MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Luz Rivas (CA-29), and George Whitesides (CA-27) made an unannounced oversight visit to the California City Detention Center, the largest facility in California operated by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE).

“There are over 1,600 civil detainees being held at taxpayers’ great expense at this former prison outside California City,” the Members said. “Congress has the authority and responsibility to conduct oversight and ensure that all individuals in federal custody are treated in accordance with the law. What we observed during our visit is an improvement from the abysmal conditions in November that were described in AG Bonta’s report, but ICE is still falling short when it comes to providing adequate healthcare and contact visits for detainees. Due to the Trump administration’s policies, people are in custody for long periods of time. Republicans sent $75 billion to ICE in their Big Ugly Law last summer, yet ICE continues to operate substandard facilities around the United States where death rates and illness have skyrocketed. As we return to Washington next week, we will continue to fight for transparency from ICE, and we will hold this agency accountable for any violations of the law.”

The four Members of Congress spent roughly two hours touring the facility and were granted access with no advanced notice, as federal courts have upheld the authority of Congress to investigate detention conditions at ICE facilities.

The California City Detention Center, operated by CoreCivic, is a former prison in Kern County with a maximum capacity of 2,560 detainees, according to the 2026 California Department of Justice report on immigration detention released on May 15th. That report concluded that this facility had crisis-level healthcare understaffing in November 2025 with only one physician providing care, and no backup physician consistently available to provide coverage when the single physician was unavailable. That report also said that healthcare records and detainee interviews revealed multiple instances of failures to give detainees access to outside specialists.

A federal district court issued a preliminary injunction on February 10th requiring extensive reforms at Cal City due to likely violations of detainees’ constitutional rights at the facility resulting from the substandard conditions.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd District of California)

Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following statement condemning Donald Trump and his Administration’s efforts to weaponize federal resources and government authority to target sanctuary cities and expand his mass deportation agenda, including reported proposals that could disrupt operations at major airports like Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

“Trump’s revenge agenda, in which he is weaponizing the government to go after his enemies, now includes targeting American cities and the entire American economy. Even as gasoline and grocery prices skyrocket because of Trump’s unlawful and failed wars overseas, the President and the Department of Homeland Security now want to stop all international travel and trade coming through Los Angeles International Airport and numerous other major airports. LAX alone handled nearly $180 billion in international trade last year and welcomed 23 million international visitors. But these visitors and trade don’t just stay in Los Angeles or these other major ports of entry, they go on to every part of the country.

This isn’t the first time Trump has used airports as a weapon to push his dangerous agenda.  Earlier this year, he shut down the government, including the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), and forced thousands of TSA agents to work without pay because he wanted federal agents to continue to use intimidation and racist tactics common in places like Russia.
  
Trump’s latest threat couldn’t come at a worse time for Americans. According to the Federal Reserve, nearly one in ten Americans doesn’t have enough food to eat, higher even that at the height of the pandemic. Trump already said the quiet part out loud, he doesn’t think about Americans’ financial situation. Instead, he’s more focused on his ballroom and unlawful wars.

The residents of Los Angeles and other sanctuary cities overwhelmingly reject Trump’s terrible immigration and failed economic policies. I hope every American will join me and push back against yet another one of Trump’s threats, because if he isn’t stopped, prices will continue to rise, jobs will be lost, and everyone will be worse off.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd District of California)

Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following statement condemning Donald Trump and his Administration’s dangerous efforts to use federal agencies and sensitive government data to expand control over voter eligibility verification, including the use of Social Security, DHS, USCIS, passport, and DMV records as part of a sweeping escalation of federal involvement in elections.

“In one of his many desperate attempts to interfere in our elections, Trump issued an executive order this year aimed at making it harder for Americans to use mail-in ballots. The order attempts to shift authority over elections from the states and into the hands of the federal government by directing federal agencies to determine who can and can’t vote, and other actions. This is an unlawful overreach that is a direct attack on our Constitution, and it undermines a core tenet of our democracy—free and fair elections.    

Unfortunately, earlier this month, the Trump loyalists sitting on the Supreme Court dealt another devastating blow to the Voting Rights Act making it easier for states in the Jim Crow south to minimize the voting power of Black and other minority voters.  Today, a MAGA judge allowed Trump’s dangerous attempt to take over our elections to proceed. This decision must be appealed, and the courts must immediately determine whether Trump’s order would violate the law and our Constitution.

Trump knows that Americans reject his failed economic policies. He knows that his agenda has fueled an affordability crisis where one in ten Americans don’t have enough food to eat, which is even higher than during the pandemic. He knows that gas is at its highest price in the last four years. Rather than try to ease Americans financial pain, Trump is busy doing everything he can to take control of the elections this fall, including by targeting our most underserved and underrepresented communities.

Make no mistake, this is a dangerous and deliberate attempt to undermine the integrity of our elections and silence the voices of the American people. Time and time again, Donald Trump has shown us that he does not believe in democracy unless it guarantees him power. But in America, presidents do not choose voters. Voters choose their presidents. No president is above the Constitution, nor has the right to rewrite the rules of our democracy for his own political gain. Rest assured, I and my Democratic colleagues will remain steadfast in our fight against this abuse of power in the courts, in Congress, and alongside the people on the ground in communities across this country because the right to vote is sacred, and we will never allow it to be stolen, suppressed, or manipulated.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

LONG BRANCH, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today issued the following statement after reports that detainees inside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey were being subjected to violent retaliation by federal immigration enforcement.

“My office has received concerned calls from New Jerseyans who have reported that detainees at Delaney Hall have been beaten and pepper sprayed in retaliation for protesting the horrific conditions of this for-profit facility.

“When I visited Delaney Hall on Monday, I saw firsthand the appalling conditions law-abiding immigrants are protesting. To meet completely reasonable demands for health care and due process under the Constitution with violence is unacceptable.

“Trump’s ICE must de-escalate the situation at Delaney Hall and then shutter it permanently. We have had enough of this coordinated campaign of brutality. My colleagues and I will not rest until this facility closes its doors and our communities are made whole again.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

(Houston, TX) — On Thursday, May 28, 2026, Congressman Al Green released the following statement in response to an additional statement from AIPAC:   

Click here to see the full thread of Congressman Al Green and AIPAC’s responses.

Congressman Al Green’s response: “On behalf of tens of millions of hardworking Americans facing an affordability crisis, and who are in need of the billions of hard-earned tax dollars we send to Israel annually, it is time for Israel to finance its own wars.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

May 28, 2026

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Jared Huffman, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, filed an amicus brief in federal court to stop President Trump’s illegal demolition and reconstruction of the White House East Wing to build a billion-dollar ballroom for his billionaire friends and donors.

“Donald Trump looked at a country full of people working hard and still falling behind, and he decided what America needed was a gaudy ballroom. Now he is reaching into the pockets of working families for crystal chandeliers and gold trim while Americans are told to tighten their belts. The White House does not belong to Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies. We are fighting this in court,” said Ranking Member Jared Huffman.

“While working families are told there’s no money for affordable housing, healthcare, or lowering everyday costs, President Trump is building a billion-dollar ballroom. Everyone should be disgusted by his illegal and unconstitutional vanity project. We are fighting this in court,” said Ranking Member Robert Garcia.

“Senate Democrats were able to knock taxpayer funding for Republicans’ gilded ballroom out of the reconciliation bill, but the law is clear that the entire project is illegal,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. 

The lawmakers filed the amicus brief in the case National Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Service, currently pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging President Trump’s demolition of the White House East Wing without congressional authorization or appropriation. Congress controls federal property, including the White House, and for more than two centuries every major renovation has gone through congressional authorization and appropriation. Trump bypassed Congress entirely, and no law authorizes what he is doing.

Full list of amicus brief signatories: Rep. Robert Garcia (CA-42), Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Rep. Gabe Amo (RI-01), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Rep. Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL), Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Rep. Wesley Bell (MO-01), Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rep. Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11), Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26), Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Rep. Janelle S. Bynum (OR-05), Rep. Salud O. Carbajal (CA-24), Rep. Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02), Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35), Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06), Rep. Ed Case (HI-01), Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05), Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09), Rep. Herbert C. Conaway Jr. (NJ-03), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02), Rep. Jason Crow (CO-06), Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Rep. Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Rep. April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Rep. Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11), Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Rep. Laura Friedman (CA-30), Rep. John Garamendi (CA-08), Rep. Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Rep. Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Rep. Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Rep. Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Rep. Pablo José Hernández (PR-AL), Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04), Rep. Val Hoyle (OR-04), Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rep. Julie Johnson (TX-32), Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Rep. William Keating (MA-09), Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy (NY-26), Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01), Rep. George Latimer (NY-16), Rep. Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03), Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49), Rep. Sam T. Liccardo (CA-16), Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-07), Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-04), Rep. James P. McGovern (MA-02), Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Rep. Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep. Robert J. Menendez (NJ-08), Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Rep. Dave Min (CA-47), Rep. Gwen S. Moore (WI-04), Rep. Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Rep. Richard E. Neal (MA-01), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06), Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), Rep. Scott H. Peters (CA-50), Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Rep. Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-05), Rep. Emily Randall (WA-06), Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Rep. Luz M. Rivas (CA-29), Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-32), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Rep. Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09), Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09), Rep. Melanie A. Stansbury (NM-01), Rep. Haley M. Stevens (MI-11), Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04), Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Rep. Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02), Rep. Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Rep. Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03), Rep. Derek T. Tran (CA-45), Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Rep. Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Rep. James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rep. George Whitesides (CA-27), Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR).

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced Wenqing Lu from Oak Park High School as the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for California’s 26th Congressional District. Lu’s piece, “Inner Worlds Never Fade,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for one year. 

“I am always deeply impressed by the incredible artwork submitted to my office in the Congressional Art Competition, and in my final year of hosting this event, the pieces we received from students throughout our region surpassed all expectations. Wenqing Lu’s poignant artwork exemplifies the creativity and talent that thrives in our community, and I congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition and the opportunity to have her work displayed in the halls of our Capitol,” said Congresswoman Brownley. 

“Art is a powerful form of expression that allows students to harness their imagination and share perspectives, experiences, and ideas that matter deeply to them. I am proud of every student who participated in this year’s competition and shared something meaningful through their work. This event is truly a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our community’s up-and-coming artists and the unique voices they bring to the world.”

“I am incredibly honored to have my artwork selected as the first place winner in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. Seeing my work recognized alongside so many talented artists in our community is deeply meaningful for me and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to share my work on this platform. Art has become one of the most important ways I express my thoughts, explore identity, and communicate ideas that are difficult to express with just words alone. I love doing art whenever I can because it soothes me and lets me harness my creative freedom. I also hope viewers can connect my art with their own interpretations and experiences. With this painting, I wanted to show how inner worlds never fade. Even in old age, like the woman I painted, creativity is always there. That childlike wonder still exists deep inside all of us,” said Wenqing Lu, 2026 Congressional Art Competition winner for California’s 26th Congressional District.

“We are so proud of Wenqing! Her piece speaks to the joy and fullness of life while celebrating multi-generational relationships. Art is meant to be shared and we are honored that one of our students’ voices will be displayed so others can enjoy it,” said Mat McClenahan, principal of Oak Park High School. 

“Oak Park High School is proud that Wenqing Lu is representing our school and district for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. ‘Inner Worlds Never Fade’ represents our people and our diverse, beautiful community. Wenqing shows the joy of creativity encompassing innovation that never truly leaves you, no matter what age. I am so proud of the work that is being created in our classroom, the talent and passion at Oak Park High School is terrific. Wenqing’s work leaves me in awe and I am proud to know her for the kind person that she is as well,” said Anna Mendez, Visual Arts and AP Art teacher at Oak Park High School.

“This year’s Congressional Art Competition was both challenging and rewarding to judge. It was challenging because the number of entries demonstrating advanced artistic skill, creative experimentation, and technical mastery made selecting a winner no easy task. At the same time, it was deeply rewarding to see how students interpreted the world around them on canvas and paper. Wenqing Lu’s compelling juxtaposition of highly realistic figurative art with whimsical illustrations, combined with its intimate familial theme, distinguished the work as especially deserving of the competition’s top honor,” said Jeffrey Bowen, art competition judge. 

“It was an honor to serve as one of the judges for this year’s Congressional Art Competition. When I arrived to judge I decided to start with the ‘wow factor’ to get a feel for the work submitted. As I quickly walked past all the work, I was immediately drawn to four pieces on the first pass. Knowing the makers were all high school students, I was very impressed at the skill level on display with each work of art. There were 34 submissions, and I began judging by sitting with each piece and absorbing the topic, the colors, the style, and how the piece made me feel — that is what art & photography is all about anyway.  As I moved from piece to piece, I could envision who each artist was by the feeling the work revealed. The piece that won, ‘Inner Worlds Never Fade’ had all of that!” said Bill Horstick, art competition judge. 

“Wenqing Lu’s ‘Inner Worlds Never Fade’ captures the boundless possibilities that imagination offers. Her work feels like a doorway into something deeply personal yet universally felt by individuals of any and all ages. She beautifully captured a moment where ideas stretch beyond limits and take on a life of their own. It’s a powerful reminder that imagination doesn’t just reflect our inner worlds, it expands them,” said Cristian Rivas, art competition judge.

Two honorable mentions were also recognized: “Uniquely American” by Dylan Li from Newbury Park High School and “us.” by Kate O’Loughlin from Westlake High School.

Started in 1982, the nationwide Congressional Art Competition is sponsored by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and provides an opportunity to recognize and encourage student artistic talent from across the country. 

Submissions from students in grades 9-12 across California’s 26th Congressional District were judged by a panel of local judges who work in the arts, academic, and social work fields. This year’s submissions were judged by Jeffrey Bowen, Director of Library Programming and Public Affairs at Pepperdine University; Bill Horstick, Superintendent for Ventura County Fairgrounds’ Photography Department; and Cristian Rivas, a local artist from Oxnard.

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Issues: 119th Congress, Local Issues

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, during Celiac Disease Awareness Month, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced the Celiac Safety Act to strengthen food labeling law and protect the roughly 3 million Americans with Celiac Disease. The legislation is the first proposal in Congress to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to mandate the inclusion of “gluten-containing grains” as a major food allergen, ensuring manufacturers label the inclusion of all gluten-containing ingredients in products made available to the public.

“More than three million Americans are impacted by Celiac Disease in the United States, forcing them to maintain a careful diet or face serious health challenges that come with the disease,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Current food labeling law does not account for all gluten-containing ingredients, like barley and rye, making the tedious task of avoiding these ingredients in public products extremely and unnecessarily challenging for many of our neighbors. By taking the simple step of requiring the FDA to include all gluten-containing grains as a major food allergen, we can help prevent unnecessary health struggles for millions across the country.”

“All of us know someone with Celiac disease, and all of us have seen the suffering that can come with it. As co-chair of the Celiac Disease Caucus, I’m glad to co-lead the Celiac Safety Act with Congressman Cleaver. The United States is one of the only developed nations that doesn’t require food manufacturers to list gluten as a major allergen. Our bill would change that, helping the nearly three million Americans with the disease to avoid gluten exposure and make informed choices about the food they consume,” said Congresswoman McCollum.

“Gluten-containing grains trigger a serious autoimmune response in celiac disease patients, yet current labeling laws fail to recognize that risk with the same clarity afforded to other ingredients listed as major allergens. Recategorizing gluten-containing grains as a major food allergen would strengthen transparency, reduce preventable medical harm, and help millions of Americans make safe food choices with confidence. The Celiac Disease Foundation applauds Representatives Cleaver and McCollum for introducing the Celiac Safety Act, and we urge members of Congress to pass this important legislation,” said Marilyn G. Geller, CEO of Celiac Disease Foundation.

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the lining of the small intestine when individuals consume the protein gluten, which can be found in wheat, barley, and rye. There is no cure, and the only treatment is adherence to a strict gluten-free diet.

While Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, and all 27 member states of the European Union require manufacturers to list gluten as a major allergen, the United States only requires manufacturers to list wheat as a major allergen, which does not account for other gluten-containing grains like barley and rye. This makes it difficult for individuals with Celiac Disease to assess the risk of individual food products while managing their condition. 

The Celiac Safety Act will protect individuals with Celiac Disease by:

• Requiring any product containing wheat, barley, or rye to list “gluten-containing grains” as a major allergen.
• Provide an 18-month implementation window for the FDA and manufacturers.

The Celiac Safety Act is endorsed by the Celiac Disease Foundation, American Gastroenterological Association, and Society for the Study of Celiac Disease.

A one-pager for the Celiac Safety Act is available here.

Official text of the Celiac Safety Act is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

May 28, 2026

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) led a bipartisan effort to ensure Congress has the information it needs to protect and support victims of sexual assault in American schools. In a letter to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, the lawmakers urged the Department to provide Congress with accurate, up-to-date data on complaints received and the outcomes of related investigations and to resume publication of related materials.

“As members of Congress, we rely on timely and accurate information from federal agencies to inform policymaking and oversight,” the lawmakers wrote. “It is essential that Congress can assess the nature, severity, and scope of barriers to education facing our constituents. This information helps guide how Congress should apply its regulatory and funding authorities within the education system. OCR serves as an important backstop when schools, colleges, universities, or state and local educational agencies are unable or unwilling to protect students’ civil rights.”

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has a long history of addressing sexual assault, harassment, and sex-based discrimination in schools that receive funding under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The Department of Education Organization Act authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights to collect or coordinate the collection of data necessary to ensure compliance with civil rights laws within OCR’s jurisdiction. Congress, victims, and others who are committed to protecting against and supporting victims of sexual assault have historically relied on public reporting by the OCR to understand its enforcement activity.

Text of the letter can be found below. A copy of the letter can be found here.

Dear Secretary McMahon and Assistant Secretary Richey:

As Members of Congress responsible for the oversight of the Executive branch, we request information regarding the Department of Education’s (ED) management of sexual violence, assault, harassment, and misconduct cases within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). OCR provides an invaluable service to students nationwide by enforcing civil rights laws to protect the fundamental right to a safe and secure education.

Sexual assault, including sexual harassment and sexual violence, continue to impact students’ ability to access education. Student survey data indicate that more than 20% of girls aged 14-18 report being kissed or touched without their consent. At the postsecondary level, one in four undergraduate women are sexually assaulted, and male college-aged students are 78% more likely than non-students of the same age to be victims of sexual assault. Research shows that youth who experience sexual abuse have lower grades, attain lower levels of education, and are more likely to drop out of school as compared to their peers. Across multiple studies, sexual assault is associated with declines in grade point average, self-regulated learning problems, and an increased likelihood of dropping out of university. Academic settings must remain safe environments for learning and growth for all students.

Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, schools and other educational programs that receive federal financial assistance may not discriminate on the basis of sex. This includes a duty of recipients to address sex-based harassment, including sexual harassment and sexual violence, when they have actual knowledge of incidents that are serious enough to limit or deny a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the institution’s educational programs or activities. A recipient must take prompt and appropriate action to stop the harassment, prevent its recurrence, and remedy its effects. Title IX also prohibits retaliation against individuals who report discrimination or participate in a Title IX process.

Investigative staff at OCR investigate complaints alleging discrimination by educational programs that receive federal funding and issue regulations, policy guidance, and technical assistance to support compliance. OCR responds to Title IX complaints filed by individuals or submitted on their behalf by assessing and, where appropriate, investigating the allegations. If OCR determines that a recipient is not in compliance with Title IX, it seeks to resolve the matter through a voluntary resolution agreement that outlines the corrective actions the institution must take. OCR then monitors implementation of that agreement to ensure the institution returns to compliance. ED may initiate an action for the termination of federal funds or make a referral to DOJ for other enforcement when a voluntary resolution cannot be reached.

Additionally, the Department of Education Organization Act authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights to collect or coordinate the collection of data necessary to ensure compliance with civil rights laws within OCR’s jurisdiction. This authority is implemented in part through the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) a biennial survey of public school districts and schools. The CRDC gathers data on a range of civil rights indicators, including sexual violence and harassment. OCR uses this data to inform its enforcement work, identify trends, and help guide policy and oversight priorities to ensure safe and equitable learning environments.

Congress has historically relied on public reporting by the OCR to understand its enforcement activity. Specifically, OCR has published investigation letters and resolution documents on resolved sexual harassment and sexual violence cases on its “Recent Resolution Search” website page. While cases involving other types of discrimination continue to be posted, as of now, the website does not appear to include any sexual harassment or sexual violence resolutions since January 20, 2025. Additionally, only 177 resolutions were posted on the website for the entire year 2025.

These figures are inconsistent with other publicly reported information. In court filings, OCR reported having resolved 581 voluntary agreements, mediated settlements, or technical assistance between March and September 2025. Congress has also relied on insights from the publicly available list of institutions currently under investigation, which OCR has published on its “Pending Cases Currently Under Investigation at Elementary-Secondary and Post-Secondary Schools” webpage. However, this site has not been updated since January 14, 2025. Considering these variations, the absence of sexual harassment or sexual violence cases reported on these webpages may reflect gaps in public reporting or a lack of enforcement activity by OCR during this period.

As members of Congress, we rely on timely and accurate information from federal agencies to inform policymaking and oversight. It is essential that Congress can assess the nature, severity, and scope of barriers to education facing our constituents. This information helps guide how Congress should apply its regulatory and funding authorities within the education system.

OCR serves as an important backstop when schools, colleges, universities, or state and local educational agencies are unable or unwilling to protect students’ civil rights. We recognize ED, including OCR, has undergone staffing changes, which may impact its capacity to manage caseloads. However, it remains critical that OCR maintains its focus on handling these sensitive matters and provides consistent, transparent communication to Congress.

We urge OCR to resume regular updates to its webpages, including posting information on cases involving sexual harassment and sexual violence. We also request that ED directly respond to the following, either through written correspondence or a briefing to the signatories of this letter:

• The status of current and recent cases involving sexual harassment and sexual violence, including:

  • the number of complaints received, resolution agreements reached, and cases dismissed 2025 since January 20, 2025.

• An explanation of the prioritization of cases concerning school-based sexual violence and sexual harassment, including:

  • Average processing times from complaint receipt to resolution or dismissal;

  • Staffing levels at OCR, including, particularly, those working with cases of sexual violence and harassment:

    • The number of investigators,

    • The average caseload per investigator,

    • A breakdown of staff, including how many are permanent versus temporary, and how many are assigned to sexual harassment and sexual violence cases.

• An explanation of the criteria used to determine which cases and resolution documents are published on the Office for Civil Rights Recent Resolution Search webpage

• An explanation of how OCR manages the public “Pending Cases Currently Under Investigation at Elementary-Secondary and Post-Secondary Schools” webpage, including whether and when OCR expects to resume regular updates.

• The status and planned release dates for the 2023 to 2024 CRDC data and public and restricted use data sets.

• Whether OCR is including data on sexual harassment and sexual violence in the CRDC for the 2023 to 2024 cycle, including in both public use and restricted use datasets, and how OCR plans to incorporate and use this data in future collections to support civil rights enforcement.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your prompt response and continuing to work together to ensure the safety of our nation’s students from sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Sincerely,

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