U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
Featured Stories
Ranking Member Shaheen, Senator Barrasso Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost U.S. Government Coordination and International Engagement on Subsea Cables
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 24, 2025:
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Ranking Member Shaheen, Senator Barrasso Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost U.S. Government Coordination and International Engagement on Subsea Cables
Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced the bipartisan "Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2025" to enhance the U.S. government's international engagement as it relates
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 24, 2025:
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Ranking Member Shaheen, Senator Barrasso Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost U.S. Government Coordination and International Engagement on Subsea Cables
Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced the bipartisan "Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2025" to enhance the U.S. government's international engagement as it relatesto the security, installation and maintenance and repair of subsea fiber-optic cables. The bill calls for increased U.S. government engagement in certain international bodies related to subsea cables and calls for additional investments in Department of State resources to advance U.S. interests on subsea cables.
"Subsea fiber-optic cables form the bedrock of global internet traffic and are strategic, critical infrastructure," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "As the world witnesses an uptick in cable cuts such as in the Baltic Sea and the Taiwan Strait this past year, the United States must position itself to respond to these evolving threats. I'm proud to introduce this legislation with my colleague Senator Barrasso to strengthen public-private sector coordination while enhancing the U.S. government's ability to advance priorities on subsea cables overseas."
"Subsea fiber-optic cables are a lifeline for international communication, including internet access, financial transactions and military coordination. China, Russia and other adversaries continue to target these cables in hopes of disrupting communications in Taiwan and for our allies across Europe and the Middle East," said Senator Barrasso. "We must ensure this vital international telecommunications infrastructure is safeguarded from terrorist threats. Senator Shaheen's and my legislation will increase international coordination and better protect subsea cables from future targeted attacks."
Key provisions of the bill:
* Calls for increased diplomatic efforts with U.S. allies and partners to address the security, maintenance and repair of subsea fiber-optic cables, including by requiring the Department of State to hire at least two dedicated full-time staff to advance these efforts;
* Strengthens U.S. government engagement in international bodies such as the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) to advance U.S. interests;
* Requires the President to impose sanctions against foreign individuals who have intentionally damaged subsea fiber-optic cables;
* Requires the President to establish an interagency committee to coordinate efforts related to subsea fiber-optic cables and mandates a federal strategy to work with industry partners, streamline permitting and to prepare for malicious threats; and
* Requires federal agencies to develop procedures to ensure the timely communication of threat information with private subsea cable operators and owners to improve their situational awareness and prepare protective measures.
Full text of the bill can be found HERE (https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/subsea_cables_bill.pdf).
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Original text here: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/dem/release/ranking-member-shaheen-senator-barrasso-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-boost-us-government-coordination-and-international-engagement-on-subsea-cables
Boozman-Led Recycling Legislation Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release:
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Boozman-Led Recycling Legislation Passes Senate
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WASHINGTON U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Co-Chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus, applauded Senate passage of the Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development (STEWARD) Act. The legislation passed the Senate unanimously and will next be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.
"I am pleased to see the STEWARD Act pass the Senate with bipartisan support and move one step closer to becoming law," said Boozman. "This
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release:
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Boozman-Led Recycling Legislation Passes Senate
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WASHINGTON U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Co-Chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus, applauded Senate passage of the Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development (STEWARD) Act. The legislation passed the Senate unanimously and will next be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.
"I am pleased to see the STEWARD Act pass the Senate with bipartisan support and move one step closer to becoming law," said Boozman. "Thislegislation represents a strong commitment to enhancing and modernizing recycling access initiatives nationwide, which can particularly benefit underserved areas. I urge my colleagues in the House to approve this win-win for sustainability and economic development."
In February, the STEWARD Act advanced out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The bill would improve our nation's recycling and composting systems and establish a pilot recycling program at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award grants on a competitive basis to communities interested in improving their recycling accessibility. A one-pager explanation of the bill is available here.
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Original text here: https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9C66A5FB-50E2-4F63-BEF2-B7FD633FCE15
Blumenthal & Reed Lead Senators in Demanding Declassification & Public Release of Legal Memo on Lethal Caribbean & East Pacific Airstrikes
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release:
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Blumenthal & Reed Lead Senators in Demanding Declassification & Public Release of Legal Memo on Lethal Caribbean & East Pacific Airstrikes
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[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, led the Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee in writing Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth requesting the declassification and public release of the Department
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release:
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Blumenthal & Reed Lead Senators in Demanding Declassification & Public Release of Legal Memo on Lethal Caribbean & East Pacific Airstrikes
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[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, led the Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee in writing Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth requesting the declassification and public release of the Departmentof Justice Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) written opinion on the Trump Administration's lethal airstrikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
"Few decisions are more consequential for a democracy than the use of lethal force. We therefore believe that the declassification and public release of this important document would enhance transparency in the use of deadly force by our Nation's military and is necessary to ensure Congress and the American people are fully informed of the legal justification supporting these strikes," the Senators wrote.
In addition to Blumenthal and Reed, today's letter was signed by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
Members of the Senate Committee on Armed Services were finally allowed to review the Trump Administration's classified OLC opinion in a closed setting last week. To date, the Trump Administration has carried out 21 unauthorized military strikes - primarily off the coast of Venezuela - that have killed 83 people.
The full text of the Senators' letter is available here and copied below.
Dear Attorney General Bondi and Secretary Hegseth:
We are writing to request expeditious declassification and public release of the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel's written opinion, dated September 5, 2025, concerning the domestic and international legal basis for recent military strikes of certain vessels near South America and the Caribbean, with appropriate redactions necessary to protect military personnel and sensitive intelligence matters.
Significant and noteworthy precedent exists for the public release of OLC opinions related to overseas military action. After the United States carried out military strikes in Libya in 2011 and in Syria in 2018, the Department of Justice released the applicable OLC opinion justifying each operation.
Few decisions are more consequential for a democracy than the use of lethal force. We therefore believe that the declassification and public release of this important document would enhance transparency in the use of deadly force by our Nation's military and is necessary to ensure Congress and the American people are fully informed of the legal justification supporting these strikes.
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Original text here: https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-reed-lead-senators-in-demanding-declassification_public-release-of-legal-memo-on-lethal-caribbean--east-pacific-airstrikes
Blumenthal & Hawley Call for Federal Investigation of Meta's Profiting from Scams & Fraud
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release:
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Blumenthal & Hawley Call for Federal Investigation of Meta's Profiting from Scams & Fraud
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[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After major new reporting in Reuters revealed that Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta) earns a significant amount of its overall annual revenue - as much as $16 billion every year - from hosting advertising for scams and banned goods on its platform, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Securities and Exchange Commission
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release:
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Blumenthal & Hawley Call for Federal Investigation of Meta's Profiting from Scams & Fraud
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[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After major new reporting in Reuters revealed that Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta) earns a significant amount of its overall annual revenue - as much as $16 billion every year - from hosting advertising for scams and banned goods on its platform, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) to " investigate and, if appropriate, bring enforcement actions against Meta for its facilitation of and profiting from criminal investment scams, fake government benefits schemes, deepfake pornography, and other fraudulent activities."
Internal documents reviewed by Reuters show that every day, Meta shows its platforms' users an estimated 15 billion "higher risk" advertisements that show clear signs of being fraudulent - making those users vulnerable to illicit gambling, payment scams, crypto scams, AI deepfake sex services, and fake offers of federal benefits. "Meta's central, facilitating role in scams against consumers is unprecedented: by its own employees' assessment, Meta was involved in one-third of all successful scams in the US and was unmatched by other Big Tech platforms," the senators wrote.
The Senators also urged the agencies to take appropriate enforcement action if their investigation validates the reporting, including to "fully disgorge all profits from fraudulent advertisements, impose steep civil penalties, hold individual executives personally accountable, and seek binding terms to end this scourge on consumers, our economy, and our national security."
The full text of the Senators' letter is available here and copied below.
Dear Chairman Ferguson and Chairman Atkins,
We write to urge the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate and, if appropriate, bring enforcement actions against Meta for its facilitation of and profiting from criminal investment scams, fake government benefits schemes, deepfake pornography, and other fraudulent activities.
According to recent reporting from Reuters, internal documents show that Meta has earned billions of dollars from fraudulent and scam advertising while internally stifling measures to prevent fraud. By its own assessment, 10% of Meta's annual revenue for last year was generated from scam advertisements, a windfall of $16 billion in one year alone. Meta's central, facilitating role in scams against consumers is unprecedented: by its own employees' assessment, Meta was involved in one-third of all successful scams in the US and was unmatched by other Big Tech platforms. Using the FTC estimate of $158.3 billion in overall fraud per year, this would suggest Meta was responsible for more than $50 billion in consumer loss last year. This internal finding supports a December 2024 report by a U.K. financial regulator that found Meta's platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) were linked to 54% of payment scams and a JPMorgan Chase investigation that found Meta accounted for nearly half of all reported scams on Zelle, such as romance scams that feign a love interest to deceive a victim and fake investment schemes.
Meta's ill-gotten gains appear to be no accident: it has made conscious choices based on business considerations that turned a blind eye and enabled it to profit from illicit advertisements. According to Reuters, Meta had "specific revenue guardrails" that blocked its anti-fraud team from taking action that would cost Meta more than even a mere 0.15% of the company's total revenue. In line with that approach, Meta only bans advertisers if its automated systems predict the marketers are all-but- certain to be committing fraud and by its own estimates, it has ignored or incorrectly rejected 96% of user reports of fraud. Moreover, perversely, Meta reportedly charges higher rates for ads that it suspects might be fraudulent in effect, imposing a scam tax that provides an additional lucrative revenue stream that it knows is tied to fraud. Further, because Meta's advertising algorithms targets individuals based on their past clicks and interest, a person that falls for a scam is more likely to be targeted by even more scams or fraudulent advertising making Facebook and Instagram a fraud trap that can repeatedly exploit vulnerable individuals. Meanwhile, these scams have been allowed to take over Facebook and Instagram as Meta has drastically cut its safety staff, including for FTC mandated reviews, even as it dumps unimaginable sums into its generative AI projects.
As it does every time its abuses and failures are discovered, Meta has repeatedly claimed it is cleaning up its act but there is overwhelming evidence it continues to knowingly profit from fraud. Even a short review of Meta's Ad Library at the time of this letter shows clearly identifiable advertisements for illicit gambling, payment scams, crypto scams, AI deepfake sex services, and fake offers of federal benefits, advertisements that often falsely appear to link to legitimate sites. Further, despite the company's rules against nudity, advertisements for pornographic and sexually explicit material, and which often lead to malware, are widespread on Meta's products. While Meta has been warned about advertisement deepfakes impersonating politicians, it still continues to run fraudulent clips, including President Trump claiming to offer a "$1,000 Snap replacement program" preying on the most vulnerable in America. The beneficiaries of these scams are often cybercrime groups based in China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The reporting makes clear that Meta will not act on this rampant fraud and criminality unless the FTC and SEC put an end to it. According to Reuters, Meta executives actually limited their anti-fraud enforcement efforts to focus only on "countries where it feared near-term regulatory action." In line with these efforts, in anticipation of enforcement, Meta had budgeted for penalties of up to $1 billion, which were a mere fraction of the $7 billion in annual revenue from high-risk advertisement alone.
The FTC and SEC should immediately open investigations and, if the reporting is accurate, pursue vigorous enforcement action where appropriate to force Meta is fully disgorge all profits from fraudulent advertisements, impose steep civil penalties, hold individual executives personally accountable, and seek binding terms to end this scourge on consumers, our economy, and our national security.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
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Original text here: https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-hawley-call-for-federal-investigation-of-metas-profiting-from-scams_fraud
Blackburn, Merkley Urge FIFA to Recognize Afghan Women United as Afghanistan's Women's Football Team
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release:
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Blackburn, Merkley Urge FIFA to Recognize Afghan Women United as Afghanistan's Women's Football Team
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) sent a letter to the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino urging FIFA to formally recognize Afghan Women's United as Afghanistan's national women's football team and to stop the Taliban from erasing Afghan women from international competition. Their letter calls
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release:
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Blackburn, Merkley Urge FIFA to Recognize Afghan Women United as Afghanistan's Women's Football Team
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) sent a letter to the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino urging FIFA to formally recognize Afghan Women's United as Afghanistan's national women's football team and to stop the Taliban from erasing Afghan women from international competition. Their letter callson FIFA to enforce its human rights commitments and ensure these athletes can continue representing the women of Afghanistan on the world stage.
FIFA Must Recognize Afghan Women United as Afghanistan's National Women's Football Team
"We write to urge the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to take decisive action to formally recognize Afghan Women United as Afghanistan's national women's football team and to ensure that Afghan women athletes are not erased from international competition by the Taliban's repressive regime. These players have continued to train and compete in exile despite being banned from their own country. FIFA's support and recognition are essential to safeguard their right to play and to uphold the integrity of the sport."
The Afghan Women's Team, Now in Exile, Has Shown Extraordinary Courage
"Since the Taliban's takeover in 2021, women and girls in Afghanistan have been stripped of their most basic freedoms, including the right to receive an education, travel freely, and participate in sports. Yet, the Afghan women's team, now in exile, has shown extraordinary courage and perseverance by continuing to train, compete, and represent the spirit of their nation under unimaginably difficult circumstances. Their recent participation in a FIFA-supported tournament marked a powerful symbol of hope, but it also underscored a glaring truth: without formal recognition and consistent opportunities to compete, these women remain sidelined from the international stage. FIFA's creation of an Afghan women's refugee squad was an important step forward, but the players' ultimate goal is to represent Afghanistan as their national women's football team, and that goal remains unfulfilled."
FIFA Must Honor Its Commitment to Upholding Human Rights Standards
"FIFA's own statutes commit the organization to upholding human rights and promoting non-discrimination in sport. Those commitments must extend to the Afghan women who have lost their federation, their home field, and their right to play. One day, these brave athletes will hopefully be able to safely return home to play free from the repression of the Taliban. Until then, FIFA should ensure that they can continue to represent the millions of Afghan women who have either been forced to flee or remain under the Taliban's brutal rule. FIFA has tools at its disposal. Yet despite its stated human rights standards, the body has too often failed to enforce them consistently. It should investigate Taliban-controlled the Afghan Football Federation for violations of those standards and consider restricting funding and access for federations that bar women from sport. Additionally, FIFA should take concrete action to recognize Afghan Women United as Afghanistan's official national women's football team, consistent with precedents in other contested or politically complex contexts."
Click here to read the full letter.
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Original text here: https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/11/women/blackburn-merkley-urge-fifa-to-recognize-afghan-women-united-as-afghanistan-s-women-s-football-team
AHEAD OF HOLIDAY SEASON, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN CONTINUES FIGHT TO PASS "LOWER GROCERY PRICES ACT," ASKS HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY: "HOW ARE YOU BEING IMPACTED BY THE RISING COST OF GROCERIES?"
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Rep. Pat Ryan, D-New York, issued the following news release:
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AHEAD OF HOLIDAY SEASON, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN CONTINUES FIGHT TO PASS "LOWER GROCERY PRICES ACT," ASKS HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY: "HOW ARE YOU BEING IMPACTED BY THE RISING COST OF GROCERIES?"
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Ahead of Holiday Season, Congressman Pat Ryan Continues Fight to Pass "Lower Grocery Prices Act," Asks Hudson Valley Community: "How Are You Being Impacted By the Rising Cost of Groceries?"
Congressman Ryan introduced the bipartisan "Lower Grocery Prices Act" as part of his Affordability Agenda - his first legislation
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Rep. Pat Ryan, D-New York, issued the following news release:
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AHEAD OF HOLIDAY SEASON, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN CONTINUES FIGHT TO PASS "LOWER GROCERY PRICES ACT," ASKS HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY: "HOW ARE YOU BEING IMPACTED BY THE RISING COST OF GROCERIES?"
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Ahead of Holiday Season, Congressman Pat Ryan Continues Fight to Pass "Lower Grocery Prices Act," Asks Hudson Valley Community: "How Are You Being Impacted By the Rising Cost of Groceries?"
Congressman Ryan introduced the bipartisan "Lower Grocery Prices Act" as part of his Affordability Agenda - his first legislationof the 119th Congress; Ryan is releasing a survey (link is external), seeking constituent input on how high grocery costs are impacting Hudson Valley families this holiday season
Ryan's bill requires government to develop solutions as part of comprehensive national plan to lower grocery prices, analyze trends in grocery costs over the past 20 years,
As cost-raising tariffs continue to hurt American consumers and small business owners, and as families face uncertainty regarding the future of their SNAP benefits following the largest cut to the program in history, Ryan is asking the Hudson Valley community: "How Are You Being Impacted By the Soaring Cost of Groceries?"
According to new CBS polling, 65% of Americans now say Trump's policies are making grocery prices go up (link is external).
WASHINGTON, DC - Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, as Hudson Valley families continue to face increasing food costs, Congressman Pat Ryan is continuing the push to pass his bipartisan "Lower Grocery Prices Act." Ryan's bill requires the government to analyze trends in grocery costs over the past 20 years, to develop solutions as part of a comprehensive national plan to lower grocery prices.
According to new CBS polling, 65% of Americans now say Trump's policies are driving up grocery prices (link is external).
Today, Ryan released a survey asking the Hudson Valley community: "How are you being impacted by the rising cost of groceries?" Ryan will take the community responses back to Washington to inform and bolster his continuing fight to pass the "Lower Grocery Prices Act" and bring down costs for Hudson Valley families. Especially as cost-raising tariffs continue to hurt American consumers and small business owners, and as families face uncertainty regarding the future of their SNAP benefits following the largest cut to the program in history, Ryan wants to hear from the Hudson Valley community.
Community members can take Congressman Ryan's survey on grocery costs here. (link is external)
"Hudson Valley families have to spend way too much of their precious income just to put food on the table. Ahead of the holiday season, the only thing hardworking Americans should be focused on is making memories with their families - not worrying about the bills stacking up as they prepare their Thanksgiving meals. So, to our Hudson Valley community, families, and small business owners: I want to hear from you," said Congressman Pat Ryan. "Your input has always been the main driver behind everything I do - from cutting through red tape to lower egg prices, to fighting for small businesses in Washington against Trump's tariff-induced trade war, to introducing the bipartisan "Lower Grocery Prices Act," I take your concerns to heart and put them into action. The President promised to lower costs on Day 1 - but as he continues to slash food assistance, blow taxpayer dollars on foreign bailouts, and impose tariffs that are crushing our local economies, our community deserves the relief we were promised. I'll keep pushing relentlessly to ease the burden on hardworking Americans - and I thank you for your help in this fight."
The community inquiry comes amidst a myriad of potential food-cost-raising policy moves by the President. Trump recently signed into law the largest cut to SNAP in history (link is external) - slashing $187 billion from the program that helps feed 42 million Americans. Ryan was an early critic of Trump's USDA's slashing of funds for food banks as well. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) - which partners local farms with food banks to serve food insecure populations - has suffered a 50% cut, forcing the Hudson Valley branch of the Regional Food Bank to provide 2 million fewer meals than last year. Additionally, sweeping tariffs are jacking up prices across the board, and putting immense pressure on small business owners who have no choice but to pass the cost onto consumers.
Based on community feedback, Ryan is already leading efforts to hold price gougers accountable, repeal Trump's tariffs, and lower grocery costs (link is external). He introduced his Affordability Agenda as his first legislation of the 119th Congress, which, along with the "Lower Grocery Prices Act" includes bills to bring down drug costs, housing costs (link is external), and protect Social Security benefits. The full agenda can be found here.
Congressman Ryan's "Lower Grocery Prices Act" would require the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to analyze the price of groceries over the last 20 years, provide effective solutions on how to lower costs, and develop a national plan to combat the high prices and ease the affordability crisis. Ryan originally introduced the legislation after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report in March 2024 which detailed how large grocery companies exploited the high-price environment caused by the pandemic to jack up their prices and pad their profit margins, unfairly raising prices for consumers as well as snubbing smaller competitors' profits. (link is external)
Additionally, after a diner owner from Fishkill told Ryan that he went from paying $45 for a single crate of eggs to $260 in only months (link is external), immediately took action. Ryan teamed up with Congressman Josh Riley to address concerns regarding the soaring egg prices, introducing "Lowering Egg Prices Act" to cut through bureaucratic red tape to lower costs for consumers and farmers alike (link is external).
Most recently, throughout the summer months, Congressman Ryan held community meetings with Chambers of Commerce across Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties to discuss how Trump's tariffs are harming local business owners and forcing them to raise prices. One small business owner told Ryan that small businesses are "at an enormous disadvantage when pricing of their premium products rises to meet the cost of the tariffs; a cost which will pass through to the American consumer and put small businesses on the line." Ryan took action in Washington to limit the harmful impacts of the unprecedented tariffs, including joining an effort to terminate the national emergency that the president declared to institute the tariffs (link is external). Additionally, Ryan voted against an effort by House GOP leadership and Speaker Mike Johnson to cede their ability to regulate and challenge tariffs to the President (link is external) - kneecapping Congress's ability to stand up for their constituents being crushed by high prices.
Ryan constantly seeks community input and personal stories to strengthen his fight for the Hudson Valley in Washington. If you are worried about grocery prices ahead of this holiday season, please take Congressman Ryan's survey (link is external).
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Original text here: https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/ahead-holiday-season-congressman-pat-ryan-continues-fight-pass-lower-grocery
105 Representatives Demand DOJ Fully Enforce Hate Crime Laws
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus issued the following news release:
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105 Representatives Demand DOJ Fully Enforce Hate Crime Laws
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Washington, DC Today, Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Democratic Women's Caucus Chair Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Yvette Clark (NY-09)
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus issued the following news release:
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105 Representatives Demand DOJ Fully Enforce Hate Crime Laws
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Washington, DC Today, Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Democratic Women's Caucus Chair Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Yvette Clark (NY-09)led 105 Members of Congress in sending an oversight letter (link is external) to Department of Justice regarding its work to prevent hate crimes and enforce hate crime laws.
Members begin their letter:
"We write to express our significant concerns that the Department of Justice is refusing to properly enforce federal hate crime statutes and to urge you to prioritize the Department's work to prevent, respond to, and prosecute hate crimes against all marginalized communities."
They continue:
"Congress' intent that the Department of Justice prevent and respond to hate crimes could not be clearer. Despite this, the Department appears to be walking away from its statutory responsibilities. In April, the Department cancelled over 370 grants from the Office of Justice Programs, totaling an estimated $500 million. These grants supported local law enforcement agencies, victims' services organizations, substance use and mental health treatment, research and evaluation, public safety initiatives and more. In addition, the Administration's FY26 budget calls for cutting all grants authorized under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, and other Bureau of Justice Assistance programs that would combat and prevent hate crimes."
The letter continues:
"Since January 20 of this year, the Community Relations Service (CRS) website has been revised to remove numerous references to its work to address hate crimes based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, or disability and the CRS training video on "Engaging and Building Relationships with Transgender Communities" has been removed. This latter act may have been in response to President Trump's anti-transgender Executive Order No. 14168, which directs agencies to refuse to acknowledge the existence of transgender people. This Executive Order, which cannot override federal law, is incompatible with the Department of Justice's statutory obligations to address and collect data on hate crimes against the transgender community, pursuant to the Matthew Shepard Act.
CRS is also statutorily mandated. It was established under Title X of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and its mandate was expanded by the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996 and the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 to include addressing community tensions and hate crimes. Reports indicate that you have decided to eliminate CRS as a component, placing it within another component with a single employee, and sent out the Reduction in Force notice to all remaining employees on September 29. With these changes, CRS would be unable to perform its statutorily required functions with just one staff member. The dismantling of CRS is not only unlawful, it is also particularly concerning given the rise in community unrest, where CRS's peacebuilding and mediation services would play a vital role."
The Members continue:
"We understand the Civil Rights Division is continuing to pursue some hate crime cases, including those on the basis of religion. While it is critical that the Department address hate crimes based on religion, especially given their prevalence, we are concerned that the Department may be prioritizing certain classes of hate crimes over others. Federal efforts to investigate, prosecute, and resolve hate crimes and civil rights violations must encompass the entirety of the protected classes and cannot focus nearly exclusively on one protected class."
Members end their letter by requesting Attorney General Bondi return answers within 60 days to their questions regarding the DOJ's work to prevent and respond to hate crimes and enforce federal hate crime statutes.
The full letter can be read here (link is external).
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Original text here: https://capac.house.gov/press-release/105-representatives-demand-doj-fully-enforce-hate-crime-laws
