MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Press call comes after Rep. Stevens called on Secretary Kennedy to resign

Washington D.C. –  Today, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens held a press conference with Dr. John Prensner, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan, to underscore the urgent need to protect and expand pediatric cancer research funding. The event highlighted how recent cuts are disrupting promising research initiatives at universities across Michigan, killing jobs, and threatening progress for children and families facing cancer.

A video of the press call available for public use can be found here.

Rep. Stevens detailed steps she is taking in Congress to safeguard federal research dollars and restore recent reductions, emphasizing the life-saving impact of grants that power discovery, clinical trials, and workforce development. Dr. Prensner outlined how funding shortfalls delay lab work, limit patient enrollment in trials, and risk the loss of talented researchers to other fields or states.

This morning, Congresswoman Stevens called for Secretary Kennedy to resign.

“It’s been inexcusable to see this level of chaos and cuts come down,” said Rep. Haley Stevens. “And families need to know who is willing to stand alongside them and who is willing to blow the whistle, and that is me.”

“In the past nine months since the Trump administration took office, I’ve seen a weakening in our nation’s commitment to childhood cancer that I never thought was possible” – Dr. John Prensner 

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that the U.S. economy created nearly one million fewer jobs than previously reported for the year ending March 2025.  

In response to one of the largest downward revisions on record, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens issued the following statement: 

“These job losses are a gut punch for Michigan workers and show how much damage Trump’s disastrous tariffs are causing, and how he needs to change course on these reckless tariffs immediately.

“Trump and his administration keep making big promises about economic growth, but the reality is Michigan has fewer jobs, more instability, and costs continue to skyrocket for hard-working families across our state. From our auto plants to our small businesses, Michiganders are already feeling the squeeze. 

“I’m fighting every day to fight back against Trump’s tariffs that are killing Michigan’s economy, destroying auto jobs, and driving costs up. I’ll keep taking on Trump to make sure our state gets the lower costs, jobs, and stability we need. Michigan deserves better.”

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

September 17, 2025

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) demanding it conduct full oversight of Justin Sun’s cryptocurrency company and his multi-million dollar investments into President Donald Trump’s digital assets projects, which raise serious investor protection and national security concerns. Sun is an entrepreneur with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who is also the largest publicly known investor in President Trump’s memecoin ($TRUMP) and World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance project backed by the President and his family members.

Under the Biden Administration, the SEC had sued Sun and his companies for orchestrating an alleged scheme to defraud investors in his “TRX” cryptocurrency. The SEC dropped its case against Sun under the Trump Administration after Sun reportedly invested at least $75 million in World Liberty Financial.

“The WLFI token is the mechanism that Mr. Sun used to funnel tens of millions of dollars to the President and his family,” the lawmakers wrote. “Should Mr. Sun sell his token holdings, the price could collapse, and everyday investors could lose their savings. This token offering should have been registered with the SEC, which would entitle investors to the full protections of the securities laws.”

Furthermore, one of Sun’s cryptocurrency companies, Tron, has been linked to a criminal organization reportedly connected with the CCP. Tron recently went public in the United States through a reverse merger, and these transactions are subject to less regulatory scrutiny, oversight, and transparency. The deal was facilitated by an investment firm that lists both Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump on its advisory board.

“Given the litany of issues associated with Mr. Sun’s investments in the President’s cryptocurrency ventures and his plans to take Tron public through the reverse merger process, we request that the SEC ensure that Tron Inc. meets the rigorous standards necessary to be listed on U.S. stock exchange,” the lawmakers continued.

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

Dear Chair Atkins and Acting Director LaMothe:

We write to express serious concerns about Tron founder Justin Sun and President Trump’s business ties and their potential for conflict of interest and foreign influence, including the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) decision under the Trump Administration to abandon its fraud lawsuit against Mr. Sun. Furthermore, Mr. Sun’s decision to take his company public, potentially with the assistance of members of the Trump family, raises significant national security and investor protection concerns. We urge the SEC to commit to ensuring full oversight of Mr. Sun and his company’s attempts to access U.S. capital markets, with particular attention to his concerning ties to President Trump and his family.

Mr. Sun is the founder of a Singapore-based company called Tron, which operates a blockchain platform and has its own cryptocurrency known as ‘TRX’. Mr. Sun’s company has long been the object of controversy and investigations. According to a 2023 report by the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes and Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Tron platform has been “growing in popularity among illicit actors.” For years, Mr. Sun has allegedly avoided traveling to the U.S. due to legal concerns, in part because the Department of Justice (DOJ) had reportedly been investigating him for suspected financial crimes since 2021. Separately, the SEC in 2023 sued Mr. Sun for orchestrating an alleged scheme to fraudulently inflate the price of his TRX cryptocurrency, which allowed him to generate $31 million in alleged illegal proceeds.

Mr. Sun’s fears seemingly dissipated after President Trump was re-elected in November 2024. Following the election, Mr. Sun made sizable investments in two cryptocurrency projects that directly enriched the President and his family. Mr. Sun is one of the largest publicly-known investors in both the $TRUMP memecoin and in World Liberty Financial (WLF), a decentralized finance project backed by President Trump and his family. Mr. Sun has invested a total of $75 million in WLF. Mr. Sun’s multi-million-dollar investments in the memecoin have yielded little personal return but have generated an estimated $400 million for the President and his family.

After investing heavily in the President’s cryptocurrency dealings, in February 2025, Mr. Sun and Trump’s SEC sent a joint letter asking the federal judge overseeing the SEC’s 2023 case to halt proceedings. The judge summarily granted the motion. In May, Mr. Sun attended an exclusive dinner and private reception with President Trump at his golf course located outside of Washington, D.C. Only the top investors in President Trump’s memecoin were present, raising clear conflicts of interest and the potential for undue influence.

Mr. Sun’s investments in the President’s cryptocurrency ventures have only grown, as Mr. Sun recently reportedly committed to buying another $100 million worth of the President’s memecoin, money directly benefitting the President and his family. President Trump reported that he earned $57 million from WLF last year, representing one of the President’s largest sources of income. Recent estimates indicate that the Trump family generated about $390 million from sales of WLF’s cryptocurrency token.

Importantly, WLF’s cryptocurrency has unique characteristics that may implicate federal securities laws and has the potential to harm everyday investors. The WLFI token is the mechanism that Mr. Sun used to funnel tens of millions of dollars to the President and his family. Initially, WLFI was sold exclusively to wealthy and sophisticated investors under the SEC’s Regulation D offering exemption and was locked from being traded. This meant that Mr. Sun’s investment was likely motivated by a desire for political favor, as there was no apparent economic benefit. However, on September 1, 2025, WLF’s token became transferable and available to inexperienced investors on popular U.S. cryptocurrency exchanges, such as Coinbase and Kraken, adding up to $5 billion to President Trump’s personal net worth. Should Mr. Sun sell his token holdings, the price could collapse, and everyday investors could lose their savings. This token offering should have been registered with the SEC, which would entitle investors to the full protections of the securities laws.

Lastly, Mr. Sun recently took Tron public in a reverse merger with a small Nasdaq-listed company that sells toys and souvenirs to theme parks. This move raises financial and national security risks due to Mr. Sun and his company’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Mr. Sun has bragged to former colleagues about his connections to the Chinese government and has held official positions, including as a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Additionally, Tron has been linked to a criminal organization that is reportedly connected to the CCP.

The toy manufacturer, known as SRM Entertainment, acquired and rebranded as Tron Inc. in a $210 million deal facilitated by Dominari Securities, an investment bank located in Trump Tower, which lists Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump on its advisory board. The SEC has previously identified instances of fraud and other abuses involving reverse merger companies. Reverse merger transactions can enable private companies to bypass the disclosures, scrutiny, and months-long process associated with a formal Initial Public Offering (IPO). Reverse mergers involving foreign companies may also pose increased risks to investors, such as potential accounting and auditing fraud. Chinese companies utilized the reverse merger process to defraud investors of $34 billion between 2007 and 2010. In addition, the SEC has initiated fraud investigations and halted trading for more than 40 Chinese companies that accessed U.S. markets through these transactions.

Given the litany of issues associated with Mr. Sun’s investments in the President’s cryptocurrency ventures and his plans to take Tron public through the reverse merger process, we request that the SEC ensure that Tron Inc. meets the rigorous standards necessary to be listed on U.S. stock exchanges, and respond to the following questions by no later than October 2, 2025.

1. Did any SEC staff communicate with any White House officials or persons affiliated with the Trump family regarding the decision to request a stay in the SEC v. Sun, et al. case?

   1. If so, please list the dates of those communications and the individuals involved.

2. Did any SEC staff communicate with Mr. Sun directly or with his counsel prior to sending the joint letter requesting a stay in the SEC v. Sun, et al. case?

   1. If so, please list the dates of those communications and summarize the content of such communications.

3. Did any SEC staff communicate with any White House officials or persons affiliated with the Trump family prior to the publication of the SEC’s Staff Statement on Meme Coins?

   1. If so, please list the dates of those communications and the individuals involved.

4. How many complaints related to fraud, market manipulation, or other wrongdoing has the SEC received concerning Mr. Sun and how has the Commission dealt with such complaints?

5. Can the SEC commit to:

   1. Ensuring that any settlement agreement in SEC v. Sun, et al. protects the American public by placing Tron on the debarment list; and

   2. Prohibiting Tron from engaging in future fraudulent activities similar to those under investigation.

6. Dominari Securities was the only firm responsible for finding investors and raising money for SRM Entertainment27 to purchase $210 million worth of TRX cryptocurrency tokens.28 Eric Trump reportedly holds an advisory role at investment firm Dominari Securities, and is reportedly expected to assume a role at Tron Inc.29 If applicable, has the firm disclosed Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.’s involvement in this transaction?

   1. If so, has Dominari Securities disclosed these potential conflicts of interest in its amended Form ADV Part 1A and Part 2A?

   2. If applicable, what steps has the firm taken to manage these potential conflicts of interest?

7. Did SRM Entertainment report the reverse merger deal in its Form 8-K within the required timeframe of 4 business days after the completion of the transaction?

   1. If not, please outline what action the SEC plans to take to address this violation.

8. Did SRM Entertainment include the appropriate audited financial statements for the acquired private company (Tron) in its Form 8-K?

   1. If not, by what date did SRM Entertainment indicate that the required financial statements would be filed?

9. Typically, in a reverse merger, the acquiring entity will retain the same auditor as the registrant.30 According to a recent filing,31 M&K CPAs, PLLC, a PCAOB-registered accounting firm, performs auditing services for SRM Entertainment. Has Tron Inc. filed the appropriate Form 8-K and notified the SEC or PCAOB whether it will retain the same auditor?

   1. If not, please provide the name of the company that has been hired to perform auditing work.

10. In its 2023 investigation of Mr. Sun, did the SEC consider Mr. Sun’s close affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and his likely status as a Politically Exposed Person (PEP) under the Anti-Money Laundering and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA/AML) framework, as a potential vehicle for fraud or a risk to national security?

11. Has the SEC investigated claims that allege 17 out of the top 20 Tron wallets were created and owned by a criminal organization that is connected to the CCP?

    1. If not, will the SEC commit to initiating such an investigation?

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson joined Joe Kernen and Becky Quick on CNBC’s Squawk Box to discuss House Republicans’ efforts to responsibly keep the government open and Congressional Democrats’ ongoing attempts to inject unrelated partisan politics into the clean, short-term continuing resolution.

“If the government is shut down because they make that their last stand, it will solely be blamed on Democrats,” Speaker Johnson said. “Because we’re not playing politics with this at all. We’re just trying to keep the lights on.”

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full interview here.

On Republican efforts to keep the government open:

We have been trying to force the government appropriations process back to what we call regular order, you know, the way it’s supposed to work. The 1974 Budget Control Act puts very specific dates and requirements on how this is supposed to be done so that Congress can be careful stewards of the precious treasure of the US taxpayers. We do 12 separate appropriations bills. But the problem is, as, as we’ve discussed on your program, that hasn’t been done that way in quite some time. We’re sort trying to force that back into the system. And I’m delighted to report to you this morning that the House has done its job. The House Appropriations Committee actually has passed all 12 separate appropriations bills through the committee, three off the house floor, the Senate did three.

So, you know what we’ve done? We’re now forcing the mechanism of a conference committee. That’s the way this is supposed to work. When you have the House and the Senate with the same bills that don’t match exactly, you get a subset of people in those areas of jurisdiction who go into a room and work it out, that’s how the system is supposed to work. So, we’re going to do that again. We’re moving forward productively, but the concern is that we’ve run out of clock to finish that process. We need a short term, very clean continuing resolution, to keep the government open so our appropriators can continue to do their work. Chuck Schumer and Jefferies and the others are opposing; that they’re trying to insert partisan political preferences in the middle of a clean funding extension. It doesn’t make any sense, and they’re going to lose that battle.

On Democrats’ attempts to politicize the short-term, clean CR:

What they’re trying to argue for, not to get too deep in the weeds, is they’re trying to insist that the Obamacare premium subsidies be continued. That’s a December policy debate and decision, not a September funding matter. They’re trying to insert unrelated matters into the middle of a clean government extension. And I don’t think that’s going to work. If the government is shut down because they make that their last stand, it will solely be blamed on Democrats, because we’re not playing politics with this at all. We’re just trying to keep the lights on. And they’re trying to insert this as a sort of last-ditch effort to regain their footing because the party is reeling right now. They have no identified leader, platform, policy they advance. Everything is about hating Trump and hating Republicans. That’s not really something to run on.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

‘My hope is waning. Time is running out for hope, for justice, and for democracy itself’

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet, delivered the following remarks before the Judicial Conference, which convenes twice a year to consider administrative and policy issues affecting the federal court system, and to make recommendations to Congress concerning legislation involving the Judicial Branch. It’s presided over by Chief Justice John Roberts.

“Thank you all once again for inviting me to speak at the opening of the Judicial Conference. As you know, I have long respected this institution and its traditions. My respect for our third co-equal branch remains, even as our democracy is increasingly thrown into chaos.

“I will not mince words today: Under the current administration, our Rule of Law is at a Category 6 code red, six alarm fire. With a cultish congress rubber stamping the excesses of a President who disrespects and disregards the Constitution laws of our country, Americans are looking to the federal courts for salvation, and without a change from our federal courts, I worry for the future of our democracy.

“Years ago, during the last Trump administration, I sat in this room and listened to then-Attorney General Bill Barr tell the Judicial Conference it needs to “do something” about “all those nationwide injunctions” stopping Trump’s wish list from being fulfilled. And you know what? Clearly Mr. Barr was heard.

“This year, the Supreme Court limited preliminary injunctions in CASA v. United States. But it has continued to reverse preliminary injunctions even in those limited cases where they are still allowed, allowing the Trump administration’s attacks on the rule of law to proceed as cases challenging seemingly unlawful and/or unconstitutional acts make their way through the federal court system. By the time the cases reach the Supreme Court for final review the Court will find it impossible to undo the damage that will have been done to our democracy. Alarmingly these reversals of well considered decisions by lower courts have repeatedly occurred through the emergency appeals process, with very consequential, effectively final decisions handed down through the Shadow Docket. No consideration on the merits. No reasoned analysis. Just decision after decision reversing lower court decisions—to favor the Trump administration.

“Many of us in Congress understand the threat to democracy posed by the current administration. Refusing to spend monies appropriated by Congress; shuttering agencies established by Congress; removal of heads of independent agencies who are protected by statute from summary dismissal; the firing of civil servants without cause; deporting American citizen children with their parents; sending the national guard into American cities; greenlighting racial profiling in immigration enforcement. Each of these overreaches, left unchecked, erodes our democracy.

“In light of these threats to our Rule of Law, Americans are looking to the judicial branch for salvation from an overreaching executive. Yet for some strange reason, there is a reluctance from those at the top to follow established law and precedent. You are an institution that values tradition, precedents, and wise moderation, and yet your reticence to allow injunctions to stand in clear cases of executive overreach has resulted in an even-more reckless and unchecked executive while challenges to his overreach remain pending.

“Federal judges blocking the administration have been clear about what is at stake. In an order barring a man’s deportation under the Alien Enemies Act earlier this year, a President George W. Bush Appointee wrote, “Allowing constitutional rights to be dependent upon the grace of the executive branch would be a dereliction of duty by this third and independent branch of government and would be against the public interest.

“It is unclear why the Supreme Court has repeatedly permitted unconstitutional executive branch actions to continue. But we would be unwise to assume that laypeople don’t understand what is happening. Americans can see the President’s repeated incursions on our separation of powers, and the destruction of the delicate system of checks and balances upon which our well-functioning democracy has worked for 249 years. According to a Gallup Poll conducted at the end of last year, public confidence in the courts had dropped to a record low of 35 percent.

“I don’t need to tell the people in this room that the judiciary’s authority comes neither from power of the purse, nor of the sword, but from the public trust in its ability to be above the politics of the day. While I have not always agreed with the decisions of the court, I have long held out hope that the Supreme Court will overcome politics and come through for us when it matters most.

“Like many Americans, my hope is waning. Time is running out for hope, for justice, and for democracy itself.

“If those responsible for saying what the law is—if the ultimate arbiters of the law in our country—don’t maintain the trust of the American people, where does that leave democracy? When Donald Trump declares martial law and sends Congress home, what will the Court do, after again and again cowing to this administration? 

“I don’t know the answers, but I know the place we can start. We all represent the American people in different ways. And we are responsible for reestablishing the trust that has been lost. I cannot in good conscience continue to blindly adhere to tradition in the face of that code red six-alarm fire.

“When Bill Barr told the Judicial Conference that it needed to do something about those nationwide injunctions, the American people had no idea that Bill Barr, the top lawyer for the nation, was communicating ex parte with members of the judicial branch on a substantive issue, on behalf and to the benefit of the then President. And that’s because the Attorney General could come in here in secret and tell the courts what the administration wanted it to do, and no one would ever know. This part of Judicial Conference meetings where the conference hears from legislators and executive branch officials—needs to be public, to eliminate ex parte communications and to give Americans insight into who in the administration is advocating for the Court to change the law. I know of no reason why this part of Judicial Conference meetings needs to be done in secret, and I for one, will be publishing my remarks later today.

“The Judiciary has run out of time for tradition, and pomp and circumstance. You need to reestablish the trust that has been lost. And you have my commitment that I will do everything I can to protect the independence and integrity of the courts, and to provide for the safety of justices, judges, and for those who work for the federal courts. 

“Thank you again for inviting me to speak today, and I wish the Judicial Conference a productive September meeting.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  On Monday, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), announced that they re-introduced the FAIR Act: The Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act, re-establishing Americans’ 7th Amendment right to seek justice and accountability through the court system. 

Rep. Johnson made the announcement during a virtual roundtable discussion on forced arbitration that included advocacy groups , and his bill has more than 50 cosponsors. Sen. Blumenthal introduced the Senate companion bill. 

The bill passed the House of Representatives during the 116th and 117th Congresses. 

The FAIR Act – H.R. 5350 – would eliminate forced arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, and civil rights cases. Instead of forcing arbitration, the FAIR Act, would allow consumers and workers to choose between arbitration and the Court system after a dispute occurs. 

“Forced arbitration is an underhanded maneuver that corporations use to trick consumers, workers and small businesses out of their right to go to court and seek damages from a jury of their peers,” said Rep. Johnson, who has been introducing arbitration reform legislation since 2007.  “You can’t get a cell phone or credit card or even a job nowadays unless you sign away your rights because that’s what every corporation requires. They force you into binding arbitration because it benefits them, and it’s at your expense. If this sounds unfair, it is. Big businesses that already had all the power in the relationship between themselves and someone like you or me, stacked the deck so that they can avoid the only thing out there that could hold them accountable — the United States justice system.” 

“Forced arbitration clauses restrict Americans’ access to justice by stripping consumers and workers of their right to go to court. Instead, they are forced into a rigged system where corporations can write the rules and everything can be done in secret. What is at stake today is basic fairness. Congress can show that it’s on the side of everyday Americans and not corporate wrongdoers by passing the FAIR Act,” said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the legislation’s lead Senate sponsor.

“From NFL coaches fighting racial discrimination to kids just trying to access a school lunch, forced arbitration limits our ability to identify corporate wrongdoing and routinely strips people of their fundamental rights,” said Christine Chen Zinner, Director of Federal Research and Advocacy at Alliance for Justice. “The FAIR Act will level the playing field and restore access to the courts where people have a fair chance to seek justice when they are harmed.”

BACKGROUND: Forced arbitration clauses restrict Americans’ access to justice by stripping consumers and workers of their right to go to court. Instead, consumers and workers are forced into an unfair arbitration system where corporations can write the rules; everything can be done in secret, without public rulings; discovery can be limited, making it hard for consumers to get the evidence they need to prove their case; and there’s no meaningful judicial review, so consumers and employees are often unable to appeal a decision even if the arbitrator gets it wrong. In 2015 investigative series, The New York Times documented the ills of forced arbitration clauses in consumer and employment contracts: Arbitration Everywhere, Stacking the Deck of Justice. 

COSPONSORS (56)

Rep. Barragan (CA-44); Rep. Bernhard (LA-02); Rep. Bonamici (OR-01); Rep. Brownley (CA-26); Rep. Casar (TX-35); Rep. Casten (IL-06); Rep. Castro (TX-20); Rep. Chu (CA-28); Rep. Cleaver (MO-05); Rep. Dean (PA-04); Rep. DelBene (WA-01); Rep. Deluzio (PA-17); Rep. Doggett (TX-37); Rep. Fletcher (TX-07); Rep. Foster (IL-11); Rep. Frankel (FL-22); Rep. Garcia (CA-42); Rep. Garcia (TX-29); Rep. García (IL-04); Rep. Golden (ME-02); Rep. Gottheimer (NJ-05); Rep. Huffman (CA-02); Rep. Jayapal (WA-07); Rep. Kelly (IL-02); Rep. Khanna (CA-17); Rep. Lee (PA-12); Rep. Lieu (CA-36); Rep. Magaziner (RI-02); Rep. McClellan (VA-04); Rep. McCollum (MN-04); Rep. McGarvey (KY-03); Rep. Morelle (NY-25); Rep. Mrvan (IN-01); Rep. Neguse (CO-02); Rep. Norton (DC); Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14); Rep. Omar (MN-05); Rep. Peters (CA-50); Rep. Pingree (ME-01); Rep. Pocan (WI-02); Rep. Pressley (MA-07); Rep. Quigley (IL-05); Rep. Ross (NC-02); Rep. Scanlon (PA-05); Rep. Sherman (CA32);Rep. Simon (CA-12); Rep. Smith (WA-09); Rep. Stanton (AZ-04); Rep. Swalwell (CA-14); Rep. Thanedar (MI-13); Rep. Tlaib (MI-12); Rep. Tonko (NY-20); Rep. Tran (CA-45); Rep. Williams (GA-05)

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS: American Association for Justice; Americans for Financial Reform; Center for Auto Safety, Center for Biological Diversity; Center for Economic Integrity, Center for Economic Justice; Center for Justice & Democracy; Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement & Research (CLEAR); Center for Progressive Reform; Center for Responsible Lending; Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws; Consumer Action; Consumer Federation of America; Consumer Reports; Consumer Watchdog; Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety; DC Consumer Rights Coalition; Earthjustice; Economic Policy Institute; Essential Information; Farmworker Association of Florida; Food & Water Watch; Impact Fund; Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute; Justice in Aging; Kansas Holistic Defenders; Long Term Care Community Coalition; Mobilization for Justice; National Association of Consumer Advocates; National Association of the Deaf; National Center for Law and Economic Justice; National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care; National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care; National Consumers League, National Disability Rights Network (NDRN); National Employment Law Project; National Employment Lawyers Association; National Institute for Workers’ Rights; National Urban League, National Women’s Law Center, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice; Northwest Workers’ Justice Project,; Oregon Consumer League; Public Citizen; Public Good Law Center; Public Justice; Public Justice Center; Rise Economy (formerly California Reinvestment Coalition); South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center; Student Borrower Protection Center; Texas Appleseed; The Sikh Coalition; Tzedek DC; United Way of Central Texas, Center for Community Impact; Virginia Citizens Consumer Counsel.

WHAT THE GROUPS ARE SAYING

“The FAIR Act’s ban on forced arbitration clauses in the corporate fine-print is urgently needed to restore critical legal protections, which would ensure consumers, workers, and small businesses can seek to hold corporate bad actors accountable in court for the harm they cause.” said Christine Hines, legislative director at the National Association of Consumer Advocates. 

“The practical effect of forced arbitration is that corporations can break the law and harm consumers, workers, families, and small businesses without consequences. The FAIR Act would enable all of us to seek justice in court and deter corporations from breaking the law in the first place.” said Leah Nicholls, Director of the Access to Justice Project at Public Justice.

“Forced arbitration is a rigged system that stacks the deck against consumers, workers, and victims, while allowing corporations to defraud, discriminate, and hurt Americans. The FAIR Act would restore the rights of individuals to seek justice and public accountability when corporations break the law, and I thank Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) for their steadfast leadership on this issue,” said American Association for Justice (AAJ) CEO Linda Lipsen.

Read the bill HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley partnered with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Don Bacon (R-NE-02) on a bipartisan effort to prohibit the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution in commerce of all six recognized asbestos fibers. The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025 protects the health of Americans across the nation by banning this toxic chemical, which experts say there is no safe level for the human body to be exposed to.

“We know asbestos is a killer, and Americans deserve to have a future free of exposure to this deadly carcinogen,” said Senator Merkley. “Asbestos has been banned in more than 50 countries around the world, and the United States is just starting to play catch-up by finally cracking down on this public health nightmare. The bipartisan Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025 is essential to providing certainty, phasing out all dangerous asbestos fibers, and providing vital public health protections for generations to come.”

“It is unacceptable that asbestos use is still legal in the United States today,” said Rep. Bonamici. “We’ve known that asbestos is a dangerous carcinogen for more than half a century, and safer alternatives exist. I am introducing the bipartisan Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act with Senator Merkley and Representative Bacon to shield workers and families from further harm.”

“We know, without a doubt, that asbestos is a dangerous, deadly substance,” said Rep. Bacon. “There is no reason we should be importing asbestos when we know there is a direct connection to mesothelioma and other cancers. I am supporting the bipartisan Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act to ban the importation of asbestos and protect the American people.”

Merkley has been a longtime advocate for banning asbestos and has tirelessly fought to advance legislation with Congresswoman Bonamici to keep this toxic poison away from workers and consumers. He previously chaired a hearing on his legislation to ban the manufacturing, processing, use, and distribution of commercial asbestos in the United States. Merkley also leads a bipartisan effort to mark National Asbestos Awareness Week in April, educating Americans about the dangers of asbestos exposure.

The bipartisan Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025 is endorsed by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, International Association of Fire Fighters, Collegium Ramazzini, Environmental Information Association, American Public Health Association, Center for Environmental Health, and Environmental Working Group.

“Asbestos has caused devastating suffering, disease, and death for decades—claiming more than 40,000 American lives every year. Since the EPA’s 1989 asbestos ban was overturned, more than one million Americans have died from entirely preventable asbestos-caused diseases. It is long past time to end asbestos use in the United States and stop the tragedies that continue to devastate families like mine,” said Linda Reinstein, President and Co-Founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. “For the first time, the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act is bipartisan and being co-led in the House by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Don Bacon, with Senator Jeff Merkley championing the bill in the Senate. This bicameral leadership represents the only comprehensive and durable solution to finally eliminate asbestos from commerce and protect all Americans—especially workers, first responders, consumers, children, and disadvantaged communities most at risk of exposure.”

“The Collegium Ramazzini, an international scientific society, supports the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025 which calls for an immediate ban on all mining and the use of asbestos in all its forms in order to eliminate the continuing burden of disease and death. We urge the immediate passage of this legislation which will save countless lives in our country and globally,” said Dr. Melissa McDairmid, on behalf of the Fellows of the Collegium Ramazzini.

“On behalf of the Environmental Information Association (EIA), a non-profit membership organization of persons involved in the asbestos abatement industry, I write to express EIA’s strong support for the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act of 2025. We greatly appreciate your continuing commitment to ban commercial asbestos that has continued for many years. With the passage of ARBAN, the United States will finally join nearly 70 countries that have banned asbestos,” said J. Brent Kynoch, Managing Director of the Environmental Information Association.

“There is overwhelming consensus in the scientific community that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. APHA continues to support legislation like the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act to protect the public’s health by eliminating all asbestos imports and use,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, Executive Director, American Public Health Association.

“EWG commends Sen. Merkley, Rep. Bonamici and Rep. Bacon for their unwavering commitment to finally banning this deadly carcinogen,” said Environmental Working Group (EWG) President Ken Cook. “Asbestos-related diseases have claimed countless lives and continue to leave families grieving across the nation. By passing the bipartisan ARBAN Act, Congress can make it unmistakably clear that public health must come before industry profits.”

The legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).

Full text of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025 can be found by clicking here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

How can we prevent a repeat tragedy if the Trump Administration dodges accountability?

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

Congress’s consideration of several Resolutions of Inquiry to hold the Trump Administration accountable will be delayed until March 31, 2026.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement regarding Russia’s unprecedented military drone incursions into Poland and Romania and the escalating war in Ukraine:

“Russia’s unprecedented military drone incursion into Poland and Romania is further proof of what we have long known: Vladimir Putin has no intention of ending his criminal invasion of Ukraine and is hellbent on broadening this war. He sent the same message just days ago when he launched the largest drone attack on Ukraine since the war began. In the past week, we’ve also seen Russian bombs devastate both Ukraine’s Cabinet building in Kyiv and a crowd of elderly civilians gathered to collect their pensions in a town in eastern Ukraine. Putin’s prodding is meant to test our coalition’s capability and commitment to defending not only one another but freedom, democracy, and international law itself.

“From pledging further sanctions on Russia to deploying more air defenses in NATO’s east, our European allies met Putin’s intrusion with resolve. Our Congress must do the same. In April, I introduced legislation with House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks to put new sanctions and other economic penalties on Russia so long as it continues waging its brutal war against Ukraine. With 213 House Members signing on to a petition to bring this legislation to the House Floor, we need just five more signatories to force a vote.

“Putin will not stop until he is stopped. Our House must band together to ensure that he is before it’s too late. I urge all Members who oppose Russia’s criminal aggression to sign on to our discharge petition for H.R. 2913, the Ukraine Support Act.”