Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)
Congresswoman Stevens’ legislation builds on her leadership holding RFK Jr. accountable and advancing science-based public health policy
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL) introduced the Thyroid Disease CARE Act of 2025, landmark legislation aimed at advancing research, awareness, and care for thyroid disease—an often-overlooked health issue that disproportionately affects women.
The bill is the latest step in Stevens’ ongoing effort to defend science-based healthcare policy, building on her leadership inmoving to impeach RFK Jr.for cutting lifesaving medical research, spreading dangerous public health misinformation, and undermining trust in science.
“As RFK Jr. attacks medical science and undermines public trust, Congress must do the opposite,” said Congresswoman Stevens. “I’m standing up for science by advancing real solutions for Michigan women with thyroid disease—investing in research, awareness, and care so families can get the answers and care they deserve.”
The thyroid gland regulates essential bodily functions. Disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can disrupt nearly every system in the body. One in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime, with women facing ten times the risk of men. Despite these numbers, thyroid disease remains under-researched, particularly in understanding why women are so heavily affected.
By strengthening research and education, the legislation aims to improve outcomes, reduce disparities, and ensure patients receive earlier, more effective care.
The legislation has been endorsed by leading medical and patient advocacy organizations, including the Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, American Thyroid Association, and Bryn Silverman, Producer of Expression of Illness: A Louisvillian’s Thyroid Cancer Experience.
“As a physician who treats thyroid disorders and sees their impact on patients’ lives, I understand the need for greater insight into their causes and for advances in our tools to diagnose and treat them,” said Dr. Paul Ladenson, American Thyroid Association. “More funding for thyroid research is long overdue. That’s why I was thrilled to join Congresswoman Haley Stevens in support of the Thyroid Disease CARE Act. It’s time for more Federal resources to be directed to understanding and managing a set of diseases that affect so many Americans, especially women.”
“As a thyroid cancer survivor, I know very deeply the urgent need for research into thyroid disease,” said Bryn Silverman. “So often our experiences as people living with thyroid disease are misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all; our quality of life is undervalued and our symptoms are overlooked. The Thyroid Disease CARE Act has the potential to change thousands of people’s lives and expand the vocabulary we as patients have to make informed decisions about our healthcare.”
The Thyroid Disease CARE Act would:
Authorize funding for thyroid disease research through the Department of Health and Human Services, opening new opportunities for Michigan-based researchers and medical institutions.
Identify critical gaps in diagnosis and treatment.
Launch a national public awareness campaign focused on populations most at risk, including women.
Expand access to evidence-based thyroid care for health care providers and health systems.
Commission a national study on disparities in thyroid disease prevalence, detection, treatment, and outcomes.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to new guidance that the Trump Administration will require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to “supply Office of Immigration Litigation with 100-200 denaturalization cases per month” to increase denaturalizations:
“I am absolutely outraged by the Trump Administration’s plan to denaturalize American citizens by the hundreds every single month and use the immigration system to terrorize immigrants across this country, including US citizens. According to reports, between 2017 and today, there have been just over 120 denaturalization cases filed in total. These arbitrary numerical targets Trump has put out show that he is using the immigration system to go after anyone who disagrees with him, anyone who comes from countries he doesn’t like or decides to call ‘shithole’ countries, anyone he wants to terrorize into submission. Trump’s campaign of terror has never been about going after the ‘worst of the worst,’ and this latest move makes that crystal clear.
“Every U.S. citizen should be outraged by this. If he can do this to ‘them,’ he can certainly do it to you.
“As a proud naturalized citizen myself, one of only two dozen to serve in the United States Congress and now the top Democrat on the Immigration Subcommittee, I understand the deep meaning and privilege of becoming a US citizen. I came to this country when I was 16, alone, and with nothing in my pockets, and spent 17 years on an alphabet soup of visas before becoming a U.S. citizen. I treasure that moment to this day and take seriously my oath to this country — as so many millions of naturalized citizens do. The process is lengthy and meaningful, offering the security of knowing I am at home here, never to be separated from my U.S. citizen child and spouse or from the country where I’ve built my life and career. The idea that our own government would now seek to rip away this sacred bond that binds naturalized citizens to our country will harm all Americans, and indeed, the very idea of America.
“I call on the President to remember our history. We are a country built on the idea of being a refuge for those in need, a country where anyone can work hard and get ahead. Ultimately, immigration is about more than just who comes here and who is allowed to stay. It is about who we are as a country and what we are willing to stand up for.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Monopoly Busters Caucus Chairs, Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Pat Ryan (NY-18), and Angie Craig (MN-02), released the following statement calling for an investigation into Instacart’s reported use of AI-driven surveillance pricing to charge different customers different prices for the same items:
“We are deeply alarmed by reports that Instacart is using AI to hike prices on unsuspecting customers based on their shopping habits. People shouldn’t be charged higher prices than their neighbors for the same milk or eggs because their grocery app is profiling them. This is personalized price gouging, plain and simple.
“While hardworking Americans struggle to afford groceries, corporations like Instacart are inventing new ways to rip them off. Surveillance pricing is a blatant abuse of power by big tech — automating greed and making consumers pay the price.
“Enough is enough. With Instacart processing hundreds of millions of orders yearly, these practices warrant urgent action. The FTC and state regulators must immediately investigate Instacart and hold it accountable for ripping off its customers. And we need to ban personalized price gouging to ensure that everyone pays a fair price.”
Background
Instacart’s pricing tactics are detailed in a new report from Groundwork Collaborative and Consumer Reports, “Same Cart, Different Price.” The report describes how Instacart uses AI-driven “price experiments” to maximize margins by charging different customers different prices for identical items at the same store. According to the report, Instacart deploys software from its subsidiary Eversight to identify the highest price an individual is willing to pay. This results in observed price swings as high as 23% and a potential “Instacart Tax” of $1,200 per year for a typical family. The investigation found that 74% of items tested were subject to these secret experiments.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raul Ruiz (36th District of California)
Washington, D.C. –The decision was made in the case brought forth by 12 Members of Congress in Neguse et al. v. U.S. ICE et al.
Just now, a federal court temporarily stopped the Trump-Vance administration’s policy blocking Members of Congress from unannounced oversight visits to federal immigration detention facilities. The decision restores Congress’s ability to conduct real-time oversight of how the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain individuals — including U.S. citizens — and spend billions in taxpayer dollars, while the case continues.
The lawsuit, Neguse et al. v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement et al., was brought by a dozen members of the U.S. House of Representatives after the administration imposed a seven-day waiting period and barred access to certain field offices, in violation of a longstanding federal law that guarantees congressional oversight.
The plaintiffs include Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse; Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat; Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bennie G. Thompson; Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin; House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia; House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Ranking Member Rep. J. Luis Correa; Rep. Jason Crow; Rep. Veronica Escobar; Rep. Dan Goldman; Rep. Jimmy Gomez; Rep. Raul Ruiz; and Rep. Norma Torres.
In a joint statement, the plaintiffs said: “Today’s decision is a critical victory toward restoring our ability to conduct essential congressional oversight on behalf of the American people. It reinforces the rule of law and reminds the administration that oversight is not optional. Real-time, on-the-ground visits to immigration detention facilities help prevent abuses and ensure transparency. Oversight is a core responsibility of Members of Congress—and a constitutional duty we do not take lightly. We’ll continue standing up for the rule of law.”
The Members of Congress are represented in this suit by Democracy Forward Foundation and American Oversight.
“This ruling is a victory for the American people and their elected representatives,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “This decision makes clear that no president can hide the truth about how people are treated in federal immigration custody. We’re honored to represent these individual Members of Congress in defending accountability, transparency, the rule of law, and human dignity.”
“Today’s ruling is a clear victory for the rule of law and a clear affirmation that no administration is above it,” said Chioma Chukwu, Executive Director of American Oversight. “Members of Congress have an unquestioned right to conduct real-time oversight of immigration detention facilities, and the American people have a right to know what is happening in their name. By blocking those visits, the administration wasn’t simply breaking the law, it was trying to conceal the reality inside these facilities from the public: people in overcrowded, inhumane conditions without adequate beds, showers, or medical care. This order restores a critical check on executive power and sends a clear message that abuse cannot be hidden.”
With this decision, the court reaffirms Members of Congress’s right to access federal immigration detention facilities without prior notice — a safeguard meant to prevent abuse, protect human rights, and ensure that taxpayer funds are not used to support unlawful or inhumane practices. The ruling sends a strong message that oversight is essential to democracy and that no administration is above the law.
How did we get here?
Federal law (Sec. 527, FY2024 DHS Appropriations Act) allows Members of Congress to visit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sites where noncitizens are detained without prior notice. But increasingly, these representatives have been stopped at the door.
In response to questions about this, ICE officials announced a new policy requiring a seven-day waiting period and preventing entry to ICE field offices.
On July 30, a dozen individual Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sued the Trump-Vance administration, challenging the policy as an unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight.
Subsequently, the plaintiffs sought a court order requiring DHS and its Secretary Kristi Noem, as well as ICE and its Acting Director Todd Lyons to comply with the federal law granting Members of Congress the right to visit immigration detention facilities without prior notice during the course of their lawsuit.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raul Ruiz (36th District of California)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán, and Congressman Troy Carter sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the Agency to keep the current fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air quality standards in place. The letter calls on the EPA to abandon any efforts, judicial or administrative, to roll back the PM2.5 standards and to safeguard the health of millions of Americans, particularly in overburdened and environmental justice communities.
PM2.5, also known as soot, causes serious health problems and tens of thousands of premature deaths each year, especially harming children, seniors, and vulnerable communities.
“Maintaining strong, science-based air quality protections is one of the most effective tools we have to safeguard the public’s health,” saidCongressman Raul Ruiz. “Safe air is not a partisan issue, it is a basic right. We urge EPA to uphold these standards so all communities, including our most vulnerable, can breathe clean air.”
“Clean and breathable air is essential to Americans’ lives and health,” said Congresswoman Barragán. “Strong National Ambient Air Quality Standards keep the amount of pollutants in the air down so that Americans can continue to live in healthy environments. But Trump and Zeldin want to weaken these standards — and put the lungs of Americans across the country at risk and further harm the communities that are already experiencing the consequences of exposure to polluted air. To preserve our air quality, and the health and lives of our communities, we must stop Trump and Zeldin from their selfish plan to lower air quality standards for their corporate friends.”
“Clean air is a matter of life and death, especially for communities in my district that have been overburdened by pollution for far too long. Rolling back the PM2.5 standards would be a direct attack on public health and environmental justice. The science is clear: stronger soot protections save lives, reduce hospitalizations, and protect our children and seniors. I urge the EPA to do its job, follow the science, and uphold these vital standards so every American—regardless of ZIP code—can breathe clean, healthy air,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).
The letter is supported by Earthjustice Action, EcoMadres, Moms Clean Air Force, Climate Action Campaign, WE ACT for Environmental Justice; League of Conservation Voters, and, GreenLatinos:
“When the Trump Administration’s EPA abandoned its defense of federal protections against soot pollution, it sent a clear message that it values corporate interests far above the health and safety of hardworking families and vulnerable communities,” said Earthjustice Action Senior Legislative Representative Liz Ruben. “In service of Trump’s deregulatory fever dream, his EPA has once again disregarded scientific evidence, tossed aside community concerns, and turned its back on the possibility of a brighter, healthier future for those who have long faced the disparate impacts of pollution. We thank Representatives Ruiz, Barragan, and Carter for their leadership on this issue and join them in demanding EPA Administrator Zeldin uphold the existing science- and health-based soot pollution standards.”
“Soot is a killer. It’s outrageous that Lee Zeldin’s EPA has moved to abandon protecting people from this incredibly dangerous pollutant. Soot—a.k.a. particle pollution—is a major contributor to chronic diseases like asthma, heart disease, and cancers. It also raises the risk of premature births and low birth weight, putting babies in danger of long-term health harms. This is exactly the opposite of making America healthy, and families and communities around the country will pay the price.” — Dominique Browning, Director and Co-founder, Moms Clean Air Force
“Soot is making our communities sick, with Latino families often bearing the heaviest burden. It’s unacceptable for EPA to back away from protections against this deadly pollutant. Particle pollution triggers asthma, heart disease, cancer, and even premature births. As a mom, I refuse to accept dirty air as our children’s future. EcoMadres will keep fighting to protect our kids and demand the clean air every family deserves.” — Isabel Gonzalez Whitaker, Director of EcoMadres
“We know that communities of color and low-wealth neighborhoods already face higher exposure to tailpipe pollution such as PM2.5, which drives higher rates of asthma, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses for Latinos, who also have greater barriers to access to healthcare. We thank Congressmen Ruiz and Congresswoman Barragan for standing up for our communities by urging the EPA to maintain the current fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). — Juan Roberto Madrid, GreenLatinos Sustainable Communities Program Manager
“Thank you, Representatives Ruiz, Barragán, Carter and all the letter signers for urging the EPA not to reconsider its 2024 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Particulate matter causes and exacerbates respiratory conditions and cardiovascular disease, and can lead to premature death, especially for vulnerable communities like children, the elderly and communities overburdened by pollution. We join these members of Congress in calling on the Trump EPA and Administrator Zeldin to stop sacrificing our health and our lives in favor of polluter profits” — Lizzy Duncan, Government Affairs Advocate, Healthy Communities, League of Conservation Voters
“The EPA continues to double down on a deregulatory agenda that harms everyone, but especially environmental justice communities. Soot pollution places a heavy burden on our communities. African Americans are nearly three times more likely to be hospitalized or die from asthma than their white counterparts while about 19 million low-income and 80 million people of color live in places with failing grades for soot and smog pollution. Yet, the EPA’s own data shows that the current standard saves lives, prevents asthma attacks, reduces ER visits, and cuts costs. After 55 years, the Agency must live up to its mandate under the Clean Air Act and protect our health, our communities, and our right to clean air. Until it does, we will keep fighting for the dignity and justice every community deserves.” — Anastasia Gordon, Director of Federal Policy at WE ACT for Environmental Justice
“The Trump EPA’s decision to abandon protections against soot pollution – one of the deadliest air contaminants – is utterly outrageous, gravely dangerous, and scientifically indefensible,” saidMargie Alt, director of the Climate Action Campaign. “We’re grateful for the leaders in Congress who are standing against this attack and we echo their call for EPA to get back to the important work of protecting public health.”
Background on the PM2.5 standard:
The 2024 PM2.5 standard, strengthened from 12 µg/m³ to 9 µg/m³, is backed by extensive scientific review and is projected to prevent thousands of premature deaths, reduce hospitalizations, and provide $46 billion in annual economic benefits by 2032. Rolling back these standards would endanger public health, reverse decades of progress, and disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, including those already struggling with high rates of asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)
Washington, D.C. (December 17, 2025) | – Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) issued the following statement regarding office closure on Friday, December 19, 2025, to honor a former member of his staff, Mrs. Claire Bartlett, who passed away on Sunday, December 13.
“My family and staff were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Claire Bartlett. Claire was a true patriot, a dear friend, and a trusted member of my Congressional staff for several years. She was a pillar of the community, highly respected in the many organizations and areas in which she served. Claire will be greatly missed, but her legacy will continue to impact many across our great state. In observation of her funeral services, our Congressional offices will be closed Friday, December 19, 2025. May the peace of God be with Darrell and her entire family during this very difficult time.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)
Washington, D.C. (December 17, 2025) | – Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) issued the following statement after the House Committee on Financial Services passed three of his bills, The New BANK Act (H.R. 6551), the American FIRST Act (H.R. 6550), and the Respect State Housing Laws Act (H.R. 1078).
“Continuing my longstanding commitment to Georgian’s freedom to choose between a broad array of financial institutions, and to have those institutions free from foreign influence, I introduced the New BANK Act and the American FIRST Act. These bills, which have just passed the House Committee on Financial Services, will help protect a competitive banking market that places Americans first.
“During the Covid pandemic, Congress passed legislation that included a provision which overrides state eviction-notice laws. This federal regulation was supposed to provide a singular grace period during the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act eviction moratorium, which has since ended, but a drafting error caused the provision to remain in place permanently. This federal overreach has negatively affected Georgians, especially veterans, retirees, and families who depend on rental income to make ends meet. My Respect State Housing Laws Act, which has passed the House Committee on Financial Services, will remove the federal government from these proceedings and return housing policies back to the states, where they belong.”
Background
New BANK Act: – Strengthen accountability and improve clarity in how federal banking regulators operate by requiring annual reports on the bank charter application process. – Congress will be more equipped to detect inefficiency and favoritism in the banking sector, in the interest of providing the American borrower with a multitude of fair options across national banks, state banks, and credit unions.
American FIRST Act: – Increase transparency, accountability, and congressional oversight of U.S. regulators’ involvement in global standard-setting bodies. – Require the annual reporting of interactions between federal banking supervisory agencies and global financial regulatory or supervisory forums. – This legislation is necessary, as recent international regulatory regimes have threatened the independence of the American banking sector.
Respect State Housing Laws Act: – Give property owners clarity and the tools they need to deal with bad intentioned tenants who have taken advantage of this flaw in federal law. – Federally mandated timetable derived from the CARES Act, eviction proceedings are often elevated to the federal court level, where the courts are wholly unequipped to hear local level proceedings, dragging out the judicial process. This will return them to the states.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)
Washington, D.C. (December 17, 2025) | – Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) issued the following statement following passage in the U.S. House of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act (H.R. 6703)
“Today, House Republicans passed the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Act to reduce costs for Americans, eliminate fraud within the existing system, and ensure that health care works for families rather than big insurance companies. Earlier this year I voted for many of these policies in the House-passed Working Families Tax Cuts Act, but unfortunately, Senate Democrats removed them from the final bill.
“With this legislation, we can address the causes of ever-rising health care costs by making needed reforms to the way these services are offered to consumers. There is a unique opportunity with this legislation to deliver real solutions for the American people. Removing crippling government bureaucracy from the health care process will open the marketplace to competition, increase consumer choice, and restore every American’s ability to control their own healthcare.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box, where he emphasized that a majority of the House has signed onto the Democratic bill to extend the ACA tax credits, and Mike Johnson must bring it up for a vote immediately.
ANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Joining us right now is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Good morning to you. You heard the President last night. He says the Democrats are in the pockets of the insurance companies and that the price of your healthcare is actually going to go down under his plan. What say you?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, good morning, great to be with you. The Republican healthcare crisis is devastating the American people and Donald Trump has zero credibility on the issue of healthcare. This is the party that has enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history in the same bill where they enacted massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors because of Republican policies in the One Big Ugly Bill. We know that hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health centers are closing all across the country, including in rural America. Republicans have launched an all-out assault on the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institute of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, on vaccine availability for children and now Republicans are refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which means that tens of millions of Americans, working-class Americans, are about to experience dramatically increased health insurance premiums. We are working hard to decisively confront this Republican healthcare crisis and fix our broken healthcare system.
ANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Leader, let me ask you this, and I recognize the complications and costs to the American public. There is a question, and maybe you’d say it’s a longer-term question that has to be dealt with later, but the true question ultimately underneath all this is how we’re going to actually lower the cost of healthcare in America. And when I say lower the cost, not just lower the cost for individuals, meaning in the moment subsidize it, but how we actually change the market dynamic at play and whether what you have proposed even tries to address that at all or frankly exacerbates it.
LEADER JEFFRIES: What we’ve proposed at the moment relates to the fact that the Affordable Care Act tax credits are going to expire on December 31 and no one disputes that, if that happens, tens of millions of Americans are going to experience skyrocketing health insurance premiums, in some cases increasing by $1,000 or $2,000 per month. And 90% of the people who rely on the Affordable Care Act tax credits make around $63,000 per year. These are working-class Americans, everyday Americans and middle-class Americans. And so, we’ve got to make sure that we don’t allow these tax credits to expire. At the same time, you raise a very good point, Andrew, that the healthcare system is broken and we need to fix it. We want to fix it in a comprehensive way, in a bipartisan way. But that actually requires Republicans deciding to abandon their my-way-or-the-highway approach to everything, which is what has led to the extremism that they’re jamming down the throats of the American people and the fact that everyday Americans, voters, are rejecting that extremism as we saw in the off-year elections last November.
MICHAEL SANTOLI: Leader Jeffries, you mentioned that the vast majority of those who use the supplemental subsidies for the ACA are well below the wealthy thresholds that the Republicans are talking about, which is four times the poverty line. Is that in play in terms of a negotiated agreement here? They keep talking about that as maybe a sticking point. How does your party feel about simply having an income cap for these subsidies?
LEADER JEFFRIES: We have a bipartisan coalition right now that supports, in the House of Representatives—that’s every single House Democrat and at least four House Republicans—supports a straightforward extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Time has run out. Republicans have had all year to deal with this issue and have chosen not to do it because they were focused on passing their One Big Ugly Bill, which they enacted with great urgency months ago. The largest cut to Medicaid in American history, the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history. They literally ripped $186 billion away from SNAP. That’s food from hungry children, hungry veterans and hungry seniors. And why did they do all of that? So they can enact massive tax breaks that they made permanent for their billionaire donors, and skyrocketed the debt by over $3 trillion, and now at the 11th hour, time has run out, andwe’ve got the votes to pass a straightforward extension and send it over to the Senate.Mike Johnson needs to make sure we vote on this legislation today. The House should not recess or adjourn until this issue has been dealt with.
MICHAEL SANTOLI: What is your expectation? You say you have the votes. You’ve mentioned the four Republicans that have come on over to join you, and then the Senate seems like it’s kind of a no-go no matter what. So, I mean, what are we looking at come next week?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, what’s interesting about the Senate is that there are a majority of U.S. Senators, Democrats and Republicans, who’ve already supported, in the vote that took place a few weeks ago, a straightforward extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. And so once we send the bill from the House over to the Senate, then the Senate can negotiate a path forward that enables them, hopefully, to break the filibuster and get something done for the American people. We can work on this issue in a bipartisan way, as has now been demonstrated in the House of Representatives. We do need some presidential leadership. Part of the issue is that Donald Trump still seems to believe that the affordability crisis is a hoax. In fact, he said that repeatedly. Costs haven’t gone down in this country. Costs have gone up, despite the fact that Donald Trump did promise his words, not mine, that costs would go down on day one. Housing costs out of control, grocery costs out of control, electricity bills out of control, healthcare costs out of control. Action needs to be taken in all of these areas. We’re prepared to work with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. We just need good faith and Republican leadership.
ANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Talk about costs getting out of control. You mentioned healthcare. Interestingly, you look at employment in America over the past year, and actually, it is the healthcare industry where so much of the employment has come from. What do you make of that?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, listen, I think we’ve got to take a look at the economy as a whole and all of the individual sectors. In this country fundamentally here’s our belief: you work hard, you play by the rules you should be able to live an affordable life, a comfortable life, live the good life. And to me that’s a good-paying job, good housing, good healthcare, good education and a good retirement, which means the extremists need to keep their hands off Social Security and Medicare. That should not be too much to ask for in this great country of ours, the wealthiest country in the history of the world. So, you know, listen, we support the notion that economic growth that moves in a positive direction is good for everyone.But we’ve got to make sure that this fundamental principle, hard work paying off, playing by the rules paying off and the American dream being brought to life, is actually realized and revived because far too many people understandably have concluded, I’m talking about working-class folks, middle-class folks, that the American dream is out of reach as we approach our 250th birthday. That’s a shame.
ANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Leader Jeffries, I have maybe a curveball of a question, but we just talked to Jamieson Greer, and it’s something that I think is on the mind of a lot of folks who are watching this broadcast now as it relates to tariffs, a lot folks waiting to find out what the Supreme Court has to say about the tariffs that have been implemented by the President. I believe you have come out strongly against those tariffs. There’s a real question, though, about whether, if they were struck down, whether the court could force, effectively, the U.S. Government to give back the $200 billion that has been collected in tariffs and how that could rescramble the economy. And I’m curious what the sort of Democratic position would be on something like that.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the implications of the Supreme Court striking down those tariffs, I think, have to be evaluated. Our view, as you indicated, Andrew, from the very beginning, is that the President has violated his authority. He doesn’t have the emergency authority to implement this random, massive tariff scheme that’s imposing thousands of dollars of additional cost on everyday Americans, which is why the American people reject these tariffs. I think that if the Supreme Court strikes down these tariffs, then Congress should come together in a bipartisan way and figure out the path forward, anchored in the reality is what’s best for the American people? What’s best for our companies and our corporations? What’s best for the economy to ensure that we can continue to see American exceptionalism prevail?
ANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Leader Jeffries, we want to thank you for joining us this morning. We want to wish you happy holidays if we don’t see you before the break next week. Thank you.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)
Today, Representative Lois Frankel (D-FL-22) led Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE-2), Lucy McBath (D-GA-7), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-6), and Haley Stevens (D-MI-11) in introducing the Protecting Students on Campus Act, bipartisan legislation to confront rising antisemitism and other forms of discrimination at colleges and universities.
At a time when hate is surging domestically and globally—resulting in horrific antisemitic violence, including Sunday’s deadly shooting in Bondi Beach, Australia—this legislation provides meaningful protections to ensure students can learn in safe, inclusive environments.
“Antisemitism and hate are surging on college campuses and around the world, and the consequences are deadly—as we saw in the vile attack in Bondi Beach,” said Rep. Frankel. “Students cannot learn if they do not feel safe. The Protecting Students on Campus Act gives students clear pathways to report antisemitism and discrimination, strengthens accountability for colleges, and helps ensure campuses are places where hate is not tolerated.”
The bill increases transparency, oversight, and accountability by enhancing the role of the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), helping schools identify discrimination early and take action to protect students.
The urgency is unmistakable. According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), 83 percent of Jewish students report witnessing or experiencing antisemitism on campus since October 7. Nationwide, antisemitic incidents have increased nearly ninefold over the past decade.
“Jewish students deserve better than empty promises when antisemitism erupts on campus. The Protecting Students on Campus Act transforms rhetoric into action by requiring real transparency and giving students the tools to hold their universities accountable,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). “In this climate of rising antisemitic incidents on campus and in Jewish communities around the world, as we’ve seen with the recent, horrific attack at Bondi Beach, this legislation couldn’t come at a more urgent time. We thank Reps. Frankel, Bacon, McBath, Ciscomani, and Stevens for their leadership and urge the swift passage of this legislation so that our campuses remain places of learning, not fear.”
“American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report found that 35% of Jewish college students experienced antisemitism during their time on campus and 48% felt unsafe or avoided expressing their views or Jewish identity. These numbers reflect an alarming reality: Jewish students are being targeted and marginalized in unprecedented ways. AJC applauds Representatives Frankel (D-FL), Bacon (R-NJ), McBath (D-GA), Ciscomani (R-AZ), and Stevens (D-MI) for taking action by introducing the Protecting Students on Campus Act, legislation that empowers students to report discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, while providing critical accountability to ensure the U.S. Department of Education responds appropriately to federal complaints,” said Ted Deutch, CEO of American Jewish Committee.
The Protecting Students on Campus Act is endorsed by the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and the Jewish Federations of North America.