U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
Featured Stories
AFL-CIO Policy Specialist Gottwald Testifies Before Senate Finance Committee
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Senate Finance Committee released the following testimony by Eric Gottwald, policy specialist for trade and international economics at the AFL-CIO, from a Feb. 12, 2026, hearing entitled "The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement: Evaluating North American Competitiveness":
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Good morning and thank you to Chairman Crapo and Ranking Member Wyden for the opportunity to testify on the future of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
My name is Eric Gottwald and I'm here to represent the AFL-CIO, a federation of 64 different unions representing over 15 million workers
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Senate Finance Committee released the following testimony by Eric Gottwald, policy specialist for trade and international economics at the AFL-CIO, from a Feb. 12, 2026, hearing entitled "The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement: Evaluating North American Competitiveness":
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Good morning and thank you to Chairman Crapo and Ranking Member Wyden for the opportunity to testify on the future of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
My name is Eric Gottwald and I'm here to represent the AFL-CIO, a federation of 64 different unions representing over 15 million workersacross our country.
In 2019, the AFL-CIO endorsed the USMCA after working with Congressional allies to ensure the agreement represented a substantial improvement over the deeply flawed North American Free Trade Agreement. USMCA promised a different economic model for North American trade: one based on respect for workers' rights and fair competition rather than NAFTA's corporate-driven race to the bottom.
Unfortunately, more than five years since the USMCA entered into force, it is clear that the agreement is failing to deliver for workers in all three countries. The vast majority of workers in Mexico still do not enjoy their fundamental right to be represented by an independent union, while American and Canadian workers continue to face unfair competition and the constant threat of corporate offshoring in search of low wages and standards.
As we approach the 2026 joint review, our position is clear: the agreement should not be granted a 16-year extension without major reforms. Let me share a few areas where the agreement is failing workers, followed by recommendations to improve its performance.
* The USMCA was supposed to rebalance North American trade flows and narrow the United States chronically large, traded goods deficit with Mexico. Yet the opposite has happened: since the USMCA came into force, the United States bilateral trade deficit with Mexico has exploded from $125 billion to $263 billion in 2025. This alarming data point tracks with announcements by major multinationals like Stellantis, John Deere, Nabisco and Case New Holland to close U.S. plants and offshore production to Mexico.
Simply put, if a measure of its success is a reduction in trade deficits, the USMCA is failing.
* The USMCA also required Mexico to address its corrupt system of "protection unions" and "protection contracts," where employers sign bogus collective bargaining agreements with illegitimate trade unions that do not represent workers' interests. Years after the reforms were adopted, protection unions continue to thrive and represent a majority of unionized workers in Mexico today - often without their knowledge or consent.
* The USMCA's labor chapter requires Mexico to effectively enforce its labor laws, but there is no evidence that this is happening in practice. For example, the newly created Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registration (CFCRL) does not even have the legal authority to issue fines on employers who violate the law. On top of this, the Mexican government has consistently underfunded the Federal Center and slashed the budget of the newly created labor courts.
* Unsurprisingly, Mexico's failure to fully implement the labor reforms is reflected in the lack of progress in closing the wage gap between Mexican workers and their North American counterparts. According to the Economic Policy Institute, Mexican manufacturing wages under USMCA average just $2.76 an hour - roughly a tenth of what their US counterparts earn.
* Aside from these core compliance failures, new challenges have arisen since the USMCA came into effect. For example, Chinese investment into Mexico has more than doubled, raising concerns the agreement is being used as a backdoor for unfairly traded goods to enter the North American market.
As you prepare for the Joint Review, we recommend the following reforms to ensure the agreement delivers on its promise to lift wages and standards for workers.
* Negotiate a labor action plan with clear, timebound implementation benchmarks for the Mexican government to come into compliance with its obligations under the USMCA's labor chapter.
* Adopt more bold and direct measures to raise the wages of Mexican workers in the export manufacturing sector. For example, the United Auto Workers and independent Mexican unions have recommended establishing a North American minimum wage for the auto sector, which would boost Mexican workers' wages substantially, narrowing the wage gap.
* Adopt measures to strengthen the agreement's Rapid Response Labor Mechanism by ensuring it addresses Mexican companies' refusal to bargain in good faith with independent unions and unacceptable delays in cases that go to arbitration.
* Restore funding for US labor attaches and independent Mexican unions to assist workers in using the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism to advance their rights.
* Address the economic and security threats posed by China, including by adopting common border measures to address unfairly traded electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum.
* Strengthen the agreement's rules of origin, expand their scope to additional key sectors, and ensure that non-compliant goods face significant costs to gain access to the US market.
* Finally, strengthen the agreement's weak environmental provisions, including exploring options for facility specific enforcement.
We agree with United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer that the USMCA's shortcomings are serious and that a rubber stamp of the agreement is not in the national interest.
We strongly encourage Congress and the Administration to use the leverage created by the sunset clause and joint review process to insist on improvements to the agreement so that it delivers on its promise to promote dignity and fair competition for workers across North America.
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify and I welcome any questions the Committee may have.
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Original text here: https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/021226_gottwald_testimony.pdf
Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Nominee Carl Testifies Before Senate Foreign Relations Committee
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Senate Foreign Relations Committee released the following testimony by Jeremy Carl, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of State for international organization affairs, from a Feb. 12, 2026, confirmation hearing:
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Chairman Risch, Ranking Member Shaheen, and distinguished Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee - I am honored to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs at the Department of State.
I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me by the
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Senate Foreign Relations Committee released the following testimony by Jeremy Carl, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of State for international organization affairs, from a Feb. 12, 2026, confirmation hearing:
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Chairman Risch, Ranking Member Shaheen, and distinguished Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee - I am honored to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs at the Department of State.
I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me by thePresident to advance America's interests at the United Nations and broader multilateral system. If confirmed, I will work to advance this vision by holding the UN and international organizations accountable, promoting transparency, and ensuring that U.S. taxpayer contributions to these organizations deliver tangible results that align with our national interests.
I would like to begin by acknowledging three people who are sadly no longer with us, as without them, I would not be sitting here before you today. In my career, I have had the tremendous privilege of learning at the side of the late Secretary of State George P. Shultz, whom I served as his right-hand man for almost a decade while a research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. During my time with Secretary Shultz, I collaborated with some of America's greatest diplomats, both political appointees and career officials, whose work was an inspiration. I also wish to acknowledge the late Kenyan professor Calestous Juma of Harvard University, who was my first mentor in this field when I was a graduate student, my first professional champion, and the first person who allowed me to work with the UN system. Third, I would like to thank the late Charlie Kirk, who was a peerless leader of the conservative movement, a longtime supporter of me and my work, and a champion of my candidacy for this position. The loss that I feel from his passing, both personally and professionally, is incalculable.
I wish to also thank all of my colleagues at the Claremont Institute, in particular, Claremont President Ryan Williams, who has been so supportive of my work, and of me personally. And I would like to thank Senator Daines of this committee, whom I have been privileged to get to know well over the past several years, and who has been a constant source of encouragement and sound advice as I have navigated this process.
Finally, and most importantly, I'd like to thank my wife and my five children for their support. If I am confirmed, they are the people who will suffer the most by my largely being absent from our home in Montana while I am working in Washington, DC and abroad. And yet, they have been unfailingly supportive of me and my desire to serve under President Trump and Secretary Rubio.
As President Trump has said, the UN has potential. But it needs renewed focus, as it has strayed far from its original purpose of solving international disputes peacefully. The United States must lead in the effort to demand accountability and results from the UN, and to move the institution back towards its founding purpose.
If confirmed, I will work to refocus the UN System on its foundational mission.
International organizations exist to advance the interests of sovereign nations.
They are not global legislatures or independent sources of moral, political, or legal authority. By restoring the UN's credibility and effectiveness, we can better protect U.S. interests and foster a more stable and secure world.
The inefficiencies and bureaucratic sprawl within the UN and other international organizations have long been a source of frustration for member states, including the United States. These institutions are often burdened by duplicative mandates, bloated budgets, and a lack of accountability for results. This undermines their ability to deliver on their missions and erodes the trust of the nations that fund them. If confirmed, I will prioritize management reform to streamline operations, eliminate waste, and ensure that these organizations operate with the efficiency and effectiveness that our country's taxpayers deserve. I will advance reforms for greater transparency, performance-based budgeting, and a culture of results-driven accountability, including in UN peacekeeping operations.
A leaner, more focused UN is in America's interest, and I look forward to working with colleagues at our U.S. missions in New York and other UN capitals to achieve that goal - one that the Mission teams are already excelling at. In December, U.S. leadership resulted in historic staffing and budget cuts at the UN: a 15% reduction in budget and elimination of 2,900 positions.
The United States is the largest financial contributor to the UN system and many other international organizations. Yet too often, our resources are used to support programs or agendas that run counter to our values and interests. Frequently, allies vote against our positions in the UN while privately indicating their agreement with us. This is unacceptable. American taxpayers should not fund initiatives that undermine America's interests.
Our determination was made clear on January 7, when the President announced the United States would withdraw from 66 organizations and entities deemed to be redundant in scope, mismanaged, or incompatible with U.S. foreign policy. The United States should only engage in international organizations when it advances America's national interests.
If confirmed, I will work to ensure that every dollar the United States contributes to international organizations is spent wisely and is aligned with our national priorities. This includes redirecting funds away from programs that fail to deliver results or support adversarial agendas and toward initiatives that advance U.S. security, prosperity, and leadership. By taking a principled and strategic approach to our funding, we can ensure that America's voice and values remain at the forefront of the multilateral system.
Distinguished Members of this Committee, I am confident that with strong leadership and a clear vision, we can ensure that international organizations once again serve as effective tools for advancing peace, security, and prosperity. I pledge to work to restore the effectiveness and integrity of international organizations while ensuring they serve the purposes for which they were created.
As Secretary Rubio has said - America First does not mean America alone. Our role in the multilateral system will indeed be changing, but it does not mean we won't be active in it.
If confirmed, I will dedicate myself to this mission, working in close partnership with Congress to uphold the values and priorities of the American people. Thank you for your time, your questions, and your consideration of my nomination.
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Original text here: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/de65af88-ca61-66ee-9fac-013a1b671804/021126_Carl_Testimony.pdf
As Energy Department Allocates Funds in Defiance of Spending Law, Murray and Kaptur Renew Call for GAO to Investigate Misuse of Clean Energy Funding
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 25, 2026:
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As Energy Department Allocates Funds in Defiance of Spending Law, Murray and Kaptur Renew Call for GAO to Investigate Misuse of Clean Energy Funding
Today--as the Department of Energy (DOE) makes funding available in defiance of the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution--Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Congresswoman
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 25, 2026:
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As Energy Department Allocates Funds in Defiance of Spending Law, Murray and Kaptur Renew Call for GAO to Investigate Misuse of Clean Energy Funding
Today--as the Department of Energy (DOE) makes funding available in defiance of the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution--Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and CongresswomanMarcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, renewed their request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issue a legal decision on whether DOE's allocation of these funds violated key appropriations laws by shifting hundreds of millions of dollars provided for research and development of clean energy sources to President Trump's favored industries.
In a joint statement, Senator Murray and Congresswoman Kaptur said:
"The Department of Energy's fiscal year 2025 spend plan is no longer just a proposal--it is now being carried out in defiance of requirements set by Congress. The Trump administration is unilaterally steering hundreds of millions of dollars from a diversified portfolio of clean energy technologies to help prop up energy technologies favored by the Secretary. These spending decisions undermine American energy leadership, raising costs for American families and businesses and threatening jobs. Secretary Wright is not above the law--he cannot provide more funding than Congress has provided so that he can help out handpicked industries. Today, we're reiterating our call on DOE to start following the law--and our ask that GAO determine whether the Department of Energy's spend plan violates critical appropriations laws."
Earlier today, DOE issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity making $146.5 million in fiscal year 2025 funding available for geothermal, while Congress had only provided $118 million. This marks the first tranche of funding that DOE is allocating in defiance of the sums provided by Congress for fiscal year 2025.
The fiscal year 2025 full-year continuing resolution that House Republicans wrote and that President Trump signed into law continued fiscal year 2024 funding level for key clean energy investments, but DOE's spend plan released last year revealed it is shifting hundreds of millions of dollars designated by Congress for certain clean energy technologies to the administration's handpicked and favored industries--undermining American energy leadership, raising costs for American families and businesses, threatening jobs, and killing domestic innovation.
Last July, Murray and Kaptur asked GAO to investigate whether DOE's FY25 spend plan violated the Purpose Statute, which dictates that appropriations only be used for the purposes for which the appropriations were provided unless otherwise provided for by law, and the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from spending funds in advance of or in excess of an appropriation made by Congress. Today, the lawmakers renewed their request for GAO to issue a legal decision.
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Original text here: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/as-energy-department-allocates-funds-in-defiance-of-spending-law-murray-and-kaptur-renew-call-for-gao-to-investigate-misuse-of-clean-energy-funding
As Energy Department Allocates Funds in Defiance of Spending Law, Kaptur and Murray Renew Call for GAO to Investigate Misuse of Clean Energy Funding
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, issued the following news release on Feb. 25, 2026:
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As Energy Department Allocates Funds in Defiance of Spending Law, Kaptur and Murray Renew Call for GAO to Investigate Misuse of Clean Energy Funding
Today - as the Department of Energy (DOE) makes funding available in defiance of the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution - Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development,
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, issued the following news release on Feb. 25, 2026:
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As Energy Department Allocates Funds in Defiance of Spending Law, Kaptur and Murray Renew Call for GAO to Investigate Misuse of Clean Energy Funding
Today - as the Department of Energy (DOE) makes funding available in defiance of the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution - Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development,and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development renewed their request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issue a legal decision on whether DOE's allocation of these funds violated key appropriations laws by shifting hundreds of millions of dollars provided for research and development of clean energy sources to President Trump's favored industries.
In a joint statement, Congresswoman Kaptur and Senator Murray said:
"The Department of Energy's fiscal year 2025 spend plan is no longer just a proposal--it is now being carried out in defiance of requirements set by Congress. The Trump administration is unilaterally steering hundreds of millions of dollars from a diversified portfolio of clean energy technologies to help prop up energy technologies favored by the Secretary. These spending decisions undermine American energy leadership, raising costs for American families and businesses and threatening jobs. Secretary Wright is not above the law--he cannot provide more funding than Congress has provided so that he can help out handpicked industries. Today, we're reiterating our call on DOE to start following the law--and our ask that GAO determine whether the Department of Energy's spend plan violates critical appropriations laws."
Earlier today, DOE issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity making $146.5 Million in fiscal year 2025 funding available for geothermal, while Congress had only provided $118 Million. This marks the first tranche of funding that DOE is allocating in defiance of the sums provided by Congress for fiscal year 2025.
The fiscal year 2025 full-year continuing resolution that House Republicans wrote and that President Trump signed into law continued fiscal year 2024 funding level for key clean energy investments, but DOE's spend plan released last year revealed it is shifting hundreds of millions of dollars designated by Congress for certain clean energy technologies to the administration's handpicked and favored industries--undermining American energy leadership, raising costs for American families and businesses, threatening jobs, and killing domestic innovation.
Last July, Kaptur and Murray asked GAO to investigate whether DOE's FY25 spend plan violated the Purpose Statute, which dictates that appropriations only be used for the purposes for which the appropriations were provided unless otherwise provided for by law, and the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from spending funds in advance of or in excess of an appropriation made by Congress. Today, the lawmakers renewed their request for GAO to issue a legal decision.
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Original text here: https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/energy-department-allocates-funds-defiance-spending-law-kaptur-and-murray-renew
Ahead of Hearing, Senate Democrats Press Banking Regulators on Civil Rights Safeguards for American Borrowers
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 25, 2026:
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Ahead of Hearing, Senate Democrats Press Banking Regulators on Civil Rights Safeguards for American Borrowers
Today, Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and a group of Senate Democrats sent letters to the Jonathan Gould, Comptroller of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Travis Hill, Chairman of the Federal Deposit
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 25, 2026:
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Ahead of Hearing, Senate Democrats Press Banking Regulators on Civil Rights Safeguards for American Borrowers
Today, Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and a group of Senate Democrats sent letters to the Jonathan Gould, Comptroller of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Travis Hill, Chairman of the Federal DepositInsurance Corporation (FDIC), and Kyle S. Hauptman, Chairman of the Board of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). The letters follow the regulators' decisions to remove disparate impact references from their bank supervisory activities, leaving the door open for Americans to be discriminated against in lending without recourse.
Signers of the letter include: U.S. Senators Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-MN), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jack Reed (D-RI), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ).
"Removing disparate impact liability from these documents will significantly weaken longstanding civil rights safeguards and make it easier for financial institutions to discriminate against borrowers on the basis of protected characteristics such as race and gender. Your agencies must immediately reinstate the use of disparate impact analysis to ensure examiners can use the full set of tools at their disposal to uncover and act on instances of discrimination in financial services." wrote the Senators.
"In April 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking 'to eliminate the use of disparate-impact liability in all contexts to the maximum degree possible.' Following this executive order, your agencies removed all references to disparate impact in your examination manuals," wrote the Senators. "Removing disparate impact ties examiners' hands and makes it much harder to uncover discrimination by banks, credit unions, mortgage originators, and other lenders. Discrimination often goes undetected unless independent entities conduct an analysis that reveals discrimination after the consumer received a loan."
The Senators request that the agencies provide a briefing on efforts to do so by March 11, 2026.
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February 25, 2026
To: The Honorable Jonathan V. Gould, Comptroller of the Currency, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20219
The Honorable Travis Hill, Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20429
The Honorable Kyle S. Hauptman, Chairman of the Board, National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Dear Comptroller Gould, Chairman Hill, and Chairman Hauptman:
We write today with concern regarding your agencies' decisions to remove references to disparate impact liability in your guidance documents governing bank and credit union supervision. Removing disparate impact liability from these documents will significantly weaken longstanding civil rights safeguards and make it easier for financial institutions to discriminate against borrowers on the basis of protected characteristics such as race and gender. Your agencies must immediately reinstate the use of disparate impact analysis to ensure examiners can use the full set of tools at their disposal to uncover and act on instances of discrimination in financial services.
For decades, the federal government and lenders institutionalized financial discrimination through practices such as redlining and denying certain financial services in minority neighborhoods, which restricted access to homeownership and widened the racial wealth gap.1 In the 1960s, Congress began to acknowledge discrimination in the financial system, and passed a series of civil rights laws to combat these practices. These included the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which outlawed racially motivated redlining, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, which prohibited discrimination in credit transactions, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act in 1975, which required financial institutions to report and disclose loan-level information about mortgages, helping shed light on potentially discriminatory lending patterns, and the Community Reinvestment Act in 1977, which ensured that banks reinvest in low-and-moderate income communities where they operate.2
Not all discriminatory conduct in financial services is easily identifiable at the onset. Disparate impact refers to practices that disproportionately and adversely affect members of a protected class, even if the practice may seem neutral on its face. By focusing on the consequences of such practices, disparate impact analyses help uncover discriminatory conduct that may be deliberate, but subtle or concealed. Most cases of lending discrimination fall into this pattern: though not explicit, a pattern of behavior by a lender can produce discriminatory outcomes, whether or not the stated intention of that behavior is discriminatory. Instead of putting an explicit "No Blacks Allowed" sign on a bank window, for example, lenders might focus on disproportionately white areas or follow other policies that effectively mean avoiding communities of color.
In April 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking "to eliminate the use of disparate-impact liability in all contexts to the maximum degree possible."3 Following this executive order, your agencies removed all references to disparate impact in your examination manuals. Specifically, in July 2025, the OCC removed references of disparate impact liability, from the "Fair Lending" booklet of the Comptroller's Handbook and instructed its examiners to no longer examine for disparate impact.4 In August 2025, the FDIC eliminated all references to disparate impact from its Consumer Compliance Examination Manual.5 And in September 2025, the NCUA followed, eliminating all references to disparate impact from its Fair Lending Guide, and instructed examiners to no longer request or review matters related to credit union's disparate impact risk, and internal disparate-impact risk analysis, assessment processes or procedures.6
Removing disparate impact ties examiners' hands and makes it much harder to uncover discrimination by banks, credit unions, mortgage originators, and other lenders. Discrimination often goes undetected unless independent entities conduct an analysis that reveals discrimination after the consumer received a loan. Your agencies' compliance processes have traditionally required lenders to thoroughly review policies and procedures for disparate outcomes.7 These requirements have been responsible for the identification of most cases of discriminatory conduct brought under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.8 Now, the OCC supervisory process will no longer examine community banks, national banks, federal savings associations and federal branches or agencies of foreign banking organizations over disparate-impact risk analysis, or disparate impact risk assessment processes or procedures.9 Meanwhile, the FDIC supervised banks and savings associations, and NCUA supervised federal credit unions will no longer be evaluated for disparate impact risk.10
Conducting disparate impact analyses is integral to combating disparities in mortgage lending, credit cards, auto financing, and other consumer financial products. Given the importance of disparate impact liability, we urge your agencies to restore references to disparate impact in your examination manuals, and request that your agencies provide a briefing on your efforts to do so by March 11, 2026.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Warren, Ranking Member, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Chris Van Hollen, United States Senator
Angela D. Alsobrooks, United States Senator
Tina Smith, United States Senator
Catherine Cortez Masto, United States Senator
Jack Reed, United States Senator
Cory A. Booker, United States Senator
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1 Federal Reserve History, "Redlining," June 2, 2023, https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/redlining.
2 Id; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "About HMDA," https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/hmda/.
3 Executive Order 14281, "Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy," April 23, 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/restoring-equality-of-opportunity-and-meritocracy/.
4 Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, "Fair Lending: Removing References to Disparate Impact," July 14, 2025, https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-16.html.
5 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, "Update to the FDIC's Consumer Compliance Examination Manual," August 29, 2025, https://www.fdic.gov/news/financial-institution-letters/2025/update-fdics-consumer-complianceexamination-manual.
6 Letter from Chairman Kyle Hauptman to Federally Insured Credit Unions, "Removal of Disparate Impact," September 4, 2025, https://ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/letters-credit-unions-other-guidance/removal-disparateimpact.
7 Letter from Americans for Financial Reform to Acting Director Mulvaney, June 25, 2018, https://ourfinancialsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/cfpb-inherited-regs-disparate-impact.pdf; United States v. Citizens Republic Bancorp, Inc. and Citizens Bank, Case No. 2:11-cv-11976-LPZ-LJM (E.D. Mich. 2011); United States v. Compass Bank, Civil Action No. 07-B-0102-S (N.D. Ala 2007); United States v. First American Bank, Civil Action No. 04C-4585 (N.D. Ill. 2004); United States v. Midwest BankCentre, Case No. 4:11- cv-01086 (E.D. Mo. 2011); United States v. PrimeLending, Case No. 3:10-cv-02494-P (N.D. Tex. 2011); United States v. SunTrust Mortgage, Case No. 3:12-cv-00397-REP (E.D. Va. 2012); United States v. Texas Champion Bank, Case No. Case 2:13-cv-00044 (S.D. Tex. 2013); United States v. C&F Mortgage Corporation, Case. No. 3:11-cv-00653 (E.D. Va. 2011); United States v. First United Bank, Case No. 3:15-cv-00144-L (N.D. Tex. 2015); United States v. AIG Federal Savings Bank and Wilmington Finance, Inc., Case No. 1:10-cv-00178-JJF (D. Del. 2010).
8 Id.
9 Banking Dive, "OCC drops disparate impact liability from supervision, exam metrics," Rajashree Chakravarty, July 15, 2025, https://www.bankingdive.com/news/occ-drops-disparate-impact-liability-from-supervision-exammetrics/753092/.
10 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, "Update to the FDIC's Consumer Compliance Examination Manual," August 29, 2025, https://www.fdic.gov/news/financial-institution-letters/2025/update-fdics-consumer-complianceexamination-manual; National Credit Union Administration, "NCUA Disparate Impact References From Fair Lending Guide and Other Materials," press release, September 4, 2025, https://ncua.gov/newsroom/press-release/2025/ncua-disparate-impact-references-fair-lending-guide-and-othermaterials.
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Original text here: https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/minority/ahead-of-hearing-senate-democrats-press-banking-regulators-on-civil-rights-safeguards-for-american-borrowers
Grijalva to Skip State of the Union; U.S. Citizen Who Was Detained By ICE in Minnesota to Take Her Place
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Rep. Adelita S. Grijalva, D-Arizona, issued the following news release on Feb. 23, 2026:
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Grijalva to Skip State of the Union; U.S. Citizen Who Was Detained By ICE in Minnesota to Take Her Place
Congresswoman Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07) announced today that she will not attend this year's State of the Union address. Instead, Grijalva has transferred her ticket to Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-05), who will be bringing Mubashir Khalif Hussen - a U.S. citizen of Somali descent who was violently detained by federal immigration agents despite repeatedly asserting his
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Rep. Adelita S. Grijalva, D-Arizona, issued the following news release on Feb. 23, 2026:
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Grijalva to Skip State of the Union; U.S. Citizen Who Was Detained By ICE in Minnesota to Take Her Place
Congresswoman Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07) announced today that she will not attend this year's State of the Union address. Instead, Grijalva has transferred her ticket to Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-05), who will be bringing Mubashir Khalif Hussen - a U.S. citizen of Somali descent who was violently detained by federal immigration agents despite repeatedly asserting hiscitizenship - in her stead.
According to a federal civil rights lawsuit, Hussen was stopped by masked immigration agents while on his lunch break. Despite informing them he was a U.S. citizen and offering identification, he was thrown to the ground, restrained in a headlock, and detained for hours before officials ultimately confirmed he was, in fact, an American citizen. His lawsuit alleges racial profiling, unlawful detention, and excessive force.
"I will not sit silently while Trump gaslights the American people with lies about how great everything is," said Rep. Grijalva. "If Trump wants to boast about his reckless and unconstitutional immigration enforcement, he should do it in front of the people who these policies have directly harmed."
"Here's the real state of the union: our communities are living in fear, working families cannot make ends meet, healthcare is unaffordable for our veterans and seniors, meanwhile the Department of Education is being dismantled. These are policies that should be protested, not applauded."
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Original text here: https://grijalva.house.gov/media/press-releases/grijalva-to-skip-state-of-the-union-us-citizen-who-was-detained-by-ice-in-minnesota-to-take-her-place
Department of the Interior NEPA Reforms Will Help America Build
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 23, 2026:
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Department of the Interior NEPA Reforms Will Help America Build
Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced final National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations that will modernize the permitting review process for the department. Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:
"Today's NEPA announcement returns common sense to the Federal permitting process and will help America build
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 23, 2026:
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Department of the Interior NEPA Reforms Will Help America Build
Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced final National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations that will modernize the permitting review process for the department. Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:
"Today's NEPA announcement returns common sense to the Federal permitting process and will help America buildagain. By clarifying the scope of review under NEPA and requiring time and page limits for reviews, the Trump administration is taking yet another step towards unleashing our natural resource wealth and building much-needed infrastructure.
"Similar provisions were included in my legislation, H.R. 4776, the SPEED Act. Now the Senate must act to pass these important NEPA reforms and send them to President Trump's desk so they can be enacted into law."
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Original text here: https://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=418622
Department of Defense Heeds Merkley, Senate Budget Committee Democrats' Call to Release Unclassified Spend Plan for National Security Funding From the Big, Ugly Betrayal Law
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 23, 2026:
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Department of Defense Heeds Merkley, Senate Budget Committee Democrats' Call to Release Unclassified Spend Plan for National Security Funding from the Big, Ugly Betrayal Law
Hegseth Was Preventing Congressional Oversight by Classifying the Full Spend Plan
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Today, after Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, led Senate Budget Committee Democrats in demanding answers from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 23, 2026:
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Department of Defense Heeds Merkley, Senate Budget Committee Democrats' Call to Release Unclassified Spend Plan for National Security Funding from the Big, Ugly Betrayal Law
Hegseth Was Preventing Congressional Oversight by Classifying the Full Spend Plan
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Today, after Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, led Senate Budget Committee Democrats in demanding answers from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegsethabout his decision to classify the Department of Defense's reconciliation spending plan, the Pentagon has finally released an unclassified spending plan. Hegseth's obfuscation prevented Congress from conducting proper oversight to ensure that the funds were being used as intended and has raised concerns that this money was being treated as a slush fund.
After Republicans added $150 billion through reconciliation, the defense budget already totaled over $900 billion in FY2026 - the highest in American history. Hegseth and President Trump are now pushing for a $1.5 trillion defense budget in FY2027 - a more than $500 billion increase over current levels - even as the Department of Defense is struggling to identify ways to justify such a dramatic increase.
"For an administration that claims to be 'the most transparent in American history,' it shouldn't take Congressional pressure to release an unclassified version of its reconciliation spending plan. Congress has a constitutional duty to follow the money. And at a moment when the Administration is planning to propose a $1.5 trillion defense budget--the largest in American history-- transparency and oversight are more essential than ever.
"As Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, I will keep holding Trump and Hegseth accountable and work with my colleagues to tackle waste, fraud, and abuse," said Ranking Member Merkley.
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Original text here: https://www.budget.senate.gov/ranking-member/newsroom/press/department-of-defense-heeds-merkley-senate-budget-committee-democrats-call-to-release-unclassified-spend-plan-for-national-security-funding-from-the-big-ugly-betrayal-law
CONGRESSMAN MOYLAN WORKS ACROSS THE AISLE; CO-LEADS BILL TO REFUND VA HOME LOAN FEES FOR DISABLED VETERANS
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (Rep.) -- Del. James Moylan, R-Guam, issued the following news release on Feb. 22, 2026:
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CONGRESSMAN MOYLAN WORKS ACROSS THE AISLE; CO-LEADS BILL TO REFUND VA HOME LOAN FEES FOR DISABLED VETERANS
Congressman James Moylan and Rep. Mike Levin (CA 49) have reintroduced the Veterans Assistance for Loan Origination Relief (VALOR) Act, a bipartisan measure to ensure disabled veterans are not unfairly charged VA home loan funding fees due to delays in the disability rating process.
This bill will ensure that disabled veterans are not forced to pay VA home loan funding fees
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (Rep.) -- Del. James Moylan, R-Guam, issued the following news release on Feb. 22, 2026:
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CONGRESSMAN MOYLAN WORKS ACROSS THE AISLE; CO-LEADS BILL TO REFUND VA HOME LOAN FEES FOR DISABLED VETERANS
Congressman James Moylan and Rep. Mike Levin (CA 49) have reintroduced the Veterans Assistance for Loan Origination Relief (VALOR) Act, a bipartisan measure to ensure disabled veterans are not unfairly charged VA home loan funding fees due to delays in the disability rating process.
This bill will ensure that disabled veterans are not forced to pay VA home loan funding feessimply because the VA has not finished processing their disability rating. Under current rules, a veteran can file their disability claim or intent to file on time, purchase their home, and only later receive their rating--leaving them stuck paying a fee they should have been exempt from. The VALOR Act fixes this by requiring the VA to treat that fee as an overpayment and refund it automatically once the disability rating is approved, shifting the burden on the agency rather than the veteran.
Guam's extremely high housing prices make homeownership unattainable for many veterans. Thousands of dollars in VA funding fees can be added to the cost of purchasing a home, stretching limited family incomes even further. The VALOR Act removes unnecessary financial barriers, putting money back in veterans' pockets and giving them a more affordable and equitable path to securing a home.
"I've heard personally from veterans who were proud to finally be in a position to buy a home, only to learn later that they'd been charged a fee they never should have owed. It's frustrating, and it's unnecessary," said Congressman Moylan. "These are men and women who served our country, followed the process, and still ended up paying more because their disability rating came through after the fact. That's a gap in the system, and it's one we can fix. I'm proud to co-lead the VALOR Act with Congressman Mike Levin to ensure that our veterans aren't penalized for administrative delays and that their benefits reflect the service they've given."
The Congressman will continue working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance the bill and deliver this commonsense relief to veterans and transitioning service members.
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Original text here: https://moylan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-moylan-works-across-aisle-co-leads-bill-refund-va-home-loan-fees
Chairman Graves' Statement in the House During Today's Consideration of ROTOR Act
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 23, 2026:
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Chairman Graves' Statement in the House During Today's Consideration of ROTOR Act
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) delivered the following statement on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today during debate on S. 2503, the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act:
Aviation has been in my blood my entire life, and it continues to be something
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 23, 2026:
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Chairman Graves' Statement in the House During Today's Consideration of ROTOR Act
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) delivered the following statement on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today during debate on S. 2503, the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act:
Aviation has been in my blood my entire life, and it continues to be somethingI love. In the middle of my family farm in Tarkio, Missouri is Gould Peterson Municipal Airport, named after my uncle. Growing up, when my brother and I weren't doing chores, we'd do anything to mooch an airplane ride. That love of aviation and being a pilot has never left me.
When I came to Congress in 2001, I joined the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to work on these issues. It has been extremely rewarding, and being a pilot has provided me with invaluable insight into these issues. Throughout the years, I have worked on several pieces of legislation that addressed safety gaps following unimaginable tragedy. Every aviation accident typically has multiple contributing factors. Too often I have seen Congress react prematurely in a way that fails to address the multi-layered causes of accidents in a comprehensive and consensus-driven manner - and in some instances, to the detriment of fostering sound safety policy that prevents unintended consequences.
This is why I have long believed the best way to honor the victims of aviation accidents is for Congress to wait until the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) completes its investigation, so Congress first has all the facts.
On January 29, 2025, an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines Flight while on final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The fatal collision claimed the lives of all 67 passengers and crew in both aircraft. The NTSB, along with federal partners and law enforcement agencies, jumped into action that cold January night, and the NTSB carried out, over the last year, one of the most impressive and comprehensive investigations I've seen. I'd like to thank the NTSB for their dedicated work over the past year.
The NTSB officially concluded its investigation and issued its Final Report last week, with numerous findings, the probable cause, and 50 recommendations to ensure this doesn't occur again.
It's my deeply rooted respect for the NTSB's investigations and processes that has led me to believe S.2503 does not sufficiently or properly address the findings and recommendations of the Board.
That is why, last Friday, I joined together with Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen, Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, and Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith to introduce the ALERT Act. The ALERT Act is a comprehensive package of improvements that addresses all 50 safety recommendations issued by the NTSB. Unlike the bill before us today, the ALERT Act tackles all the identified root causes that led to this deadly crash.
Unfortunately, the ROTOR Act touches on only two of the NTSB's 50 recommendations and provides an overly prescriptive approach to mandating a specific technology, which is still largely under development, in a manner that can prove burdensome to some operators and create barriers to its adoption.
I'd remind my colleagues that we've been in this position before. Congress mandated the exact technology prescribed in the ROTOR Act in 2012. Due to the lack of maturity of the technology and scalable applications that can benefit a broad range of operators, the mandate proved to be so unworkable that this body had to repeal that mandate in 2018.
Sadly, many of the considerations that led Congress to repeal that mandate still exist today. Don't just take my word for it; listen to the words of an NTSB Board Member, who in the Final Report said, "While we laud ADS-B systems as an emerging technology in commercial fixed-wing and rotorcraft aviation that could have prevented this accident, it is still exactly that, an emerging technology. There are still technological barriers to implementing ADS-B In into the 5,500 commercial aircraft that are in the skies at any given moment."
Let me be extremely clear - as a pilot myself, I unequivocally support the adoption of safety enhancing technologies. I want to get this right.
Ultimately, any successful directive or mandate from Congress will be calculated, scalable, and future proof - not a blanket mandate that limits the aviation community to one technology. We've tried that before and failed, leading to no tangible safety benefit.
My greatest fear is that passage of this legislation today, in its current form, will unintentionally lead to an operational crisis in 2031 and force future Congresses to have the same debate on the need to repeal another unworkable government mandate.
It is that concern that informed the approach we took in the bipartisan ALERT Act. By implementing a performance-based and technology agnostic approach, aircraft would be able to be equipped with the appropriate collision mitigation system, thereby enhancing awareness for all.
While I rise in opposition to this bill, I know that all Members of this body and across the Capitol have a shared priority: a commitment to aviation safety. It was that shared priority that brought us together last Congress to pass the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 - landmark legislation that is improving aviation safety and providing benefits to the flying public.
Here in the House, we will continue our legislative effort around the bipartisan ALERT Act to ensure all the NTSB's recommendations are addressed.
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Original text here: https://transportation.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=409354
Appropriators Deliver Joint Report on Christian Persecution in Nigeria to White House
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 23, 2026:
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Appropriators Deliver Joint Report on Christian Persecution in Nigeria to White House
Following President Trump's call-to-action and redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), the House Appropriations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee delivered a joint report on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria to the White House. The findings follow a comprehensive investigation that included interviews with expert
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 23, 2026:
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Appropriators Deliver Joint Report on Christian Persecution in Nigeria to White House
Following President Trump's call-to-action and redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), the House Appropriations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee delivered a joint report on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria to the White House. The findings follow a comprehensive investigation that included interviews with expertwitnesses, a hearing and roundtable, two on-the-ground assessments through bipartisan congressional delegations to Nigeria, and close partnership with the Trump Administration.
Nigeria has become the most dangerous place in the world to practice the Christian faith, as jihadist networks exploit weak enforcement and limited accountability to carry out sustained and coordinated violence against civilians. Committee members witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences for innocent communities, regional stability, and U.S. national security interests. The report makes clear that failure to confront these threats only emboldens terrorist actors and accelerates further violence - underscoring that protecting religious freedom and countering extremism require clear red lines, real accountability, and decisive leadership. Thanks to President Trump's efforts since returning to the White House, and attention from Congress, there is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for real change to address this two-decades-long crisis.
Investigators on both committees recommend these actionable steps to align with President Trump's efforts from the White House:
* Strike a bilateral agreement between the United States and the Government of Nigeria to protect vulnerable Christian communities, eliminate jihadist terror activity, further economic cooperation, and counter adversaries in the region.
* Implement the FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026, which withholds funding to the Government of Nigeria until action is taken to stop violence against Christians.
* Invoke and publicly announce the CPC Presidential Directives to name and shame perpetrators of violence.
* Implement sanctions on groups and individuals who participate in, or tolerate, violence against Christians.
* Continue visa restrictions for perpetrators involved in Christian violence and violations of religious freedom.
* Demand the repeal of sharia codes and criminal anti-blasphemy laws.
* Review and use points of leverage to compel Fulani herdsmen to disarm, including by blocking export of beef and other cattle-related products.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, "Liberty continues when strength stands guard. The freedom to worship is not a fleeting ideal, it is a cornerstone of America. From U.S. beginnings, our shores drew those seeking to pray without fear, and that promise must endure. So, though oceans stand between us, the call to protect faith and humanity does not fade with distance. President Trump made that clear when taking decisive action in Nigeria while simultaneously tasking us to deliver a report on further actions to protect persecuted Christians. I commend the work of our Vice Chair and NSRP Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart, Rep. Riley Moore, and our committee members in leading efforts to stop extremism and systemic violence against innocent people. Our joint report focuses on defending lives, upholding religious liberty, and stopping terrorists. We affirm a necessary duality, no matter where we are: we defend U.S. principles by enforcing security. We protect faith by dismantling terror. And we recognize that a world where believers are safe is not achieved through hope alone - it is secured through vigilance that deters evil, confronts violence, and stands watch so prayer is never left undefended."
Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) said, "During my official travel to Nigeria, I heard directly from witnesses and experts about the horrific violence being carried out against Christians. No one should face persecution or death for practicing their faith. President Trump's America First foreign policy makes clear that defending fundamental freedoms, including religious liberty, is a core U.S. priority at home and abroad. I am proud to aid in that mission through the FY26 National Security and Department of State legislation, which withholds assistance to the Government of Nigeria until action is taken to stop these atrocities. We must stand with vulnerable communities, including Christian communities, and ensure those responsible for this violence are held accountable."
Legislative Branch Subcommittee Vice Chair Riley Moore (R-WV) said, "Following today's productive meeting at the White House, I want to thank President Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and for his Administration's commitment to protecting our brothers and sisters in Christ from persecution and addressing the broader security challenges plaguing Nigeria. Since President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a CPC and tasked me to lead a Congressional investigation, I have worked diligently with my colleagues to produce the report we presented today. I also want to thank House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, Vice Chair Mario Diaz-Balart, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, and Congressman Chris Smith for their leadership on this comprehensive investigation and delivering this report to the White House. I traveled on a bipartisan delegation to Nigeria and saw with my own eyes the horrific atrocities Christians face, and the instability the Nigerian government must combat. Through Congressional hearings, expert testimony, meeting with Internally Displaced People, hearing from religious leaders, and engaging with high-level Nigerian government officials, we have provided a clear picture of the threat environment in Nigeria and the horrific persecution Christians face. This report outlines concrete steps to impose accountability measures, counter radical Islamic terrorism, and lays out a plan to work in coordination and cooperation with the Nigerian government to bring security to all the people of Nigeria. Our brothers and sisters in Christ have suffered in silence for too long. The world is now watching, and I urge the Nigerian government to take the opportunity to deepen and strengthen its relationship with the United States. Doing so is in the interest of both our great nations. Together, we must address these pressing security challenges and bring an end to violence against Christians."
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman and Values Action Team Chair Robert Aderholt (R-AL) said, "Religious freedom is not simply an American value; it is a universal right rooted in the dignity of every human being. President Reagan quoted the Bible when he spoke about America as a 'shining city on a hill,' a beacon of hope for those yearning to live and worship freely. That light must continue to shine for persecuted believers around the world. The violence against Christians in Nigeria and elsewhere demands more than concern, it requires steadfast action. I am grateful for Chairman Cole's leadership and for the diligent work of our colleagues in producing this report, which outlines meaningful steps to confront extremism and protect vulnerable communities. When we defend religious liberty abroad, we reaffirm the principles that make our nation that shining city, strong, faithful, and unafraid to stand for what is right."
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Vice Chair Scott Franklin (R-FL) said, "During our visit to Nigeria, I saw firsthand the devastating impact of religious persecution on Christian communities. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right, and no one should live in fear for practicing their faith. Congress has a responsibility to ensure strong oversight and real accountability. The United States must continue standing for religious liberty and confronting extremist violence wherever it occurs."
Homeland Security Vice Chair Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) said, "Last December, I traveled to Nigeria with a bipartisan group of members of Congress and saw firsthand the devastating toll that targeted violence and religious persecution have taken on Christian communities. Families are living in fear, and extremist networks are exploiting instability with little accountability. The joint report now being delivered to the White House makes clear that the status quo is unacceptable. Protecting religious freedom and confronting terrorism requires decisive leadership and real consequences. With President Trump's redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, we have a critical opportunity to bring meaningful change to a crisis that has gone on for far too long."
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) said, The U.S. will not turn a blind eye to Christian persecution. This report shows the unrelenting plight Christians have faced for years in Nigeria. Thanks to President Trump, America is paying greater attention to this issue and leading with strength to protect religious freedom throughout the globe."
House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ) said, "President Trump's bold and well-founded redesignation of Nigeria as a 'Country of Particular Concern' was not just a declaration - it was a directive. For nearly twenty years, the Nigerian government has been complicit in and complacent about the violent religious persecution occurring within its borders. By failing to punish and prosecute the Islamist extremists who wantonly rape, torture, and murder Christians and non-radical Muslims in their country, the Nigerian government has only emboldened these terrorist thugs to inflict even more suffering. This joint report - requested by President Trump and compiled by the House Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees - is a critical tool for helping the Nigerian government to help its own people. This report provides comprehensive recommendations for the United States to follow throughout its efforts to curb the religious violence in Nigeria, ranging from bilateral agreements to economic sanctions. It is well past time that we dismantle the culture of denial surrounding the religious persecution in Nigeria - and this report provides the proper tools to do so."
This joint effort from the Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees underscores the grave importance placed on this issue by both Congress and President Trump. Religious freedom is a founding principle of the United States of America, and House Republicans remain committed to protecting vulnerable religious communities around the world.
Read the report here (https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/joint-nigeria-report-scanned.pdf).
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Original text here: https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/appropriators-deliver-joint-report-christian-persecution-nigeria-white-house
