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Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) announced two grant awards totaling $38,617,390 from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Transit Authority (FTA), with funds appropriated by Congress, to improve mobility and transit options throughout the Tampa Bay area.

“Tampa Bay neighbors deserve affordable, accessible transit that helps riders get to work, school, doctors’ appointments and the grocery store,” said Rep. Kathy Castor. “By modernizing public transit and improving mobility across our growing community, we are opening doors to new job opportunities, strengthening local businesses and improving the quality of life for Tampa Bay area families. I’m proud to help deliver these resources so that every neighbor—no matter their zip code—has the freedom to move, connect and thrive in our community.”

“Today’s announcement represents a major step forward for reliable transit in Hillsborough County,” said HART CEO Scott Drainville. “This investment will help us improve service for riders, strengthen our workforce pipeline, and continue transitioning our fleet to cleaner, low-emission technology. We are deeply grateful for Congresswoman Castor’s leadership and strong support for public transit in Hillsborough County. Her partnership has been essential in securing this investment for our community. We want to thank FTA Administrator Marc Molinaro and his team for their partnership. The Administration’s priorities—improving safety, advancing workforce development and strengthening reliability—align directly with HART’s mission and the work we are doing here in Hillsborough County.”

“We are incredibly grateful to the Federal Transit Administration, along with the continuing support from U.S. Representative Kathy Castor for her commitment to keeping the wheels turning in the event our transit facility loses power during a storm,” said Brad Miller, Chief Executive Officer for PSTA. “These funds will ensure PSTA remains a resilient transit provider that can safely and continuously utilize its fleet to transport residents to jobs and families to opportunity, and even to assist with evacuations and transporting people with disabilities, even when the power is out.”

“This grant for HART is a huge leap forward thanks to our federal partners. HART provides such a pivotal lifeline for our working families – our seniors, those with disabilities, our veterans and so many others,” said Councilman Luis Viera, Chairperson of the HART Board. “ I am so thankful for the work ethic, tenacity and determination of our Congresswoman Kathy Castor, who always champions transit.  This grant allows us to move forward in a manner that is productive and is consistent with sustainability.”

FL-14 USDOT FTA’s Low- or No-Emission Program Grants:

• $32,037,390 – HART’s “Improving HART’s Service Through Reliable Fleet” Project: To support the acquisition of 33 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to replace 33 outdated diesel-powered buses and to expand HART’s vocational training program and establish a registered apprenticeship program.
• $6,580,000 – PSTA’s “PSTA Facility Emergency Power Resiliency Project”: To support the replacement of the existing diesel-powered facility generator and the installation of a new generator to maintain charging power for electric buses and continue transit operations in the event of a power outage due to events like hurricanes.

Today’s announcement continues to build on the hundreds of millions in major infrastructure grants for Tampa Bay in recent years, including these in 2025: $23 million to HART for its maintenance facility and $62 million to Tampa International Airport and its new Airside D.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during Lung Cancer Awareness Month, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) reintroduced the bipartisan Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act, a bill that will help lower health care costs for families while expanding access to lifesaving cancer screenings and reducing barriers to preventive care in communities that have been overlooked.

“In the United States, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, largely because too many cases are caught too late. Only 18% of eligible individuals are screened annually across the country, exposing how much work remains to save lives through early detection,” said Rep. Castor. “By making lung cancer screenings easier to access and eliminating surprise bills and insurance red tape, this bipartisan bill will help neighbors catch cancer earlier, stay healthier and live longer. Together, with my bipartisan colleagues and with the help of premier cancer research institutions like Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa, we can save tens of thousands of lives every year by expanding access to lung cancer screenings.”

“Families lose loved ones to lung cancer every day because the disease is often found too late. We know early screening saves lives; we also know too many Americans can’t get screened when they need to. The Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act changes that by removing prior authorization hurdles, ensuring no-cost annual screenings under Medicaid, expanding cessation support, and reaching high-risk communities before it’s too late. As Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus, I’ll continue driving bipartisan, evidence-based reforms that ensure every patient has a real chance at early detection and a fighting chance at survival,”said Rep. Fitzpatrick.

“The fight against lung cancer is very personal to me. I lost my mother and my grandmothers to the disease,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “But with real advancements in treatment and increased accessibility to annual screening, we can make this disease less deadly, more treatable, and less expensive to treat. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to remove barriers to lung cancer screenings as early detection is one of the best tools we have to beat this deadly disease.” 

Full text of the bill is available here.

Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in the nation, but early detection saves lives and reduces long-term health care costs. The Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act tackles the affordability crisis head-on by removing financial barriers and red tape that too often delay care.

The Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening would:

• Prohibit prior authorization in Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance, ending delays and insurance hurdles that keep eligible patients from getting screened when they need it.
• Require Medicaid to fully cover annual lung cancer screenings for all eligible beneficiaries—with no co-pays or out-of-pocket costs.
• Expand coverage of tobacco cessation services and medications to all eligible Medicaid beneficiaries, helping people quit smoking and reducing long-term health risks and costs.
• Create an education and outreach campaign to inform individuals and health care providers about the importance of lung cancer screenings for eligible individuals.

This bipartisan legislation ensures families aren’t forced to choose between their health and their wallets—and strengthens early detection and prevention efforts in communities that have been overlooked for far too long.

Castor is a proven champion for cancer prevention, early detection and equitable access to lifesaving care. She has led bipartisan efforts to expand affordable cancer screenings and immunizations, strengthen Medicaid and Medicare coverage and remove barriers that keep families from getting the preventive services they need. Castor consistently fights to accelerate research through the National Institutes of Health, support innovative treatments and close gaps in care for communities facing higher cancer rates.

Castor has co-led the introduction of the Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screenings Act for the past 3 Congresses—penning a 2023 op-ed titled “Transforming lung cancer care: A call to increase access to life-saving screening,” with bipartisan partners to underscore the life-saving potential of this critical legislation. 

The Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act is endorsed by ALK Positive, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Radiology, American Lung Association, American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative (ALCSI), Association of American Cancer Institutes, Braf Bombers, Caring Ambassadors Program, Citizens for Radioactive Radon Reduction, EGFR Resisters, Free ME from Lung Cancer, GO2 for Lung Cancer, LiveLung, Lung Cancer Action Network (LungCAN), Lung Cancer Circle of Hope, Lung Cancer Foundation of America, Lung Cancer Initiative, Lung Cancer Research Foundation, LUNGevity Foundation, Mae’s Breath Foundation, Moffitt Cancer Center, Mountain Foundation For Education & Research in Lung Cancer, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Rexanna’s Foundation, Small Cell Lung Cancer Advocacy, Streak For A Cure, Inc.

Organization Quotes in Support of the Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act

“The Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act is a crucial piece of legislation. Advancements in lung cancer research have led to improved treatment over the past several years. However, these treatments are most effective when people are screened for lung cancer and it is detected early. This legislation removes prior authorization barriers and makes it easier for Moffitt and other providers to screen patients and get them into treatment faster, potentially saving their lives.” – Dr. Karen Lu, Executive Vice President and Physician in Chief, Moffitt Cancer Center.

“Early detection of lung cancer is critical for saving lives, and we need to do everything possible to eliminate barriers to screening,” said Andrea Ferris, President and CEO of LUNGevity Foundation. “We are grateful to Representatives Castor, Fitzpatrick, and Wasserman Schultz for their leadership on this important legislation, which would improve awareness of and access to lung cancer screening.”

“This legislation will remove financial barriers to screening, improve access for more people who need this care, and enable patients and providers to strike a major blow against the nation’s leading cancer killer,” said American College of Radiology CEO Dana H. Smetherman, MD, MPH, MBA, FACR. “Coupled with education about the importance of screening, this expanded coverage will help ensure early detection for more people, address disparities in lung cancer outcomes, and save more lives from this terrible disease.”

“Lung cancer’s burden on families, individuals and the healthcare system is far too great. Lung cancer screening is key to early diagnosis, and early diagnosis saves lives. Unfortunately, in 2022, only 18.2% of those eligible had this lifesaving screening, according to the 2025 ‘State of Lung Cancer’ report,” said Harold Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Thank you to Congresswomen Kathy Castor and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick for sponsoring this bill to improve access to and raise awareness of critical lung cancer screening for those at high risk. We are also grateful that this bill will expand access to quit smoking services to everyone enrolled in Medicaid. Quitting smoking will lower the risk of lung cancer and is the best thing a person can do for their lung health.”

“Every day, we hear from patients and families whose lives could have been changed, or saved, if lung cancer had been caught earlier. No one should be denied a lifesaving screening due to cost or bureaucratic hurdles. The Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act offers real hope by removing barriers and ensuring that those at highest risk can get the care they need. This is a long-overdue step that will save lives and bring us closer to a future where early detection is the norm, not the exception.” – GO2 for Lung Cancer President and CEO Laurie Ambrose

“Lung cancer has the lowest screening uptake across all screenable cancers. We have the tools to enable early detection of lung cancer, when it’s more treatable—now we need to make sure everyone can access these tools,” said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, Chief Executive Officer of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®). “We applaud the bipartisan sponsors of the Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act for championing this crucial issue. This legislation can reduce preventable deaths by improving patient awareness and increasing cancer screening according to proven recommendations from evidence-based, expert consensus-driven guidelines.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter calls for increased ICE presence in Atlanta to address criminal illegal immigration problem

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons calling for increased ICE and DHS resources to address safety concerns in Atlanta, Georgia, by enhancing federal enforcement of immigration laws. 

Recent reports find that Georgia is home to 479,000 illegal immigrants, making it the sixth highest state in the nation for illegal immigration. 

In the letter, Rep. Carter writes, “Rising levels of illegal immigrants and increasing threats to public safety in Georgia highlight the urgent need for an enhanced ICE presence in Atlanta. Recently, ICE arrested Salvador Rodriguez-Mendoza, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico with an active arrest warrant for murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally… a mother of five children was brutally murdered by a criminal illegal alien from Honduras.” 

Rep. Carter continues, “Every single person who is here illegally has broken the law and must be treated accordingly; anything less invites a culture of not just mass illegal immigration, but mass crime…Without the increased assistance of federal agents with local law enforcement, more of these criminals will…never face justice.” 

Rep. Carter notes that under President Trump’s leadership, the southern border is secure, “with apprehensions at their lowest level in fifty years.” While this progress represents a landmark achievement for the nation, significant work remains to address the lasting, disastrous impacts of the Biden-Harris border crisis, supported by Senator Jon Ossoff. 

Read the full letter here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, issued the following statement condemning President Donald Trump’s death threat directed toward Members of Congress:

“Let’s not mince words. Donald Trump’s statement is a death threat. The sitting President of the United States is calling for the murder of his political opponents. We cannot lose sight of how shocking, dangerous, and abnormal this is.

“For the record—the video that triggered Trump’s death threat simply restates current U.S. law. Members of the United States Armed Forces do not have to obey an order that is manifestly unlawful. That principle stretches back to the founding of our country. In 1950, it was written into the Uniform Code of Military Justice. And it was embedded into international law during the Nuremberg Trials, when the world agreed that ‘just following orders’ is not a valid excuse for committing war crimes.

“I want the country to hear this clearly: do not be intimidated. We will not let Donald Trump normalize violence as a tool of political power. And we will not let the United States slide into the darkness he is trying to drag us into.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-16), Co-Chair of the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus, joined Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in introducing the Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act of 2025, legislation that ensures federal cancer research funding for pediatric cancers aligns with the percentage of Americans under 18.

Lawmakers co-leading the legislation with Reps. Kelly and Fitzpatrick are Dwight Evans (PA-03), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), and Susie Lee (NV-03).

Despite nearly one-fifth of Americans age 18-under, pediatric cancers receive only about 4% of federal cancer research funding. Childhood cancer remains the leading disease-related cause of death for children in the United States, yet many treatments still rely on therapies developed for adults decades ago.

“Approximately 16,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year. This legislation invests more in the discovery of treatments and cures that work for these courageous children,” said Rep. Kelly, Co-Chair of the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus. “The Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act is a giant step toward that goal because it focuses more money on childhood cancer research. We can, and should, do more, which is why I am a proud champion of this bill.”

“This bill is rooted in a simple principle: fairness. Pediatric cancer has been chronically underfunded for decades, leaving families with fewer options and slower innovation,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “The Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act rights a fundamental imbalance, accelerates discovery, and ensures we invest in cures designed for the courageous children who do not choose this battle but fight it with a strength few adults could ever imagine.”

“Cancer can be so devastating at any age, and it can be especially difficult for kids diagnosed with it and their families,” said Rep. Evans. “I’m proud to cosponsor this bill from my Pennsylvania colleague that would help ensure an equitable amount of federal funding for pediatric cancer research.”

“No parent or child should have to face the pain of pediatric cancer. Unfortunately, underinvestment in research and treatment has meant that Nevada kids often must wait or travel several hours for treatment or potentially lifesaving clinical trials,” said Rep. Lee. “I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan legislation with Rep. Fitzpatrick to ensure that federal funding is properly allocated to match our children’s health needs. Our children deserve access to the best care possible, no matter where they live.”

“Cancer is an awful disease that’s devastating so many American children and families — unnecessarily cutting precious lives short. We must keep taking every possible step toward finding cures. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act, to help ensure that federal investments are equally distributed to pediatric cancer research,” said Rep. Gottheimer. “There are children behind every statistic. Pediatric cancer touches far too many families, including my own. With the Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act, we will help develop cutting-edge treatments, find cures, and, most importantly, save lives.”

The legislation establishes:

• Fair-Share Funding Requirement: Beginning in FY2026, pediatric cancer research funding must match the percentage of Americans under age 18.
• Data-Driven Allocation: Annual funding levels will use official Census data.
• Sustained National Investment: Ensures long-term, stable federal support for child-specific treatments.

BACKGROUND

Rep. Kelly has long been a champion for pediatric cancer families, using his role on the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus to elevate the voices of young patients, survivors, and caregivers in Pennsylvania and across the nation.

Most recently, Rep. Kelly introduced a resolution to recognize Rare Cancer Day, to highlight the challenges patients face, and to unify individuals living with rare cancers for awareness and early diagnosis. Approximately 1 in 5 Americans living with cancer are diagnosed with a rare cancer. 

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

After voting to release the Epstein Files the Michigan lawmakers are leading the charge to ban the long-abused pardon power

WASHINGTON, D.C. – ICYMI: Congresswoman Haley Stevens joined Senator Elissa Slotkin’s calls to “push Democrats to abolish [the] Presidential Pardon.” The push comes after voting to release the long-blocked Epstein Files and amid Trump’s consideration of pardons for Ghislaine Maxwell and others involved in Epstein’s child sex trafficking ring.

Here’s what Michiganders are seeing and reading about Haley standing up to these abuses of power:

WDIV:

• Two Michigan Democrats leading a push to abolish presidential pardon powers.
• Senator Elissa Slotkin and Representative Haley Stevens are calling for an end to presidential pardons being misused now for political allies.
• The push comes as President Trump considers pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein traffic underage girls.

WWJ:

• No more presidential pardons – that’s what a pair of local Congresswomen are calling for after voting to release the Epstein files.
• Congresswoman Haley Stevens joined Senator Elissa Slotkin in advocating for an end to the pardon after both joined hundreds of their colleagues in voting to release the Epstein files.
• The call for an end to pardons comes on the heels of  Trump pardoning all January 6th rioters, even the violent offenders, multiple people guilty of tax fraud, and now amidst rumors that Epstein associate Ghilaine Maxwell is also seeking a pardon just 4 years into a 20 year sentence.
• “The presidential pardon power has been used to reward political allies. Trump has done it again, and again, and again.”
• “And now he could even pardon a person who helped run a child sex trafficking ring with Jefferey Epstein. That’s unacceptable.”

WLNS: Slotkin, Stevens push Democrats to abolish presidential pardon

Brad LaPlante

• For the last two months, U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin has been leading an effort to curb President Donald Trump’s use of executive power.
• U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) joined Slotkin Tuesday in her calls to end the presidential pardon, criticizing Trump for weighing a decision to pardon Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, who is reportedly planning to seek a commutation of her federal prison sentence, according to the Independent.
• A judge sentenced Maxwell to 20 years in prison for enabling sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein in the sexual exploitation of more than 250 underage girls.
• “It’s time to stop protecting Donald Trump and to start protecting survivors,” Stevens posted to social media platform X on Tuesday. “The presidential pardon power has been used to reward political allies. Trump has done it again, and again, and again. And now he could even pardon a person who helped run a child sex trafficking ring with Jeffrey Epstein. That’s unacceptable.”
• On Nov. 9, Trump issued a pardon for 16 individuals accused of scheming to certify Michigan’s electoral votes for Trump in the 2020 election. While charges against 15 of those individuals were dismissed in September, the 16th reached a cooperation agreement with the Michigan attorney general’s office. His charges were dropped.
• Trump has also issued blanket pardons for those involved in the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He pardoned Ross William Ulbricht, who had been serving a life sentence in prison for running a website that acted as a marketplace to trade narcotics.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) issued the statement below following the Trump Administration’s announcement that it is planning to open the California coast to offshore oil drilling for the first time in decades.

“Despite clear opposition from public officials, environmental experts, and residents across our state, the Administration has proposed to sell California’s coastline to Big Oil. Let me be clear: this is a reckless and dangerous move,” said Rep. Carbajal. “Trump’s plan puts delicate marine ecosystems at risk and threatens the public health of coastal communities across the West Coast – all so oil executives can line their pockets. The Central Coast knows the devastating consequences of oil spills firsthand. That’s why we’ve long stood at the forefront of the environmental justice movement. Our community is ready to lead in this fight once again, and I will do everything in my power to ensure we rise to the challenge.”

Carbajal has long led the charge against new oil drilling on the Central Coast.

Earlier this month, Carbajal co-hosted a listening session with environmental leaders from the Central Coast to discuss regional concerns over the Trump administration’s rollback of environmental protections.

In September, Carbajal joined U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA), and other members of the California congressional delegation to demand answers from the Trump administration on its involvement in Sable Offshore Corporation’s attempts to restart offshore oil drilling using the same pipelines that caused the Refugio State Beach oil spill of 2015.

In August, Carbajal reintroduced the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, which would designate approximately 250,000 acres of public land in the Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument as wilderness, the highest form of federal protection available. A wilderness designation would protect the land from future oil or gas drilling.

In April, Carbajal announced the reintroduction of the California Clean Coast Act. The California Clean Coast Act was the first bill Congressman Carbajal introduced as a Member of Congress, demonstrating his longstanding commitment to protecting California’s coast from offshore drilling and the devastating impact of oil spills.

In 2024, Carbajal led the effort to get the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary officially designated. The sanctuary protects approximately 4,543 square miles of waters off the Central Coast of California, an area considered culturally, spiritually, and historically significant to the Chumash and Salinan Peoples, from oil drilling.

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

SHERMAN OAKS, CA – On November 19th, more than 2,500 residentsjoined Congressman Brad Sherman’s (CA-32) live Telephone Town Hall — his first since the federal government reopened after the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Sherman used the call to outline why he opposed the deal to reopen the government, warning that it failed to secure protections for the 24 million Americans whose health insurance premiums are poised to spike at the end of the year.

“I’m grateful that thousands of residents always join these town halls,” Sherman said. “Now that the government has finally reopened, there’s a tremendous amount of work ahead and that’s why I hold these town halls — to keep people informed and ensure they have a direct line into what’s happening every step of the way.”

During the call, Sherman reiterated why he voted against the agreement to reopen the government, emphasizing that the deal “protected virtually no one” and failed to extend critical Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at year’s end. He warned that millions of Americans now face steep premium increases and stressed the need to push back against what he described as President Trump’s increasingly reckless and authoritarian actions. Sherman also updated constituents on California’s Proposition 50, explaining that even though a federal court struck down the Texas redistricting plan that originally triggered the measure, Prop 50 remains in force unless overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Throughout the event, Sherman answered questions on major national concerns — including health care affordability, aggressive immigration actions, election integrity, presidential overreach, and the importance of safeguarding Social Security and Medicare from proposed cuts. Many constituents expressed alarm over rising extremism, threats to federal protections, and the direction of the country.

The Town Hall also featured Las Virgenes Unified School District Board Member Alan Lazar as a special guest. Lazar highlighted encouraging trends in local public education, including strong UC acceptance rates and improvements in post-pandemic test scores, while noting the challenges of rising costs, teacher retention, math achievement, and managing cell-phone use in schools. “There is a great deal to be proud of in our local schools,” Lazar said, “but we must continue investing in student safety, mental health, and academic recovery.”

During the Town Hall, Sherman requested input from residents by asking a series of survey questions about their thoughts and concerns. 

The results of the survey questions are as follows:

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-Should Congress extend the enhanced ACA subsidies? 

• Yes, extend ACA enhanced subsidies: 81%
• Phase out ACA enhanced subsidies: 7%
• No, let ACA enhanced subsidies expire: 5%
• Unsure: 5%

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-Without an act of Congress, should the President be able to unilaterally withhold federal funds, such as disaster relief? 

• Yes, the president should always be able to withhold federal funds: 4%
• Yes, but only for positions I disagree with: 5%
• No the president should not have the ability to withhold federal funds: 88%
• Unsure: 2%

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-Should the President activate a state’s National Guard troops for federal deployment in cities that he (or she) believes are high in crime? 

• Yes, allow the President to activate troops: 4%
• No, leave it to the states to manage: 91%
• Unsure: 3%

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Pressley Has Sounded the Alarm on Pushout of Black Women from Workforce Under Trump, Demanded Action from Federal Reserve

On Monday, Pressley to Hold Timely Discussion in Boston on Unemployment Crisis Impacting Black Women, Black Families, and Black Futures

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following statement after the Trump Administration finally released the September jobs report revealing a 7.5% unemployment rate for Black women. In Congress, Rep. Pressley has repeatedly sounded the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States and called on the Federal Reserve to take action.

On Monday in Boston at 1:00pm ET, Congresswoman Pressley will convene impacted Black women, economists, civil rights leaders, and community members for a timely discussion on the rising unemployment rate for Black women and its impact in Massachusetts and beyond. Media wishing to attend the event are asked to RSVP here.

“These numbers are damning and confirm what we’ve long known to be true: under Donald J. Trump, Black women continue to face a crisis of disproportionately high unemployment—a direct result of Trump’s reckless mass firings, a growing affordability crisis, and relentless attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives. As the primary breadwinners for many households, Black women are the backbones of our families and our economy, and their systematic pushout not only has dangerous consequences for Black women, Black families, Black futures—it is also a glaring red flag for the entire U.S. economy,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “The occupant of the White House must end his racist and fiscally irresponsible economic policies that are destabilizing our communities and harming our economy. The Department of Labor must continue to collect and publish monthly job numbers. And the Federal Reserve must take urgent action to address this crisis. We cannot and will not allow Trump and Republicans’ anti-Black, anti-woman agenda to erase Black women and our contributions from the workforce.”

In September, Congresswoman Pressley wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell sounding the alarm on the rising unemployment rate for Black women in the United States and demanding the Fed take immediate action to uphold its mandate of maximum employment for all. The Congresswoman’s letter comes as the Trump Administration’s mass federal workforce layoffs and anti-DEI policies disproportionately impact Black women and as Donald Trump attempts to seize control of the Fed by illegally firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

A copy of the Congresswoman’s letter is available here.

Later in September, Congresswoman Pressley convened a press conference with a coalition of Black women activists and civil rights leaders to continue sounding the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States.

Rep. Pressley has consistently advocated for race-conscious policies to help close the racial wealth gap in America, uplift Black, brown, and other marginalized communities.

• Building on the legacy of Black women in the civil rights movement, Rep. Pressley led a historic resolution calling for a federal job guarantee.  
• In a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Congresswoman Pressley questioned Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on the issue of full employment and the Civil Rights history of the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate. Powell conceded, for the first time in Federal Reserve history and on the Congressional record, that the Fed alone cannot get the United States to full employment.
• Congresswoman Pressley, along with Senator Cory Booker, is the lead co-sponsor of the American Opportunity Accounts Act—also known as Baby Bonds—legislation that would create a federally-funded savings account for every American child in order to make economic opportunity a birthright for every child and help close the racial wealth gap.
• Rep. Pressley introduced the Equity in Government Act to codify racial equity across federal agencies and improve government services for underserved communities.
• Rep. Pressley has also called on the five largest banks in America to provide a detailed update on the racial equity commitments the institutions made following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
• Rep. Pressley was also a leading voice in Congress urging President Biden to cancel student debt. Following years of advocacy by Rep. Pressley—in partnership with colleagues, borrowers, and advocates like the NAACP—the Biden-Harris Administration announced a historic plan to cancel student debt that stands to benefit over 40 million people.

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