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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, and Congresswoman Emily Randall (WA-06) introduced the Federal Employees Civil Relief Act, legislation to protect federal employees and contractors from financial harm during government shutdowns or breaches of the federal debt limit. Senator Brian Schatz (HI) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

The bill suspends certain civil liabilities—such as rent, mortgage payments, student loans, and tax obligations—for federal workers who are furloughed or required to work without pay during a lapse in appropriations. It also safeguards workers from evictions, foreclosures, credit penalties, and loss of insurance coverage while ensuring no lasting impact on their credit or access to financial services.

“Federal workers should never face eviction, foreclosure, or financial ruin because of a lapse in government funding,” said Rep. Boyle. “This bill makes clear that when the government shuts down, the people who keep it running deserve basic protections and peace of mind.”

“Federal workers are the backbone of our government — they keep our communities safe, our national parks open, and essential services running,”said Rep. Randall. “They shouldn’t lose their homes or their health care because of a Republican government shutdown. I’m proud to co-lead the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act because working people deserve basic protections when they’re forced to work without pay or furloughed during a government shutdown through no fault of their own. This is about standing up for the folks who show up for us every single day.”

The Federal Employees Civil Relief Act mirrors the long-standing protections provided to members of the military under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. It ensures that civil proceedings and financial obligations are paused for the duration of a shutdown and for 30 days afterward, preventing landlords, lenders, and creditors from taking adverse action against affected federal workers.

Under the bill:

• Evictions and foreclosures cannot proceed without a court order during a shutdown.
• Student loan and tax payments may be deferred without penalty or interest.
• Insurance policies cannot be canceled or lapse due to missed payments.
• Creditors and lenders are prohibited from taking adverse action or issuing negative credit reports against impacted workers.
• The Department of Justice is empowered to enforce violations through civil action.

The text of the Federal Employees Civil Relief Act is available here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, stood with members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Region 3 and local labor leaders at Independence Mall to demand an end to the Republican government shutdown that is hurting Pennsylvania’s workers and families. Boyle also called on Republicans in Congress to address the looming health care crisis created by their cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and Medicare.

“This is a completely unnecessary shutdown,” said Congressman Boyle. “This Republican shutdown is being forced by President Trump because he wants it. We can’t forget what is at stake in this fight — saving the health care of the American people.  15 million Americans will be losing their health care as a result of the tax bill that was passed by this administration and this Congress a couple months ago. For tens of millions more Americans, their premiums are about to skyrocket.  Let’s all of us get back to work for the American people.”

If Republicans fail to act, thousands of families across Philadelphia will see their premiums skyrocket or lose coverage entirely. In Boyle’s district alone, 25,000 residents will pay more if Republicans let critical Affordable Care Act tax credits expire. Premiums could jump by $11,485 (183%) for a 60-year-old couple, $2,571 (327%) for a family of four earning $64,000, and $4,275 (41%) for middle-class families making $129,800. Nearly 36,000 people in the district could lose coverage altogether because of Republican cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

At the rally, Boyle condemned Donald Trump’s recent threats to illegally fire thousands of federal employees during the shutdown. He also reaffirmed his commitment to protecting federal jobs that support the livelihoods of thousands of families in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania.

He was joined by Phil Glover, Vice President of AFGE Region 3; Rich Gennetti, National Representative for AFGE;Danny Bauder, President of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO; and other union members and local labor allies.

In Pennsylvania, more than 67,000 federal employees — including nearly 12,000 in Boyle’s district — have been directly affected by the shutdown, missing paychecks and facing rising health care costs as Republicans prolong their political stunt.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement after President Trump and congressional Republicans forced a shutdown of the federal government:

“Donald Trump and Republicans would rather shut down the government than help millions of Americans afford health care.

The Trump–Republican health care crisis is already here. Families across the country are watching their premiums skyrocket, and millions of Americans stand to lose coverage altogether, all while billionaires pocket another massive tax break.

I will not stand by while Republicans rip health care away from people in Pennsylvania and across America.” 

Click here for district-level data on how the Trump–Republican health care crisis will raise costs for millions of families.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Representatives Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Chris DeLuzio (PA-10), and LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) introduced the Rail Passenger Fairness Act to help Amtrak improve on-time performance for passenger train travel across the country. This bill would take on the problem of freight train interference, which happens when freight trains do not follow current law requiring them to provide preference to passenger trains operating on their rail lines.

Specifically, the bill announced by the Representatives today would empower Amtrak to sue freight railroads in federal court to enforce the law. If passed into law, the Rail Passenger Fairness Act would help reduce Amtrak delays, hold freight railroad corporations accountable, and save public money.

“Pennsylvanians and passengers all across the country count on trains to get them to work, to see loved ones, and to keep our economy moving,” said Congressman Boyle. “But too often, freight train interference leaves riders stuck on the tracks and late for where they need to be. This bill is about making sure our trains run on time. By holding freight railroads accountable, we can improve service, save taxpayer money, and give passengers the reliable rail system they deserve.”

“In nearly every industry, big corporations are taking advantage of people—breaking the rules or rigging the system to boost their bottom lines while making life worse for all of us,” said Congressman Deluzio. “Big railroads have been breaking the law and slowing down passenger rail with illegal freight train interference for far too long: we need better ways of enforcing the law. I am proud to introduce the Rail Passenger Fairness Act with Representatives Boyle and McIver to improve passenger rail travel for the American people. Let’s get the trains running on time.”

“Rail passengers deserve to get where they are going on time and without delays caused by illegal interference. This is basic,” said Congresswoman LaMonica McIver. “The Rail Passenger Fairness Act will make transit more reliable for riders and improve trust. This bill is about making sure that the system works the way it was supposed to and that big corporations can’t keep taking advantage in a way that hurts people.”

In 1973 Congress passed and the President signed the Amtrak Improvement Act  which mandated that intercity and commuter passenger rail be given preference over freight railroads in using a rail line. Despite the law being in place for more than 50 years, freight railroads continue to ignore their legal obligation to give Amtrak preference. This disregard of the law means that freight train interference was the cause of the majority of all of Amtrak’s delays in recent years—in 2023 amounting to 900,000 minutes of delay for Amtrak passengers. The Rail Passenger Fairness Act would ensure that Amtrak could sue freight railroads who continue to violate the law, adding significant and unnecessary delays around the country.

The full text of the bill is here.

In 2019, Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) published a report that found that low on-time performance was a key factor driving Amtrak’s operating loss of $171 million during Fiscal Year 2018. The report also found that improving and maintaining OTP on all Amtrak routes, particularly on long-distance lines, would result in $41.9 million in annual cost savings and revenues, plus an estimated $336 million in equipment savings.

The Rail Passenger Fairness Act is supported by the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD); the Transportation Communications Union (TCU); and the Rail Passengers Association.

Greg Kocialski, TCU National Secretary Treasurer and 30-year Amtrak employee said, “As the union representing most of Amtrak’s customer-facing employees, the #1 complaint our members hear is this: ‘where is the train?’ On-time performance is crucial to attracting riders to any transportation service. People are happy to ride the train, but they need to know that it will depart and arrive on-time. Nobody wants – nor can they afford – to ride a train that’s hours late. And since most Amtrak trains run over freight owned and operated track, it’s on the freight railroads to make sure our trains arrive and depart on-time.

Treasurer Kocialski continued, “This legislation addresses this broken dynamic by offering one simple fix: accountability. The freight railroads are already supposed to be providing Amtrak trains with priority dispatching, but unfortunately there’s little-to-nothing holding them accountable. Indeed, if we want to improve Amtrak services across the country, nothing would do more than this simple but important fix. Our union wholeheartedly endorses this legislation and we hope Congress passes it immediately into law.”

Jared Cassity, Director of National Safety and Legislative Department for SMART-TD said, “SMART TD is proud to once again endorse the Rail Passenger Fairness Act. We thank Representatives Chris Deluzio, Brendan Boyle, and LaMonica McIver for their dedicated work on this vital legislation to improve passenger rail, not just for our members but for the communities they serve. SMART TD, as the largest organization in rail labor, looks forward to working with Congress to progress this effort and to give passenger rail the priority it deserves.”

“We thank Representatives Deluzio, Boyle, and McIver for their leadership in protecting the rights of Amtrak passengers, and we stand ready to work with them to ensure this bill becomes law,” said Jim Mathews, Rail Passengers Association President & CEO. “Americans deserve access to reliable, on-time train service—a right that is already enshrined in law, but too often disregarded by host railroads. By providing an enforcement mechanism, the Rail Passenger Fairness Act will ensure that Amtrak passengers can arrive at their destination in a safe and timely manner.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Representatives Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-NC-12) and Ashley Hinson (R-IA-01), alongside Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing September 19 as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day.

The resolution highlights the ongoing stillbirth crisis in America and the steps the United States can take to improve stillbirth prevention and awareness. In 2024, the bipartisan Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act—led by Reps. Adams and Hinson in the House and Sens. Merkley and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) in the Senate—was signed into law, representing a critical first step in addressing the stillbirth crisis at the federal level. 

“For too long, stillbirth has been a silent crisis that remains under-discussed, under-researched, and under-funded. Today’s resolution seeks to change that,” said Congresswoman Adams. “I’m proud to introduce the National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day resolution so more families can be given the information and resources they need to prevent stillbirth in their pregnancies. Together, we can bring an end to this public health crisis and better protect the health of our mothers and their children.”

“Improving prenatal education and access to maternal care—especially in rural areas where women may travel over an hour to see a provider—is critical to protecting babies and reducing maternal deaths,” said Congresswoman Hinson. “Passing my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Act last year was a major step, but more must be done to support expecting moms and prevent stillbirths. I’m proud to reintroduce this resolution recognizing September 19th as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day and will continue working across the aisle to end the tragedy of stillbirth.”

“Nobody should have to experience the immense sorrow of losing a baby,” said Senator Booker. “We must address the maternal and infant health crisis that continues to result in thousands of families grappling with the unthinkable every year in the United States. This National Stillbirth Prevention Day, we are recommitting ourselves in Congress to raising awareness about stillbirth and ensuring every mom and baby has the care they need so we can save lives.”

“Each year, 21,000 babies are stillborn in the United States, bringing devastation to parents and families. We can and must do more to save babies’ lives and improve pre-natal care. Our resolution raises awareness of stillbirths and emphasizes how federal resources can empower the medical communities’ work on evidence-based practices to prevent these tragedies,” said Senator Grassley.

“A single stillbirth is one too many, and we must do more to reduce the alarming rate of stillbirth, which devastates families and happens at a higher rate to Black, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native women,” said Senator Merkley. “Getting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was an important first step; and on this National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day, we recommit to doing everything we can to end this dire public health crisis, so no family has to experience the trauma of stillbirth.”

Placenta, PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy, Reproductive and Placental Research Unit-Yale University, Jace’s Journey, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Miles’ Mission, American College of Nurse-Midwives, Aaliyah in Action, Start Healing Together, Society for Reproductive Investigation, Mera’s Mission, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Gifts from Liam, March of Dimes, and Return to Zero: HOPE. 

“For the fourth year in a row, we pause to recognize the crisis of stillbirth in this country and celebrate progress on stillbirth prevention efforts. When Congress recognizes this important day, when buildings and bridges are lit up across the country, and moms and dads make their voices heard by sharing their personal stories of loss — progress happens and lives are saved. We mourn the tens of thousands of babies who should be with their families right now and accelerate progress so no other family has to endure the tragedy of stillbirth,” said Emily Price, Healthy Birth Day, Inc. CEO. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) voted against the Republican-led continuing resolution that fails to address the urgent healthcare needs of everyday Americans, including the looming expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies that would cost the average enrolled family thousands of dollars per year and nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid.

“I cannot support a continuing resolution that causes my constituents to lose their healthcare,” said Congresswoman Adams. “When I’m in Charlotte, the biggest thing my constituents tell me is how much affordable, accessible healthcare matters to them.  Single mothers who rely on it to take their kids to the doctor. Seniors who rely on it to afford their insulin. Working families who rely on it for free school lunches for their children. Veterans who rely on it for their health after fighting for our country. If we fail to address expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits and the defunding of Medicaid, hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians will lose these lifesaving resources.”

“I am committed to protecting healthcare for my constituents. That means voting against today’s continuing resolution and working on a bipartisan CR that helps meet the needs of everyday Americans in my district and throughout our country,” Adams concluded.

North Carolinians face significant financial hardship if Congress fails to renew ACA premium subsidies:

• 88,000 ACA enrollees in North Carolina’s 12^th Congressional District would see their premium cost increase by 145% on average.
• 30,700 12^th District ACA enrollees would be unable to afford health insurance due to the increase, becoming uninsured and raising healthcare costs for everyone.
• Statewide, the average ACA enrollee in North Carolina would pay $672 more per year for the same health insurance.
• Rural North Carolinians would experience the biggest price increase, with residents of Dare, Hyde, Brunswick, Pamlico, and Transylvania Counties paying $1,000 or more per year without subsidies.

House and Senate Democrats introduced a Continuing Resolution on September 17, 2025 that would fund the government through October 31, 2025 while addressing ACA premium subsidies and Medicaid cuts.  There is solution.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, along with Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), Vice Ranking Member Shontel Brown (OH-11), Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Ranking Member Jahana Hayes (CT-05), and Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) led a letter calling on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins to reinstate the Household Food Security Reports, a comprehensive, consistent report that measures food insecurity on the national and state levels.

On September 20, 2025, the USDA announced the cancellation of the reports, calling the survey “redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous.”

In the letter, lawmakers expressed concern over how cutting the reports will impact food security monitoring in the U.S.: “They are the most important high-quality, consistent measure of national and state-level food insecurity we have in the U.S., giving us critical insight into how many Americans each year have to cut the size of meals or were hungry because they had too little money for food. In the most recent report, ERS found that, in 2023, 47.4 million Americans lived in food-insecure households, including 13.8 million children; 12.2 million people lived in households with very low food security.”

The letter emphasized how eliminating the reports comes as Americans navigate unprecedented cuts to food security programs in the Republican “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”: “Non-partisan estimates project that the law will cut SNAP benefits for all participants by an average of $168 per year and further reduce or eliminate food assistance entirely from 4 million Americans, at minimum. In the wake of its passage, it will be more important than ever to understand how many Americans are living with food insecurity. The administration is choosing to eliminate the report instead of facing the consequences of its actions.”

Facing claims that the reports are “politicized”, lawmakers highlighted that it was created as a bipartisan effort, saying, “the report is the result of years of bipartisan work to establish better measurements and understanding of food insecurity in America. While the first report was issued during the Clinton administration, it originated from a Reagan administration task force on food assistance… Five years later, a bipartisan bill to strengthen food and nutrition data collection – the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (NNMRR) – garnered unanimous support in both the House and Senate and was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush.”

Lawmakers concluded by saying, “Understanding who is hungry in America is not “unnecessary to carry out the work of the Department.” It is vital. We urge you to quickly reinstate the ERS employees that have been placed on administrative leave and to continue issuing the Household Food Security Report and conducting the critical Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement annually.”

The letter called for a response from the USDA no later than October 6, 2025.

The full letter can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

CHARLOTTE, NC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) released a statement to Charlotteans on the resources available to anyone impacted by the Republican government shutdown and how her office can provide assistance to constituents during this difficult time for everyday Americans.

“Republicans may have abandoned the American people, but my office is ready to fight for Charlotteans who are hurting from the GOP government shutdown,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Whether you’re a mother struggling to get WIC for your family, a senior who needs help with Social Security, a veteran unable to access your VA benefits, a federal worker who has been furloughed or fired, or anyone else impacted by the shutdown, I am here to help. Contact my offices and my team will do everything we can to advocate for you.”

“While the government shutdown continues, I will keep fighting for a bipartisan continuing resolution that reopens the government and protects the healthcare needs of everyday Americans, including 88,000 of my constituents who will see their health insurance premiums skyrocket if Congress doesn’t act soon to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. This is about people over politics, and it’s about time Congress actually serves the people it represents,” Adams concluded.

Congresswoman Adams urges anyone who needs assistance with federal agencies or is impacted by the Republican government shutdown to call her Charlotte office at (704) 344-9950 or her DC office at (202) 225-1510.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

CHARLOTTE, NC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) released a statement addressing the baseless threats by the White House that they will withhold backpay from furloughed federal employees after the federal government shutdown. North Carolina has 140,000 federal employees, including 7,000 in the 12^th District.

In 2019, the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, which authorizes furloughed federal employees to receive backpay, passed Congress with near unanimous support and was signed into law by President Trump.

“Federal law is clear—all furloughed federal employees receive backpay once the government shutdown ends. This law was signed by President Trump in 2019, and it should worry our country that the president can’t remember the policies he helped create,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Rather than trying to hold our federal workers hostage, there’s a simple solution to end the government shutdown. Speaker Mike Johnson needs to end House Republicans’ paid vacation, return to Washington, and meet Democrats at the bargaining table so we can pass a bipartisan bill that reopens the government and protects affordable healthcare for everyone.”

Rep. Adams is a cosponsor on H.R. 5657 which expands backpay to federal contractors.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

AURORA — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), a former Army Ranger, today hosted a Veterans Resource Fair at the Colorado Freedom Memorial Event in Aurora. This event served as a one-stop shop for veterans and their families to get help with VA benefits, employment assistance, education resources, and more.

“As a former Army Ranger, I know that too many veterans are struggling to get their hard-earned VA benefits and transition back fully to civilian life,” said Congressman Crow. “That’s why I held a Veterans Resource Fair in Aurora with more than 20 different veteran service organizations in attendance to help veterans and their families get the resources they need and deserve. I’ll never stop advocating for Colorado’s veterans, servicemembers, and their families.”

The event featured more than 20 veteran service organizations, including: Troops Into Transportation, Mind Spa, Marcus Institute for Brain Health, WarriorNOW, Medicine Horse Program, Canine Partners of the Rockies, Rocky Mountain Veterans Advocacy Project, Salute Colorado, Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado, Family Care Center, Adaptive Adventures, Project Healing Waters, State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, VA ECHCS, Rocky Mountain NOCO American Gold Star Mothers, Lowry Veterans Law Ltd., Sunshine Behavioral Health, Denver Regional Council of Governments, and Seiler-Berget Chapter 21 DAV.

As an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, ensuring America’s veterans and their families get the appropriate care and resources is a top priority for Congressman Crow. In the 118th Congress, he introduced the Veteran’s Sentinel Act, bipartisan legislation to respond to suicide by US veterans at Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) facilities by improving the accuracy of data collection and enhancing congressional oversight. Previously, he introduced the Justice Involved Veterans Support Act and supported the PACT Act, which expands health care to millions of servicemembers exposed to toxic chemicals. 

Congressman Crow has also worked to connect Coloradans with critical community resources. Last month, Crow hosted an Affordable Housing & Family Resource Fair to provide resources to Coloradans related to affordable housing, and earlier this year, he held his annual job fair with hundreds of Coloradans in attendance and dozens of employers from across the Denver Metro. 

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