded that the deadline to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance is Monday, March 31st. Relief may include up to 14 days of displacement assistance for hotel costs, $770 for essential items, and larger grants for medical bills, vehicle replacement, and other critical needs. The SBA also offers low-interest loans for impacted small business owners, homeowners, and renters. The individual assistance deadline was extended to March 31^st at Rep. Chu’s and urging. Additionally, residents must decide by March 31st whether to opt into the government-run debris removal program led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“Federal disaster assistance has been crucial for the communities I represent following the devastation and destruction caused by Eaton Fire. For those who lost everything, this assistance has allowed them to secure temporary housing, cover the costs of essentials, and start the process of clearing their properties so that they can begin to rebuild the homes, businesses, and community institutions we lost. The road ahead is long, and we must ensure that all of our neighbors in Altadena and Pasadena have the resources they need to recover,” said Rep. Chu. “That is why I am incredibly grateful that FEMA responded to my request to extend its application deadline to March 31st, ensuring that all survivors have enough time to apply for federal disaster assistance as they rebuild their homes, businesses, and lives. I also want to remind those impacted by the fire that the deadline to participate in the debris removal program led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which comes at no out-of-pocket cost for survivors after insurance, is also on March 31st. This decision is an important step in the recovery process, and I encourage everyone affected to evaluate their options and choose the path that best supports their rebuilding efforts.”

Deadlines to remember:

FEMA Individual Assistance: by March 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time)

• Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362, or by using the FEMA mobile app.
• Apply in-person at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at 540 West Woodbury Rd., Altadena, CA 91001. Visit the DRC Locator to find alternate locations.

SBA Disaster Loan: by March 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time)

• Apply for a Small Business Administration Disaster Loan online at lending.sba.gov or call SBA at 800-659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call 800-877-8339. 

Debris Removal Program Right of Entry form: by March 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time)

• To Apply, either:
• If anyone has questions about debris removal on their properties, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has established a Debris Call Center to help answer questions. Their hours of operation are from 6am to 6:30pm and their phone number is 213-308-8305.

“This is the very least we can do for those who have lost so much. I urge anyone impacted to apply for the available resources—help is out there, and no one should have to navigate this recovery alone,” said Rep. Chu. “My office and I will continue assisting in whatever way we can in response and recovery efforts.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) hosted a town hall to discuss defending Medicaid from draconian cuts proposed by President Trump and congression Republicans. She was joined by speakers from the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County and Via Care Los Angeles. The event saw a significant turnout, with over 110+ attendees, predominantly seniors. Due to the high level of interest, the venue reached standing-room-only capacity. Many participants expressed deep concerns regarding actions taken by President Trump and Elon Musk, including the firing of tens of thousands of federal workers without cause, granting DOGE unlimited access to the Treasury payment system which contains private taxpayer data, and Republicans’ threats to slash Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.

This town hall was part of a nationwide Day of Action led by Democrats to highlight the looming threat of severe cuts to Medicaid, the state-federal program that provides health care to more than 70 million Americans—including over 14 million Californians. Republican proposals call for the largest Medicaid cuts in U.S. history, slashing $880 billion from the program to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. These drastic reductions would have devastating consequences for children, families, people with disabilities, seniors, and women, impacting communities across the country.

Rep. Chu also highlighted her role on the Ways and Means Committee and outlined key legislative efforts to combat these proposed cuts. She emphasized ongoing initiatives to protect Medicaid and ensure continued access to vital health care services for millions of Americans.