MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced their federal ban on LGBTQ conversion therapy. The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act seeks to ban conversion therapy, a practice where so-called therapists fraudulently claim they can ‘cure’ children of their LGBTQ identities. The practice has been recognized by the national community of professionals in education, social work, health, and counseling as being both dangerous and useless. 

Congressman Lieu authored the first ever ban on youth conversion therapy in the nation as a California State Senator. He has introduced federal bans in the 114th, 115th, 116th, 117th and 118th Congresses. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Senate version today and previously introduced federal bans in the 114th, 115th, 116th, 117th and 118th Congresses.

“Conversion therapy is a scam that hurts LGBTQ kids,” said Rep. Lieu “Using fake science and unearned credentials, conversion therapists prey on vulnerable kids to convince them that who they are is not okay. Major medical organizations oppose the practice because it is harmful and ineffective. We’re overdue for a national ban and I am pleased to once again partner with Senators Murray and Booker on this bill.”

“Conversion therapy is based on the hateful idea that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is an illness that requires treatment. It’s a dangerous sham practice that has been completely debunked and should be banned nationwide—and that’s what our legislation would do,” said Senator Murray. “Our kids deserve to be raised and taught in loving environments that affirm who they are. I’ll keep fighting for a world where every person, no matter their gender or sexual orientation, can live with dignity and without fear.”

“There is no place in health care for practices rooted in hateful ideology that harms vulnerable children who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community,” said Senator Booker. “Being LGBTQ+ is not an illness, and conversion therapy is a fraudulent treatment that tells children their identity is an illness that must be cured. This legislation would clarify that under the FTC that ‘conversion therapy’ in exchange for monetary compensation is illegal, and ensure that no child is a victim to this discredited, harmful practice.”

Human Rights Campaign Director of Government Affairs Jennifer Pike Bailey:

“The reintroduction of the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act is a critical step forward in protecting LGBTQ+ individuals, especially our youth, from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy. The bill affirms that no one should profit from misleading and dangerous attempts to change something that is not a choice: a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The scientific and medical communities have overwhelmingly rejected conversion therapy, and this bill further ensures that practices that cause real long-term harm have no place in our society. We thank Senators Murray and Booker and Representative Lieu for their leadership on this issue.”

The Trevor Project Interim Vice President of Advocacy & Government Affairs Mark Henson

“We all want kids to be healthy and safe. Yet LGBTQ+ youth across the country are in crisis today as they hear messages of rejection — not just from peers or online bullies, but from adults and systems meant to protect them. All young people deserve to live authentically as who they are and be protected from dangerous, discredited conversion therapy practices that are associated with greater suicide risk and have been condemned by every major U.S. professional medical and mental health association. No amount of talk or pressure can make someone change their sexual orientation or gender identity—decades of research show it simply doesn’t work . The Trevor Project applauds the reintroduction of the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2025, which will help protect LGBTQ+ youth from being subjected to these harmful practices and instead celebrate them for who they are.” 

PFLAG National CEO Brian K. Bond

Like most people with health questions, the LGBTQ+ people, parents and allies of PFLAG work together with their doctors, who follow standards of care and clinical guidelines that have been recognized as authoritative for decades by trusted mainstream medical organizations like the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association. These and every mainstream medical association denounce practices of so-called conversion ‘therapy’ as discredited and dangerous. The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act would protect vulnerable people who are seeking trusted help from being lured into a pretense for dangerous conversion therapies. PFLAG National thanks Congressman Lieu and Senator Murray for their leadership in reintroducing this important bill.”

American Psychological Association CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD.:

“The American Psychological Association thanks Representative Ted Lieu, Senator Patty Murray, and Senator Cory Booker for the reintroduction of the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act. This bill would ban so-called conversion therapy by labeling it a fraudulent practice under the Federal Trade Commission’s authority. APA has a long history of opposing sexual orientation change therapy based on peer-reviewed research studies. APA has also adopted several policies concluding that there is insufficient scientific evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation. We support this bill and stand ready to advocate for its passage.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“Small business owners and entrepreneurs keep America’s economy thriving and make life better for their customers and workers,” said Wasserman Schultz. “But Trump’s extreme economic policies have created a chaotic, confusing landscape for small businesses, with huge price hikes and a horizon filled with uncertainty, higher costs and recessionary fears.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“It is simply wrong to subject law-abiding Venezuelan families to a criminal, murderous regime that openly and flagrantly violates human rights,” said Wasserman Schultz. “TPS recipients are not criminals—they are here legally and nobody with a criminal record is eligible for protection. I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to prevent Venezuelan families in my district from being unjustly torn apart while we continue to fight for a free and prosperous Venezuela under democratic leadership.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Mark R. Warner (both D-VA) and U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11), Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), and Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07) wrote to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing their grave concerns about President Donald Trump’s efforts to undermine the mission of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which have resulted in the dismantling of CDC programs aimed at addressing America’s maternal health crisis. In the letter, the members urge the Trump Administration to protect these vital programs and to strengthen the CDC’s public health efforts.

In 2022, the United States maternal mortality rate was 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. In Virginia, it was 32.7 deaths per 100,000 live births. According to the CDC, more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.

“The agency has historically played a vital role in promoting quality maternal health care and improving birth outcomes through surveillance, evidence-based awareness campaigns, and federal-state partnerships. Collecting and maintaining data on maternal morbidity and mortality is key to improving this care and targeting interventions,’” the members wrote. “Yet the Trump Administration has terminated or placed on leave senior scientists and staff with deep institutional knowledge, imposed nearly $3 billion in spending cuts, and demanded a complete overhaul and reorganization of the agency’s programming.”

“These actions have resulted in an abrupt halting of programs critical to maternal health which will set back the progress we have made to protect America’s moms and babies,” the members continued. “…Since the announced [Reductions in Force] (RIF), centers like the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities have been gutted, with most or all staff terminated and most of their maternal health activities stopped or significantly scaled back – putting moms and babies at risk.”

“Although the Administration previously stated that the RIF and subsequent restructuring at HHS would be aimed toward administrative roles and would increase efficiency, it is clear that the Administration’s actions are already harming America’s moms and babies,” the members wrote. “Under your leadership, these indiscriminate terminations and spending cuts have destabilized the CDC and limited the capability of the agency to provide critical, quality maternal health guidance and surveillance to Americans building families… We urge you to protect these vital programs and to support the strengthening of public health efforts at the CDC, especially for America’s moms and babies.”

In light of HHS’ harmful actions, the members demanded the Secretary:

1. Provide an official number of terminations across the CDC, including a breakdown by center. Such information should also specify the job title of each employee and a description of the programs they contributed to, including maternal health programming.
2. Provide an updated organizational chart that outlines programs run by each center at the CDC, including which programs will be terminated or shifted to another center as a result of the RIF and reorganization.
3. Provide a list of programs previously run out of the CDC that will be transferred to a new agency or under a new authority and provide the rationale for such a move, including the relevant experience and expertise that the new agency or authority has to run such a program, including as it specifically pertains to the CDC’s maternal and child health programs.
4. Provide a list of all maternal health programs across HHS, indicating which programs have been cut and which programs are duplicative and have therefore been combined.
5. Explain how the administration will ensure continued collection of high-quality data for programs that are being shifted to a new agency or authority while protecting data security—given the CDC has unique data authority and infrastructure to protect sensitive information, ensuring that reported data is not identifiable. Other agencies under HHS do not have the same infrastructure, which the CDC has spent years developing.

Full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

We write to express our concern regarding recent efforts to undermine the mission of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is the premier public health agency in the country, leading the charge in protecting the health of nearly 350 million Americans through critical public health research, data collection, and evidence-based initiatives to address and prevent infectious and chronic diseases. Yet on March 27, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced massive staffing cuts to align with President Trump’s executive order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.” These cuts – made through Reductions in Force (RIF) at agencies across HHS – include reducing the CDC workforce by 2,400 employees, or 18 percent of its total employment. President Trump’s efforts to undermine the mission of the CDC have resulted in the dismantling of vital CDC programs, including those aimed at addressing America’s maternal mortality crisis.

Ensuring moms have access to quality health care, including prenatal and postpartum services, is a critical component to supporting moms and addressing pregnancy-related deaths. In 2022, the national maternal mortality rate was 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. In Virginia, it was 32.7 deaths per 100,00 live births. According to the CDC, more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. The agency has historically played a vital role in promoting quality maternal health care and improving birth outcomes through surveillance, evidence-based awareness campaigns, and federal-state partnerships. Collecting and maintaining data on maternal morbidity and mortality is key to improving this care and targeting interventions. Yet the Trump Administration has terminated or placed on leave senior scientists and staff with deep institutional knowledge, imposed nearly $3 billion in spending cuts, and demanded a complete overhaul and reorganization of the agency’s programming.[5] These actions have resulted in an abrupt halting of programs critical to maternal health which will set back the progress we have made to protect America’s moms and babies.

As directed by Congress, the CDC is statutorily required to carry out multiple activities to address maternal health. Since the announced RIF, centers like the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities have been gutted, with most or all staff terminated and most of their maternal health activities stopped or significantly scaled back – putting moms and babies at risk. This undermining of CDC programs harms public health agencies across the Commonwealth that utilize CDC data and funding to support local initiatives to increase access to care and reduce maternal mortality.

• As required by statute, the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Systems (PRAMS) is a surveillance system designed to reduce infant morbidity and mortality through education and support for moms. Running continuously since 1987, PRAMS is a partnership between the federal government and state and local public health agencies. PRAMS is the only public health survey system that provides state-specific, population-based data from women about their pregnancy and the months after birth. This unique data system is critical for informing efforts to reduce infant and maternal morbidity and mortality through interventions before, during, and shortly after pregnancy. This multi-decade-long program is on an indefinite pause, hurting states, moms, and babies. In Virginia, despite receiving a notice of award for the fifth year of their PRAMS grant cycle, public health officials have not been able to move forward with regular grant activities and may be forced to shut down operations at the end of their grant cycle should additional funding not become available.
• As also required by statute, the CDC monitors pregnancy success rates for Assisted Reproductive Technologies, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF), at clinics across the nation. This program helps ensure families are able to make an informed decision regarding their choice to start or build their family. Yet recent executive actions have resulted in the termination of CDC staff who ran this program, impeding the ability of the CDC to fulfill its congressional mandates and harming American families. Virginia has a long-standing history of supporting access to IVF: the first person born in the U.S. via IVF was born in Virginia over 40 years ago.

The CDC also coordinates across agencies to administer programs that support the safety and surveillance of maternal health and birth outcomes at a state and local level. The CDC provides valuable resources that enable state and local officials to conduct targeted outreach to improve maternal health outcomes.

• In coordination with the Health Resources and Services Administration, the CDC administers the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program (MCHEP). Through MCHEP, the CDC places senior epidemiologists in state, local, and Tribal public health agencies to support projects to improve maternal health outcomes. These highly qualified and experienced epidemiologists often serve in public health agencies that, without the help of the CDC, would not otherwise be able to support such a position. Historically, 26 states have benefitted from the MCHEP, yet because of actions by the Trump Administration, seven of the current 10 epidemiologists have been placed on leave. The critical work of MCHEP cannot continue without these epidemiologists and any disruption in programs will lead to devastating consequences.
• In coordination with HHS’s Office of Women’s Health, the CDC has historically been a leader in supporting state surveillance on stillbirth incidence. The PRAMS Study of Associated Risks of Stillbirths (SOARS) survey was developed through a partnership between the CDC and the Utah Department of Health. This survey gathered essential data for monitoring stillbirth and other relevant factors while also raising awareness on the prevalence of the issue and combatting the stigma around stillbirth. Prior to the Administration’s recent actions, the CDC intended to expand this work and begin implementation of task force recommendations to address stillbirth. The future of this work is in jeopardy due to the Administration’s actions. 
• In coordination with state and local public health agencies, the CDC has historically supported a coordinated response to public health emergencies that could have an impact on pregnant and postpartum women. For example, during the 2016 Zika virus outbreak, Virginia public health officials utilized PRAMS data to target communications and surveillance for pregnant women, as they were recognized as a highly vulnerable population, and report to the CDC’s U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry for future monitoring and follow-up of birth outcomes. The recent reduction in staffing levels will undoubtedly impede the CDC’s ability to coordinate a swift response to future public health emergencies that could impact moms and babies.

Although the Administration previously stated that the RIF and subsequent restructuring at HHS would be aimed toward administrative roles and would increase efficiency, it is clear that the Administration’s actions are already harming America’s moms and babies. Under your leadership, these indiscriminate terminations and spending cuts have destabilized the CDC and limited the capability of the agency to provide critical, quality maternal health guidance and surveillance to Americans building families. In light of your harmful actions, please respond to the following questions by May 23, 2025:

1. Provide an official number of terminations across the CDC, including a breakdown by center. Such information should also specify the job title of each employee and a description of the programs they contributed to, including maternal health programming.
2. Provide an updated organizational chart that outlines programs run by each center at the CDC, including which programs will be terminated or shifted to another center as a result of the RIF and reorganization.
3. Provide a list of programs previously run out of the CDC that will be transferred to a new agency or under a new authority and provide the rationale for such a move, including the relevant experience and expertise that the new agency or authority has to run such a program, including as it specifically pertains to the CDC’s maternal and child health programs.
4. HHS has justified the RIF and subsequent reorganization by stating that “18% of notices were at duplicative programs, primarily maternal health (and HIV) programs”. Provide a list of all maternal health programs across HHS, indicating which programs have been cut and which programs are duplicative and have therefore been combined.
5. The CDC has unique data authority and infrastructure to protect sensitive information, ensuring that reported data is not identifiable. Other agencies under HHS do not have the same infrastructure, which the CDC has spent years developing. For programs that are being shifted to a new agency or authority, how will the administration ensure the continued collection of high-quality data while protecting data security?

A healthy nation starts and ends with healthy moms and babies. Recent administrative actions have disrupted maternal health care and will only contribute to the maternal mortality crisis in Virginia and our country. We urge you to protect these vital programs and to support the strengthening of public health efforts at the CDC, especially for America’s moms and babies.

Sincerely,

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (D-OR) joined her fellow Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus – including Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Donald Beyer (D-VA) – at a press conference to officially launch the Caucus for the 119^th Congress. The Members, standing side-by-side with representatives from leading mental health advocacy organizations, delivered remarks about the state of mental health and addiction in America and the potential for bipartisan progress on this issue. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) also serves as Caucus Co-Chair along with Reps. Salinas, Bacon, and Beyer.

Click here to watch a recording and here for usable photos from today’s press conference

“Mental health is an issue where bipartisan consensus is still possible. I remain very hopeful. We’ve seen how these problems have affected our own families, neighborhoods, and communities – and we all share a similar goal: Putting an end to the mental health and addiction crisis once and for all,” said Rep. Salinas. “I am optimistic and excited about the road ahead. Because we have partners, parents, providers and yes – even politicians – who want to see change and are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work on commonsense solutions.

“We do have a mental health crisis in our country, and I think it’s pretty clear to all of us that we have underfunded mental health care,” said. Rep. Bacon. “I look forward to working with our Co-Chairs and all of you to improve our mental health capabilities in this country. We know the problem. That means we can find the solution.”

“We want this to be the largest Caucus on the Hill. We should have every Democrat and every Republican in it because every family, if you look just hard enough, you’ll find that they’re dealing with some kind of mental health concern… and I think we all agree that the health system is failing,” said Rep. Beyer. “We do a very poor job at dealing with serious mental illness in this country. That’s why I’m so grateful that my colleagues [Reps. Salinas, Bacon, and Gonzales], and the many, many other Democrats and Republicans who have signed up to be part of this [Caucus], have come together with our mental health professionals and our industry leaders to really try to make a difference.”

Several mental health professionals and advocates also spoke at the press conference, including Theresa Miskimen Rivera, M.D., President-Elect of the American Psychiatry Association (APA), Michael Linskey, Director of Congressional Affairs at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Laurel Stine, Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and Tim Clement, Vice President of Federal Government Affairs at Mental Health America (MHA).

Chaired by Reps. Salinas, Bacon, Beyer, and Gonzales, the Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus serves as a bipartisan forum where Members of Congress and their staff can work together to raise awareness and find solutions to the mental and behavioral health crisis in America. A full list of Caucus Members can be found here.

To receive updates and learn more about the Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, you can visit the Caucus’ website or follow the Caucus on Bluesky, X, Facebook, and Instagram.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Riley M. Moore, a Roman Catholic, issued the following statement after the election of Pope Leo XIV:

“Habemus papam & Deo gratias — an American has been elected to the chair of St. Peter!

“I pray the Lord blesses the Holy Father with the great wisdom and unyielding courage necessary to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

“Here’s to many years of good health for Pope Leo XIV as he shepherds our universal church as the Vicar of Christ.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Ben Cline (R-VA) today reintroduced the bipartisan Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act to establish a federal grant program to support conservation of birds and habitats in urban areas.

“Birds play an important role in our ecosystems and our everyday lives, and we all have an opportunity and a responsibility to make our communities safer places for birds and people to live together,” Dingell said. “Unfortunately, we have lost nearly 3 billion birds in the last 50 years, and we need to take serious action to address this crisis. The Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act will provide federal funding to cities, community organizations, and other groups doing important work to restore bird habitat, and most importantly, educate communities about the small steps we can all take to protect bird populations for generations to come.” 

“Birds play an important role in our environment, and responsible conservation efforts can help preserve migratory patterns and reduce the risk of avian illnesses,” Cline said. “These efforts should be led locally by individuals and municipalities who understand the needs of their communities. As we codify existing partnerships through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we must ensure that any federal support remains targeted, transparent, and accountable to the taxpayer.”

In North America, one in four breeding birds has been lost since 1970. The widespread loss and degradation of habitat is the biggest driver of bird population decline. Restoring bird habitat in urban areas can make a significant difference in conserving bird populations.

The Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act would make $1,000,000 available annually through a competitive grant program to eligible entities, including Tribal, State, or municipal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, community groups, and academic institutions, to promote urban bird conservation. Specifically, the grant program aims to:

• protect, restore, or enhance urban habitats for birds, including through the control of invasive species and the restoration of native plant species;
• reduce urban hazards to birds; and
• educate and engage communities in scientific activities involving the monitoring of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas

The bill is endorsed by the National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, the American Bird Conservancy, and Ducks Unlimited.

“Every spring, billions of birds migrate across the United States, sometimes as many as 500 million in a single night. For them to safely complete their journeys, our communities must not only offer safe passage but also provide critical places to rest, nest, and feed along the way,” said Felice Stadler, vice president of government affairs at the National Audubon Society. “With bird populations down 30 percent since 1970, it’s essential that legislation like the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act becomes law and give communities the tools we need to create healthy bird habitat in our neighborhoods. Thank you to Reps. Dingell and Cline for your leadership and commitment to protecting our nation’s birds. We look forward to seeing this important bill move forward in Congress.”

“As wildlife habitats shrink across the country, it is increasingly important to protect and expand existing habitat and ensure safe passage for birds,” said Abby Tinsley, vice president for conservation policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “For migrating birds, rural and urban parks and greenways offer places to feed and rest on their journeys, and many species rely on them year-round.  This bill will empower communities to conserve and restore these essential habitats, benefitting the birds and people who share these spaces. We are grateful to Representatives Dingell and Cline for their leadership.”

“Thriving communities include birds,” said Steve Holmer, vice president of policy at American Bird Conservancy. “Thanks to Representatives Debbie Dingell and Ben Cline for introducing the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act, which will improve bird habitat, reduced hazards to birds, and engage communities in bird conservation. As birds face unprecedented declines and bird watching participation grows, conserving birds is more important now than ever before.”

“Waterfowl and other birds are important to ecosystems in both rural and urban areas,” said Kellis Moss, Ducks Unlimited Managing Director of Federal Affairs. “The Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act will help cities and local organizations invest in habitats that benefit the long-term conservation of bird populations. We thank Rep. Dingell and Rep. Cline for their leadership on this issue.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—This week, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) hosted 41 faith leaders and clergy members at the Library of Congress for a listening session.

Joined by Rep. James Clyburn (SC-06) and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Leader Jeffries held a listening session to hear from clergy members about their suggestions as part of House Democrats’ all-hands-on-deck strategy to bring about a better tomorrow for the American people.

“The meeting was an initial convening and listening session of faith leaders and clergy members from across the nation and I look forward to our continued dialogue as we deal with this unprecedented moment in American history. During these very challenging times, I am grateful for the partnership, the friendship and the leadership of the clergy on all the things that need to happen to get our nation to a better place,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). “At a moment like this, we are experiencing trouble on every side. Trouble in the White House, trouble with the Congress, trouble with the Cabinet, trouble with Elon Musk, an unelected, unaccountable, unpopular, unhinged, un-American, billionaire puppet master. But we’re not in despair because we know that setbacks are an inevitable part of life. That’s just the reality of our journey and we’ve seen that over and over and again in the United States of America. Setbacks are an inevitable part of life, but a setback is nothing more than a setup for a comeback. And in our view, what’s in front of us right now, is that we have to engineer the great American comeback.”

“Having been born and raised in a church parsonage, I understand the connection between faith and public service. The convening on Capitol Hill of influential African American clergy from around the country could not be more critical,” said Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06). “We discussed protecting vital programs against proposed cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits and how this impacts their congregants and all Americans. Across traditions and cultures, people of faith are commanded to care for the least of these. The House Republican budget fails to care for the vulnerable, and it is incumbent upon all of us to correct this. We tend to profess pride in being Matthew 25 Christians, and we often express adherence to verse 45 that admonishes, ‘whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”

“In this moment of moral crisis in America, it is more important than ever that faith leaders unite to provide the light needed to guide the country back toward the course of righteousness,” said Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05). “I’m thankful to Leader Jeffries for taking the time to sit down with myself, Rep. Clyburn and clergy from across the country to coordinate a faith-led response to the chaos and cruelty emanating from the White House. Whether those seeking affordable healthcare, those in need of food assistance or those seeking a better life in the United States of America, we have an obligation to protect the least of these in our communities; and together, we will.”

The clergy has been at the forefront of every major fight for social justice in America and continues to provide a voice of moral clarity as we endeavor to meet the challenging moment we confront. This conversation is the first in a series of ongoing engagements with community leaders to strengthen the relationship between House Democrats and the American people who we are fighting to protect.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

Latta Statement on Election of Pope Leo XIV