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

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County), Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-FL), and Congressman Deborah Ross (D-NC) reintroduced the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act. This legislation would prevent law enforcement from improperly surveilling women receiving reproductive health care, including preventing access to health messaging apps, period trackers, and geolocation data. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, law enforcement agencies have used surveillance data to track and prosecute abortions. This legislation would protect Americans’ reproductive data privacy by limiting law enforcement access to reproductive and sexual health services data. The bill protects information related to abortion and IVF care, the use or purchase of contraceptives, pregnancy-related conditions, and more. 

“Patients should be able to make medical decisions in consultation with their doctors without fear of law enforcement involvement,” said Rep. Lieu. “This fundamental right to privacy extends to the data used in medical settings and for treatment and care. We are reintroducing this bill because law enforcement should not have the ability to use private medical data against anyone seeking reproductive or sexual health care. Criminalizing women’s health is draconian and dangerous – and I am pleased to join my colleagues in fighting for these necessary protections.”

“Prosecutors and law enforcement are weaponizing every tool at their disposal to investigate and enforce abortion bans and restrictions,” said Rep. Jacobs. “And now that people are increasingly turning to online abortion clinics for care, people are increasingly left wide open and vulnerable to the unregulated digital surveillance system. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act to ban law enforcement from using surveillance and other data collection methods to investigate or prosecute abortion patients or those helping them. Decisions about if, when, and how to grow a family should be private – and our data should be too.”

“No one should have to fear that their private health decisions could be tracked, surveilled, or criminalized,” said Rep. Scholten. “In the wake of the Dobbs decision, we’ve seen law enforcement weaponize personal data to target people seeking reproductive care–including abortion, IVF, and even birth control. The Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act draws a clear line: your health data is yours, and it should never be used against you. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation to defend the fundamental right to privacy and protect women from dangerous overreach.” 

“It’s sickening to see the same Republican leaders across our country who cry wolf about big government turn to big tech to access the private digital information and even the private messages of people seeking abortion care to go after them,” said Rep. Frost. “Florida has been at the forefront of efforts to criminalize abortion; imagine what GOP leaders could do with Floridians’ private texts and location information. We cannot let that happen. I’m proud to support the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act in the continued fight to protect abortion access for anyone who needs it and keep our private medical decisions private.”

“In my home state of North Carolina, we saw a dangerous 12-week abortion ban go into effect following the Dobbs decision,” said Rep. Ross. “Now, women are scared to get the health care they need, and doctors are facing retribution for doing their jobs. That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act, which would prevent government and law enforcement entities from collecting data that would be used to prosecute or criminalize women seeking reproductive care. This bill offers essential protections for women in North Carolina and nationwide who are facing real threats to their health care.”

This bill is endorsed by: Catholics for Choice, Reproductive Freedom For All, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, League of Women Voters, ACLU, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Council of Jewish Women, Project on Government Oversight, Center for American Progress, National Network of Abortion Funds, Power To Decide, National Abortion Federation, All* Above All, and Guttmacher Institute.

 Cody Venzke, Senior Policy Counsel, ACLU:

“Privacy ensures that we have the space to make decisions about our lives, including when and how to have children. The Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act is a critical step in bolstering privacy to combat increasingly invasive efforts to criminalize our most basic rights to reproductive care and to make fundamental decisions about our lives.” 

Rachana Desai Martin, Chief of Government Relations and External Affairs, Center for Reproductive Rights: 

“The Center is proud to endorse the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act. With abortion banned in 12 states, we need stronger protections for people seeking abortions now more than ever. This bill would provide important new protections for our reproductive health data and serves as an important legislative check to ensure sensitive health information remains protected from abuse.”

 Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families: 

“The growing number of state abortion restrictions means millions of women, especially women of color, are at risk of being criminalized for their pregnancy outcomes. We need strong protections for those seeking care as well as for those providing abortion care, in order to keep their personal information safe. No one should be prosecuted just for seeking the health care they need, and no one should have to live in fear that their personal data will be used against them. We are grateful for Rep. Lieu’s introduction of this bill to safeguard the privacy of pregnant people in the post-Dobbs landscape.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. Senate passed Rep. Griffith’s H.J. Res. 61, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Rubber Tire Manufacturing.”

This Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution overturns the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Rubber Tire Manufacturing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rule. Finalized November 29, 2024, at the conclusion of the Biden Administration, EPA could not even quantify whether public health would be protected and unreasonably requires rubber tire manufacturers to install regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs), which will cost American manufacturers millions and potentially lead to layoffs.

U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) released the following statement:

“House and Senate Republicans are acting decisively to repeal onerous regulations from the Biden EPA, like the rubber tire manufacturing rule, that do very little to serve public health. Like many of the regulations issued during the waning days of the Biden-Harris Administration, the rubber tire manufacturing emission standard utilized questionable emissions data and pointed to negligible health benefits as justification for the rule. Thanks to strong conservative leaders in the Senate, like Senators Tim Scott and Roger Wicker, Congress is exercising its authority to undo this harmful Biden EPA measure and provide relief to America’s rubber tire manufacturers.”

BACKGROUND

Rep. Griffith introduced H.J. Res. 61 in the last week of February. Rep. Griffith introduced the CRA alongside U.S. Senators Tim Scott and Roger Wicker.

On March 5, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.J. Res. 61. Rep. Griffith spoke on the House floor defending the CRA.

Following House passage, Rep. Griffith celebrated House passage with several House GOP leaders.

H.J. Res. 61 must be signed by President Trump for the resolution to go into effect.

On March 12, the Trump EPA announced reconsideration of air rules regulating American energy, manufacturing and chemical sectors.

The Biden EPA rule would negatively impact the Goodyear facility in Danville, Virginia. 

Last week, Rep. Griffith defended several CRAs on the House floor seeking to overturn Biden EPA measures that facilitated unfair electric vehicle mandates and imposed stricter car emissions standards on the American people.

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

Dingell Demands Up-or-Down Vote To Protect Medicaid, Food Assistance

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference with Whip Clark, Ranking Member Boyle, Ranking Member Pallone and Ranking Member Craig after House Democrats filed a discharge petition on the Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act to protect the healthcare and nutritional assistance of hardworking Americans from devastating Republican cuts.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good afternoon, everyone. It’s an honor and a privilege today to be joined by House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Frank Pallone, the once and future Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, who of course is the leading champion in the House Democratic Caucus, in the Congress, for the healthcare of the American people. Certainly, Angie Craig, the top Democrat on the Ag Committee, who’s doing a tremendous job. And, of course, Brendan Boyle, the future Chair of the Budget Committee, who has been our point person on budget reconciliation. House Republicans are determined to jam a reckless and extreme budget down the throats that the American people that will enact the largest cut to Medicaid and the largest cut to SNAP in American history. Children, families, women, veterans, older Americans, people with disabilities and everyday Americans will be hurt. These proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP are unacceptable, unconscionable and un-American. Several so-called swing seat and moderate Republicans have indicated that they are opposed to these devastating proposed cuts to SNAP and Medicaid.

House Democrats earlier today, led by Brendan Boyle in terms of the discharge petition and Frank Pallone and Angie Craig as it relates to the underlying legislation Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP, have given Republicans an opportunity to actually not simply talk about defending the best interests of the American people, but be about it. The discharge petition is now live on the House Floor. All we need are four Republicans to do the right thing, stand up for Medicaid and stand up for SNAP so they can stand up for the American people and we can stop the devastating cuts that Republicans are proposing to the healthcare of the American people and cuts that would literally take food out of the mouths of children and families. Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP. I thank Frank Pallone, Angie Craig and Brendan Boyle for their leadership on this effort. All we need are four House Republicans to join Democrats, in protecting the healthcare and nutritional assistance of the American people.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (21st District of New York)

Stefanik Delivers U.S. Department of Education Investigation into Title IX Violations at Saratoga Springs City School District | Press Releases | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (21st District of New York)

ICYMI: New York Post: Trump Admin Probes NY School for Defying Federal Order Banning Transgender Athletes in Girls Sports | Press Releases | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22) introduced the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act, a bipartisan bill designed to help older Veterans avoid dangerous and costly falls. The legislation would require the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to maintain an Office of Falls Prevention and establish a dedicated falls prevention coordinator. It also launches a pilot program to integrate falls prevention services into VA home modification efforts and mandates risk assessments to identify Veterans most vulnerable to falling.

“Falls are the number one cause of injury for Americans over 65, and for our aging Veterans—many of whom face additional health challenges—they can be especially dangerous and costly,” said Rep. Frankel. “This bipartisan bill will help the VA take smart, proactive steps to prevent falls before they happen. For the thousands of senior Veterans in South Florida and across the country, it means a better chance to live safely, independently, and with dignity. We owe our Veterans nothing less.”

Veterans tend to experience more chronic health conditions than non-Veterans, putting them at greater risk for falls that often result in serious injury, hospitalization, or long-term disability. Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among adults over age 65, with approximately 1 million fall-related hospitalizations annually. They cost the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $80 billion per year—a steep increase from $50 billion just a few years ago.

Common causes of falls include lower body weakness, balance and vision issues, vitamin D deficiency, use of certain medications, hearing loss, and home hazards. Preventing falls requires a comprehensive approach—including routine screenings, coordinated care, community-based prevention programs, and safe home environments.

The SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act would:

• Maintain an Office of Falls Prevention and establish a falls prevention coordinator within the Veterans Health Administration;
• Direct the falls prevention coordinator to collaborate with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop evidence-based, Veteran-specific research on falls prevention;
• Require a comprehensive report on the Department’s Falls Prevention Initiatives;
• Improve Safe Patient Handling Transfer Techniques to ensure safe movement for injured or paralyzed Veterans;
• Create a pilot program to integrate falls prevention into VA home modification grant programs; and
• Establish a Falls Assessment and Fall Prevention Service to identify at-risk Veterans and ensure care plans are tailored to their needs.

The legislation is endorsed by Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and AARP.

The full text of the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act can be found here.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Valadao (CA-22) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), co-chairs of the House Asthma and Allergy Caucus, reintroduced a bipartisan resolution to designate May as “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.”

“In California’s Central Valley alone, over half a million people live with asthma and millions more suffer from seasonal or yearly allergies,” said Congressman Valadao. “As co-chair of the Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus, I’m proud to join Congresswoman Dingell to help educate the American people about the quality-of-life issues and dangers surrounding asthma and allergies.”

“Allergies and asthma impact Americans from every corner of the country, across age groups, sex, and race, myself included – though we know it is historically underserved communities that are impacted the most. My home state of Michigan has one of the highest prevalence rates of asthma in the country,” said Rep. Dingell. “I’m proud to designate May Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month to support increased education and efforts to improve the quality of live for Americans living with these conditions.”

“We’d like to thank Reps. Dingell and Valadao for their leadership of the Asthma and Allergy Caucus and for introducing the Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month Resolution,” said Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). “On World Asthma Day, we take a moment to reflect on the fact that 10 people die each day from asthma. By raising awareness and leading policy change, the members of the Asthma and Allergy Caucus are doing the work that can save lives and improve the health of the 28 million Americans who have asthma. Given that asthma costs the U.S. $82 billion, continuing support for policies and programs that improve health outcomes for people with asthma provides a significant return on investment.”

Read the full resolution here.

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

“For my entire professional career, children’s safety has been a top priority. Kids can’t always protect themselves, so looking out for their best interests and creating a safer world is critical. In Florida, drowning prevention is central to this mission,” said Wasserman Schultz. “No tragedy cuts deeper to a parent than losing a child to a preventable death. That’s why I am extremely eager to launch the new, bipartisan Children’s Safety Caucus with my colleagues Buddy Carter, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Don Bacon. I look forward to collaborating to keep our kids safe with sensible outreach, education, and initiatives.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — This morning, at the weekly House Republican Leadership press conference, Speaker Johnson addressed House Republicans’ efforts to codify President Trump’s America First agenda into law, Congressional Democrats refusal to work in any meaningful way for their constituents, and Republicans common sense priorities for budget reconciliation.

Watch the Speaker’s full remarks here.

On codifying the Trump agenda:

We’ve been working around the clock to codify so much of what President Trump has been doing. I think there’s 143 executive orders that have been issued thus far, and we’re working around the clock to make sure that we put these into statutory law so that it can’t be reversed and erased by an upcoming administration. For some reason, the media acts like this effort is somehow a negative thing. It’s not at all. Anybody who says that just fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between Congressional Republicans and President Trump and his administration. We all ran on the same America first agenda: secure the border, cut taxes for working families, revive American energy production, strengthen our standing on the world stage and bring back common sense.

We already have the formula for prosperity and security, and that’s the thing about President Trump: he’s not an unknown entity, as we’ve all recounted many times. He’s done it once; he’ll do it again. We plan to work together to enshrine the agenda in the law and make sure we have a roaring American economy and stability and security, prosperity, and strength again,. From day one, President Trump has used his executive authority to reverse the devastating policies of the last administration. There was a lot of that to be done, but as the previous administration made it painfully clear, executive orders can be undone and overwritten, and that’s why we have to move it through the legislative process. And we are.

On Congressional Democrats refusal to work with Republicans:

House and Senate Republicans are utilizing the budget reconciliation process primarily because leader Schumer in the Senate, Leader Jeffries in the House and their Democrat colleagues, refused to engage in anything, no matter how meritorious, even to improve the lives of their constituents if it means that President Trump will somehow be credited with a win. I mean, it’s really sad, but that’s the fact. They’d rather put on performative stunts and host these activist town halls, and all this other nonsense then just work with us to bring costs down and make communities safer for their constituents. Just think about how the American people feel about these issues.

When Democrats had a trifecta in 2021, they used the budget reconciliation process, but you know what they did? They used it to “stimulate” the economy. What did that mean? Well, trillions in new spending and tax hikes and the green New Deal giveaways. We can’t do that. It’s not sustainable, so we’re going to reverse it. And guess what happened when they did that? We had runaway inflation, making the cost of living for everyday Americans unbearable. Contrast that with what we’re doing, what Republicans are working on right now, what we are delivering through the committees and soon through the whole house: lower taxes, decreased regulation, safer streets, keeping more of your money that you earn in your own pocket. We’ll take that to the people every single day, and they’ll be for us. And as the house works to finish budget reconciliation over the next few weeks, we’ll continue to shine a light on the Do- Nothing Democrats who would rather oppose President Trump’s popular agenda than work for the needs of their own constituents.

On the commonsense provisions included in budget reconciliation:

Consider this, secure the border, right? Securing the border is an 80/20 issue in America. Deporting illegal aliens? More than 50% of American people believe that every single illegal alien should be deported… But despite those numbers, the Democrats are taking trips to Central America to bring back violent illegal aliens back to the country. It’s madness. Strengthening Medicaid for Americans who need it by eliminating things like fraud, waste and abuse, which is a huge problem in the program, including removing illegal aliens. If you add all that together, 66% of the American people think that that’s a very important idea. We need to improve, shore up and strengthen the program so that it can be there for the people who desperately need and deserve it. And Democrats, what do they do? Lying about what we’re doing with Medicaid, so much so that we’ve gotten them to pull down their advertising because they were literally breaking the law. We sent cease and desist letters and they had to take it down.

Cutting taxes for working families and small businesses, what American doesn’t want to pay fewer taxes to the government? There may be a few, but I haven’t found them, especially on matters like the overtime, tipped wages and Social Security. Big promises for the President, and we’re going to deliver that. But it turns out congressional Democrats apparently want Americans to pay more. They’re adamantly against all those things I just named. They’re against keeping taxes low. And when they oppose the reconciliation bill, when they oppose the solution to this, to extend the tax cuts, they are actually advocating for the largest tax increase in US history, end of sentence.

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