MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

As a Survivor of Sexual Abuse, Pressley Has Led Efforts in Congress to Center Survivors, Demand Transparency, Accountability

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the Department of Justice will fail to release all of the Epstein files to the public by the legal deadline set for today by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law that was forced through by House Democrats and signed into law by President Trump in November.

“Donald Trump and his so-called Department of Justice are now violating federal law as they continue to obstruct the release of the Epstein files and deny survivors the transparency and accountability they deserve. After defying the Oversight Committee’s subpoena, we had to force Donald Trump’s hand to sign the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law—and he is now defying Congress itself.

“For months, we have pushed on every front to meet survivors with the dignity they are due—and time and time again the Trump administration has chosen to shield predators rather than do right by survivors. 

“This does not end here. We will be examining all legal options to force the release of the files and hold powerful abusers, their enablers, and this lawless White House to account. The survivor community is one of strength and resolve, and we will never stop fighting for accountability and healing for all.”

In November, Rep. Pressley applauded the House passage to release the Epstein files, following a day of joining her Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues for a closed-door, closed press listening session with survivors and a candlelight vigil honoring survivors alongside colleagues and advocates on Capitol Hill.

As a survivor of sexual abuse herself, Congresswoman Pressley has been a dedicated advocate for survivors’ justice and has led committee Democrats in calling for a full Congressional hearing to ensure survivors’ firsthand accounts are heard.

Rep. Pressley has led the demand for a hearing with survivors as the Committee has continued its investigation and after the Congresswoman successfully helped pass a motion by Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Congresswoman Summer Lee to force the Committee to subpoena the Epstein files.

In recent interviews, Rep. Pressley described why her work to subpoena the Epstein files is deeply personal to her.

Throughout her time in Congress, Rep. Pressley has been a champion for justice for survivors of sexual violence and reproductive freedom.

In July 2024, Rep. Pressley reintroduced the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act of 2024. In June 2024, Rep. Pressley renewed her calls for accountability and survivor-focused solutions following the damning reports of a toxic work environment at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).  In June 2024, Rep. Pressley also sent a letter to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) requesting information about the botched closure of FCI Dublin, abuse of women while they were being transferred to other facilities, and BOP’s management of investigations into the staff sexual misconduct and abuse at FCI Dublin and other federal BOP facilities.

Rep. Pressley is also a lead co-sponsor of H.R. 5388, legislation that would prevent the Secretary of Education from rolling back Title IX protections for survivors, as well as H.Res. 560, a resolution calling for an impeachment inquiry into Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, following reporting on new allegations of sexual misconduct committed by the Associate Justice.

In April 2019, following the passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, Rep. Pressley issued a statement honoring her mother, Sandra Pressley, a survivor of domestic violence. Rep. Pressley is also the lead co-sponsor of an amendment to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that would establish the first-ever grant program dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, which passed the House of Representatives in March 2021.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

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

Today, the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force, led by Co-Chairs Reps. Don Beyer (VA-08), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Doris Matsui (CA-07), released the following statement in response to the House passage of the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act (H.R. 1366) and Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845).

“In a week dominated by shameless giveaways to Trump’s polluter allies, House Republicans once again doubled down on their crusade to sell off our public lands to the highest bidder and gut critical protections for endangered wildlife. Our public lands and wildlife are a core part of our nation’s identity. Whether it’s the bald eagle, the grizzly bear, or the Florida panther, we have a shared responsibility as Americans to protect and preserve these iconic species and their habitats for future generations. Yet, instead of preserving our treasured natural landscapes and wildlife for future generations, Republicans just gave a free pass to mining companies to dump toxic waste on our public lands and poison our environment and children, all while legalizing the killing of America’s endangered gray wolves. 

“Our Republican colleagues seem to have forgotten that being conservative once actually meant supporting conservation.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Senate Environment and Public Works Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) reintroduced the Clean Competition Act, legislation to make American companies more competitive in the global marketplace and cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions with a carbon border adjustment. 

On average, U.S. manufacturers are over 50 percent less carbon-intensive than manufacturers in the rest of the world.  Chinese manufacturers are more than three times as carbon-intensive as American ones, and India’s are more than four times as carbon-intensive.

The Clean Competition Act would create a U.S. carbon border adjustment linked to a new domestic industrial performance standard. Importing foreign producers or domestic manufacturers that exceeded the standard would be required to pay a charge for any emissions over the standard. The levy would begin at $60 per ton and increase by six percent above inflation per year. 

The bill would cover the imports and domestic manufacturing of energy-intensive industries, including fossil fuels, refined petroleum products, petrochemicals, fertilizer, hydrogen, adipic acid, cement, iron and steel, aluminum, glass, pulp and paper, and ethanol.  In 2028, coverage would begin expanding to more complex downstream goods.

The president would be able to negotiate carbon clubs to drive down global greenhouse gas emissions and expand markets for low-carbon industrial goods. In exchange, countries would be able to receive a reduction in foreign carbon intensity charges and first preference for the bill’s foreign assistance funding.

“For too long, American industries producing goods in a less carbon-intensive way have been undercut by foreign competitors with dirtier production processes. Washington saw this firsthand with the closure of the Intalco aluminum smelter due to Chinese overproduction, resulting in the loss of over 700 good-paying union jobs. We can address the climate crisis while defending American industries with the Clean Competition Act,” said DelBene. “A fee on high-carbon producers would incentivize industries around the world to prioritize decarbonization and create a level playing field for American workers in these sectors.”

“American manufacturers are already among the cleanest in the world, yet they face unfair competition from countries that do nothing to curb their pollution.  The free-to-pollute business model is economically disastrous and environmentally dangerous,” said Whitehouse.  “The carbon border adjustment is the world’s last lifeboat to climate safety, and other nations are moving fast: the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism begins in January, and the UK and Australia look poised to join them.  If we don’t act now, American manufacturers will have to pay fees abroad without any protection at home.  The Clean Competition Act buys us entry into this emerging coalition of allies and ensures that foreign competitors who pollute more pay more.” 

The House bill is co-led by Representatives Ami Bera, MD (CA-06), Don Beyer (VA-08), Kathy Castor (FL-14), and co-sponsored by Representatives Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and Judy Chu (CA-28).  The Senate bill is co-sponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (CT), Martin Heinrich (NM), Brian Schatz (HI), Chris Van Hollen (MD), and Peter Welch (VT). ,

It is endorsed by C2ES, Carbon180, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Ceres, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Environmental Defense Fund, Foreign Policy for America, National Wildlife Federation, and Sierra Club.

Text of the bill is available here.  A section-by-section is available here. A one-pager is available here. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Congresswomen Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Gwen Moore (WI-04), along with Members of the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding the agency’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to write code used to manage Americans’ taxpayer data.

A recent study found that AI-generated source code is frequently inaccurate. Developers often spend as much or more time checking and rewriting the code that AI systems produced than if they were to write it themselves.

The lawmakers are seeking answers about the IRS’s plan to rely on AI tools to interface with its decades-old Common Business-Oriented Language (COBOL) systems, which continue to underpin the Individual Master File (IMF), the core repository for taxpayer information since the 1960s. These questions come at an especially critical time when the IRS has already lost 25% of its IT staff since early 2025, and the next tax filing season is just around the corner.

“We hope this Administration shares our goal of ensuring any use of AI by the IRS is appropriately scrutinized, especially given the importance and significance of maintaining the integrity of the IMF and protecting taxpayer data from inappropriate access or exposure,” the lawmakers wrote.

They expressed concerns about the risks of using AI, especially when dealing with systems that manage sensitive taxpayer information and which are also responsible for processing tax returns for hundreds of millions of Americans. In the letter, the lawmakers sought information on the agency’s current and future AI use with its legacy COBOL systems, efforts to address potential inaccuracies and limitations, and taxpayer data protections.

Questions raised include:

• To what extent has the IRS already started deploying AI to interact with its legacy COBOL systems and what future deployments are planned? 
• What processes are in place to review the conversions and AI source coding before, during, and after new AI-created code implementation to ensure it is accurate, including ensuring that AI-generated code is free of hidden errors or unintended behaviors that might not appear during standard testing?
• What specific protections for the taxpayer data protected by Internal Revenue Code section 6103 are in place?

The letter requested a written response from the IRS no later than January 10, 2025.

Read the full text of the letter here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

Read Resolution Text

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congressman David Scott (GA-13), led the entire Georgia Democratic Congressional delegation in filing a resolution formally recognizing the City of Atlanta, Georgia, for its historic leadership in the Civil Rights Movement. The measure honors the city’s unparalleled role in shaping one of the most transformative movements in American history and the legacy of its iconic leaders. 

“Atlanta has long stood at the center of America’s long struggle for racial justice as a beacon of hope, progress, and justice,” said Congressman David Scott. “From the pioneering work of W.E.B. Du Bois to the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., our city has always been a bedrock for students, faith leaders, organizers, and everyday citizens who continue to help lead the nation toward equality and empowerment for Black and Brown communities. This resolution ensures that Atlanta’s central role in the Civil Rights Movement is formally recognized and preserved for generations to come.”

From the early labor strikes of Black women in 1881, to the founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Atlanta has been a site of courageous action, historic legislation, and groundbreaking social change. At a time when efforts to rewrite or diminish civil rights history persist, this resolution recognizes Atlanta’s ongoing role as a thriving center of education, culture, innovation, and diversity. More importantly, affirms the importance of preserving an honest and complete account of America’s past.

Every Democrat in Georgia’s Congressional House delegation cosponsored the resolution, including Nikema Williams (GA-05), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Sanford Bishop (GA-02) and Hank Johnson (GA-04).

Full text of the resolution can be accessed HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

November Jobs Report Shows Black Unemployment Highest it’s Been Since 2021 and Black Women’s Unemployment at 7.1% Compared to 4.6% Overall

Pressley Has Repeatedly Sounded the Alarm on Pushout of Black Women from Workforce Under Trump, Demanded Action from Federal Reserve

New Letter to Fed | Fed Response to September Letter

WASHINGTON – Today, as Black unemployment continues to soar, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, and Chairwoman Yvette Clarke of the Congressional Black Caucus wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell demanding a briefing for members of the Congressional Black Caucus on how the Federal Reserve is responding to this growing crisis. The Congresswoman’s letter follows the November jobs report, which shows Black unemployment at 8.3%—the highest it’s been since 2021—and Black women’s unemployment at 7.1% compared to 4.6% overall. Further, the unemployment rate overall is now the highest it has been since 2021.

In Congress, Rep. Pressley has repeatedly sounded the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States, called on the Federal Reserve to take action, and convened impacted women and economists to renew those calls. The Federal Reserve responded to the Congresswoman’s letter in October.

“The alarmingly high rates of unemployment in the Black community are a glaring red flag with negative implications for the broader economy,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter today. “While we appreciate your written responses and public statements on this issue, it is critical that you take immediate action to fulfil the statutory mandate to promote maximum employment for all people, of all races and genders. To better understand how the U.S. Federal Reserve is responding to this crisis, we request a briefing for Members of the Congressional Black Caucus.”

In their letter today to Chairman Powell, the lawmakers underscored the essential contributions Black communities make to the American economy, and how the entire country suffers when they are pushed out of the labor market. The lawmakers renewed their calls for the Federal Reserve to act urgently to address the unemployment crisis and outlined several ways the Federal Reserve and regional banks have addressed similar economic concerns in the past.

“[I]t is not enough to simply analyze, there needs to be action,” the lawmakers continued. “We again urge the Federal Reserve to ensure a fair economy that works for all, regardless of race and gender, in the face of fiscally irresponsible policies from the White House.”

“For Black families throughout our nation, gainful employment is a necessary key to unlock opportunity and prosperity,” the lawmakers wrote. “The Federal Reserve must comprehensively analyze the impact of Black workers’ job losses and develop a strategic plan to confront this crisis. As a core function of Congressional oversight for the constituents we serve, we request a briefing for the Members of the Congressional Black Caucus to discuss high unemployment and solutions for the Black community and our nation.”

The Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement underscoring the urgency of this crisis:

“Black workers across our country are once again bearing the brunt of an uncertain economy. In recent months, unemployment among Black workers has risen sharply under the economic conditions shaped by policies of the Trump Administration. In November, Black unemployment reached 8.3 percent—the highest level we have seen since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Behind this number are families struggling to make ends meet and communities facing unbearable economic hardship. 

“The Congressional Black Caucus believes this moment demands urgent action. To better understand how the Federal Reserve is responding to this crisis, we request a briefing for Members of the Congressional Black Caucus. The Federal Reserve must step in to address this growing unemployment crisis and confront the deep-rooted inequities that continue to leave Black workers behind. Black workers earn about 20 percent less than white workers, a gap that has contributed to a stark racial wealth divide. Today, the median Black family holds just $24,520 in net worth, compared to $250,400 for the median white family. This inequality did not happen by accident and cannot be ignored.

“We are calling on the Federal Reserve to address the crisis impacting Black workers and to develop a clear strategy to reverse these trends and ensure that Black workers and families are not left behind.”

Text of the lawmakers’ letter is available here.

Text of the Congresswoman’s initial September letter to the Federal Reserve is available here. The Federal Reserve’s response to that letter is available here.

Last month, with the unemployment rate for Black women continuing to rise, Congresswoman Pressley convened Black women, economists, civil rights leaders, and community members in Boston for an urgent discussion about the unemployment crisis facing Black women and its impact in Massachusetts and beyond.

In September, Congresswoman Pressley wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell sounding the alarm on the rising unemployment rate for Black women in the United States and demanding the Fed take immediate action to uphold its mandate of maximum employment for all. The Congresswoman’s letter comes as the Trump Administration’s mass federal workforce layoffs and anti-DEI policies disproportionately impact Black women and as Donald Trump attempts to seize control of the Fed by illegally firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. A copy of the Congresswoman’s letter is available here.

Later in September, Congresswoman Pressley convened a press conference with a coalition of Black women activists and civil rights leaders to continue sounding the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States.

In early December, Rep. Pressley, along with Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women & Girls, Congresswomen Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), led 19 of their colleagues demanding the Department of Labor (DOL) take immediate action to address the rising unemployment crisis among Black women that has taken shape since the start of the second Trump Administration.

Rep. Pressley has consistently advocated for race-conscious policies to help close the racial wealth gap in America, uplift Black, brown, and other marginalized communities.

• Building on the legacy of Black women in the civil rights movement, Rep. Pressley led a historic resolution calling for a federal job guarantee.  
• In a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Congresswoman Pressley questioned Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on the issue of full employment and the Civil Rights history of the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate. Powell conceded, for the first time in Federal Reserve history and on the Congressional record, that the Fed alone cannot get the United States to full employment.
• Congresswoman Pressley, along with Senator Cory Booker, is the lead co-sponsor of the American Opportunity Accounts Act—also known as Baby Bonds—legislation that would create a federally-funded savings account for every American child in order to make economic opportunity a birthright for every child and help close the racial wealth gap.
• Rep. Pressley introduced the Equity in Government Act to codify racial equity across federal agencies and improve government services for underserved communities.
• Rep. Pressley has also called on the five largest banks in America to provide a detailed update on the racial equity commitments the institutions made following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
• Rep. Pressley was also a leading voice in Congress urging President Biden to cancel student debt. Following years of advocacy by Rep. Pressley—in partnership with colleagues, borrowers, and advocates like the NAACP—the Biden-Harris Administration announced a historic plan to cancel student debt that stands to benefit over 40 million people.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon, Fitzpatrick, Meeks, & Bipartisan Colleagues Advance New ‘Peace Through Strength’ Sanctions on Russia Toward January Floor Action

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Gregory Meeks (NY-5) led a broad bipartisan coalition of House Members to introduce the Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act of 2025, comprehensive legislation that translates ongoing negotiations into decisive congressional action and advances the bill toward House Floor consideration in January.

Co-leads on the bill include Representatives Mike Turner (OH-10), Tom Suozzi (NY-3), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Steny Hoyer (MD-5), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-9), reflecting broad, bipartisan agreement that Congress must lead with resolve as diplomatic efforts continue.

“Putin’s regime only responds to resolve and takes advantage of weakness and vacillation. During these failed negotiations, Russia has continued bombing Ukrainian cities with increasing intensity. We must play hardball by sending Ukraine the weapons it needs and imposing tough sanctions on Russia that cripple his war economy, an approach Americans overwhelmingly agree with,” said Rep. Bacon. “I’m pleased to join Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in co-leading the bipartisan Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act to impose sanctions and other measures if Russia refuses to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine.”

“Negotiations do not relieve Congress of its responsibility to act,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “That responsibility has been clear for some time, and waiting is no longer an option. Peace through strength is the discipline of negotiating from strength—of standing with Ukraine, making unmistakably clear that Russia’s campaign of aggression will not be normalized or rewarded, and affirming that America still enforces the rules that keep peace possible. This is not just about ending one war. It is about setting the rules for a world that is watching whether America still enforces them. I am grateful to be working hand in hand with Ranking Member Meeks to push any and all solutions forward to the House Floor, including the Ukraine Support Act. We can end this war. We can end Putin’s tyranny. And we must lead the American way—through peace, through strength.”

“Russia won’t negotiate an end to its war unless real pressure is applied on the Kremlin to stop its brutality. I’m proud to have worked with Rep. Fitzpatrick on a compromise Russia sanctions bill that would impose real costs on Russia and those fueling its war effort, while avoiding further harmful global tariffs. I thank Rep. Fitzpatrick for also signing my discharge petition for the Ukraine Support Act, helping work towards both measures reaching the House floor for a vote. There is strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the House, and this agreement makes clear that Russia cannot wait it out or continue its war of aggression without facing significant consequences,” said Rep. Meeks.

“The only viable path to peace in Ukraine is putting pressure on the Kremlin. It is beyond important that both sides of the aisle have come together on compromise legislation to impose strong sanctions on Russia for its illegal war of aggression as well as to take additional steps to move the bipartisan discharge petition for the Ukraine Support Act forward in the House,” said HFAC Subcommittee on Europe Ranking Member Keating. “As Ukraine continues to defend itself from Russian aggression, the Ukrainian people must know that Ukraine has strong bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. The Kremlin must also know that we will not rest until a durable Ukraine-supported peace deal is achieved.”

“We must take firm action against the Russian Federation. This bill sends a clear message: any refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations for peace or any violation of agreements will not go unpunished. We stand with Ukraine and affirm our commitment to ensuring that they are protected from further aggression. It’s time for diplomacy,” said Rep. Turner.

“Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine is a direct assault on sovereignty, democracy, and the international rules-based order. The United States will not reward aggression or allow Vladimir Putin to stall, violate agreements, or prepare for another invasion without serious consequences. Peace will only come when Russia understands that continued violence carries real costs. I’m proud to cosponsor this legislation to strengthen sanctions, hold bad actors accountable, and stand firmly with the Ukrainian people,” said Rep. Lawler.

“Peace through strength means standing up to dictators through actions, not just words,” said Rep. Suozzi. “The Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act does exactly that by cracking down on those responsible for the kidnapping of Ukrainian children, increasing sanction pressure on Russia, and expanding sanctions to Russian partners in North Korea. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to say that the United States will not tolerate Putin’s murderous war in Ukraine, and will defend our democratic allies across the world.”

“Through force, Dictator Putin aspires to rewrite the structure of Europe and end democratic practice across the continent. America’s foreign policy must promote Liberty, not bow to Tyranny,” said Rep. Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. “With this new bipartisan bill, we are putting forward the most significant legislation introduced this Congress to place economic sanctions on Russia for its war crimes against Ukraine.”

The Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act of 2025 builds on Fitzpatrick’s constant efforts since the beginning of the conflict in 2022 to advance designed to force meaningful negotiations, deter further aggression, and ensure any peace agreement is real, durable, and accepted by the free and independent Government of Ukraine.

Unlike piecemeal sanctions, the legislation establishes a comprehensive structure that directly links Russia’s economic isolation to its willingness to pursue—and honor—peace. It reflects overwhelming bipartisan support for empowering the United States to use strong economic pressure as a tool to help bring this war to an end.

Specifically, the bill would:

• Mandate sanctions on senior Russian officials, oligarchs, state-owned enterprises, and entities supporting Russia’s defense, energy, and transportation sectors
• Sever Russia’s access to the global financial system, including blocking transactions with Russian financial institutions, prohibiting U.S. investment in Russia, banning trading of Russian entities on U.S. securities exchanges, and targeting financial messaging systems used to evade sanctions
• Close loopholes fueling Russia’s war economy, including ending refined oil import workarounds and prohibiting U.S. purchases of Russian sovereign debt
• Target Russia’s energy leverage, prohibiting new U.S. investment and sanctioning foreign actors who enable Russian oil, gas, LNG, and uranium production
• Impose sanctions for war crimes, including the kidnapping and wrongful deportation of Ukrainian children and Russia-North Korea cooperation supporting Russia’s illegal war
• Increase duties up to 500 percent on goods imported from the Russian Federation to further isolate Russia economically

The legislation also establishes a clear and enforceable off-ramp: sanctions may only be terminated if Russia signs a peace agreement accepted by Ukraine and fully ceases hostilities—subject to congressional review to prevent premature or politically motivated rollbacks.

With negotiations ongoing, Fitzpatrick and his bipartisan colleagues will continue building support with the goal of bringing the Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act of 2025 to the House Floor in January—ensuring Congress does its part to match diplomacy with decisive action.

Read the full bill text here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

Congressman Estes Releases Statement on House Passage of Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2025

Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov

Rep. Barragán Reintroduces Bill to Address Transportation Barriers to Help Americans Access Vaccinations

Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) reintroduced the Vaccine Transportation Access Act to support Americans getting vaccinated by creating a grant program for community organizations to address transportation barriers. 

Grants can be used to provide on-demand transportation for patients directly or pay for transportation services, such as ride-share companies to bring the patients to and from their vaccine appointments. This bill builds upon Rep. Barragán’s COVID Vaccine Transportation Access Act (H.R. 3013) in 2021, which focused on ensuring that people in communities facing transportation barriers could reach their COVID vaccine and booster shot appointments during the pandemic.

“Getting vaccinated can help protect against preventable illnesses, hospitalizations, and increased health care costs across communities,” said Rep. Barragán. “But in many communities like mine, patients may lack the financial resources or reliable transportation to get to their routine check-up – and the closest health center or hospital can be miles away. That is why I’m proud to reintroduce the Vaccine Transportation Access Act to help ensure that Americans can receive the critical preventive care they need, especially at a time when vaccine access and affordability are under attack.”

“Transportation should never stand between a patient and getting a lifesaving vaccine. The Vaccine Transportation Access Act is a smart, practical step that helps communities close that gap. The AAFP is proud to endorse this legislation because it strengthens access, supports evidence-based care and helps ensure every patient — regardless of where they live — can get the vaccinations they need to stay healthy,” said Sarah Nosal, MD, FAAFP, President of American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

“The American College of Physicians strongly believes that immunizations are one of our most important tools to protect public and personal health. However, in order to realize this protection, patients need to be able to access vaccines. Legislation like the Vaccine Transportation Access Act, which would provide resources to help patients get transportation to vaccine appointments, is key to improving access, getting patients vaccinated and protecting our communities,” said Jason M. Goldman, MD, MACP, President of American College of Physicians (ACP).

“Uber is a powerful platform for reducing transportation barriers to healthcare access. We are glad to support Congresswoman Nanette Barragán’s legislation, which would help ensure vulnerable populations can consistently reach the care they need,” said Javi Correoso, Head of Federal Affairs, Uber.

The Vaccine Transportation Act will ensure that the grant program applies to vaccines, as long as they are recommended by:

• The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) as of October 25, 2024; or
• Evidence-based clinical care guidelines from U.S. professional medical societies. 

Original cosponsors of the legislation include Reps. André Carson, Steve Cohen, Debbie Dingell, Jesús “Chuy” García, Dan Goldman, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Darren Soto, Paul Tonko, and Marc Veasey.

The Vaccine Transportation Access Act is endorsed by theAmerican Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG), American College of Physicians (ACP), American Pharmacists Association (APhA), Lyft, Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease (PFID), Uber, and Vaccinate Your Family.

To view the full bill text, click HERE.

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