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Judiciary Democrats Expose Trump Administration's Dangerous Immigration Dragnet And Republican Threats To Defund Local Law Enforcement
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release:
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Judiciary Democrats Expose Trump Administration's Dangerous Immigration Dragnet And Republican Threats To Defund Local Law Enforcement
DHS Has Used Its $240 Billion For Immigration Enforcement To Arrest Children, Crime Victims And U.S. Citizens, Instead Of The "Worst of the Worst"
Now Republicans Are Trying To Force Local Cops To Do ICE's Job And Threatening To Defund Those Who Refuse
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Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee,
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release:
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Judiciary Democrats Expose Trump Administration's Dangerous Immigration Dragnet And Republican Threats To Defund Local Law Enforcement
DHS Has Used Its $240 Billion For Immigration Enforcement To Arrest Children, Crime Victims And U.S. Citizens, Instead Of The "Worst of the Worst"
Now Republicans Are Trying To Force Local Cops To Do ICE's Job And Threatening To Defund Those Who Refuse
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Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee,and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, led Subcommittee Democrats in exposing how the Trump Administration is using unprecedented immigration enforcement resources to conduct sweeping raids on American communities instead of targeting the "worst of the worst"--while Republicans threaten to defund state and local law enforcement unless jurisdictions divert their own limited resources to carry out the federal government's chaotic mass deportation agenda.
The hearing included testimony from: David Bier, Director of Immigration Studies and the Selz Foundation Chair in Immigration Policy at the Cato Institute; Marcus Coleman, father of Dalilah Coleman; Patricia Fox, mother of Carissa Aspnes; and Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler, Harford County, Maryland.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are using their unprecedented funding to attack American communities instead of going after the "worst of the worst."
* Ranking Member Raskin said: "Instead of targeting criminals, ICE has pounced on parents in the school pickup lane, arrested people at daycare centers and in churches, thrown tear gas outside elementary schools and under cars with children seated inside, smashed the windows of cars and dragged the passengers out, arrested students for writing op-eds, and held U.S. citizens against their will in immigration detention without bothering for days or weeks to verify their citizenship status. And that happened to one of my constituents. Just last month, in Texas, a five-year-old child was detained with his father while on their way to a soccer game. They're beating people up. They're no longer going after 'the worst of the worst'--they are acting like the worst of the worst."
* Ranking Member Jayapal said: "Federal agents have killed people who are simply driving home after celebrating their birthdays, like Ruben Ray Martinez, or driving towork, like Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Guerrero, or exercising their constitutional rights, like Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Not a single ICE or CBP officer has been held accountable for any of these fatal shootings."
* Rep. Jerrold Nadler said: "Of the nearly 5,000 people per month that the Trump Administration is arresting, a majority have not been charged with or convicted of any crime. Those who committed a violent crime constituted just 4% of those arrested last month."
* Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon said: "No one is safer when DHS agents are threatening or pointing guns at American citizens, making warrantless arrests, and executing people in the streets. No one is safer when the administration is prioritizing arrest quotas and arresting people who are showing up at ICE offices or immigration hearings because they are following the rules."
Immigration enforcement is a federal government responsibility. However, instead of taking responsibility for their failure to go after the "worst of the worst," DHS and ICE are trying to shift the blame to states and localities.
* Rep. Summer Lee said: "Republicans came claim to care about law enforcement, but they're not making their jobs any easier by pushing them to work with ICE. Community safety is built on trust, but trust can't be built when these officers are busy doing the dirty work for the least reputable agency in the federal government right now. [...] What kind of long-term impact does going after victims and witnesses of crime have, and how can those communities possibly build trust?" Mr. Bier explained: "It is doing extraordinary damage. Before this Administration, non-citizens and immigrants in the United States actually did report crimes and violent crimes against them at a higher rate than the U.S.-born population, in part because they think highly of American police. But now that they see them as an extension of ICE, in many cases, it is undermining the trust that is required topursue these cases. And it is a problem."
* Rep. Scanlon said: "I regularly meet with our local police, and they are always scrambling to get more resources to do their jobs, to keep their communities safe. They do not have the billions of dollars that DHS has, but when DHS forces local police departments toparticipate in their activities to detain folks who have not committed any crimes, they have less ability to set up a drunk driving checkpoint on the Labor Day holiday, or to go out and investigate a local drug trafficking ring."
* Rep. Deborah Ross said: "This Administration is slashing desperately needed funding for state and local law enforcement officers while pulling law enforcement officers off complex criminal cases just to pursue filling up these prisons. And now they want to force state and local law enforcement to carry out the same agenda."
* Rep. Lou Correa said: "In 2025, in Orange County, where I live, 323 individuals were turned over to ICE for pickup. 52 of them were never picked up. So, we talk about the worst of the worst [...] these were not picked up. It's no excuse."
Judiciary Republicans have already passed a bill out of Committee that threatens to defund state and local law enforcement to coerce states and localities to divert their own resources away from state and local crimes and toward federal immigration enforcement. They have failed to bring this bill to the House floor.
* Ranking Member Raskin said: "Our colleagues keep holding these hearings because they want the public to believe that they somehow have policies backstage that they haven't unveiled yet, that they will reveal in the next Congress to make us safer. But they don't. Their policies are so divisive, so toxic, so purely symbolic and off point that even Speaker Johnson won't put them on the floor."
* Ranking Member Raskin asked: "I believe this is the fifth or sixth hearing we've done, designed to get legislation passed from the Committee that was passed back in March. Why do you think this has not been brought to the floor of the House of Representatives?" Mr. Bier explained: "Well, I think it's because the legislation that's being discussed is unconstitutional, and it's unpopular with sheriffs."
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Original text here: https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/judiciary-democrats-expose-trump-administration-s-dangerous-immigration-dragnet-and-republican-threats-to-defund-local-law-enforcement
House Ways & Means Chairman Smith Issues Opening Statement at Hearing on 30th Anniversary of Welfare Reform
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement on Sept. 1, 2026:
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Chairman Smith Opening Statement: Hearing on the 30th Anniversary of Welfare Reform
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) delivered the following statement at a Work & Welfare Subcommittee Hearing on Welfare Reform at 30: Restoring the Promise of Work and Personal Responsibility in Federal Welfare Programs.
As prepared for delivery.
"Thank you Chairman LaHood and Ranking Member Davis for holding today's hearing.
"This
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement on Sept. 1, 2026:
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Chairman Smith Opening Statement: Hearing on the 30th Anniversary of Welfare Reform
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) delivered the following statement at a Work & Welfare Subcommittee Hearing on Welfare Reform at 30: Restoring the Promise of Work and Personal Responsibility in Federal Welfare Programs.
As prepared for delivery.
"Thank you Chairman LaHood and Ranking Member Davis for holding today's hearing.
"Thisis not the first time the Ways and Means Committee has marked the anniversary of the 1996 welfare reforms by taking the opportunity to reflect on their impact. In debate after debate following passage of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, we've heard from our friends on the other side of the aisle about how work requirements to receive public benefits will have a catastrophic impact on low-income and working families' lives. It's not lost on me that similar arguments were made 30 years ago, so it's worth revisiting the impact of these changes to have a sense how changes to other programs may play out.
"As we look back on the success of the 1996 TANF reforms and the progress that has followed, we should remind ourselves why reform was needed in the first place. Prior to those reforms, we had a welfare system that did far too much to create dependence on government assistance, to trap people in these programs, and far too little to encourage those who needed our help to also experience the dignity of work and the rewards of personal responsibility that can come with it. That was, after all, why leaders in both parties, including President Clinton, knew that change was desperately needed.
"Today, despite what I would hope would be bipartisan agreement that work is beneficial for individuals and their families - creating that path to greater independence and self-sufficiency - we still hear a lot of concern from our Democrat colleagues that they see work requirements as a bridge too far for those receiving welfare.
"Yet, the facts show that the TANF reforms of 1996 had a transformational, positive impact. Following enactment of those reforms, welfare caseloads dropped dramatically from nearly 4.4 million in 1995 to 570,000 in 2024. As important, if not more important, outcomes for the folks the program was designed to help also improved dramatically. For example, employment among single moms went up nearly 40 percent in just the first four years after implementation, and real earnings roughly doubled.
"However, we know that today improvements are still needed - especially when it comes to achieving greater accountability at the state level and combating fraud to ensure resources are prioritized for those most in need. To that end, the Ways and Means Committee recently approved H.R. 8872, the Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act to improve the integrity of that program.
"At the end of the day, it is one thing to look at the data and discuss how these policies can work to improve outcomes, but it is also vital that we hear from those who have directly participated in our nation's welfare programs. That is why I am grateful that we have a great group of witnesses who can provide personal experiences from their perspectives with the welfare system. One in particular, Misty Kelso from my home state of Missouri, is here to testify on her personal journey navigating and working with and within the welfare system.
"Ms. Kelso - I always appreciate having a fellow Missourian with us. Thank you for agreeing to participate, to share your lived experience, and for what you do today to help others in need.
"Thank you to all of our witnesses for helping the policymakers on this Committee learn more about not just the financial security a job and steady paycheck can provide but also the benefits to the individuals and families who deserve to experience the dignity of work and all that it offers."
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Original text here: https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2026/09/01/chairman-smith-opening-statement-hearing-on-the-30th-anniversary-of-welfare-reform/
House Oversight & Government Reform Ranking Member Garcia, All Oversight Democrats, Demand USPS Halt Faulty Implementation of Trump Administration Executive Order
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 1, 2026:
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Ranking Member Robert Garcia, All Oversight Democrats, Demand USPS Halt Faulty Implementation of Trump Administration Executive Order
Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and all Oversight Democrats wrote to the United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General expressing alarm over a new whistleblower disclosure detailing the Postal Service's rushed,
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 1, 2026:
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Ranking Member Robert Garcia, All Oversight Democrats, Demand USPS Halt Faulty Implementation of Trump Administration Executive Order
Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and all Oversight Democrats wrote to the United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General expressing alarm over a new whistleblower disclosure detailing the Postal Service's rushed,faulty, and dangerous implementation of President Trump's executive order to curb mail-in voting, which would have grave consequences for the midterm elections.
"The USPS whistleblower disclosure regarding the Trump Administration's efforts to undermine vote-by-mail is deeply alarming and should concern all Americans. Donald Trump's power grab at USPS could delay or disrupt millions of ballots all across the country. The Trump Administration's illegal effort to interfere with our elections must be stopped immediately, and we are fighting this attack on our voting system in the courts," said Ranking Member Robert Garcia.
In the letter to the USPS Postmaster General, the lawmakers wrote, "This disclosure makes it abundantly clear that the actions taken by the Postal Service at President Trump's direction threaten a "foreseeable catastrophic disruption to our coming nationwide elections." The Postal Service's reckless actions undermine the foundation of our nation's democracy and violate the basic principle that all citizens have the right to have their vote counted. We demand that you immediately cease implementation of this irresponsible and illegal scheme to implement the Trump Administration's plan to control our federal elections."
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INFODOC: https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2026-09-01cogrdemstouspsrewhistleblowerdisclosure.pdf
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Original text here: https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-robert-garcia-all-oversight-democrats-demand-usps-halt-faulty-implementation-of-trump-administration-executive-order
House Oversight & Government Reform Ranking Member Garcia Issues Statement on USPS Whistleblower
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following statement on Sept. 1, 2026:
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Ranking Member Robert Garcia Statement on USPS Whistleblower
Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement after a whistleblower revealed to the Oversight Committee that the United States Postal Service allegedly built a secret tech system to implement the Trump Administration's unconstitutional attempt to seize control of vote by
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following statement on Sept. 1, 2026:
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Ranking Member Robert Garcia Statement on USPS Whistleblower
Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement after a whistleblower revealed to the Oversight Committee that the United States Postal Service allegedly built a secret tech system to implement the Trump Administration's unconstitutional attempt to seize control of vote bymail across the country.
"The Oversight Committee has received whistleblower reports that President Trump's attack on vote-by-mail for the 2026 election is more serious than previously understood.
"This new secret tracking system at the US Postal Service is faulty, untested, and threatens to totally disrupt ballot delivery for millions of American citizens.
"We are fighting in court to protect the right to vote by mail for all and will continue to investigate. This unconstitutional and dangerous power grab must be permanently and immediately blocked," said Ranking Member Robert Garcia.
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Original text here: https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-robert-garcia-statement-on-usps-whistleblower
House Intel Committee & DNI Clayton Join Flight 93 Families & First Responders Ahead of 25th Anniversary of 9/11
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Arkansas, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following news release on Sept. 1, 2026:
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House Intel Committee & DNI Clayton Join Flight 93 Families & First Responders Ahead of 25th Anniversary of 9/11
SHANKSVILLE, PA-- This week, the members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence were joined by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton for a roundtable discussion with the families of the heroes of Flight 93 and first responders at the Flight 93 National Memorial, ahead of the 25th
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Arkansas, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following news release on Sept. 1, 2026:
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House Intel Committee & DNI Clayton Join Flight 93 Families & First Responders Ahead of 25th Anniversary of 9/11
SHANKSVILLE, PA-- This week, the members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence were joined by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton for a roundtable discussion with the families of the heroes of Flight 93 and first responders at the Flight 93 National Memorial, ahead of the 25thanniversary of September 11th this month.
Chairman Rick Crawford: "We recognize that the story of Flight 93 is part of a significant chapter in our nation's history, but it's also deeply personal to you all. The purpose of today's conversation is to hear your experiences, your loved ones' stories, honor the service of the first responders that day, and educate future generations of Americans of what happened that fateful day."
Vice Chairman Trent Kelly: "There's a fight or flight response. It's not always the same for each individual, but we know on that day it was fight. And I'm so honored just to be on the hallowed ground where those wonderful American heroes...There were good guys and bad guys on that plane, and we never ever need to stop calling the bad guys bad guys. We need to get accountability, in whatever form, of anybody who had anything to do with this."
Director Jay Clayton:
"The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was born out of the failures of 9/11. We didn't get it right. We had silos. We had gaps. And we hadn't kept up with the times. I commend this Committee for continuing to remind us of that and [for] opportunities like this to hear from you to educate us and educate the women and men of the intelligence community who care deeply about their mission. And then the last group I want to recognize is, of course, the heroes and the families. Their stories being fresh in the minds of the people who work in the intelligence community and are what motivates those people every day. So I thank you for continuing to share their memory with us because it does motivate us to do our job as best we can."
Gordon Felt, brother of Flight 93 Hero Edward Felt: "But if we forget, if we neglect, if we only think about it once a year,
our loved ones will fade away. And we can't let that happen. We've got to reach back. We lived through the horror of September 11th and became a new people on September 12th, and we've got to reach back to September 12th to be better, to honor our loved ones as we go."
Ken Naki, brother of Flight 93 Hero Lewis J. Naki: "I started out wanting to keep my brother's memory alive, but after hearing the stories of the 39 other passengers and crew members, they all became one to me...I'd give my right arm, and I'm right-handed, to get my brother back. But also, I believe we are a safer place now because those 40 individuals banded as one, became united, and prevented a greater tragedy."
Ed Root, cousin of Flight 93 Hero Lorraine G. Bay: "Those forty had knowledge, not a lot, but enough. They had time, not a lot, but enough. They used that knowledge and they used that time to act. Certainly, I believed they wanted to live, to save their own lives, but I think they realized, they knew, that if they didn't act, that a far greater tragedy would occur, and they took that time, they took that knowledge and they acted and that's why we're here today. We've learned that the people who embrace the terrorist philosophy will die for their cause. Their cause is death. They save nothing. They create nothing. They build nothing. The folks on Flight 93 - their cause was life. Certainly to save their own, but they knew as I said a greater tragedy if they did not act, so for free societies everywhere, this memorial means so much."
9/11 Review Co-Chair Stefanik: "Thank you most of all to the family members who share the stories of their loved ones and our fellow Americans, and continue to tell those stories to the next generation of Americans. Please know that we will never forget their sacrifice and the immense courage these heroes displayed in the face of great evil. It's been an honor to work on this report."
Representative Darin LaHood: "Just a couple observations being here today, listening to those voices on those phone calls--the level of panic and urgency and stress was really, really impactful and puts things into perspective. And then secondarily, to see the flight path and how beautifully the memorial is designed, but to see that flight path and what happened on that morning and to know that those 40 heroes and what they were able to do to stop the destruction of the U.S. Capitol. And when we think about 9/11 really, the hijackers succeeded with the two towers in New York, they succeeded with the Pentagon, but they didn't succeed with the U.S. Capitol. And it's because of those 40 heroes as the reason why that didn't happen."
Representative Brian Fitzpatrick: "I cannot think of a better example for any of our kids across this country than to bring them here and to hear from you all and to learn the names of your loved ones, the stories of your loved ones, their history, their jobs, where they went to school, what they enjoyed as kids leading up to their act of heroism on that day that saved the symbol of our government, of our country. And it's just it's just very, very overwhelming for us and we can't imagine the emotions it must conjure up for each one of you every single time you come here."
Representative Austin Scott: "I want to thank you for being here and Miss Nancy, I mean, I wrote down what you said. 'Good people won that day.' Good people won that day. So thank you for the courage of your family members."
Representative French Hill: "We're grateful for your family memory and know that it won't be forgotten. And I think everybody on this committee is committed to do the work that we need to make sure also that not only is the memory not forgotten through education, through sharing, through the suggestions of my colleagues, but that we work with Director Clayton and the entire American homeland defense to make sure something like this does not happen again and to be the best prepared that we can in the seconds world that we live in. And that's why we're here today to reflect on what we've learned, what we've seen, and how we can prevent another group of families on another day in years ahead confronting the same trauma and loss and sense that you feel."
Representative Dan Crenshaw: "Your input on what we've seen today has obviously resulted in something that's very special for the American people and I echo my colleagues' sentiments. I wish more students would come here. It was said earlier that there's an 'us and them' problem, and I thought that was a really interesting and great way to put it. And it hits home because you know my generation was really formed by 9/11 and the Global War on Terror, and it does feel like an "us and them" scenario, whether you served because of 9/11 or whether you were affected by 9/11. Education is the only way to solve that and you all are doing your part."
Representative Scott Perry: "We are honored to be here. It's heavy. Standing out on the field reminds me of the rage and the sadness and the helplessness as events were unfolding... And I don't want to stand in another field on another memorial."
Representative Ronny Jackson: " I spent 25 years in the military on active duty and...the generation I served with knew nothing but the Global War on Terror. That's pretty much all that we were involved in those 25 years. But what struck me today...was all that time we fought [for] decades...during this Global War on Terror, but the very first battle in the Global War on Terror was fought here and I think that that's an important thing to remember. The heroes on that flight were the first to fight back against the plague that has plagued us for so long."
Representative Ann Wagner: "I am so profoundly moved at the thought that someone brought up that there's been 100 million Americans born after 9/11 and only 15 states teach about it. That has to change. That's an atrocity." Representative Ben Cline: "To Nancy for her grandson saying, 'the good guys won." They did that day. But we talk about it in the past tense. It's not the past tense. It's the present tense. It's a battle that's going on in the present tense. And we have to recognize that it is not yet won. We have more to do."
Representative Claudia Tenney: "It's just incredible that only 15 states in our country recognize [the 9/11 attacks in classrooms]. And I'm really gratified that New York is one of them that has our children learn this...If we could just get all of our children and everyone to understand this is, as Dr. Jackson said, this is where the Global War on Terror started. Let's hope that we can end that."
Representative Pat Fallon: "Listening to those three recordings, they were under no illusion as to their fates. They knew. And it's heart-wrenching. And it's not just members of the Intel Committee that should listen to those recordings. And not just every member of Congress, every citizen in these United States. 15 states require education on these events. It needs to be all 50 states. It must be. 40% of the population has no living memory of 9/11."
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Original text here: https://intelligence.house.gov/2026/09/01/house-intel-committee-dni-clayton-join-flight-93-families-first-responders-ahead-of-25th-anniversary-of-9-11/
House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Passes Bipartisan Moolenaar Bill Banning Dangerous CCP Robots
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, issued the following news release on Sept. 1, 2026:
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House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Passes Bipartisan Moolenaar Bill Banning Dangerous CCP Robots
Today, the House Energy & Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology passed the bipartisan GUARD Act introduced by Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the Select Committee on China, Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, issued the following news release on Sept. 1, 2026:
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House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Passes Bipartisan Moolenaar Bill Banning Dangerous CCP Robots
Today, the House Energy & Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology passed the bipartisan GUARD Act introduced by Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the Select Committee on China, Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan(D-VA).
The legislation requires robots made by China and other foreign adversaries to be reviewed for national security threats and prohibits those found to be a threat from being imported into the United States.
"The GUARD Act levels the playing field against China and ensures we have a homegrown, world-leading robotics industry in America. Right now, the CCP is working to bankrupt American robot makers while its own industry races ahead. Chinese robots are not benign technologies, but a calculated bid to harm us from within and they must be banned to protect Americans," said Moolenaar. "This emerging critical threat sounds like science fiction, but it is a dangerous reality, and Congress must pass the GUARD Act to stop it. Thank you to Chairman Guthrie, Chairman Hudson, and the subcommittee for moving this legislation forward."
A copy of the legislation is available here. The GUARD Act has won several key endorsements which can be viewed here.
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Original text here: https://chinaselectcommittee.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-energy-commerce-subcommittee-passes-bipartisan-moolenaar-bill-banning-dangerous-ccp-robots
CMT Subcommittee Advances 12 Bills to Strengthen American Competitiveness and Enhance Consumer Protections
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Florida, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, issued the following news release on Sept. 1, 2026:
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CMT Subcommittee Advances 12 Bills to Strengthen American Competitiveness and Enhance Consumer Protections
Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, led a markup of twelve bills to strengthen American competitiveness and enhance consumer protections.
"American consumers deserve better protections in the marketplace, and these
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Florida, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, issued the following news release on Sept. 1, 2026:
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CMT Subcommittee Advances 12 Bills to Strengthen American Competitiveness and Enhance Consumer Protections
Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, led a markup of twelve bills to strengthen American competitiveness and enhance consumer protections.
"American consumers deserve better protections in the marketplace, and thesebills go a long way towards earning back consumers' trust," said Chairman Bilirakis. "Thank you to all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have worked diligently to protect consumers and bolster American competitiveness."
Legislative Vote Summary:
* H.R. 10170, the Memory Chip Competitiveness Assessment Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by voice vote.
* H.R. 10158, the Automotive National and Economic Security Act of 2026, was forwarded to the Full Committee by voice vote.
* H.R. 10152, the Open-Source AI Leadership Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by voice vote.
* H.R. 6207, the Chip EQUIP Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by voice vote.
* H.R. 10163, the American Quantum Competitiveness Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by voice vote.
* H.R. 6832, the Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act of 2025, was forwarded to the Full Committee by voice vote.
* H.R. 7502, the Recycled Materials Attribution Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by voice vote.
* H.R. 9385, the PROTECT USA Act of 2026, was forwarded to the Full Committee by voice vote.
* H.R. 7945, the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act of 2026, was forwarded to the Full Committee by voice vote.
* H.R. 2713, the Mitigating Automated Internet Networks for (MAIN) Event Ticketing Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by voice vote.
* H.R. 5967, the Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by voice vote.
* H.R. 6488, the Reducing Exploitative Social Media Exposure for Teens (RESET) Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by voice vote.
Below are key excerpts from today's markup:
Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. speaks during the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee markup.
Congressman Tom Kean (NJ-07): "In my home state of New Jersey, I have heard from constituents who spoke firsthand about the dangers of this product found at gas stations and convenience stores across the country. This product -- nitrous oxide canisters, also known as 'whippets' -- contains nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. [...] In recent years, however, there's been a sharp increase in misuse of nitrous oxide as an inhalant that gives users a high. Its abuse can lead to heart attacks, nerve damage, muscle spasms, numbness, birth defects, paralysis, and even death. [...] Today, I'm announcing my co-sponsorship of the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act, because I believe it's important to address this issue and to ensure that nitrous oxide isn't available to unsuspecting consumers."
Congressman Gabe Evans speaks during the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee markup.
Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08): "The underlying bipartisan bill takes a nuanced approach to strengthening consumer protections by establishing a nationally consistent framework for recycled content and recycled content marketing claims -- at a time when we're seeing a patchwork of different definitions and frameworks around the country, which causes consumer confusion and erects barriers to increasing recycling, with potentially 50 different standards that need to be met."
Congressman Craig Goldman speaks during the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee markup.
Congressman Craig Goldman (TX-12): "American businesses shouldn't have to comply with burdensome foreign regulations that hurt our competitiveness, especially when they aren't even subject to the foreign law in the first place. The PROTECT USA Act protects entities important to U.S. national interests from being forced to comply with foreign sustainability rules, like the EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
"Here's what that looks like on the ground in my district. The gas station owner in Fort Worth with just a handful of employees isn't a multinational corporation doing business in Europe. He'll never file a compliance report in Brussels. But if he's partnered with a major American fuel brand that does business in Europe, his franchise contract can get rewritten to satisfy EU mandates -- with new questionnaires, new supplier codes, and new audit reporting requirements, all from a regulation he had no say in, passed by a government he doesn't vote for. That's a small businessman in my district spending time and money to comply with EU overreach because of who he partners with to sell gas to local families, truck drivers, and other small businesses."
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Original text here: https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/cmt-subcommittee-advances-12-bills-to-strengthen-american-competitiveness-and-enhance-consumer-protections
