Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the House Ranking Member of the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe, today went to the House floor to denounce the Trump administration’s recently published National Security Strategy. In his remarks, he said in part:
“At the end of last week, President Trump published his National Security Strategy. It could have been called his National Insecurity Strategy. To say it’s bad is an understatement. It’s disastrous.
“During Europe’s largest land war since World War II, the strategy saves its harshest criticisms for our allies, rather than Russia with war criminal Putin, who started the war. The document elevates a strongman leadership model over democratic values, something unheard of in America. It’s focused on spheres of influence and suggests the strongest person in the region gets to decide the rules. These are not American values.
“Previous National Security Strategies upheld America’s commitment to democracy and human rights, strengthened our alliances and countered powerful adversaries like Russia and China. This strategy abandons that tradition in favor of a narrow transactional approach.
“Notably, the word ‘corruption’ is absent from the entire strategy. It’s well known that global corruption fuels instability, weakens governments and its absence is extremely dangerous and allows bad actors to flourish. The National Security Strategy abandons our allies, our principles and the values that have guided American leadership for decades.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) spoke from the House floor and later voted against the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act after three amendments he proposed to better protect the Memphis water supply were rejected by the Rules Committee. The measure passed on a 221 to 205 vote.
Congressman Cohen’s proposed amendments would have:
Protected Community Drinking Water Aquifers by requiring cumulative impacts assessments, groundwater contamination reviews, and a local public hearing before approving major pipeline or energy projects near a community’s primary drinking water source, such as the Memphis Sand Aquifer
Restored Oversight and Public Participation for Nationwide Permits by reinstating the long-standing five-year review cycle, removing the bill’s mandate for a permanent nationwide pipeline permit, and ensuring any renewal or reissuance includes a public comment period and an opportunity for a public hearing—safeguards that would have prevented the Byhalia Pipeline from advancing with minimal scrutiny
Ensured EPA Health Certification by requiring the agency to certify, using the best available science, that the PERMIT Act would not increase exposure to harmful contaminants, elevate risks to pregnant women, infants, or children, or worsen pollution burdens in communities with documented industrial exposure In his floor remarks, Congressman Cohen said in part:
“I rise in strong opposition to the PERMIT Act. For more than fifty years, the Clean Water Act has kept toxic chemicals out of our rivers, streams, and wetlands our communities rely on. This bill undermines these protections by shielding polluters from responsibility for toxic wastes like PFAS, lead, mercury, and arsenic…I filed three straight-forward amendments to the bill to protect public health. One to require cumulative impacts and groundwater reviews for projects near community drinking water aquifers, like the one that supplies Memphis. Second, to restore oversight and public participation for nationwide permits, protections that would have prevented the Byhalia Pipeline from being rushed through my district. Third, to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to certify that the bill will not increase exposure to harmful contaminants. Unfortunately, none were made in order by the Rules Committee Therefore I oppose the bill and urge a no vote. Permitting reform should not come at the expense of children’s and seniors’ health, clean drinking water, or communities with a history of industrial exposure.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)
Asks whether Senators whose phone metadata was subpoenaed deserve millions from the federal government
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today questioned an expert witness in an oversight hearing on reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s (FISA) Section 702 program which expires in April. His questions to Liza Goitein, the senior director for Liberty and National Security at the Brennan Center for Justice, focused on the impact of artificial intelligence in information gathering and the consistency of FISA court rulings.
He finished his questions to Goitein by asking about the eight Republican Senators, including both Tennessee Senators, and one member of the House of Representatives whose phone metadata was subpoenaed by Special Counsel Jack Smith as he investigated the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
A provision in a massive spending bill that passed last month authorizes payment to the lawmakers of $500,000 to $1 million if they sue over their subpoenaed records, an issue that the Congressman has sought to repeal.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered remarks commemorating Barbara Rose Johns of Virginia, who led a two-week student protest in 1951 that led to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. A statue in her honor will now stand in place of Robert E. Lee in the US Capitol.
LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s a high honor and a distinct privilege [to] celebrate the statue unveiling of Barbara Rose Johns, a trailblazer, freedom fighter and incredible champion for equality.
She was born in New York City and spent her early childhood in the Big Apple—I had to get that in, y’all—before moving with her family to Prince Edward County, where she attended the segregated Moton High School in Farmville, Virginia. At just 16 years old, this courageous student took a stand and rallied hundreds of her classmates to walk out and not return for two weeks to protest the inadequate and intolerable conditions that they endured at their school.
At the time, Moton High School was badly overcrowded, shabby equipment, no gymnasium, no science labs, poor heating and shaky ventilation. Eventually, an overflow space was constructed, but an overflow space consisting of three poorly-made tar paper shacks. It was a separate and unequal, toxic educational environment.
After bringing these poor conditions to the attention of a teacher, Barbara was dismissively told, ‘Why don’t you do something about it?’ And that’s exactly what she did. In retelling the story, she recalled thinking to herself, ‘this is your moment, seize it.’ Barbara Johns rose to the occasion.
The prophet writes in the book of Isaiah, the eleventh chapter, sixth verse, that ‘a child shall lead them.’ It’s a particularly fitting passage of Scripture now engraved in the statue that commemorates her iconic legacy.
The school walkout that Barbara led on April 23, 1951 sparked the school desegregation movement that ultimately culminated in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. Of the five cases that made it up to the Supreme Court, the Virginia case was the only one that emerged from a student-led movement. That’s Black history. That’s American history. And today we celebrate that history by memorializing a true American hero.
The Commonwealth of Virginia will now be properly represented by an actual patriot who embodied the principle of liberty and justice for all, and not a traitor who took up arms against the United States to preserve the brutal institution of chattel slavery.
At the time of Robert E. Lee’s statue unveiling in 1909, Representative Charles Curtis, a Kansas Republican, who later on went to serve as Senate Majority Leader and our nation’s 31st Vice President, remarked, ‘I think it is a disgrace. He was a traitor to his country, and I will not sanction an official honor for a traitor.’
We can remember our deeply troubled past in museums, but should never be given a place of honor in the halls of Congress.
That is why it is so appropriate and important to elevate transformational trailblazers like Barbara Rose Johns. Her story is powerful, her story is moving, and with this honor, her story will never be erased. A statue of her will now stand in the Capitol, joining the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks and other iconic heroes, depicting her call to action as a reminder of the progress that we have made in this great country and the work, of course, we must continue to do.
The late great patriot John Lewis encouraged us in the face of injustice to always stand up, speak up and show up for what we know is right. And most importantly, go out there and get into some good trouble.
That’s exactly what Barbara Rose Johns did at 16 years old, good trouble. And because of her brave act of civil disobedience, it led to one of the most consequential Supreme Court decisions in our nation’s history and helped make America a more just version of herself.
Full remarks at the statue unveiling can be watched here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
The U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Griffith’s H.R. 3632, the Power Plant Reliability Act of 2025.
This legislation amends Section 207 of the Federal Power Act to allow a Regional Transmission Operator (RTO) or state Public Utility Commission to petition the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue an order to keep a power plant open and to allocate any potential operational or transmission costs needed to fix a grid reliability issue. Under the bill, electric power plants that plan to retire are required to issue a public closure notice five years in advance.
House Republican leaders praised passage of Congressman Griffith’s measure.
“Closures of baseload power plants due to burdensome ‘Green New Scam’ regulations are making America’s energy supply and the millions of Americans who rely on it vulnerable. Thankfully, House Republicans passed legislation this week to allow states and regional operators to contest proposed closures on power plants if the closure could impact electric reliability. I’m grateful to Rep. Griffith for introducing the Power Plant Reliability Act and for all his work to ensure we’re able to keep the lights on for American families at an affordable rate.”— House Majority Leader Steve Scalise
“As artificial intelligence becomes more prominent, the need for a reliable American energy supply has never been higher. Meanwhile, Democrats took us backwards with Green New Scam policies that stifled American energy under the Biden administration. My friend, Representative Griffith, addresses both of these concerns with his commonsense Power Plant Reliability Act. I’m grateful for his leadership on this important issue and look forward to working alongside our entire House Republican team to make America’s energy supply strong, secure, and affordable again.” — House Majority Whip Tom Emmer
“House Republicans are doing what the Democrats’ regulatory agenda won’t do: Delivering reliable, affordable American energy. This bill keeps critical power plants online and lowers costs for families who got crushed by President Biden’s anti-energy agenda.” — House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain
“To support reliable and affordable electricity for hard-working American families, we cannot afford to take baseload power offline. The Power Plant Reliability Act enhances the tools available to states and grid operators to keep vital power plants operational and prevent blackouts. The ongoing reliability crisis facing our nation has been caused by Democrat policies designed to drive out baseload power in favor of wind and solar that cannot meet our needs. Thank you to Chairman Griffith for leading this critical legislation to strengthen our grid and lower electricity prices.”— House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie
“Because of radical ‘Green New Deal’ policies that shun reliable forms of energy like natural gas, coal and nuclear, our electric grid faces a brewing crisis of premature baseload power plant retirements. My bill, the Power Plant Reliability Act, will help shield Americans from blackout threats and ensure the reliable delivery of power to American homes, factories and communities. Thanks to strong leaders like Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Whip Emmer, Chairwoman McClain, Chairman Guthrie and Chairwoman Foxx, the United States Congress is focused on supporting affordable and reliable energy solutions for the American people.”— Representative Morgan Griffith
Industry leaders also expressed support for Congressman Griffith’s bill.
“Time and again when winter cold hits, it’s coal that comes to the reliability rescue. Congressman Griffith’s Power Plant Reliability Act will ensure that reliable coal power remains available to keep the lights on and homes warm by preventing the premature retirement of much needed coal plants. We simply can’t afford to close plants that provide affordable and dependable power to Americans.”– Rich Nolan, President and CEO, National Mining Association
BACKGROUND
In June, the Energy and Commerce Committee favorably reported Congressman Griffith’s measure. During that markup hearing, Congressman Griffith spoke in support of his bill.
Congressman Griffith has long held concerns about the early retirement of Virginia’s and regional electric power plants, including the impacts on electric bills in Southwest Virginia.
In June, Congressman Griffith penned a Washington Examiner op-ed that discussed bolstering America’s electric grid.
Congressman Griffith serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Coal Caucus.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 4371, the Kayla Hamilton Act, which closes dangerous loopholes that allowed unaccompanied alien children (UACs) with criminal or gang affiliations, including MS-13 ties, to exploit the system under President Biden. It also ensures future administrations cannot repeat the reckless Biden-era policies that endangered Americans and left thousands of vulnerable children exposed to trafficking, exploitation, and disappearance.
“The tragedy that took the life of Kayla Hamilton was a senseless and predictable consequence of President Biden’s wide-open border and dangerous, morally indefensible policies,” Speaker Johnson said. “The Kayla Hamilton Act puts an end to this madness so no future administration can make such reckless decisions. House Republicans worked to honor Kayla’s memory today with the passage of this bill and our efforts will continue to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again.”
“The murder of Kayla Hamilton was a tragedy and entirely preventable,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s radical open-borders policies failed to protect American communities and allowed dangerous MS-13 gang members to roam our streets. The Kayla Hamilton Act puts public safety first, restores accountability, and protects American citizens.”
“Kayla’s story is heartbreaking, and it exposed a catastrophic failure in our federal system,” Congressman Russell Fry said. “This bill is not about politics—it is about learning from a preventable tragedy and making sure the federal government never again releases a known gang-affiliated individual into an American community without basic safeguards. Kayla Hamilton should still be alive, and no child should ever be placed in harm’s way or subjected to exploitation because the government failed to do its job. Kayla was a vibrant young woman with a future, and her life mattered. By passing the Kayla Hamilton Act in the House, we are taking a decisive step to protect families, ensure children are placed with safe sponsors, and prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again.”
Background:
On July 27, 2022, 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton was brutally raped and murdered by Walter Javier Martinez, an illegal alien and known MS-13 gang member released into the U.S. under President Biden without background checks. Authorities were unaware of Martinez’s criminal history in El Salvador and MS-13 gang ties until after his arrest, when he admitted to four murders, two rapes, and other serious crimes.
Investigations found that the Biden Administration failed to properly screen UACs, ignored warning signs, silenced whistleblowers, and prioritized rapid UACs placement over the safety of Americans and vulnerable children. President Biden’s open border and broader systemic failures contributed to the exploitation, trafficking, and disappearance of thousands of unaccompanied children.
H.R. 4371—The Kayla Hamilton Act (Sponsored by Rep. Russell Fry): closes dangerous loopholes in the federal government’s handling of unaccompanied alien children (UACs), restores oversight and accountability, and ensures tragedies like Kayla Hamilton’s murder never happen again. The Kayla Hamilton Act, HERE. The 2023 House Judiciary Committee Full Interim Report on the Murder of Kayla Hamilton, HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-16), anoriginal co-sponsorof theWhole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025,applauded the House of Representatives’ overwhelming passage of the bipartisan legislation this week. The bill restores flexibility for schools to offer whole and 2% milk options, ensuring children have access to the nutrition they need to grow, thrive, and succeed in the classroom.
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025,led by U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture,allows schools to serve flavored and unflavored whole and 2% milk as part of federally supported school meal programs.
“I have worked for a decade to restore whole milk to our school cafeterias, which have been limiting healthy choices for students, but that changes today,”said Rep. Thompson. “Whole milk is an essential building block for a well-rounded and balanced diet, and students should have the option to choose the milk they love.”
“Good nutrition is the foundation for a child’s health, learning, and long-term success,”said Rep. Kelly.“For years, misguided federal policies limited healthy choices in school cafeterias and pushed students toward less nutritious alternatives. I was proud to co-sponsorthe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Actto give schools and families more flexibility and help ensure kids have access to the nutrients they need to stay healthy and focused in the classroom.”
The legislation also earned bipartisan support from lawmakers and broad backing from health professionals, educators, farmers, and dairy organizations who emphasized the importance of providing nutritious, appealing options that encourage students to participate in school meal programs.
Following House passage,the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)
December 16, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35), Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) led the bicameral introduction of the Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act, legislation that would mobilize resources across the federal government to disrupt firearms trafficking from the United States to Latin America and the Caribbean and implement stronger transparency, accountability, and oversight for U.S. arms exports.
“Our country’s broken gun laws have global consequences—they have destabilized nations and fueled violence in the streets of Mexico, the Caribbean, and across the Western Hemisphere for decades,” said Congressman Castro. “The ARMAS Act is a necessary step to curbing the flow of U.S. made weapons to Latin America and saving lives. The Trump administration’s unregulated export regulations spread terror far beyond our own borders. It’s time to stop this carnage and hold the State Department accountable for regulating gun exports.”
“Every year, hundreds of thousands of American-made guns are illegally trafficked into Latin American countries. These guns are then used by cartels and gangs to commit violence and sow instability that has real consequences for us here at home. Our bill would overhaul the current system for approving firearms exports, increasing transparency and making it harder for dangerous people to get their hands on illegally trafficked guns,” said Senator Murphy.
“For too long, dangerous American made firearms have been allowed to flow beyond our borders with far too little oversight, fueling violence, displacement, and instability throughout Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “As someone who has spent years working to combat firearms trafficking and its devastating impact on communities in the Northern Triangle, I know that transparency and accountability save lives. The ARMAS Act restores strong State Department oversight of U.S. arms exports, brings federal agencies together to shut down trafficking networks, and ensures our policies do not undermine the safety of our neighbors or our own national security.”
“Transnational criminal organizations, especially drug cartels, rely on American-made guns to control their human trafficking and drug smuggling operations by force,” said Congressman Dan Goldman. “We must take every avenue possible to ensure that American weapons do not get into the hands of the cartels, who use them to threaten the safety and prosperity of the entire Western Hemisphere. It’s incumbent upon American leadership and a strong federal response to keep weapons of war out of the hands of the cartels. The ARMAS Act is a key component of that much-needed response.”
“Weapons trafficked through the United States are fueling Haiti’s escalating gang violence and deepening the country’s instability,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus. “Strengthening transparency, accountability, and oversight of U.S. arms exports is essential to addressing this regional challenge and preventing firearms from falling into the hands of dangerous criminals.”
The ARMAS Act will address these challenges by:
Transferring small arms authority from the Department of Commerce back to the Department of State to ensure greater accountability and transparency;
Requiring the development of a comprehensive interagency strategy and program to disrupt arms trafficking;
Providing congressional notification, review, and oversight of certain small arms exports;
Requires the submission of an annual report by the State Department and relevant agencies that will allow Congress to understand the challenges and successes of current efforts to address illegal arms trafficking and inform future strategies;
Tracing the origin of firearms captured from criminals by increasing the adoption of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms’ e-Trace platform by foreign law enforcement agencies;
Prohibiting the Department of Commerce from promoting small arm sales globally throughout the transfer of authority period.
Background:
Congressman Castro has been a longtime leader in efforts to prevent gun violence and stem the illegal trafficking of U.S. firearms across the Western Hemisphere. Recent efforts include:
In October 2025, Reps. Castro, Gregory Meeks (NY-05) and Senators Warren (D-MA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), wrote to the Department of Commerce and the State Department pressing for answers about the Trump administration’s elimination of a rule that was stemming the export of dangerous weapons to cartels and criminal organizations around the world.
In February 2025, Reps. Castro, Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Maxwell Frost (FL-10) and Senator Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Stop Arming Cartels Act, legislation that aims to address the sale and trafficking of firearms from the United States to transnational criminal organizations abroad.
In March 2024, Reps. Castro and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), along with Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), introduced the Caribbean Arms Trafficking Causes Harm (CATCH) Act, legislation designed to curb illicit arms trafficking from the United States to the Caribbean.
In December 2023, Reps. Castro, Norma Torres (CA-35), Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) led more than a dozen of their colleagues to introduce the Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act, legislation that would mobilize resources across the federal government to disrupt firearms trafficking from the United States to Latin America and the Caribbean and implement stronger transparency, accountability, and oversight for U.S. arms exports.
In September 2023, Reps. Castro, Norma Torres (CA-35), and Dan Goldman (NY-10), along with Senator Warren, sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, seeking answers on Commerce’s lackluster oversight of assault weapons exports and its failure to release data on its approvals of these exports.
In April 2023, Reps. Castro (TX-20) and Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), along with Senator Dick Durbin (IL), wrote to the Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office calling for a federal probe into the consequences of firearms trafficking from the United States to the Caribbean. The report, which was subsequently released in November 2024, found that 73% of guns recovered in the Caribbean can be traced back to the United States.
In 2022, Congressman Castro voted to pass, and President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun violence prevention reform in nearly three decades. Among its many provisions, the law created new federal criminal offenses for firearm straw purchasing and trafficking.
The ARMAS Act is co-sponsored by Reps. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), and Rob Menendez (NJ-08).
The ARMAS Act is endorsed by the Newtown Action Alliance, Stop U.S. Arms to Mexico (a project of Global Change), and the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
In Emancipation Hall of the U.S. Capitol, House Speaker Mike Johnson hosted a statue unveiling and dedication ceremony to honor Virginia’s new contribution to National Statuary Hall. The new contribution is civil rights icon Barbara Rose Johns of Prince Edward County, who is remembered for her courageous actions to protest racial segregation in Virginia public schools.
Barbara Rose Johns joins George Washington as Virginia’s two representatives in the National Statuary Hall Collection. Every U.S. state is granted the opportunity to contribute two statues to the Collection.
In attendance for the ceremony were Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, numerous state and federal elected officials from Virginia and guests from Virginia’s Ninth District who were invited by U.S. Congressman Griffith (R-VA).
Following the ceremony, Congressman Griffith issued the following statement:
“Barbara Rose Johns is a historic figure in Virginia and U.S. history. Her leadership during the civil rights movement was featured in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case that would overturn racial segregation and usher in a new era of social change in the United States.
“Barbara Rose Johns’ contributions to societal progress earned her the immense honor of being featured as part of the National Statuary Hall Collection. I join Virginia communities and the country in celebrating the inspiring legacy of Barbara Rose Johns.”
One of Congressman Griffith’s guests to the ceremony was Dr. Mickey Hickman of Pulaski, Virginia. Dr. Hickman is President of the Calfee Center’s Board of Directors. Dr. Hickman shared his thoughts:
“I am very pleased that Congressman Griffith had the benevolence to include me in this historic occasion. I am a former public schools history teacher. I taught about things that occurred in years past. But this is an era that I lived in and to see this recognition come to an individual a lot braver than me is heartening! It just happens to be that this history being celebrated today has a connective history to the project that I am working with in Pulaski, Virginia, one that the Congressman visited and made acquaintances. I appreciate him remembering me and our project’s story.”
Video coverage of today’s ceremony can be found here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)
Rep. Ben Cline (VA-06), alongside Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), introduced the Protecting Ballot Measures From Foreign Influence Act of 2025, which would prohibit contributions and donations from foreign nationals seeking to influence state and local ballot initiatives and referenda.
“Foreign nationals should have absolutely no role in influencing the outcome of American elections, whether at the federal, state, or local level. My Protecting Ballot Measures From Foreign Influence Act closes a dangerous loophole by ensuring that ballot initiatives and referenda are decided by American citizens alone, not foreign money or foreign interests. This commonsense legislation strengthens election integrity and reaffirms that the future of our communities must be determined by those who live in them,” said Rep. Ben Cline.
“Folks of all political stripes agree that U.S. citizens, not foreign nationals should determine the outcome of U.S. elections,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “Ballot measures can have an immense impact on life in the United States, and they must be protected from the whims of international bad actors. I take seriously my duty to keep our elections safe, secure, and solely decided by the American people.”
Congressman Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.