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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2025

Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov

Reps. Barragán, Kean, Jr., Miller-Meeks, Auchincloss, Fitzpatrick, and Watson Coleman Re-Introduce Legislation to Protect Patients from High Prescription Drug Costs 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) joined Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) to reintroduce the Help Ensure Lower Patient (HELP) Copays Act to make life-saving prescription medications more affordable for patients with rare, serious, and chronic conditions.

This bipartisan legislation would require insurance companies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to count the value of copay assistance they receive on a patient’s behalf toward cost-sharing requirements. This change ensures that payments, whether they come directly out of a patient’s pocket or with help from non-profit organizations and prescription drug manufacturers, contribute toward a patient’s annual deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

Rep. Barragán said, “For patients living with complex and chronic diseases, access to prescription drugs that help them manage their condition saves lives, plain and simple. But too many Americans are unable to afford the medications they need because the out-of-pocket costs are too high. This is unacceptable. Americans work hard every day to make sure they can feed their families and take care of their loved ones. They should not be priced out of receiving the life-saving medications they rely on. That is why I am proud to co-lead, the HELP Copays Act, with Congressman Kean. This bipartisan bill will help working American families afford their prescriptions by putting a stop to harmful practices by insurance companies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers, and ensuring that patients’ copay assistance counts towards their cost-sharing requirements. Because drug affordability is not a blue-state issue or a red-state issue — it is an issue that affects tens of millions across the country and in every state.”

Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. said, “Copay assistance programs help make costly medications attainable for Americans who rely on them. Yet under current law, insurers and PBMs can pocket this assistance without lowering patients’ cost-sharing obligations. Our bipartisan legislation will fix that problem by ensuring those savings are passed on to patients. This solution will protect access to essential prescription drugs, reduce overall healthcare costs for families, and hold these health companies accountable.”

Congresswoman Miller-Meeks said, “Too many patients are forced to walk away from the pharmacy counter because their out-of-pocket costs are simply too high. The HELP Copays Act is a commonsense, bipartisan solution that ensures financial assistance, from nonprofits or drug manufacturers, actually counts toward a patient’s deductible and copay. As a physician, I know how devastating it is when a patient can’t afford the medication they need. This bill puts patients first by lowering their real, day-to-day costs and stopping insurance companies from shifting more of the burden onto families.”

Congressman Auchincloss said, “Drug pricing middlemen want patients to pay deductibles twice. That’s not how insurance should work. With this bill, those schemes stop.”

Congressman Fitzpatrick said, “For people living with chronic and rare diseases, copay assistance is often the only path to staying on lifesaving treatment. Yet far too many are paying twice, while insurers and PBMs pocket that assistance without ever counting it toward a patient’s costs. That’s wrong—and it’s exactly what the bipartisan HELP Copays Act corrects. This is common-sense, patient-first reform to lower out-of-pocket costs and ensure every dollar intended to help a patient actually does.” 

Specifically, the HELP Copays Act would: 

• Clarify the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to require that health plans count payments made “by or on behalf of” patients, including financial assistance offered by non-profit organizations and prescription drug manufacturers, toward cost-sharing requirements.
• Close the ACA’s Essential Health Benefit (EHB) loophole to ensure that any covered prescription drug is defined as “essential” so that all related cost-sharing counts towards a patient’s cost-sharing limits. 

The full text of the House bill is available HERE. An identical companion Senate bill (S.864) was introduced by Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Tom Kaine (D-VA) in March 2025.

The legislation is endorsed by the All Copays Count Coalition, a group of nearly 90 national patient and provider advocacy organizations. Read their press release HERE and endorsement letter in support of the bill HERE. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Washington, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04),Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Rep. Richard E. Neal (MA-01), and Ways and Means Democrats held a press conference announcing the American Affordability Act, a comprehensive bill aimed at lowering the cost of living for American families.

“Families are doing everything right and still falling behind as costs keep rising,” said Thompson. “The American Affordability Act is about real relief for families: affordable housing, lower energy bills, more affordable childcare and healthcare, and bigger paychecks. This bill delivers targeted tax relief and smart investments that help families make ends meet and restores the promise that hard work should be enough to get ahead in our country.”

“While Donald Trump projects and dismisses affordability fears as a ‘hoax,’ Democrats have been and always will be at the front of the fight to lower costs for everyday workers and families. Tax Ranking Member Mike Thompson knows that whether it’s tackling the housing crisis, making child care more affordable, or lowering health and energy costs, we have so much work to do to ease the minds of the American people and foster opportunity. The American Affordability Act is a blueprint for the next step in our fight for what we are united to deliver: lower costs and easier, better lives,” said Neal. 

Thompson and Neal were joined by Representatives Terri Sewell (AL-07), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), and Steven Horsford (NV-04) at the press conference. The bill is co-led by 16 Ways and Means Committee Democrats. 

BACKGROUND

As Americans continue to face rising costs for housing, healthcare, childcare, energy, and education, Thompson led Ways and Means Democrats in designing this comprehensive bill to put money back in Americans’ pockets and strengthen our economy.

The American Affordability Act is designed to lower everyday costs and expand economic opportunity through targeted tax relief and strategic investments. 

The bill does the following: 

Makes Housing More Affordable

• Expands the supply of affordable housing by modernizing and strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
• Provides refundable tax credits for first-time homebuyers and renters to directly reduce housing costs.
• Encourages the conversion of vacant offices and commercial buildings into housing, revitalizing downtowns and increasing supply.
• Prioritizes developments that serve rural communities, veterans, Native American communities, and extremely low-income households.

Lowers Energy and Transportation Costs

• Restores clean energy tax credits that lower utility bills and promote domestic energy production.
• Expands energy-efficiency credits for home upgrades that permanently reduce heating and cooling costs.
• Makes electric vehicles more affordable, including used EVs, charging infrastructure, and electric bicycles.
• Invests in grid resilience, water reuse, and disaster mitigation to reduce long-term costs from outages and extreme weather.

Supports Families and Childcare

• Creates a fully refundable Child Tax Credit with monthly payments.
• Expands the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to make childcare more affordable for working parents.
• Supports family caregivers and stabilizes the childcare workforce.
• Makes the adoption tax credit fully refundable.

Reduces Education Costs and Boosting Workers’ Pay

• Expands education tax credits to cover more years of college and workforce training.
• Reduces the tax burden on student loan interest and forgiveness.
• Increases take-home pay through deductions for overtime, tips, and certain worker expenses.
• Strengthens the Earned Income Tax Credit, particularly for workers without children.

Lowers Healthcare Costs

• Expands health insurance premium tax credits to reduce monthly premiums.
• Closes coverage gaps and stabilizes premium increases.
• Requires coverage of recommended vaccines to improve access to preventive care.

Original Co-Sponsors of the American Affordability Act include: Mike Thompson (CA-04), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Judy Chu (CA-28), Angie Craig (MN-02), Danny Davis (IL-07), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Dwight Evans (PA-03), John Garamendi (CA-08), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), John Larson (CT-01), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Frank Mrvan (IN-01), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Stacey Plaskett (VI-AL), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Bradley Schneider (IL-10), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Dina Titus (NV-01).

Read the full bill text here. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

WASHINGTON DC– Ahead of the holidays, U.S. Representatives Haley Stevens (MI-11), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), and Hillary Scholten (MI-03), introduced the Trump Tariff Transparency Act, which will highlight the devastating impact Trump’s illegal trade war is having on Michigan small businesses and families. Specifically, the bill would direct the Small Business Administration (SBA), in coordination with the U.S Bureau of Economic Analysis, to produce a quarterly report on how much Trump’s tariffs are costing America’s consumers and small businesses.

As families begin to shop in preparation for the holiday season, many consumers say they’ve noticed higher than usual prices for holiday gifts, with overall spending going down from previous years. Many popular holiday items have been especially impacted by tariffs, including toys, personal care products, small appliances, clothing accessories, jewelry, and household tools. Research also shows that tariffs have driven up prices for domestically manufactured and everyday goods, including groceries and other household essentials.

“The one thing I hear over and over again from families and small manufacturers in Michigan is that Donald Trump’s tariffs are making everything more expensive. Our Trump Tariff Transparency Act takes on these erratic tariffs to help bring an end to the pain being felt by Michigan families,” said Stevens. “Michigan has had enough of Donald Trump’s price hikes.”

“As a mom, I know how expensive the holiday season can be – and it’s even worse with Trump’s disastrous trade war. While Trump builds ballrooms, hands massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy, and profits off selling out our country’s interests, he’s telling families struggling to afford groceries and heating bills that affordability is a hoax,” said Pettersen. “Trump might’ve been able to lie his way into office, but he’s not going to be able to lie his way out of the pain and suffering that his immoral and unlawful priorities have caused. I’ve heard firsthand from small business owners across my district – from Salida to Golden and everywhere in between – who aren’t going to be able to weather the storm of his failed policies. We need accountability and transparency, and this bill is going to do just that.”

“Michigan families and small businesses shouldn’t have to pay the price for President Trump’s chaotic, reckless tariffs – especially around the holiday season,” said Scholten. “Tariffs are a tax on working families and a burden on our small businesses. As prices continue to skyrocket on everything from beef to coffee to appliances to stocking stuffers, we deserve to know exactly how big that tax is. As a working mom and a member of the House Small Business Committee, I am proud to be introducing this commonsense legislation to study the true toll of this administration’s catastrophic economic policies and work towards finding real solutions for Michigan families and small businesses.”

In October, Rep. Stevens introduced the No Tariffs on Groceries Act to lower the costs of groceries by removing the ability of a president to unilaterally put tariffs on food and agricultural products.

Bill text can be found HERE.

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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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