{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", party = \"Democrat\" and state = \"GA\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-statement-on-the-supreme-court-permitting-trump-administration-to-use-expanded-database-for-potential-voter-purges", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 Statement on the Supreme Court Permitting Trump Administration to Use Expanded Database for Potential Voter Purges", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "ATLANTA, GA \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court permitting the Trump administration to use an expanded federal database to purge voter rolls.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cI led a Congressional letter in December 2025 demanding that DHS not overhaul the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system. The Supreme Court\u2019s decision to allow Trump and DHS to use this system to purge voter rolls is a disgrace to our constitutional right to vote. This action is a direct assault on Americans\u2019 right to privacy and an affront to the power of Congress.\n\nInformation from the overhauled SAVE system will almost certainly include errors and other inaccuracies, leading to Americans being incorrectly removed from the voter rolls and denied their right to vote for no reason. The use of the SAVE system for the purpose of determining voter eligibility is dangerous and unreliable, and it will be used as a tool against our democracy and free and fair access to the ballot.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams sent a Congressional Oversight letter in December of 2025 concerning the SAVE system and its use to purge voters. Read more here.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-hosts-two-panels-cbcf-alc-55", "Congressman Johnson Hosts Two Panels at CBCF ALC 55", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation\u2019s 55th Annual Legislative Conference, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) held two panel discussions.\n\nHis first panel, \u201cProtect The Culture: Stopping the Assault on Black Voices, Talent, and Influence\u201d, explored legislative pathways and industry strategies to end targeted assaults on Black voices, ensuring Black journalists can report freely, Black athletes are protected from plantation exploitation, and Black entertainers can create without fear of their work being weaponized against them.\n\nThe event was moderated by media personality Dr. Rashad Richey and included Georgia State Representative (D-108) and Democratic nominee for Georgia\u2019s 13th Congressional District, Dr. Jasmine Clark; respected journalist and author April Ryan; and Executive Director of Athletes.org, Brandon Copeland, as panelists.\n\n\u201cMusic artists have their lyrics used as evidence in court against them,\u201d said Congressman Johnson, who is the author of the RAP Act that would put guardrails on the use of lyrics in criminal prosecutions. \u201cJournalists receive threats for telling the truth. Black athletes like Colin Kaepernick, who spoke by taking a knee for justice, are blackballed \u2013 which sends a message to keep your mouth shut.\u201d\n\nWATCH HERE\n\nHis second panel, Judiciary/Justice for All Braintrust, explored that if our democracy is to survive the delicate system of checks and balances that has undergirded our system for 250 years must be restored. Congressman Johnson is the author of several court reform bills, including requiring SCOTUS justices to adhere to a binding code of ethics, setting term limits for justices at 18 years and expanding the court from nine to 13 justices.\n\n\u201cOur democracy is under great threat,\u201d said Congressman Johnson. \u201cIn my opinion, the greatest threat is not Donald Trump. It\u2019s not the legislative branch under Republican control. It\u2019s the Supreme Court. Our country was founded on the principles of three co-equal branches of government each operating as a check and balance on the other. This framework worked well for 250 years, but it\u2019s being dismantled by the Supreme Court that is granting itself and the executive branch more power at the expense of the legislative branch.\u201d\n\nThe panel discussion was led by moderator The Nation journalist Elie Mystal and included panelists Nikolas Bowie, Louis D. Brandeis Professor of Law at Harvard Law School; Michele Goodwin, Linda D. & Timothy J. O\u2019Neill Professor of Constitutional Law and Global Health Policy at Georgetown Law; and Maya Wiley, President/CEO at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.\n\nWATCH HERE\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/09/24/representatives-mcbath-thompson-and-senators-klobuchar-cassidy-introduce-national-hazing-awareness-week-resolution/", "Representatives McBath, Thompson and Senators Klobuchar, Cassidy Introduce National Hazing Awareness Week Resolution", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 This week, Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) and Glen \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (R-PA-15) are leading a resolution to recognize September 21-25, 2026 as \u201cNational Hazing Awareness Week.\u201d The resolution recognizes the hundreds of students who have died or suffered severe, life-altering injuries because of collegiate hazing and promotes efforts to prevent hazing. A companion resolution has been introduced by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA). This is the fourth year that Rep. McBath has led this resolution to recognize the pain felt by families who have lost a child to hazing.\n\n\u201cI have been honored to work with families and advocates to pass legislation to end campus hazing. I know what it\u2019s like to lose a loved one, and no parent should ever have to bury their child,\u201d said Rep. McBath. \u201cI\u2019m glad to lead efforts once again to spread awareness about the pain of these incidents and am grateful to my colleagues for their continued commitment to protecting our students.\u201d\n\n\u201cHazing has left countless students with life-altering injuries, and too many families have had to endure the loss of a loved one. I am pleased to introduce this bipartisan resolution to bring awareness, accountability, and transparency to campuses in an effort to help protect students from hazing,\u201d Rep. Thompson said.\n\n\u201cWhen parents send their kids away to college, they expect they will get a good education and make new friends. They don\u2019t expect them to be harassed and hazed. Hazing is a dangerous \u2014 and at times deadly \u2014 reality that students are confronted with,\u201d said Sen. Klobuchar. \u201cWith this resolution, we honor the students who have died or been severely injured due to hazing and promote preventive efforts. This goes hand in hand with our bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act, which is improving hazing reporting and prevention on college campuses.\u201d\n\n\u201cStudents should not have to fear getting physically or emotionally harmed while they are simply trying to find community at college,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy. \u201cThanks to the tireless work of the Gruver family and other advocates, we passed the Stop Campus Hazing Act last Congress to increase accountability and ensure hazing is never ignored.\u201d\n\nIn 2024, the bipartisan bill to stop campus hazing led by McBath, Klobuchar, and Cassidy was signed into law. H.R. 5646, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, combats hazing and dangerous practices towards students on college campuses by ensuring transparency and setting parameters for preventative action.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-hernandez-and-wilson-call-on-secretary-robert-f-kennedy-to-expand-access-to-colonoscopy-screenings-to-fight-colon-cancer", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Hernandez, and Wilson Call on Secretary Robert F. Kennedy to Expand Access to Colonoscopy Screenings to Fight Colon Cancer", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), Rep. Pablo Hernandez (PR), and Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02) sent a congressional oversight letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand colonoscopy access for individuals with a history of polyps as part of preventative screenings in Affordable Care Act (ACA) regulated health plans.\n\nMembers urged the HHS to issue new ACA FAQ guidance, stating that a follow-up surveillance colonoscopy is a \u201cscreening\u201d and therefore part of the ACA preventive services benefit. Specifically, they suggest the following language to be included in the FAQ guidance:\n\nIf a follow-up, screening colonoscopy is scheduled and performed prior to the 10-year window, is it permissible for a plan or issuer to impose cost-sharing for the cost of the procedure and polyp removal during the colonoscopy?\n\nMembers wrote:\n\n\u201cColorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the country\u2019s second leading cause of cancer mortality among women and men combined. However, colorectal cancer is unique in that it is largely preventable. Even when found and treated early, the five-year colorectal cancer survival rate is 90 percent; unfortunately, less than 40 percent of colorectal cancer cases are caught early.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccording to data released earlier this year, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths for Americans under 50 years old \u2014 a sobering reality which was not initially projected to occur until 2030. It is also expected to be the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women aged 20 to 49 by 2030.\u201d\n\n\u201cAffordability and patient cost-sharing are demonstrated barriers to colorectal cancer screening. We must make a concerted effort to address this public health crisis and increase screening rates throughout the continuum of care. This includes patients with a personal history of polyps, but who are otherwise asymptomatic.\u201d\n\n\u201cBased on clinical practice and guidance received from the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force (USMSTF) on Colorectal Cancer, a follow-up screening colonoscopy for asymptomatic patients with a personal history of polyps is an integral part of the continuum of care and should be considered a \u2018screening.\u2019 The USMSTF recommends that asymptomatic individuals undergoing screening colonoscopy require repeat screenings to evaluate for new polyps at specific intervals based on the findings of their screening exam, ranging from 1 year to 10 years. These procedures should be treated as preventive services and not subject to patient cost-sharing.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe hope that the Secretary will join us in this effort to save lives and thwart this public health crisis.\u201d\n\nThis letter was co-signed by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09), Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11), Rep. John Mannion (NY-22), Rep. Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Rep. Bill Keating (MA-09), Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06), Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26), Rep. Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Rep. Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08), and Rep. Don Davis (NC-06).\n\nThis letter was endorsed by American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), Colon Cancer Coalition, Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Digestive Disease National Coalition, Fight CRC.", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/09/18/bipartisan-coalition-introduce-resolution-designating-national-adult-education-and-family-literacy-week/", "Bipartisan Coalition Introduce Resolution Designating \u201cNational Adult Education and Family Literacy Week\u201d", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Resolution promotes adult foundational education, workforce development, and family literacy programs\n\nWashington, DC \u2013 Representatives Lucy McBath (GA-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Frank Mrvan (D-IN-01), and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07) have introduced H.Res.1550 designating September 13th through September 19th of 2026 as \u201cNational Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.\u201d The resolution is led in the Senate by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME). It recognizes the importance of adult education, family literacy, and efforts to support an educated population with the literacy skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century.\n\n\u201cEducation is the key to opportunity. Our goal is to give all Americans, no matter their age, the chance to create the best possible lives for themselves,\u201d said Rep. McBath. \u201cLow literacy and numeracy rates among adults hinder opportunities not only for themselves, but for their children. By recognizing National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, we are highlighting the need for increased investment in initiatives that help adults build the skills they need to be successful.\u201d\n\n\u201cAdult education and family literacy are the gateway to opportunity, dignity, and a stronger workforce,\u201d said Rep. Fitzpatrick. \u201cBy investing in foundational skills, workforce readiness, and family literacy, we\u2019re closing gaps and unlocking potential. This bipartisan resolution reaffirms our commitment to every adult learner striving for a better future, equipping parents to guide the next generation, strengthening our communities, and securing a more competitive, resilient America for decades to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThank you to Rep. McBath and my House colleagues for this bipartisan resolution to support National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. Let us continue to advocate for more life-long educational opportunities that improve literacy rates and empower individuals across the country to thrive in the workforce and succeed in our economy,\u201d said Rep. Mrvan.\n\n\u201cAdult education and family literacy programs help people build the skills they need to succeed,\u201d said Rep. Mackenzie. To highlight the importance of these programs, I\u2019m joining Rep. Lucy McBath and other colleagues in recognizing National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. Learning is a lifelong activity, and this resolution highlights the importance of literacy for our families, workforce, and communities.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nNearly 59,000,000 adults in the United States struggle with basic literacy; 72,000,000 struggle with numeracy, and one-third of the U.S. adult population struggles with multi-step problem-solving which limits effective decision-making in everyday life. These same individuals experience higher unemployment rates and lower wages, making it harder for them to support their families.Adult education helps Americans gain the skills they need to become employed, advance in their jobs, engage in postsecondary and training programs, and achieve economic self-sufficiency.\n\nThe importance of having these skills also extends into life at home. Parental duties among American adults account for a significant portion of the education of our future generation. Whether it is the practice of reading to their child or teaching them everyday skills for later in life, increased parental involvement is a consistent indicator of success for that child later in life.\n\nThe resolution will:\n\nRaise public awareness about the importance of adult education, workforce skills, and family literacy.\n\nEncourage people across the United States to support programs that assist individuals in need of adult education, workforce skills, and family literacy programs.\n\nRecognize the importance of these programs.\n\nCall on public, private, and nonprofit entities to support increased access to adult education and family literacy programs to ensure a fully literate society.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/icymi-congresswoman-nikema-williams-speaks-and-introduces-fighting-fifth-small-business-owner-at-fighting-for-an-affordable-america", "ICYMI: Congresswoman Nikema Williams Speaks and Introduces Fighting Fifth Small Business Owner at \u201cFighting for an Affordable America\u201d", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) joined House Democrats for the \u201cFighting for an Affordable America\u201d press conference to speak about the affordability crisis and introduce a small business owner from Georgia\u2019s Fighting Fifth who has had to make tough decisions as costs have risen.\n\nTerri-Nichelle Bradley, owner of Brown Toy Box, a company that makes STEAM toys, puzzles, and games, spoke about her insurance premium increasing to more than $1,000 after ACA subsidies expired, leaving her uninsured, and the challenges she faces affording healthcare for her employees.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams said:\n\n\u201cAffordability isn\u2019t just a talking point, it\u2019s not a \u2018hoax.\u2019 It\u2019s the gas in your tank, the groceries in your cart, and the doctor\u2019s bill you\u2019re trying to pay. And for small business owners, it\u2019s the rising cost of keeping your doors open, your employees paid, and your business running.\u201d\n\nTerri-Nichelle Bradley, Owner of Brown Toy Box said:\n\n\u201cI used to get my own insurance through the ACA marketplace. When the federal subsidies expired in January, my premiums more than doubled to over $1,000 a month. I held on as long as I could, but by July, I had to drop it. I\u2019m uninsured right now, and at my age, that means skipping preventative care like mammograms that I shouldn\u2019t have to skip.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/09/17/mcbath-thompson-klobuchar-cassidy-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-resolution-honoring-connie-clery/", "McBath, Thompson, Klobuchar, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Honoring Connie Clery", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2014 Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA) and GT Thompson (R-PA) introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution to honor the life of Connie Clery during National Campus Safety Awareness Month. After Connie Clery\u2019s 19-year-old daughter Jeanne Clery was murdered on campus in 1986, Clery became the driving force behind the Clery Act, which requires colleges to disclose their campus safety policies and information about crimes that occur on and near their campuses.Connie Clery passed away on June 23, 2026. U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced a companion resolution in the Senate.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to lead this resolution in Connie Clery\u2019s name alongside my colleagues. After the horrific assault and murder of their daughter Jeanne, Connie and Howard turned their grief into action and passed the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 into law, which was renamed the \u2018Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act\u2019 through the passage of our bill, the \u2018Stop Campus Hazing Act\u2019,\u201d said McBath. \u201cJust as I have been for my son Jordan, Connie was committed to honoring her late daughter\u2019s legacy and fighting to make sure that no other families have to go through the pain of losing a loved one. May Connie\u2019s memory serve as proof that there is no force on Earth stronger than a mom.\u201d\n\n\u201cConnie Clery took her family\u2019s tragedy and transformed it into a national movement to make college campuses safer,\u201d said Thompson. \u201cThanks to her advocacy, numerous state and federal laws were passed to improve student safety. Connie\u2019s vision and legacy will live on through the work of the Clery Center, and I am grateful to her unwavering commitment to this cause.\u201d\n\n\u201cFollowing the tragic loss of her daughter Jeanne, Connie Clery led a national movement to make campuses safer for students. Her tireless advocacy led to the first federal law requiring colleges to disclose crimes that occur on their campuses, a legacy that to this day provides students and families with transparency about the safety of the campuses they call home,\u201d said Klobuchar. \u201cDuring the first National Campus Safety Awareness Month since her passing, we are introducing this bipartisan resolution to honor her life and dedication to improving campus safety and protecting victims of crime across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cParents everywhere owe a debt of gratitude to Connie Clery,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy. \u201cFollowing the senseless murder of her daughter at Lehigh University, Connie dedicated her life to improving campus safety. Her advocacy led to the foundational Clery Act and my Stop Campus Hazing Act, protecting students\u2019 lives and giving parents peace of mind as they drop their children off at college.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of Clery Center, we are deeply grateful to the United States Senate for honoring Connie Clery\u2019s extraordinary life and enduring legacy through this resolution. Connie dedicated her life to making campuses safer for all students, transforming unimaginable loss into advocacy, action, and lasting change. I was blessed to have Connie in my life\u2014as a friend, mentor, and fellow mom with whom I shared a very special bond. We were brought together by the unimaginable loss of our children\u2014Jeanne and Gary Jr.\u2014and by the failures in campus safety that contributed to their deaths. Through our shared loss, we found purpose in advocating for safer campuses and working to ensure that other families would not have to experience what we did. Connie and Howard reminded us, \u2018The best education in the world is useless if a student doesn\u2019t survive with a healthy mind and body.\u2019 Those words capture so much of what Connie stood for and why her work mattered so deeply. As we honor Connie, we must carry that work forward\u2014moving from awareness to action, from action to accountability, and from accountability to prevention. Her legacy is not simply one to remember; it is a responsibility to continue. For Connie. For Jeanne. For the Clery family. And for every student whose story is still being written, we must remain committed to creating safer campuses where students can learn, grow, and thrive. On behalf of Clery Center, I thank the United States Senate for recognizing Connie\u2019s remarkable life and unwavering commitment to students and for helping ensure that her legacy continues to inspire generations to come,\u201d said Julie G. DeVercelly, Chair, Clery Center Board of Directors.\n\nFull text of the resolution is available HERE and below:\n\nWhereas Constance Benjamin Clery (referred to in this preamble as \u201cConnie Clery\u201d) was born on February 12, 1931, and passed away on June 23, 2026;\n\nWhereas Connie Clery graduated from New Bedford High School in 1949, earned a degree from Barnard College in 1953, and worked as a tri-lingual interpreter;\n\nWhereas Connie Clery married Howard K. Clery, Jr. in 1956, starting a partnership of 51 years until his passing in 2008, and was a devoted mother to Howard III, Benjamin, and Jeanne;\n\nWhereas, following the tragic murder of her daughter, Jeanne Clery, in 1986, Connie and Howard Clery transformed their grief into a national movement, founding the nonprofit organization Security On Campus, Inc., now known as Clery Center, in 1987, to make college campuses safer and protect victims of campus crime;\n\nWhereas, at the time of Jeanne Clery\u2019s death, no Federal standard required institutions of higher education to disclose crimes occurring on their campuses, and prospective students and their families had no reliable means of learning about the safety of the campuses they were considering;\n\nWhereas Connie and Howard Clery helped advance more than 30 State and Federal laws, notably the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 (Public Law 101\u2013542; 20 U.S.C. 1001 note), which was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on November 8, 1990 and added subsection (f) to section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)) (now referred to as the \u201cJeanne Clery Campus Safety Act\u201d) to require institutions participating in title IV student financial assistance programs to disclose campus crime statistics and security policies;\n\nWhereas, in 1992, Connie Clery led efforts to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a Campus Sexual Assault Victims\u2019 Bill of Rights, and in 1998, to expand public disclosure, including a daily crime log and a broader definition of campus;\n\nWhereas Connie Clery remained engaged in subsequent efforts to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, including in 2008 to strengthen emergency notification and missing student procedures, in 2013 to require disclosure of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking and to strengthen prevention programs and victim rights, and in 2024 to require the disclosure and research-informed prevention of hazing;\n\nWhereas Connie Clery was responsible for running the Clery Center until 2003, and spent nearly 4 decades counseling grieving families, training campus safety professionals, and insisting that survivors of campus crime be treated with dignity and compassion; and\n\nWhereas Connie Clery is remembered for her courage, perseverance, compassion, and commitment to protecting students: Now, therefore, be it\n\nResolved, That the Senate\u2014\n\n(1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of Constance \u201cConnie\u201d B. Clery;\n\n(2) honors the life and legacy of Connie Clery and expresses its deep condolences to her family and loved ones; and\n\n(3) reaffirms its commitment to the implementation and enforcement of the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)).", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/subcommittee-ranking-member-johnsons-opening-statement-hearing-trumps-0", "Subcommittee Ranking Member Johnson\u2019s Opening Statement At Hearing On Trump\u2019s Attacks On American Global Leadership", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 15, 2026)\u2014Today, Rep. Hank Johnson, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, delivered opening remarks at a hearing on the International Criminal Court (ICC), highlighting how President Trump\u2019s attacks on international institutions and America\u2019s closest allies are weakening U.S. sovereignty and global leadership.\n\nBelow are Ranking Member Johnson\u2019s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at today\u2019s hearing.\n\nWATCH Ranking Member Johnson\u2019s opening statement.\n\nRanking Member Hank Johnson\n\nSubcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet\n\nHearing on \u201cThe International Criminal Court\u2019s Threat to the Sovereignty of the United States and its Allies\u201d\n\nSeptember 15, 2026\n\nI thank the Chairman for yielding. Normally, I would thank him for holding this very important, very timely hearing, but this is far afield from what the American people want us to be talking about right now.\n\nYou know, they\u2019re concerned with paying the bills, groceries, gas, diesel, rent. They\u2019re concerned about living in America and being able to make ends meet. They can\u2019t do it, but yet they look up and they see a few millionaires and billionaires corruptly, you know, soaking their profits\u2014soaking money directly out of the pockets and pocketbooks of regular working people.\n\nAnd they don\u2019t like what they see, and they don\u2019t like what they\u2019re hearing when they see us addressing issues like the International Criminal Court, which has nothing to do with their cost of living.\n\nAmerica\u2019s commitment to the rule of law should not end at our borders. If we believe accountability is the foundation of justice at home, then we should not undermine or ignore it when the crimes are committed abroad.\n\nBut for some reason, that is exactly what we are doing here today. On its face, this hearing serves to benefit Donald Trump and his friends like Vladamir Putin, Kim Jong Un and Bukele. And this all while he leaves the American people to suffer under the consequences of his failed policies.\n\nBecause while we are allegedly here today to discuss how the International Criminal Court \u201cthreatens\u201d our sovereignty and that of our allies, much like the Trump administration\u2019s other manufactured crises, it is a farce. A smokescreen. A pathetic excuse to mask the true nature behind this hearing: To distract from the corruption and greed of Donald Trump and his cronies here in Congress.\n\nWhile Trump and MAGA Republicans are here talking about \u201csovereignty,\u201d American families are worried about how they are going to pay for gas and groceries and everything else that inevitably gets more expensive when war sends energy prices soaring. Over the weekend, the cost of diesel fuel hit an all-time record high, while Trump is encouraging Big Tech to continue building enormous data centers in our backyards, putting unprecedented demands on our already-strained energy grid.\n\nThat is the reality for millions of Americans. Not an abstract debate about international law. This hearing will not put gas in the tank or food on the table. It will help my colleagues across the aisle talk about anything other than the consequences of his self-serving policies.\n\nThis administration is asking Americans to look abroad and fear an international court that we don\u2019t even belong to, when the American people don\u2019t need another distraction. They need a government focused on making their lives more affordable \u2013 not one manufacturing new enemies abroad to distract from the fact that President Trump is increasing the economic pressures facing American families every single day.\n\nMy colleagues on the other side of the aisle can talk about sovereignty all they want. But I believe the American people deserve a government that understands their actual problems, not one that is only concerned with the president\u2019s ego and helping him get richer on the backs of American workers.\n\nThis manufactured attack on international cooperation comes at a time when our world faces threats that no one country can solve alone \u2013 from climate change to the increasingly unchecked development of artificial intelligence.\n\nIn July, an Open AI test became uncontrollable when agents hacked into the servers of AI company, Hugging Face. Just last week, Anthropic disclosed another instance of one of their models hacking an external system during testing. Nobody instructed the AI to take these actions.\n\nNow, each of these incidents is concerning on its own, and they raise real questions about the soundness of the evaluation setups. But the larger question is what happens when these same capabilities are in the hands of someone who intends harm?\n\nWe should be having conversations about robust safety standards here at home. The reason we have not is because Donald Trump has told his cronies in Congress that they cannot regulate AI. That is why this very subcommittee had a hearing last year to try to preempt all state laws that try to regulate AI.\n\nWe have a narrow window to get this right. And while we should be collaborating with our allies to address AI augmented cybersecurity and autonomous weaponry concerns, my colleagues across the aisle are instead busy trying to take the ICC apart \u201cbrick by brick.\u201d All on Donald Trump\u2019s orders.\n\nWorking together with our allies to solve these problems is not a surrender of American sovereignty; it is what responsible leadership looks like. The United States cannot solve these problems alone. We need our allies. We need international institutions that allow nations to work together to confront problems that no single country can solve alone.\n\nYet it has become clear that Trump and MAGA Republicans are incapable of understanding that distinction.\n\nInstead, they confuse sovereignty with isolation and strength with intimidation. They confuse putting America first with putting America alone.\n\nHistory has shown that America is strongest when we lead; when we stand with our allies and understand that the choice before us is not between sovereignty and international cooperation.\n\nWe can either choose to confront these challenges together, or we can confront their consequences alone. It is my sincere hope that we choose the former.\n\nThank you to our witnesses for being here today and I yield back the balance of my time.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/williams-merkley-booker-lead-push-to-close-constitutional-loophole-allowing-for-slavery", "Williams, Merkley, Booker Lead Push to Close Constitutional Loophole Allowing for Slavery", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) today teamed up with New Jersey\u2019s U.S. Senator Cory Booker to reintroduce the End the Exception Amendment. The bicameral resolution would strike the \u2018Slavery Clause\u2019 of the 13th Amendment, a constitutional loophole that allows slavery \u201cas a punishment for crime\u201d in the United States.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cSlavery was wrong from day one, and we should have abolished it when the 13th Amendment was ratified. I will keep pushing, no matter how long it takes, for Congress to close the Slavery Loophole in the Constitution, finally ending slavery in America in every form, once and for all. It\u2019s been one hundred sixty years since we passed the 13th Amendment. We\u2019ve waited long enough. The time to pass the End the Exception Amendment is now.\u201d\n\nU.S. Senator Jeff Merkley said:\n\n\u201cFor over 160 years, the 13th Amendment has sought to ensure our democratic republic lives up to the principles of equality and justice that America was founded on, but our work still remains to fully confront the horrific legacies of slavery and white supremacy. For too long, the sinister Slavery Clause in our Constitution has denied the dream of a more perfect union, stripping millions of people\u2014particularly people of color\u2014of their most basic human rights and preventing true justice and equality for all. We must pass the End the Exception Amendment to eliminate the loophole that drove legal slavery long past passage of the 13th Amendment.\u201d\n\nU.S. Senator Cory Booker said:\n\n\u201cOver one hundred and sixty years after Congress passed the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery and involuntary servitude, the law has failed to fully fulfill its promise of freedom for all. A loophole in the Thirteenth Amendment allows individuals to be sentenced to forced labor as \u2018punishment for a crime. We cannot claim to be a free country while allowing people to be enslaved\u2014it is a violation of our founding principles that continues to disproportionately impact Black Americans. It is time we eliminate slavery in every form and pass the End the Exception Amendment so we can live up to our country\u2019s foundational principles of liberty, justice, and equality for all.\u201d\n\nImmediately following the 1865 ratification of the 13th Amendment\u2014including the Slavery Clause\u2014Southern jurisdictions passed what became known as \u201cBlack Codes,\u201d laws that allowed the arrest of Black Americans in large numbers for minor crimes like loitering or vagrancy. The Slavery Clause was then used by sheriffs to lease out imprisoned Black individuals to work landowners\u2019 fields, which in some cases included the very same plantations where the prisoners had previously been enslaved. The practice grew in prevalence and scope to the point that, for example, by 1898, 73 percent of Alabama\u2019s state revenue came from renting out the forced labor of Black Americans. Throughout the Jim Crow era, the Slavery Clause continued to incentivize minor crime convictions and drove the over-incarceration of Black Americans on infamous prison plantations, like Parchman, in Mississippi, and Angola, in Louisiana.\n\nThe End the Exception Amendment would finally correct this historic constitutional loophole and send a clear message: a ban on slavery cannot come with exceptions. While communities across the nation wait for federal action, nine states across the country\u2014including Oregon\u2014have banned slavery as a form of punishment.\n\nThe bicameral resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D\u2011CT), Tammy Duckworth (D\u2011IL), Dick Durbin (D\u2011IL), Mazie Hirono (D\u2011HI), Edward J. Markey (D\u2011MA), Alex Padilla (D\u2011CA), Chris Van Hollen (D\u2011MD), Raphael Warnock (D\u2011GA), Elizabeth Warren (D\u2011MA), Peter Welch (D\u2011VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (RI-01), Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Ami Bera (CA-06), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Sanford Bishop Jr. (GA-02), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), and Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05) \u2014 along with Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Jared Huffman (CA-01), Jonathan L. Jackson (GA-02), Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager\u2011Dove (CA-37), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Susie Lee (NV-03), Summer Lee (PA-12), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At\u2011Large), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Scott Peters (CA-50), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-13), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Mark Takano (CA-39), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25).\n\nMerkley, Williams, and Booker\u2019s End the Exception Amendment is supported by 90 organizations, including Worth Rises, Vera Institute of Justice, and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). A full list of supporting organizations can be found by clicking here.\n\n\u201cSlavery is wrong under all circumstances. Yet more than 160 years after the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified, an exception still allows governments and corporations to exploit incarcerated people for their labor. Congress has a moral obligation to finish the work of abolition by passing the End the Exception Amendment. No slavery, no exceptions,\u201d said Celina Chapin, Chief Advocacy Officer, Worth Rises.\n\nA one-page summary of the End the Exception Amendment can be found by clicking here.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/09/15/mcbath-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-increase-transparency-in-prescription-drug-market/", "McBath Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Increase Transparency in Prescription Drug Market", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 This week, Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06) introduced the bipartisan Net Effective Cost Transparency and Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2026, legislation to increase transparency and competition in the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) market and help lower prescription drug costs. The bill is co-led by Representatives Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Rick Allen (GA-12), and Carol Miller (WV-01).\n\nPBMs serve as middlemen between health plans, pharmacies, and drug manufacturers and play a major role in determining prescription drug costs. However, rebates, discounts, fees, and other payments can make it difficult for health plans to determine what they are actually paying for prescription drugs.\n\nThe legislation introduced this week would require greater transparency around the \u201cnet effective cost\u201d of prescription drugs \u2014 essentially, what drugs actually cost after rebates, discounts, fees, and other price concessions are taken into account. By allowing PBM bids to be compared on a more consistent basis, the bill would promote greater competition and accountability across Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and employer-sponsored health plans.\n\n\u201cFamilies in Georgia and across this country are struggling with the high cost of prescription drugs. Convoluted PBM bidding practices have continued far too long without the safeguards in place to protect patients,\u201d said Congresswoman McBath. \u201cThis bill would help to simplify a complicated process and allow Americans access to health plans that work for them, not a PBM\u2019s bottom line.\u201d\n\n\u201cFamilies and seniors in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos deserve real transparency when it comes to what they pay for prescription drugs,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation will make it easier to understand the true cost after rebates, discounts, and fees are taken into account. By increasing transparency and competition among PBMs, we can help lower costs and ensure patients and health plans are getting a better deal.\u201d\n\n\u201cHealthcare is too complicated and drug pricing is the most complicated of all. This legislation pours sunlight into the inner workings of bids & prices, so that lower prices, not higher rebates, is what wins,\u201d said Congressman Auchincloss.\n\n\u201cThe Net Effective Cost Transparency and Prescription Drug Affordability Act is a continuation of our work to hold PBMs accountable and increase drug price transparency for America\u2019s families and seniors. Unfortunately, overly expensive prescription drugs are often a direct result of harmful PBM practices. This bipartisan effort will help address the rising cost of prescription drugs and provide relief for patients who have faced this financial burden for far too long,\u201d said Congressman Rick W. Allen.\n\n\u201cPatients should not have to navigate a maze of rebates, fees, and hidden costs to understand what they are paying for their prescriptions. The Net Effective Cost Transparency and Prescription Drug Affordability Act brings much-needed transparency to the PBM market and helps ensure that competition is driven by lower costs, not complicated pricing arrangements. I am proud to support this bipartisan effort to give patients and health plans greater clarity and help make prescription drugs more affordable for West Virginians,\u201d said Congresswoman Miller.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-remembers-the-september-11-2001-terrorist-attacks-on-the-united-states", "Congressman Bishop Remembers the September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks on the United States", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "COLUMBUS, Ga. \u2013 Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) issued the following statement solemnly commemorating the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States:\n\n\u201cToday, we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on our country which claimed the lives of 2,977 people and injured thousands of others. I was in Washington, DC, and I clearly remember that day. I remember the friends who lost loved ones.\n\n\u201cOur solemn commemoration keeps alive the memory of those who were lost and honors the first responders who selflessly put themselves in harm\u2019s way to protect others and save lives. Many died while others were left with lasting wounds, both visible and invisible. We are indebted to them forever.\n\n\u201cToday is also a reminder about what happened in the aftermath of these attacks. Americans came together, recognizing that there is more that binds us together than what separates us. Now, more than ever, we must take this lesson to heart and never let anyone succeed in using their power to stoke fear, anger, uncertainty, and division that only serves to tear us apart and weaken our great nation and its foundations.\n\n\u201cAs the smoke and dust cleared in the days, weeks, months, and years following the September 11 terrorist attacks, our country unrelentingly pursued the terrorists involved. In 2011, President Obama solemnly announced that Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of this heinous crime, had been killed in the process of apprehending him.\n\n\u201cToday, we continue to stand tall and reaffirm that those who attempted to wipe away the symbols of our power and greatness ultimately failed. We quickly rebuilt. We continue to grow. We remain resolute in our purpose and strength to uphold and defend the Constitution and the highest ideals upon which our country is based so that we can be a beacon and rampart of good in this world.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/icymi-congressmembers-nikema-williams-announces-700000-in-federal-support-for-community-schoolyards", "ICYMI: Congressmembers Nikema Williams Announces $700,000 in Federal Support for Community Schoolyards", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "ATLANTA, G.A. \u2014 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) announced that Atlanta Public Schools has received $700,000 in congressionally directed spending to support future community schoolyard projects in Atlanta.\n\nCongresswoman Williams joined Atlanta Public Schools and Trust for Public Land leaders to celebrate the new federal investment, which will help transform school grounds into vibrant outdoor spaces that support student learning and recreation while expanding neighborhood access to green space beyond the school day.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams said:\n\n\u201cAs a proud APS mama, I know how much it means for our children to have places where they can learn, play, explore and just be kids. These projects aren\u2019t just playgrounds and outdoor spaces. They support outdoor education, build climate resilience, connect us to nature and improve park equity \u2014 because all children deserve a safe and accessible place to play, no matter their ZIP code or bank account.\u201d\n\nThe Schoolyards Program is a national initiative of Trust for Public Land designed to expand community access to schoolyards during non-school hours and increase the percentage of people who live within a 10-minute walk of a park. In Atlanta, the program is implemented in partnership with APS, other non-profit organizations, and city agencies, with additional support from the philanthropic community.\n\nGeorge Dusenbury, Georgia State Director of Trust for Public Lands said:\n\n\u201cCommunity schoolyards are one of the smartest ways we can expand access to green space in Atlanta neighborhoods. This federal investment will help Atlanta Public Schools create places that support students during the school day and serve families and neighbors after hours, ensuring more Atlantans have safe, high-quality places to play, learn and gather.\u201d\n\nIn Atlanta, 18 percent of residents still do not live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Over the past six years, TPL has worked with 14 Atlanta schools to redesign schoolyards so they can serve as parks during non-school hours. The first campus selected for this phase is Crawford W. Long Middle School in the Glenrose Heights neighborhood of South Atlanta. Additional details on sites and timelines will be announced as planning moves forward.\n\nDr. Bryan Johnson, APS Superintendent said:\n\n\u201cAt Atlanta Public Schools, we know schools are more than buildings; they are spaces where lifelong memories are made. This project allows us to welcome all of our neighbors to create memories, friendships, and strong bonds right here on our schoolyards. By transforming these spaces into vibrant, welcoming places for play, learning, and connection, we are strengthening the relationship between our schools and the communities they serve. We are proud to partner with the Trust for Public Land to create schoolyards that are truly for everyone.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/09/09/government-watchdog-finds-defense-department-is-robbing-workers-of-fair-wages-and-benefits-in-report-requested-by-mcbath-ranking-member-scott/", "Government Watchdog Finds Defense Department is Robbing Workers of Fair Wages and Benefits in Report Requested by McBath, Ranking Member Scott", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report on the Department of Defense\u2019s (DOD) use of Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSAs) to obtain services from state and local governments and the impact on the workers employed under these contracts.\n\nRequested by House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (VA-03) and Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06), the report revealed that the intergovernmental support agreements adopted by DOD are undermining worker protections under the McNamara-O\u2019Hara Service Contract Act and robbing contract workers of fair wages and benefits.\n\nThe McNamara-O\u2019Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) has long provided protections to ensure that unionized firms are not disadvantaged in competition for federal contracts and that these contracts provide wages consistent with prevailing local standards. GAO found that the military services\u2019 use of IGSAs has increased dramatically in recent years. In 2018, GAO reported that 45 IGSAs had been approved across all DOD installations. That number increased to 316 in 2025.\n\nThe report examined at the minimum hourly wages for five positions and found that the minimum wages for three of the five positions under IGSAs were lower than the minimum hourly wage required under SCA, raising concerns that IGSAs are being used simply as a loophole to avoid complying with federal law. The report also found that DOD does not always conduct required cost-benefit analyses for prospective IGSAs.\n\n\u201cThe McNamara-O\u2019Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) was adopted by Congress to prevent the exploitation of workers by employers looking to win federal contracts by simply offering the lowest bids. Today\u2019s GAO report shows that not only is the Department of Defense using intergovernmental support agreements (IGSAs) to bypass the law, but it is also relying on them,\u201d said Ranking Member Scott. \u201cWhile the DOD may argue that IGSAs save the government money, it comes at the cost of shortchanging workers of fair wages and decent benefits.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfter hearing from workers in Georgia, I partnered with Ranking Member Scott to examine the increasing number of Intergovernmental Support Agreements on military bases across the country. 3 out of the 5 of the jobs examined in the report paid workers less than they would have under the Service Contract Act. The Government Accountability Office also found that there was no way to verify the accuracy of cost savings reported by these agreements,\u201d said Rep. McBath. \u201cWorking people deserve to be paid what they are owed. The Department of Defense should not exploit legal loopholes to pay workers less. I look forward to doing more with my colleagues in Congress to raise wages for American families.\u201d\n\n\u201cIGSA\u2019s undermine the purpose and goals of the McNamara-O\u2019Hara Service Contract Act of 1965, also known as the \u2018SCA\u2019. IGSA\u2019s result in substandard wages and benefits to the hardworking men and woman that perform essential installation-support services. We cannot thank the Congresswoman enough for everything she does for working people,\u201d said Jacob Owens, Vice President and Business Agent of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 926.", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-reintroduces-legislation-to-increase-access-to-child-care", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Reintroduces Legislation to Increase Access to Child Care", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) reintroduced the Care is an Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Act. This legislation would require Economic Development Districts to show in their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies how they will increase access to care-based services, including child care.\n\n3 in 4 families looking for childcare have difficulty finding a spot in a center-based program or a home-based program. Families need a strong care economy because access to care makes every aspect of our lives possible.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cAs a mama, I know how critical early education and childcare are to the future of our children and the well-being of our families. We are in the midst of a childcare crisis. Too many working families in Georgia and across the country are struggling to find affordable, high-quality care for their children.\n\nAs a Congresswoman, I know it doesn\u2019t have to be this way. Families need a strong care economy because access to care makes every aspect of our lives possible. With the CEDS Act, families can count on their communities to plan for access to care for everyone \u2014 no matter their ZIP code, no matter their bank account.\u201d\n\nThe CEDS Act is endorsed by: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS), First Five-Year Fund, Chamber of Mother, KinderCare Learning Companies, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), and National Children\u2019s Facilities Network (NCFN)\n\nKristin Bernhard, CEO of GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students said:\n\n\u201cA strong economy depends not only on creating jobs, but also on ensuring people can fill them. In Georgia alone, child care challenges cost our state an estimated $2.5 billion in lost economic activity each year. By incorporating care into regional economic development planning, the CEDS Act helps communities build a stronger workforce and a more resilient economy.\u201d\n\nPatrick Murray, Vice President of Government Affairs at KinderCare Learning Companies said:\n\n\u201cChild care is essential community infrastructure that enables children to learn and develop, parents to work, and local economies to thrive. As the nation\u2019s leading child care provider, KinderCare applauds Representative Nikema Williams for introducing the Care is an Economic Development Strategy Act, which recognizes that expanding access to high-quality child care is a cornerstone of economic development. By encouraging communities to incorporate child care into their long-term planning, this legislation will create lasting benefits for children, families, employers, and local economies.\u201d\n\nErin Erenberg, CEO, Chamber of Mothers said:\n\n\u201cChildcare is economic infrastructure, and the CEDS Act makes that clear. It requires regional decision-makers to do the obvious thing: account for the childcare that families need to go to work. That\u2019s good planning; it\u2019s good for families, and it\u2019s good for the economy. We need lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to keep building this kind of practical, bipartisan groundwork because moms can\u2019t keep waiting.\u201d\n\nThe CEDS Act is co-sponsored by Eleanor Homes Norton (D.C. At Large), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)\n\nClick here to read the text of the Care is an Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Act.", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/09/03/mcbath-lee-introduce-bill-to-protect-vulnerable-communities-from-violence-and-exploitation-during-disasters/", "McBath, Lee Introduce Bill To Protect Vulnerable Communities From Violence and Exploitation During Disasters", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Representative Lucy McBath (GA-06) and Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15) introduced the FEMA for Safe Recovery Act, legislation that strengthens federal disaster response by ensuring it is equipped to protect women, girls, and other vulnerable communities when disaster strikes.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to lead this effort to strengthen how our nation responds when natural disasters strike,\u201d said Rep. McBath. \u201cThe FEMA for Safe Recovery Act closes the gaps that leave women, girls, and survivors of natural disasters vulnerable to violence and exploitation. By making disaster response more adaptable to the realities communities face, we can ensure that every survivor is seen, heard, and protected.\u201d\n\n\u201cFighting human trafficking and exploitation in the wake of natural disasters takes a coordinated response,\u201d said Rep. Laurel Lee. \u201cThe FEMA for Safe Recovery Act will strengthen our disaster response by ensuring FEMA personnel have the training and guidance to recognize potential violence, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking. I am proud to work with Congresswoman McBath on this bipartisan effort to ensure survivors have the support and protection they need when disaster strikes.\u201d\n\n\u201cNatural disasters amplify existing vulnerabilities, leaving women, children, and underserved communities at heightened risk of gendered violence, housing instability, and trafficking. Informed by our Congressional briefing and groundbreaking research with Tagnawa following the Lahaina wildfires, the bipartisan FEMA for Safe Recovery Act turns that evidence into action by making disaster response more gender-responsive and trauma-informed. We\u2019re grateful to Representatives Lucy McBath and Laurel Lee for their leadership in ensuring disaster recovery is safer for survivors and communities nationwide,\u201d said Yasmin Vafa, Executive Director, Rights4Girls.\n\n\u201cThe FEMA for Safe Recovery Act is historic because it acknowledges that commercial sexual exploitation is a tragic aspect of U.S. environmental disasters and shows that giving female survivors the space to tell their stories post-disaster matters for national policy change. The findings in the Equality in Flames report, which highlight the critical need for Congressional disaster response reform for women, were only made possible because women in Lahaina bravely chose to come forward with their experiences. We are deeply grateful to Representatives Lucy McBath and Laurel Lee for their bipartisan leadership in introducing this vital legislation to ensure federal disaster response protects the safety and dignity of every survivor nationwide, especially women.\u201d said Khara Jabola-Carolus, Co-Author of Equality in Flames and Co-Founder of Tagnawa\n\n\u201cThe FEMA for Safe Recovery Act directly responds to what women in our community endured during the Lahaina fires and what survivors of gender-based violence across Hawai\u02bbi and nationwide continue to face in every disaster. Our research in Equality in Flames: The Impact of the Wildfire Disaster on Gender Equality and Filipino Women in Hawai\u02bbi documented that women were systematically overlooked in recovery. This bill changes that by requiring FEMA to embed the very solutions our community has been demanding. As climate disasters escalate across the country, from hurricanes to wildfires to floods, this legislation ensures that the lessons of Lahaina inform a more just and equitable disaster response for women everywhere. We are grateful to Representatives Lucy McBath and Laurel Lee for their bipartisan leadership in turning community testimony into systemic reform for generations to come.\u201d said Nadezna Ortega, Executive Director, Tagnawa Hawai\u02bbi\n\nThe FEMA for Safe Recovery Act:\n\nDirects FEMA to issue new guidance within one year to improve federal-local coordination, strengthen shelter safety, establish reporting protocols, deploy survivor advocates, and provide multilingual information.\n\nExpands crisis counseling and requires FEMA personnel to be trained to identify and support survivors of violence, exploitation, and trafficking.\n\nEnsures FEMA case management explicitly includes assistance for survivors navigating recovery.\n\nRequires FEMA to speak with all adult household members during disaster check-ins, giving women safe opportunities to disclose abuse.\n\nThis legislation is supported by Rights4Girls, Tagnawa, World Without Exploitation, SK Sultana LLC, Women\u2019s Equal Justice, Justice and Joy National Collaborative, Global Hope 365, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, Love Never Fails, Roxbury Youthworks, Inc., Sex Trade Survivor Caucus, Survivor Leader Network of San Diego, California Survivor Coalition and SPACE International.", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-mourns-the-passing-of-former-us-rep-charles-hatcher-of-georgia", "Congressman Bishop Mourns the Passing of Former U.S. Rep. Charles Hatcher of Georgia", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) issued the following statement upon the news that former Congressman Charles Floyd Hatcher of Georgia has passed away:\n\n\u201cToday, Georgia lost a true public servant and leader. Former Congressman Charles Hatcher was born in Georgia, served our country in the United States Air Force, and returned to Southwest Georgia after earning his law degree and practicing in Albany.\n\n\u201cHe served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1973 to 1980 and subsequently in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 through 1993.\n\n\u201cWhile we competed in the 1992 Democratic Primary for Georgia\u2019s Second Congressional District, which I won, I was glad to have his support and counsel nonetheless as I started my tenure on Capitol Hill.\n\n\u201cHe continued to serve Americans as a presidential appointee in the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the Clinton Administration and continued to serve the Virginia community in which he resided thereafter, volunteering his time with a number of local charities, including Meals on Wheels, and through his local church, the Washington Street United Methodist Church in Alexandria.\n\n\u201cHe leaves behind a legacy of love and compassion through his work and the relationships he built.\n\n\u201cMy wife, Vivian, and I extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Krysta, his children, his grandchildren, and loving family as well as all those whose lives he touched and helped make better. We will miss him dearly.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-johnsons-opening-statement-hearing-protecting-americas", "Ranking Member Johnson\u2019s Opening Statement At Hearing On Protecting America\u2019s Patent System And Innovation Economy", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. (September 2, 2026)\u2014Today, Rep. Hank Johnson, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, delivered opening remarks at a subcommittee hearing on renewing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office\u2019s (USPTO) fee-setting authority and protecting a fair, accessible patent system that rewards American innovation and ingenuity.\n\nThank you, Chairman Issa.\n\nThe USPTO\u2019s fee-setting authority has given it the flexibility to move its workers remote, plan its budgets ahead, and tailor fees for small and micro entities. Originally, it was set to expire in just a few days on September the 16th. Yesterday, however, House and Senate Republicans were generous enough to kick the can down the road until after they are reelected. The authority is now set to expire on December 12th, 2026. Failing to reauthorize the USPTO\u2019s fee setting authority risks transforming a traditionally nonpartisan agency into one that serves political ideology over merit.\n\nEnsuring that USPTO remains a beacon of American innovation means not just reauthorizing the fee setting authority but ensuring USPTO advisory committees can continue to advise the USPTO without interference by this administration. Two months after he was inaugurated, Trump\u2019s Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick fired every member of PPAC and TPAC. A year and a half later, they finally swore in the first few new members.\n\nWhen Congress originally authorized fee setting authority under the America Invents Act, we built in several oversight measures to ensure that this power could not be exercised without transparency but rather with public input and independent expert review. PPAC and TPAC remain a critical part of those guardrails. Their full and independent participation is essential to ensuring that fee-setting remains accountable to all who rely on our patent and trademark systems, the big and the small. That is why these committees must be fully constituted as they are a necessary safeguard for independence.\n\nAnd that independence matters. If we do not give USPTO the flexibility it needs to set fees, access to our patent system will be taken over by special interests. This will make it even harder for small, independent inventors to protect their inventions and easier for those who can pay-to-play to infringe on those rights.\n\nHow do we know? Because we are already seeing this happen in the rest of the executive branch. Every day we learn again how easy it\u2019s become for oligarchs and powerful companies to buy a seat at Donald Trump\u2019s table. Millions of dark money in campaign contributions. Lavish gifts like private jets, and business deals. Rampant insider trading on predictive markets. Access to the Trump White House has transformed into a currency that only the rich and famous can afford.\n\nAnd while the wealthy are busy buying a seat at the table, Americans across the country are left paying the price. Constituents of Georgia\u2019s 4th Congressional district are struggling to afford rent or pay their mortgage, and the cost of groceries continue to skyrocket. Hardworking families should not struggle to afford healthcare while Elon Musk becomes a trillionaire, and while Donald Trump lines his own pockets through unabashed greed built on the backs of American taxpayers.\n\nConflicts of interest and self-dealing have become routine features in Trump\u2019s Washington, blurring the line between public service and private financial gain. This was a man who campaigned on draining the swamp, and yet all Trump has done is put it behind a velvet rope and began charging an admissions fee. Because in Trump\u2019s America money buys access. Access buys influence. And influence too often becomes the law for everyone else. Innovation should not be a luxury that only the wealthy can afford. So, I, for one, am determined to not allow USPTO to be sucked in to that swamp.\n\nReauthorizing this fee setting authority with the transparency, public participation, and independent oversight that Congress intended is essential to keeping our patent system working for all\u2014not just for those with the closest connection to big tech, the aspiring oligarch class, or the Trump White House. We have just a few months to get this done. This is not time for Members or big money special interests to advocate for changes to the way the USPTO operates because they\u2019re not happy with Director Squires\u2019 Patent Trial and Appeals Board actions. I think we are overdue to examine proposals like Rep. Ross\u2019s PREVAIL, which would reform PTAB abuses. I\u2019m sure some of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree with me, just as others disagree. But I\u2019m not trying to make those changes right now. We have a program that everyone agrees has been successful; inserting our own USTPO agendas into the debate will only serve to make this reauthorization controversial.\n\nI want to thank the witnesses for being here today. While I think this hearing is unnecessary and a distraction from the disastrous policies of the Trump Administration, I do believe it is vital that Americans truly understand the importance of allowing this agency the independence and discretion it needs to keep America at the top of our global innovation economy. Because if we want to continue to lead the world in the technological advancements of tomorrow, then we must ensure today that the institution most responsible for protecting those innovations is independent and built to last.\n\nI yield back the balance of my time.", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-reintroduces-the-equal-pay-for-equal-work-act", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Reintroduces the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) led 12 members of the House in introducing the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, which will reestablish the National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force.\n\nAccording to the National Women\u2019s Law Center, women stand to lose $542,800 over the course of a 40-year career. For Black women, Latinas, Indigenous women, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander women, the losses are over $1 million over a lifetime.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cPay discrimination has been illegal for more than 60 years, yet too many women, especially Black women, are still fighting to be paid equally for the work they do. Black women working full-time, year-round earn just 65 cents for every dollar paid to their white male counterparts. That gap means less money for families, less opportunity to build generational wealth, and less economic security for working people across our state.\n\nThe Equal Pay for Equal Work Act is about making sure the laws already on the books actually work \u2014 and that workers have a government willing to enforce them. Equal pay for equal work should not be a promise we keep pushing into the future. It should be the standard today.\u201d\n\nThe Equal Pay for Equal Work Act is co-sponsored by Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Rep. Donald Beyer (VA-08), Rep. James McGovern (MA-02), Rep. Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson Jr. (GA-04), Rep. Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07), Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11), Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC)\n\nClick here to read the text of the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bishop-supports-bipartisan-funding-bill-protects-vital-services-on-which-americans-rely", "Bishop Supports Bipartisan Funding Bill, Protects Vital Services on Which Americans Rely", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, voted to support a short-term funding bill that would fund federal departments and agencies at Fiscal Year 2026 levels through December 11, 2026, while Congress continues to negotiate a full-year funding bill for Fiscal Year 2027. The bill was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, 370-48, and now goes to the President for his signature.\n\n\u201cOur responsibility in Congress is to make sure that the government is open and working for the people. Today\u2019s bipartisan bill reasserts Congress\u2019s Constitutional authority to direct funding and check the Executive Branch. This bill funds the government through early December, giving Congress time to work towards a full-year funding bill,\u201d said Congressman Bishop. \u201cIt also removes the immediate threat of a shutdown that would jeopardize Americans\u2019 healthcare, access to affordable food, quality education, support for local law enforcement, and our country\u2019s national security. I will continue to work hard in Congress to ensure long-term certainty for our federal departments and agencies so that they can best serve Georgians and all Americans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-calls-on-secretary-robert-f-kennedy-to-take-action-on-endometriosis-diagnosis-and-care", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Calls on Secretary Robert F. Kennedy to Take Action on Endometriosis Diagnosis and Care", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) sent a congressional oversight letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy inquiring about what action the Department of Health and Human Services is taking to improve diagnosis and access to care for individuals living with endometriosis.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams wrote:\n\n\u201cEndometriosis is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disease affecting millions of Americans and an estimated 200 million people worldwide. Despite its increasing prevalence and substantial health burden, patients continue to face prolonged diagnostic delays, limited access to knowledgeable providers, inconsistent insurance coverage, and barriers to evidence-based care. These barriers contribute to unnecessary suffering, increased healthcare costs, disease progression, and poorer health outcomes.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs scientific knowledge continues to evolve, we respectfully seek information regarding how the Department of Health and Human Services is working to improve diagnosis and access to care for individuals living with endometriosis.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, Congresswoman Nikema Williams requested answers to the following questions regarding diagnosis and access to care:\n\nWhat steps has HHS taken to reduce diagnostic delays for individuals with endometriosis? Has HHS established measurable goals or benchmarks to improve timely diagnosis?\n\nHas HHS evaluated the downstream consequences of prolonged diagnostic delay, including disease progression, infertility, repeated surgeries, chronic pain, mental health conditions, organ dysfunction, and preventable healthcare utilization?\n\nHas HHS assessed the economic impact of delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment, including healthcare utilization, productivity loss, disability, and workforce participation?\n\nWhat initiatives are underway to promote earlier diagnosis through evidence-based imaging, clinical evaluation, and referral pathways?\n\nHas HHS evaluated disparities in diagnosis among adolescents, racial and ethnic minority populations, rural communities, and medically underserved populations?\n\nWhat actions has HHS taken to improve recognition of endometriosis in adolescents, given evidence that symptoms can begin in childhood and delayed intervention may contribute to disease progression and long-term disability?\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams also requested answers to the following questions regarding coding and reimbursement:\n\nHas HHS evaluated whether existing coding accurately captures the full range of endometriosis presentations, including multi-organ disease and multidisciplinary surgical management?\n\nHas HHS evaluated whether current ICD-10 and CPT coding adequately reflects the complexity of diagnosing and treating endometriosis?\n\nWhat steps has HHS taken to ensure adequate reimbursement for endometriosis diagnostics, including exploratory surgery when clinically appropriate?\n\nWhat steps has HHS taken to ensure adequate reimbursement for the treatment of endometriosis, including complex excision surgery?\n\nHas HHS evaluated whether current reimbursement policies adequately support multidisciplinary care frequently required for bowel, bladder, ureteral, diaphragmatic, and thoracic endometriosis?\n\nHas HHS evaluated barriers created by prior authorization requirements for advanced imaging, pelvic floor physical therapy, fertility preservation, multidisciplinary surgery, and chronic pain management?\n\nWhat actions has HHS taken to improve insurance coverage for evidence-based diagnosis and treatmentof endometriosis?\n\nWill HHS work with CMS and relevant stakeholders to improve coding and reimbursement for evidence-based endometriosis care?\n\nThe letter was endorsed by American End of Endo Project, EndoBlack, Endo Excision for All, Endometriosis Foundation of America, and Women\u2019s Health Advocates\n\nThe letter was co-signed by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC At Large), Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Rep. Emily Randall (WA-06), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14), and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37).", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-honors-local-nonprofits-fourth-annual-week-hope", "Congressman Johnson Honors Local Nonprofits at Fourth Annual Week of H.O.P.E ceremony", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "LITHONIA \u2013 On Saturday, August 22, at the Lou Walker Senior Center, Congressman Hank Johnson held his 2026 H.O.P.E. Awards ceremony to close out his 4th Annual Week of H.O.P.E.\n\nThe Week of H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Elevate), which centers around National Nonprofit Day, is a celebration of the nonprofit organizations, leaders, and volunteers who dedicate themselves to improving the lives of others throughout Georgia\u2019s Fourth Congressional District.\n\nThe honorees: Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR), Habitat for Humanity DeKalb, Kids'-Doc-On-Wheels, Inc., Lady T's Homeless Ministry, Made for Bigger, and Parent to Parent of Georgia (P2PGA).\n\n\u201cFrom helping low-income residents get access to quality healthcare, building homes, feeding the homeless to supporting our immigrant communities, all six of our awardees tonight are pillars of our community,\u201d said Congressman Johnson.\n\n\u201cYou feed, heal, shelter, and nurture people of every age, gender, race, socioeconomic status and political persuasion \u2013 but I can\u2019t help but reflect that your impact on young people is most profound. Your work benefits all Georgians by pouring into our next generation, and today we say thank you.\u201d\n\nTo watch the ceremony, click HERE. Photos of the winning organizations attached. More photos are available upon request.", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-statement-on-the-eleventh-circuit-courts-decision-on-georgia-district-maps", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 Statement on the Eleventh Circuit Court\u2019s Decision on Georgia District Maps", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "ATLANTA, GA \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement in response to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ordering a review of Georgia\u2019s district maps under new voting rights rules based on the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cGeorgia voters deserve representation, not maps rigged by politicians to protect their own power. For too long, partisan gerrymandering has divided Black communities and diluted the power of Black voters who are central to Georgia\u2019s democracy.\n\nThe Eleventh Circuit\u2019s decision means Georgia\u2019s maps will once again be reviewed under the new standards established in Louisiana v. Callais. But no court decision changes this fundamental principle: Black voters deserve the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice, and their political power cannot be erased at the mapmaking table.\n\nVoters should choose their representatives\u2013politicians shouldn\u2019t choose their voters. I will keep fighting against partisan gerrymandering and for fair maps that protect Black representation. We must ensure every Georgian\u2019s voice is heard.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/08/26/mcbath-harder-announce-new-legislation-to-scale-up-job-training-programs-across-the-u-s/", "McBath, Harder Announce New Legislation to Scale Up Job Training Programs Across the U.S.", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Atlanta, GA \u2013 Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) and Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced new legislation to scale up local workforce development programs and kickstart a national job training model. The Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act would unlock new federal funding to expand programs which help vulnerable youth build skills and get hired at local businesses, while also building a national workforce development model around proven local strategies.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to lead the Better Jobs Through Evidence and Innovation Act alongside my colleagues, because there is more than one path to a successful career,\u201d said Rep. McBath. \u201cConsider the single parent looking for a more targeted training program to move into a stable, well-paying job. This legislation will modernize our workforce development pipeline, directing resources where they will have the greatest impact and supporting folks from every background chasing every kind of career.\u201d\n\n\u201cFinding a good-paying job to support a family on has gotten way too hard, but Valley organizations have already proven that evidence-based training can bridge that gap,\u201d said Rep. Harder. \u201cWhat we need now is for the federal government to supercharge these efforts and make sure that the next generation has the training to develop skills, get hired in high-demand jobs, and achieve lifelong career success. My bill takes what\u2019s working in the Valley and jumpstarts efforts to build a national model around these local workforce successes.\u201d\n\nHow the Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act scales up proven local programs:\n\nNew Federal Funding \u2013 Three tiers of funding to support the development and expansion of evidence-based employment and training programs that generate demonstrated, long-term economic improvements for jobseekers and employers.\n\nCuts Red Tape \u2013 Makes it easier for proven workforce programs to scale nationally without navigating the eligibility requirements of more than one hundred local workforce development boards.\n\nLocal Leadership \u2013 Puts funding in the hands of local programs that are already leading the way to identify innovative and cutting-edge practices that would ensure 21st-century workers have access to sustainable, high-demand, and high-wage careers.\n\nThe Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act is endorsed by Main Street Youth & Family Services, America Forward, and over 60 workforce development advocacy organizations across the country.\n\n\u201cAt Main Street, young people learn to work by working. They staff our caf\u00e9 and kitchen, run our shops, and even help run a worker-owned social enterprise, building the skills and the ownership stake that turn a first job into a lasting career,\u201d said Tony Yadon, Chief Executive Officer, Main Street Youth & Family Services. \u201cThe Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act would give organizations building models like ours the federal support to grow what works and test what\u2019s promising, helping to move a whole generation toward economic mobility.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-denounces-scotus-decision-opening-door-trumps", "Congressman Johnson Denounces SCOTUS Decision Opening Door for Trump\u2019s Attacks on Mail-in Ballots Ahead of November Elections", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet, issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cAs it did with Trump\u2019s unauthorized and illegal quest to build his golden ballroom, the 6/3 MAGA Supreme Court has used the shadow docket to grant Trump\u2019s emergency petition that allows him to proceed with his nefarious plan to decide who gets to vote by mail. The real emergency is that a hyper-partisan Supreme Court is headed toward allowing Trump to steal the November elections. It is urgent that Congress passes my bill that places term limits on lifetime-tenured, unaccountable Supreme Court justices.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/08/11/mcbath-georgia-dems-highlight-governor-brian-kemps-final-opportunity-to-participate-in-summer-meal-program-for-hungry-children/", "McBath, Georgia Dems Highlight Governor Brian Kemp\u2019s Final Opportunity to Participate in Summer Meal Program for Hungry Children", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Atlanta, GA \u2014 Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) is once again leading the Democratic members of Georgia\u2019s congressional delegation in urging Governor Brian Kemp to allow Georgia families to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Summer EBT program. The members are calling on Governor Kemp to finally accept federal funding that would feed low-income children during the summer months and commit to participating in summer of 2027.\n\nFor the third consecutive year, Governor Kemp has declined to enroll Georgia in Summer EBT, making the state one of only 12 nationwide refusing the program. This year represents Governor Kemp\u2019s final opportunity to reverse course before leaving office in January. The letter is signed by Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff and Representatives Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).\n\nSummer EBT provides $40 per eligible child per month, totaling $120 over the summer. This support is a lifeline for families struggling to keep food on the table when school meal programs pause. Of Georgia\u2019s 2.8 million children, more than 40% qualify for the program but remain blocked from receiving it due to the Governor\u2019s continued refusal.\n\n\u201cSummer EBT is one of the simplest tools we have to prevent child hunger, yet Georgia continues to reject it,\u201d said Rep. McBath. \u201cFamilies are facing higher grocery prices and fewer resources, and denying children this benefit only makes life harder. We are urging Governor Kemp to finally allow Georgia to participate and ensure our children have the food they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cCommitting to participate in Summer EBT is a basic step to ensuring that every child in our state, regardless of where they live or how much money their parents make, has access to the basic necessity of food when they are not in school,\u201d the members write.\n\nThe delegation emphasizes that this need is even more urgent following cuts to Medicaid and SNAP included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. These cuts have already reduced access to free and reduced-price school meals, leaving families with fewer resources and children at greater risk of food insecurity. Governor Kemp\u2019s refusal to participate in Summer EBT compounds these challenges and makes food more expensive for families with children in Georgia.\n\nThis renewed push underscores Representative McBath and the Georgia Democratic delegation\u2019s ongoing commitment to lowering costs for working families and ensuring that no child in Georgia goes hungry. Governor Kemp has failed to respond to congressional correspondence on Summer EBT since the federal program became permanent in the summer of 2024.\n\nThe Georgia General Assembly recently took bipartisan action to allocate $2 million dollars to participate in Summer EBT in 2027. However, those $2 million dollars were inexplicably vetoed from the state budget by Governor Kemp earlier this summer. The Members encouraged the Governor to respect the will and bipartisan consensus of the Georgia General Assembly on this issue and submit all appropriate materials as soon as possible.", 1, "2026-08-12T06:18:38Z", "2026-08-12T06:20:33Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-joins-legislation-to-ban-ice-from-using-tsa-data", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Joins Legislation to Ban ICE from Using TSA Data", "2026-08-10", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) co-sponsored the No TSA Data for ICE Act, introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), that would prevent the two agencies from coordinating to enforce the Trump administration\u2019s mass deportation agenda. In a dramatic violation of privacy rights, the Transportation and Security Administration is sharing passenger names, birth dates, and other data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, leading to a surge of arrests at airports. ICE agents are targeting immigrants in the process of changing status, including those waiting for visa extensions, with employment authorization documents, or recently married to a U.S. citizen.\n\nA Freedom of Information Act lawsuit obtained an information-sharing agreement between TSA and ICE from May 2025, exposing that acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill lied in her testimony before Congress.\n\n\u201cTSA is complicit in ICE expanding its chaos and cruelty to target our communities in our airports and has been openly lying about it,\u201d said Tlaib. \u201cThrough an information-sharing agreement signed in 2025, TSA is readily offering up our immigrant residents to suffer at the hands of ICE agents so they can fulfill their daily arrest quota. One source from ICE even said it makes for \u2018easy targets\u2019 at airports\u2014a disgusting exploitation of immigrants in status limbo. Immigrants should be able to safely fly in this country without the fear of arrest or deportation.\u201d\n\nThe bill would also prevent the Department of Homeland Security from retaliating against critics of ICE and the Trump Administration by revoking their status in trusted traveler programs, including TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. DHS is currently being sued by three U.S. citizens who lost Global Entry status after filming ICE activity.\n\n\u201cWhen people fly, they should be able to trust that TSA won\u2019t divulge their sensitive information or use it for political retaliation,\u201d said Tlaib. \u201cTSA has broken that trust in a gross violation of people\u2019s First Amendment rights. This data sharing should terrify all of us. It does nothing to make us safer, but rather endangers the basic rights of all Americans and worsens our mass surveillance crisis.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world\u2019s busiest and most efficient airport, is the gateway to the world. That\u2019s only possible when every traveler has confidence in our aviation system. The TSA should play no part in Trump\u2019s and ICE\u2019s terror campaign. It\u2019s exploitative, dangerous, and a violation of people\u2019s privacy. I\u2019m proud to co-sponsor Rep. Tlaib\u2019s No TSA Data for ICE Act to help protect people\u2019s privacy, restore accountability, and ensure our government agencies are focused on keeping travelers safe\u2014not serving as tools for ICE.\u201d\n\nThe No TSA Data for ICE Act is cosponsored by 24 other members of Congress: U.S. Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Greg Landsman (OH-01), John B. Larson (CT-01), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/08/04/mcbath-leads-house-introduction-of-bipartisan-read-act/", "McBath Leads House Introduction of Bipartisan READ Act", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Yesterday, Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06) led the House introduction of the bipartisan and bicameral Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development (READ) Act, legislation which will address America\u2019s literacy crisis using evidence-based reading instruction known as the Science of Reading. The legislation is co-led in the House by Representatives Erin Houchin (IN-09), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Kevin Kiley (CA-03), Josh Harder (CA-09), and Burgess Owens (UT-04). Companion legislation in the Senate is led by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jim Banks (R-IN), and Tim Scott (R-SC). Introduction of this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives follows passage of the READ Act in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in an overwhelming vote of 20-2 last week.\n\nAccording to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress, 12th-grade reading scores dropped to the lowest average since the assessment was first completed in 1992. Millions of young people in America are leaving school without the ability to read proficiently, significantly impacting their readiness for college, a career, and civic life. It is estimated that low literacy rates in America cost taxpayers an estimated $224 billion annually and nearly $40 billion in lost productivity.\n\n\u201cOne of my most treasured memories as a mother was instilling a love of reading in my son Jordan,\u201d Congresswoman McBath said. \u201cTragically, far too many young people in America are graduating high school without basic literacy skills. The READ Act will affirm our country\u2019s commitment to ensuring that all students can develop the skills needed for success beyond high school. I thank my colleagues for their collaboration on this essential bipartisan legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cReading is the foundation of every child\u2019s education, yet too many students are graduating without the basic literacy skills they need to succeed,\u201d said Rep. Houchin. \u201cWe cannot accept a system that allows students to move from grade to grade without mastering the fundamentals of reading. The bipartisan READ Act gives educators the tools and training to implement the science of reading, helping ensure every student has the strong literacy foundation needed to thrive in school, the workforce, and throughout life.\u201d\n\n\u201cReading is foundational to learning, and strong literacy skills set the stage for lifelong success,\u201d said Rep. Bonamici.\u201cStudents thrive with evidence-based instruction that helps them develop these core skills. This bipartisan bill will provide critical federal resources for educational practices aligned with the science of reading so students in our highest-need schools and districts have the support they need to succeed.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn California and all across the country, millions of students are falling behind when it comes to their ability to read proficiently,\u201d said Rep. Kiley. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation will help reverse this troubling trend through reforms including improved teacher training and early literacy tests that will assure more students gain the proficiency they need for success in school and life.\u201d\n\n\u201cWashington used to believe that improving school was both important and possible, but after years of paralysis, our kids have been paying the price in lower reading scores and worse education outcomes,\u201d said Rep. Harder. \u201cThe good news is that states have already proven that evidence-based reforms can reverse years of learning losses. The READ Act is a critical step towards reinvigorating federal leadership in education and accelerating solutions to our nationwide literacy crisis \u2013 we can\u2019t let any more time go to waste.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen we teach our children to read, we give them the tools to think critically, and a child who can think critically can achieve whatever they set their mind to,\u201d said Rep. Owens. \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s so troubling to see literacy rates falling across our country. I\u2019m proud to co-lead the READ Act, which invests in evidence-based literacy instruction and holds states accountable for results, while keeping decisions with parents and local schools where they belong.\u201d\n\nThe READ Act will:\n\nSupport state implementation of evidence-based reading practices grounded in the science of reading;\n\nPrioritize funding to the lowest-performing states;\n\nImprove teacher preparation and professional development;\n\nExpand early screening, intervention, and parental notification for students at risk of reading difficulties; and\n\nStrengthen literacy research.", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-legislation-to-increase-access-to-sti-testing", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Legislation to Increase Access to STI Testing", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "New legislation to create a more equitable healthcare system\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced the Equity in STI Testing Act, legislation that would make certain tests for sexually-transmitted diseases free of charge. Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) is co-leading the introduction of the Equity in STI Testing Act.\n\nThe Equity in STI Testing Act will require coverage for STI testing without patient cost sharing under Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, CHIP, TRICARE, the Indian Health Service and for veterans.\n\nThe Equity in STI Testing Act will make regular STI testing available for millions of Americans, without out of pocket costs. Please join us in supporting this common-sense legislation to protect reproductive and public health.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cFor years, I worked on the front lines bringing sexual healthcare to those who needed it most. Far too often, those people were already excluded from our healthcare system. My Equity in STI Testing Act will help ensure that everyone has access to STI testing. This is one step toward creating a more just and equitable healthcare system, and I won\u2019t stop fighting until there are no barriers to essential healthcare, including STI testing.\u201d\n\nCongressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) said:\n\n\u201cIn the Bronx, I\u2019ve seen what happens when people can\u2019t afford the care they need until it\u2019s too late. STIs are common, treatable, and preventable, but only if people can get tested without worrying about the bill. The Equity in STI Testing Act is a simple, common-sense fix: no cost sharing for testing under Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, CHIP, TRICARE, the Indian Health Service, and for our veterans. Public health shouldn\u2019t come with a price tag. I\u2019m proud to co-lead this bill with Congresswoman Williams.\u201d\n\nThe Equity in STI Testing Act is endorsed by AID Atlanta, American Academy of Family Physicians, Empowerment Resource Center, Georgia AIDS Coalition, HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute, HIV Medicine Association, Human Rights Campaign, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, & Status:Home\n\nThe Georgia AIDS Coalition said:\n\n\u201cThe Georgia AIDS Coalition, established in 1989, strongly supports Congress passing the \u201cSupport Access to STI Testing Act\u201d. Getting tested for STI\u2019s is important for your health. STIs often have no symptoms, so you may not know you have one. But even without symptoms, infections can cause serious health problems and be unknowingly passed on to others. Untreated STIs can cause severe complications, including premature birth, stillbirth, or transmission of the infection to the baby during childbirth, and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which may cause permanent damage and infertility. Untreated infections can also affect the heart and brain and increase susceptibility to HIV. This legislation will provide access to regular STI testing, saving funds in long-term treatment.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to STI testing, including HIV testing, without patient cost sharing will significantly reduce barriers and increase the ability of people with Medicaid and other payers to access the sexual health tests they need to remain healthy and link them to appropriate care and treatment .\u201d commented Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute. \u201cWe thank Reps. Nikema Williams and Ritchie Torres for their leadership and introducing the Equity in STI Testing Act. At a time of rising HIV and skyrocketing STIs, now is the time for the Congress to quickly adopt it.\u201d concluded Schmid.\n\nSTI infection is prevalent, and impacts Americans of every walk of life. According to the CDC, more than 2.2 million people reported STIs in 2024. Across the country, twenty percent of Americans have an STI at any given time.\n\nThese conditions are often asymptomatic, and may go unnoticed, but when not diagnosed and treated, some STIs can significantly impact patients\u2019 long term wellbeing. Under diagnosis impacts patients\u2019 ability to get the timely care they need, and may contribute to increased transmission of these conditions. Accessible testing is an important component of mitigating the public health impact of STIs.", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bishop-opposes-politicized-house-defense-bill-pledges-to-protect-georgia-military-priorities", "Bishop Opposes Politicized House Defense Bill, Pledges to Protect Georgia Military Priorities", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Yesterday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) voted against the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, H.R. 8800. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 216-212, with Congressman Bishop voting no.\n\n\u201cThe National Defense Authorization Act should represent Congress at its best\u2014Republicans and Democrats working together to provide for our national defense and support the men and women who wear our nation\u2019s uniform,\u201d said Congressman Bishop. \u201cUnfortunately, Republican leadership took legislation that should unite us and loaded it down with unrelated, divisive provisions that have little to do with military readiness or national security.\u201d\n\nThe House-passed bill contains several provisions Congressman Bishop strongly supports, including a 5% to 7% military pay raise, improvements to military housing, childcare and education, and investments in munitions production, advanced technology, and the defense industrial base.\n\nThe legislation also includes provisions that could benefit Georgia\u2019s military communities. It would prevent proposed service reductions at the 78th Medical Group at Robins Air Force Base, and it also authorizes investments in Army maneuver units, combat training centers, infantry weapons, next-generation combat vehicles, and short-range air defense capabilities that support the training and modernization missions carried out at Fort Benning.\n\nCongressman Bishop also supported a bipartisan amendment included in the bill that removes the cap on the number of accrued leave days for which separating servicemembers may receive payment.\n\n\u201cThese investments matter to military families throughout Middle and Southwest Georgia,\u201d continued Congressman Bishop. \u201cI support providing our troops with a well-earned pay raise, strengthening the readiness and modernization mission at Fort Benning, protecting access to health care at Robins Air Force Base, and ensuring servicemembers receive the compensation they have earned.\n\n\u201cHowever, House Republican leaders chose to combine the defense bill with the so-called SAVE America Act\u2014unrelated election legislation that would prevent millions of American citizens from voting, along with poison-pill provisions that do nothing to improve readiness, strengthen our installations, or help military families. Their inclusion made this version of the bill impossible for me to support.\n\n\u201cI remain committed to working across the aisle to remove these objectionable provisions in the Senate in order to produce a responsible, bipartisan NDAA. As negotiations continue, I will fight to preserve the pay raise, quality-of-life improvements, Georgia installation priorities, and readiness investments while removing the unrelated political provisions that undermine the longstanding bipartisan tradition of the defense authorization process.\u201d\n\nUltimately, the House and Senate must reconcile their respective versions of the FY2027 NDAA before final legislation can be sent to the President.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-bill-to-make-the-ballot-box-more-accessible", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Bill to Make the Ballot Box More Accessible", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "New legislation would ensure voters have access to a polling location in their area for federal elections.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced the Polling Place Standards Act that would provide a minimum number of polling places for voters to cast a ballot in an election for Federal office and to ensure that such polling places are not concentrated in a specific area, and for other purposes.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cVoting is a constitutional right, and no one should have to wait for hours or travel miles just to cast a ballot. Yet for decades, polling place closures have been used to make voting harder and silence communities.\n\nAs Trump and his allies continue trying to undermine our democracy ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Congress must ensure every eligible voter has a fair opportunity to cast a ballot and have their voice heard. That\u2019s why I\u2019m introducing the Polling Place Standards Act to establish a national standard to polling place access ensuring where you live never determines whether you can exercise your constitutional right to vote.\u201d\n\nThe bill is endorsed by Democracy Defenders Action.\n\nWhat the Bill Does\n\nThe Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act would require states and local governments to provide 1 polling place or vote center (a polling place that accepts a ballot cast for a Federal Election from any voter regardless of the precinct of such voter), for every 2000 registered voters.\n\nThis formula allows for a clear standard across the country, in rural and urban areas alike. And these new polling places would be required to be located in geographically diverse areas and not be concentrated in a certain part of a locality.\n\nClick here to read the text of the Polling Place Standards Act.", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/07/21/rep-lucy-mcbath-announces-cobbworks-inc-will-receive-1-5-million-department-of-labor-grant/", "Rep. Lucy McBath Announces CobbWorks, Inc. Will Receive $1.5 Million Department of Labor Grant", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Atlanta, GA \u2014 Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) announced that CobbWorks, Inc. will be the recipient of a $1.5 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild program. This training program will be implemented in partnership with Construction Ready as the primary construction training provider and Cobb Adult Education as the education and GED preparation provider. In February, McBath wrote a letter to Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer in support of CobbWorks\u2019 application.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s grant announcement is a reaffirmation of the transformational impact CobbWorks has on young jobseekers in our community,\u201d said Rep. McBath. \u201cI was proud to voice my support for this collaborative grant application, and I look forward to seeing how CobbWorks uses this investment to expand upon their mission. So much of my work in Washington focuses on making sure that every Georgian can get a good job and keep it. I look forward to continuing to do my part at the federal level.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Lucy McBath for her unwavering support in securing this YouthBuild grant,\u201d said Sonya Grant, Executive Director, President, and CEO of CobbWorks. \u201cThis investment represents more than funding, it is a commitment to the future of our young people and the strength of our community. Through this program, we will expand access to hands-on training, education, and career pathways for youth who need it most, helping them build sustainable, in-demand careers. The impact will be felt not only in the lives of participants, but across our local economy\u2014strengthening our workforce, supporting business growth, and advancing economic development throughout Cobb County and beyond.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis grant is a significant step forward empowering our youth and enhancing workforce development in Cobb County,\u201d said Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid. \u201cI want to express my deep gratitude to Congresswoman Lucy McBath for her generous support in making this funding a reality. CobbWorks has a proven track record of connecting individuals with the skills they need to succeed in today\u2019s job market, and I am excited to see the positive impact this funding will have on our community.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-statement-on-republicans-proposed-blank-check-to-ice", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 Statement on Republicans\u2019 Proposed Blank Check to ICE", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement on the latest Continuing Resolution by House Republicans that could continue funding Trump\u2019s lawless Border Patrol and ICE:\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cTrump\u2019s violent ICE operations continue to terrorize communities, and families are living in fear after ICE\u2019s latest deadly shootings. Instead of demanding accountability, House Republicans want to hand Border Patrol and ICE a blank check.\n\nI won\u2019t vote to fund Trump\u2019s campaign of fear and violence. Not one penny.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-introduces-historic-bill-prevent-judges-justices", "Congressman Johnson Introduces Historic Bill To Prevent Judges, Justices From Trading Stocks", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Johnson leads House effort requiring judges and justices to place financial assets into blind trusts\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) introduced The Justice is BLIND Act, which would prevent judicial conflicts of interest by requiring federal judges and Supreme Court justices to place their financial assets into blind trusts.\n\nUnder this bill, all federal judges, Supreme Court justices, magistrate judges, and bankruptcy judges, as well as their spouses and dependent children, must place covered financial interests into a qualified blind trust within 90 days of enactment or being sworn into office. Judges must provide a written compliance attestation within 15 days of establishing the trust, which the Administrative Office of the United States Courts will publish on a searchable public database.\n\nIn the Senate, this legislation is led by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and is co-sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). In the House, the bill is cosponsored by Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), and Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03).\n\n\u201cTransparency and accountability are at the heart of the public\u2019s trust in government,\u201d said Rep. Johnson, Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet. \u201cAmericans deserve to know that officials in every branch of government \u2014 including the judiciary \u2014 are acting honorably and in the interest of the people, not their bank accounts. The Justice is BLIND Act would go a long way in preventing any conflicts of interest that might arise and help restore trust in our judiciary by requiring judges and justices to place their financial assets in blind trusts.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe federal judicial system is desperately in need of reform to prevent further ethical lapses. The Supreme Court, and our federal judiciary at large, must be held to the highest standards, but time after time, judges have engaged in troubling acts, putting personal interests above the law and Constitution. I have long called for necessary reforms to regain trust in our system. We must hold judges to the same ethical standards as other federal officials, enhance transparency within the court system, and ensure cases are decided based on merit, not profits. Americans deserve nothing less,\u201d said Senator Schiff.\n\nIn the wake of an unprecedented Supreme Court term defined by historic rollbacks of the Voting Rights Act and other democratic guardrails, Johnson is supporting a legislative package that includes bills to restore faith in the federal judiciary and address abuses of power, including by Supreme Court Justices. The bills would apply conflict of interest ethical standards to federal judges and Justices, and require judges and Justices to place financial assets into blind trusts.\n\nBackground:\n\nA steady stream of alarming revelations in recent years has severely undermined public faith in the independence and integrity of the federal judiciary, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Investigative reports have uncovered a pervasive culture of undisclosed luxury gifts and glaring conflicts of interest, all while Justices refuse to recuse themselves from major cases tied directly to their benefactors' financial or political advantage.\n\nTo regain the American people\u2019s trust in our courts, Congress must pass rigorous, binding statutory guardrails that ensure no federal judge can operate above the ethical standards expected of other public servants.\n\nRead The Justice is BLIND Act: here\n\nRanking member Johnson\u2019s slate of court reform legislation include: The Judiciary Act: Expands SCOTUS to make it more responsive to our growing country; The Supreme Court Ethics Act: Requires justices follow a binding code of ethics; The Judicial Accountability Act: Requires courts to protect their employees from workplace harassment; The 21st Century Courts Act: Enhances accountability & transparency of the federal judiciary by instituting a comprehensive suite of reforms & modernizes our courts for the 21st century; District Court Judgeships Act: Alleviates case backlog by creating 203 new district court judgeships; AMICUS Act: Brings transparency to amicus-based judicial lobbying for the first time; Open Courts Act: Modernizes the federal judiciary\u2019s court records system (called CM/ECF) & makes court records freely available to the public (PACER); The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act: Requires justices of the Supreme Court to adopt and follow a code of ethics, places transparency standards on gifts and travel, codifies recusal standards and requires the court to disclose lobbying and dark money interests before it; The Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization (TERM) Act: Would establish term limits for Supreme Court justices while preserving constitutional protections for judicial independence in decision making.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-opposes-funding-bill-and-amendment-that-undermines-diplomacy-and-regional-security", "Congressman Bishop Opposes Funding Bill and Amendment that Undermines Diplomacy and Regional Security", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) issued the following statement after voting against an amendment offered by Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The amendment prohibited funds in the bill from being used for Israel as well as humanitarian aid for Palestinian refugees and civilians in Gaza.\n\n\u201cToday, I opposed the Fiscal Year 2027 funding bill that funds our State Department and provides the resources to implement American foreign policy. This bill will lead to the continued erosion of American diplomacy, a foreign policy that ignores our highest ideals, and compromises our national security.\n\n\u201cI also could not support the Massie Amendment. While it drew attention to how our support, including military aid, can be misused and abused, its broad language effectively cut off our nose to spite our face. I remain committed to supporting the rights, security, freedom, and self-determination of both Israelis and Palestinians. I remain opposed to expanding settlements and occupation.\n\n\u201cBut this amendment does not limit its effects to just Israelis and Palestinians. It jeopardizes the investment we need in regional missile defense and our ability to counter other regional state and non-state groups that threaten the United States.\n\n\u201cThis amendment did not enjoy bipartisan support and no Republicans, other than Congressman Massie, supported the measure. If we are going to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve a just and sustainable resolution, we need to work together to find a bipartisan solution.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-joins-24-colleagues-joint-statement-massie", "Congressman Johnson Joins 24 Colleagues In Joint Statement on Massie Amendment to Republican Foreign Aid Budget Bill", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014Today, 25 Members of Congress, led by Congressman Jim McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, released the following statement in advance of voting yes on Amendment #8, which would halt certain U.S. funding to Israel, to the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act:\n\n\u201cAs Members of Congress, it is our duty to ensure that our constituents\u2019 hard-earned money is used in a way that advances America\u2019s interests and values. For this reason, we do not support providing an additional $3.3 billion of American taxpayer dollars to be used for Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon\u2014operations which have killed tens of thousands of civilians, led to the indiscriminate destruction of civilian infrastructure, and caused severe and ongoing humanitarian catastrophes. These are just the latest in a long string of human rights violations inflicted on Palestinian civilians. For nearly six decades, Israeli security forces and military authorities have enforced the occupation of the Palestinian territories, including through restrictions on freedom of movement, arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. It is clear that existing human rights conditions on the use of American security assistance have not been meaningfully enforced. Enough is enough.\n\n\u201cPalestinians and Israelis alike deserve peace, freedom, security, stability, and self-determination. Those aims will only be achieved when their inherent dignity and inalienable rights are at the center of U.S. policy in the region. Diplomacy is the answer, and as long as America provides constant funding for more war, peace will always remain out of reach.\n\n\u201cOur vote should not be interpreted as opposition to initiatives such as the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act programs or others that foster people-to-people engagement, strengthen civil society, and advance the long-term prospects for a just and lasting peace. We remain committed to supporting these and similar programs while ensuring that U.S. taxpayer dollars advance peace, security, and American interests and values.\u201d\n\nThe statement was released by Representatives: Becca Balint (D-VT), Don Beyer (D-VA), Greg Casar (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jes\u00fas G. \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (D-IL), Adelita S. Grijalva (D-AZ), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-NY).\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnsons-statement-president-trumps-unhinged-election", "Congressman Johnson\u2019s Statement on President Trump\u2019s Unhinged Election Security Speech", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "DECATUR, GA \u2014 \u201cVoters are not going to be distracted by Trump\u2019s release of what are massively redacted declassified files that fail to prove that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Voters remain focused on the facts that he and his wealthy friends are getting richer and richer as gas, groceries and housing cost are driving everyone else towards the poorhouse, while his war of choice against Iran spirals out of control. Trump is desperate, and we must be on guard to defeat his devious scheme to interfere with the administration of the upcoming elections to avoid the butt-kicking he is about to get from the voters.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-statement-opposing-republicans-cuts-to-international-aid", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 Statement Opposing Republicans\u2019 Cuts to International Aid", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement on Republicans\u2019 slate of policies making cuts to humanitarian aid and promoting isolationism:\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cI voted no on the Massie amendment and the underlying bill yesterday because they were poorly written and overly broad. The bill would make across-the-board cuts to humanitarian aid that could impact embassy operations, educational and cultural exchanges, and ongoing support for Palestinian Security Forces. I believe our decisions and policies must be concise and decisive, especially when addressing the actions of the far-right Netanyahu regime.\n\nPalestinian people have a right to self-determination and American policy actions should support that goal through thoughtful and deliberate considerations of the path forward for the Israeli and Palestinian people. The Massie amendment was not a genuine step toward lasting peace.\n\nI believe Congress should always evaluate how taxpayer dollars are spent and work toward a foreign policy that advances peace, security, and accountability. The Republican proposals before us did not do that. Instead, these sweeping cuts would essentially isolate America from the world.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-introduces-historic-bill-fight-hepatitis-c", "Congressman Johnson Introduces Historic Bill To Fight Hepatitis C", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01), and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-10) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2026 that builds a nationwide, federally coordinated \u201ctest-to-treat\u201d elimination program for hepatitis C (HVC). The bill is supported by more than 100 public health and education organizations and is the House companion to the Cure Hepatitis C Act introduced by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA).\n\n\u201cI am asking that we work together to raise awareness about hepatitis C \u2013 a silent killer \u2013 so that others at risk can get tested and treated,\u201d said Rep. Johnson. After his own diagnosis and treatment for hepatitis C, the Congressman became a national advocate for access to treatment and destigmatization.\n\n\u201cAs a physician, I have seen what happens when a curable disease goes untreated simply because a patient couldn't access care,\u201d said Dr. Miller-Meeks. \"Hepatitis C is beatable. We have the tools to eliminate it, and this bill puts them within reach of the Americans who need them most. This is a commonsense, fiscally responsible effort that will save lives and save taxpayer dollars. I am proud to lead it alongside my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks to the tireless efforts of biomedical researchers and innovators, Hepatitis C is curable. Yet far too many people remain undiagnosed or unable to access treatment, and dozens die from the disease every day,\u201d said Rep. DeGette. \u201cThis is simply unacceptable. We have the tools to stop this epidemic and curb the human and financial costs of this disease going untreated. I am pleased to work with my colleagues on legislation that will have the greatest positive impact to public health this Congress.\u201d\n\nThe nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scored the bill saving $6.6 billion over the next decade.\n\nHepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver swelling and inflammation. It can lead to serious liver damage, even death if untreated. It affects millions of Americans each year. More than half of untreated infections progress to chronic hepatitis C, which can cause life-threatening conditions. Hepatitis A and B pose similar risks but have preventative vaccines that considerably decrease their impact. Hepatitis C requires post-diagnostic treatment that can be difficult to attain. People covered under Medicaid were 46 percent less likely to receive treatment than those with private insurance, and only 1 of 3 of those with insurance received timely treatment.\n\nThe Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2026 would ensure that every American has timely access to screening, vaccination services, and linkage to care to address hepatitis through the following provisions:\n\n-- Establishing a dedicated HCV Elimination Program and national strategy;\n\nCreating a subscription-based drug procurement program to supply curative antiviral treatments at scale;\n\n-- Expanding access to treatment for underserved, high-risk, uninsured, tribal, correctional, and vulnerable populations;\n\n-- Funding a broad expansion of screening, diagnostics, outreach, public health infrastructure, provider training, and wrap-around services;\n\n-- Removing or reducing financial and administrative barriers (cost-sharing, prior authorization) for patients;", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/reps-williams-smith-khanna-and-sanchez-introduce-protecting-american-homes-from-hedge-funds-act", "Reps. Williams, Smith, Khanna, and S\u00e1nchez Introduce Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "New legislation would permanently drive hedge funds out of the single-family housing market\n\nWashington, D.C. (July 13, 2026) \u2013 This week, Representative Nikema Williams (GA-05) joined Representatives Adam Smith (WA-09), Ro Khanna (CA-17), and Linda S\u00e1nchez (CA-38) to introduce the Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act, legislation to remove hedge funds and large institutional investors from America\u2019s single-family housing market and restoring opportunities to working-class communities these homes were intended to serve.\n\nThis bill is introduced after the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act \u2014 the largest federal housing package in decades \u2014 became law over the weekend. That law caps institutional investor ownership of single-family homes at 350 units per entity, marking the first time Congress has acted to restrict corporate ownership of family homes. The Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act builds on that foundation by phasing hedge funds out of the single-family housing market entirely.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cHomeownership remains one of the most powerful pathways to building generational wealth and closing the racial wealth gap. Yet, across Atlanta and communities nationwide, working families are being priced out of the American Dream by hedge funds and corporate investors that can outbid them and buy up entire neighborhoods. The Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act puts families\u2014not Wall Street\u2014first by helping level the playing field so more Americans can afford to buy a home, build wealth, and invest in their communities. The chance to own a home should never depend on whether a hedge fund got there first,\u201d\n\nThough the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a step in the right direction, hardworking Americans deserve the chance to build wealth through homeownership without the threat of corporate greed.\n\n\u201cThis bill takes the next step. In 1971, my father bought the house I grew up in for $15,000 on the salary he earned as a baggage handler at SeaTac Airport,\u201d said Rep. Adam Smith. \u201cToday, families working just as hard as he did are losing homes to all-cash offers from investment funds that will never live in them. The Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act will get these institutional investors out of our neighborhoods and put those homes back within reach of the families they were built for.\u201d\n\n\u201cHomes should be owned by people, not institutional investors. I\u2019m proud to join this effort to make homeownership more affordable for families and to make the American dream of owning a home more accessible,\u201d said Rep. Ro Khanna.\n\n\u201cHomes are for families, not billion-dollar hedge funds. Wall Street has turned our housing crisis into a profit venture, buying up homes and pricing working families out of their own communities. Our bill will put a stop to this so that the American Dream is back within reach for those who want to live in a home, not just invest in them,\u201d said Rep. Linda S\u00e1nchez.\n\nThe bill is supported by a broad coalition of housing advocates, consumer protection organizations, fair housing groups, and economic justice organizations, including: Popular Democracy in Action, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP), Americans for Financial Reform, National Housing Law Project (NHLP), Consumer Action, and Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.\n\n\u201cThe Private Equity Stakeholder Project is proud to support this essential bill. The Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act would significantly level the playing field for the millions of Americans struggling to buy a home and prevent corporate landlords from using government assistance to expand their rental inventory,\u201d said Chris Noble, Policy Director for the Private Equity Stakeholder Project. \u201cThis bill creates sorely needed guardrails to counter Wall Street profiteering amidst the ongoing housing affordability crisis facing our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cPrivate equity firms and hedge funds are snapping up housing with cash and pocketing lucrative tax breaks and getting sweetheart financing that makes it even harder for families to become first-time homebuyers,\u201d said Caroline Nagy, Associate Director for Housing Policy at Americans for Financial Reform. \u201cAmericans for Financial Reform is proud to support the Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act, which would kick big Wall Street landlords out of our single-family homes.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nFollowing the 2008 housing crisis, large private equity firms and hedge funds bought substantial portfolios of foreclosed homes. In 2011, no single entity owned more than 1,000 single-family rental units. By 2022, large institutional investors and hedge funds owned roughly 700,000 single-family rental homes, and financial analysts have forecast that institutional ownership could reach 40 percent of all single-family rentals by 2030.\n\nA March 2026 Government Accountability Office study of six metro areas found that once homes enter the institutional market, they rarely return to families: in some regions, fewer than four in ten homes sold by institutional investors went to owner-occupants, with the rest cycling to other investors and corporate buyers. In the fastest-moving market GAO studied, institutional investors grew from 7 percent of single-family rentals to 22 percent in just six years.\n\nWhat the Bill Does\n\nThe Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act would:\n\nEstablish a tax penalty of 50 percent of the sale price for hedge funds purchasing additional single-family homes\n\nEliminate the depreciation and mortgage interest tax breaks that subsidize hedge fund homeownership\n\nRequire hedge funds to sell off their existing single-family home holdings over ten years \u2014 to families, not to other investment firms \u2014 with an annual penalty for failing to divest\n\nDirect penalty revenue toward down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers\n\nExempt nonprofits, government entities, and organizations that primarily build or rehabilitate single-family housing", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-applauds-21st-century-road-to-housing-act-becoming-law-secures-key-provisions-to-preserve-homeownership-and-generational-wealth", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Applauds 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Becoming Law, Secures Key Provisions to Preserve Homeownership and Generational Wealth", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement on the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act becoming law. The legislation includes two provisions championed by Congresswoman Williams: the Whole Home Repairs Act, which would provide essential home repair assistance to low- and moderate-income homeowners and small landlords, and a requirement for a federal survey on heirs properties based on the Congresswoman\u2019s HEIRS Act.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cDespite Trump\u2019s refusal to sign the most significant housing package in decades, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is now law. This legislation makes meaningful investments in families and communities and takes an important step toward addressing our nation\u2019s affordable housing crisis. I\u2019m especially proud that it includes two of my bipartisan bills\u2014the Heirs Property Preservation Act and the Whole-Home Repairs Act\u2014which will help families keep the homes they worked so hard to secure, preserve generational wealth, and continue closing the racial wealth gap.\n\nThis legislation is rightly called the ROAD to Housing Act because it is not the destination\u2014it is the beginning. It puts us on a path toward ensuring that everyone has a fair shot at the promise of America and the security and dignity that come with having a place to call home. No one\u2019s ZIP code or bank account should determine whether they can build wealth, put down roots, and thrive.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnsons-statement-uspto-selecting-georgia-hbcus-southeast", "Congressman Johnson's statement on USPTO selecting Georgia HBCUs for Southeast Community Engagement Office expansion", "2026-07-10", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet, released the following statement that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) selected Georgia for their Southeast Community Engagement Office expansion to include Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC\u2013Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College) and the Center for Black Entrepreneurship (CBE).\n\n\u201cAtlanta is internationally renowned as a hub for culture and creativity, and for technology and innovation, and I am delighted that the USTPO has selected Georgia\u2019s HBCUs and Center for Black Entrepreneurship for their Southeast Community Engagement Office,\u201d said Rep. Johnson. \u201cBut this is not an adequate replacement for the abandoned Atlanta Southeast Regional Outreach Office project, which was chosen according to explicit statutory vetting requirements. I call on the USPTO to serve the women, people of color, military veterans, and individual inventors in Southern communities and comply with governing law by establishing a regional outreach office outside of USPTO headquarters.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-11T07:10:48Z", "2026-07-11T07:14:29Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/07/08/mcbath-adams-introduce-landmark-legislation-to-address-extreme-temperatures-in-prisons/", "McBath, Adams Introduce Landmark Legislation to Address Extreme Temperatures in Prisons", "2026-07-08", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 This week, Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-6) and Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12),introduced the Extreme Temperatures Injustice in Prisons Act, landmark legislation to protect incarcerated people and prison staff from dangerous temperatures in facilities across the country managed by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).\n\nThis bill is a continuation of work that Congresswomen McBath and Adams began last year. In March 2026, they successfully launched a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to further understand how the BOP currently tracks and addresses instances of extreme temperatures in their facilities. They also sent a letter of inquiry to the BOP in August 2025 regarding current conditions in their facilities, which informed this bill. In their response letter, the BOP stated that 18,736 incarcerated individuals reported symptoms of heat-related illness and 42 were diagnosed with heat stroke between January 2022 and September 2025.\n\nExtreme temperatures inside federal prisons can pose life-threatening risks. Incarcerated individuals have limited ability to insulate themselves and staff face occupational hazards that are routinely unregulated. Many BOP facilities lack basic climate control, leaving people in cells where temperatures can reach deadly levels during record heat waves and winter freezes. The Extreme Temperatures Injustice in Prisons Act would establish the first comprehensive, mandatory federal standards to address this crisis.\n\n\u201cIncarcerated persons do not lose their rights to basic standards of living and safety in federal prison,\u201d Congresswoman McBath said. \u201cAs states across the country face record breaking temperatures this summer, it is common sense to require standardized installation and maintenance of HVAC systems in all federal prison facilities. This legislation is another important step towards improving our federal prison system.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe conditions in our federal prisons are unacceptable,\u201d said Congresswoman Adams. \u201cAcross all 122 BOP facilities, there are more than 138,000 incarcerated people and roughly 34,000 BOP employees who live and work in these conditions every day. No one should be forced to endure dangerous, life-threatening temperatures because of aging infrastructure. The federal government has both a moral and constitutional responsibility to maintain safe and humane conditions for those in its custody.\u201d\n\nThe Extreme Temperatures Injustice in Prisons Act will:\n\nAuthorize funding for climate control system installation and upgrades in all federal prisons within five years, with temperature monitors in every cell and workspace.\n\nSet clear health and safety standards for extreme heat and cold across work, recreational activities, and housing.\n\nDirect the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to research how extreme temperatures harm incarcerated individuals and staff and develop extra protections for elderly, pregnant, and immunocompromised individuals.\n\nProvide free cooling and warming supplies \u2014 like cold water, fans, warm clothing, and blankets \u2014 when temperatures reach dangerous levels.\n\nImplement accountability measures regarding staff training for recognizing and responding to heat and cold emergencies\n\nRequire regular public reports on HVAC progress, temperature-related illness and deaths, and annual safety inspections.\n\n\u201cIncarcerated individuals deserve to live in safe and humane conditions that are conducive to rehabilitation,\u201d said Kevin Hagan, Esq., Federal Legislative Affairs Director with FAMM (formerly Families Against Mandatory Minimums). \u201cUnfortunately, too many live in deplorable conditions, facing extreme temperatures that can prove to be life-threatening. FAMM is proud to endorse the Extreme Temperatures Injustice in Prisons Act. This much needed legislation is a step in the right direction towards accountability and reform within America\u2019s prisons.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs temperatures across the country rise to deadly levels, people in prisons are left without access to air conditioning and with few heat mitigation options,\u201d said Sarah Staudt, Director of Policy and Advocacy with Prison Policy Initiative. \u201cEven the most vulnerable are routinely forced to survive the sweltering conditions as best they can. Some will not make it.\u201d Staudt adds, \u201cPrison Policy Initiative strongly supports the Extreme Temperatures Injustice in Prisons Act. This urgently needed legislation will ensure that people in prisons have access to air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. Among other things, it also compels the Bureau of Prisons to regularly monitor the temperatures incarcerated people are forced to endure, to develop standards around heat and cold stress, and to ensure that people in federal prisons have access to potentially life-saving temperature mitigation options. Ultimately, a heatwave should not be a death sentence.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-09T08:24:13Z", "2026-07-09T08:26:05Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-judiciary-democrats-urge-judicial-conference-ban", "Congressman Johnson, Judiciary Democrats Urge Judicial Conference to Ban Prediction Market Participation for the Federal Judiciary", "2026-07-07", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Ranking Members Hank Johnson, Jamie Raskin Call for Strong Safeguards Against Insider Trading and Ethical Conflicts By Federal Judges, Clerks, And Staff\n\nWashington, D.C. (July 7, 2026) \u2014 Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Hank Johnson, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, sent a letter to the Honorable Robert J. Conrad Jr., Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, urging the Judicial Conference to prohibit federal judges, clerks, and judicial staff from participating in online prediction markets.\n\n\u201cFederal officials in all three branches of government often have advance knowledge of, if not direct influence or control over, the prospective outcome of a wager related to public policy events and decisions. It is no surprise that, in this setting, prediction markets appear rife with insider trading and other abuses,\u201d wrote the Ranking Members.\n\nThe growing use of prediction markets\u2014platforms that allow users to wager on future events\u2014poses serious ethical risks to the federal judiciary. These markets enable betting on matters directly related to the courts, including case outcomes, the length of judicial opinions, and even the timing of a Supreme Court Justice\u2019s retirement.\n\nPrediction markets such as Kalshi, Polymarket, and PredictIt currently operate largely outside of state gambling restrictions and, under the Trump Administration, have faced limited federal oversight. Because judges and court personnel may have access to nonpublic information or influence over judicial outcomes, their participation in such markets raises significant concerns about insider trading, conflicts of interest, and the appearance of impropriety.\n\nWhile existing judicial ethics rules may address some aspects of this conduct, a clear, categorical ban is needed to eliminate ambiguity and fully safeguard the integrity of the courts.\n\n\u201cWe respectfully urge the Judicial Conference to take prompt action to prohibit participation in prediction markets by the entire federal judiciary and their staff. Establishing this rule now will help protect the integrity of judicial decision-making, prevent the appearance of impropriety, and reinforce public confidence in the judicial branch,\u201d wrote the Ranking Members.\n\nJudiciary Democrats are calling on the Judicial Conference to act swiftly to implement a comprehensive prohibition on prediction market participation for all members of the federal judiciary and their staff.\n\nClick here to read the letter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-08T07:27:19Z", "2026-07-08T07:28:28Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnsons-statement-end-scotus-2025-2026-term", "Congressman Johnson\u2019s Statement on End of SCOTUS 2025-2026 Term", "2026-07-02", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts Ranking Member Hank Johnson Released the Following Statement at the Conclusion of the Supreme Court\u2019s Recent Term\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 \u201cAs America marks 250 years of independence from imperialist governance, with growing alarm we are witnessing the most activist Supreme Court in our nation\u2019s history, as it reshapes our democracy into a plutocracy.\n\n\u201cWhile this just-ended term brings a temporary pause to the Roberts Court\u2019s continued assault on Congressional authority, there can be no doubt that this Supreme Court will continue its power grab transition into a \u201csuper legislature\u201d, as it vests more and more power upon the most corrupt president in world history.\n\n\u201cMitch McConnell and the Federalist Society have built a Court that has upset the delicate system of checks and balances between the three co-equal branches of government, which has left democracy for all hanging by a thread.\n\n\u201cTo ensure the survival of American democracy, we must bring reform to a reckless and hyper-partisan United States Supreme Court. Calls for reforming the court with commonsense policies such as term limits, a binding and enforceable code of conduct and transparency and accountability measures will continue to grow as the 6-3 MAGA majority rush to remake our society and government in their pro-corporate, pro-authoritarian executive dogmatic vision.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-03T08:00:00Z", "2026-07-03T08:01:30Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-condemns-the-fbis-reassigning-of-field-agents-to-atlanta-to-investigate-the-2020-election-results-in-georgia", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Condemns the FBI\u2019s Reassigning of Field Agents to Atlanta to Investigate the 2020 Election Results in Georgia", "2026-07-02", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "ATLANTA \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) sent a congressional oversight letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel condemning reports of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\u2019s decision to reassign field agents from across the country to Atlanta to investigate the 2020 Election results in Georgia.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams wrote:\n\n\u201cThis is another dangerous diversion of resources from the FBI and Department of Justice\u2019s true mission, which is to make sure the American people are safe. This diversion is also playing into the dangerous lie that President Trump won the 2020 Presidential election.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis sweeping deployment of FBI agents and resources to Atlanta to investigate the 2020 election results is another troubling sign of a pattern in this administration to attempt to toss out, overturn, or cast doubt on election results that do not fit partisan narratives.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis new redeployment of FBI field agents to Atlanta to investigate the 2020 Presidential lection not only represents a massive waste of taxpayer dollars, but also represents a shift in focus in the work that the FBI normally does to make Americans safer. I condemn these efforts in the strongest possible terms and oppose the Department of Justice putting the American people\u2019s safety at risk by taking away our country\u2019s agents to assist in the President\u2019s witch hunt.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, Congresswoman Nikema Williams requested answers to the following questions:\n\nHow much does this massive redeployment of FBI field agents to Atlanta cost taxpayers?\n\nWhat particular aspects of the 2020 Presidential election have you assigned the field agents to investigate?\n\nFrom which divisions, projects, and priorities are these field agents being diverted?\n\nHas the Department of Justice informed local election officials of the FBI field agents\u2019 presence?\n\nDoes your office plan to brief the House Administration and House Judiciary Committees of this new redeployment?\n\nDoes your office plan to disclose the results of this new investigation effort to the House Administration and House Judiciary committees in either a public hearing or a closed door briefing?", 1, "2026-07-04T07:41:55Z", "2026-07-04T07:42:45Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/icymi-congresswoman-nikema-williams-legislation-to-keep-family-homes-in-the-family-passes-unanimously-out-of-committee", "ICYMI: Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 Legislation to Keep Family Homes in the Family Passes Unanimously Out of Committee", "2026-07-02", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Tuesday, the Heirs\u2019 Estate Inheritance Resolution and Succession (HEIRS) Act advanced out of the Financial Services Committee. The HEIRS Act, led by Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), incentivizes states to adopt the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act and provides grant funds for legal assistance for heirs\u2019 property owners to clear title.\n\nA requirement for a federal survey on heirs properties based on Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 HEIRS Act was included in the bicameral, bipartisan 21st Century Road to Housing Act.\n\nVideo of amendment remarks and Vote:\n\n\u201cAcross this country, millions of families: Black families, Indigenous families, rural, Appalachian, and farming communities \u2014 are sitting on land they cannot sell, cannot borrow against, and cannot fully call their own.\u201d \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) on the introduction of the HEIRS Act:\n\n\u201cBlack families face numerous barriers that are intentionally designed to make transferring heirs\u2019 property difficult. I\u2019ve experienced this firsthand, as my family\u2019s land in rural Alabama was informally passed down through generations, including to me. After our property taxes increased, we had to plan how to protect our land, and eventually, we made it work. For far too many Black families, their story doesn\u2019t end that way. This legislative package will equip families with the resources necessary to ensure the family home stays in the family, that assets are legally protected, and help create generational wealth to ultimately close the racial wealth gap.\u201d\n\nThe HEIR Act has received endorsements from the American Land Title Association, Land Loss Prevention Project, National Association of Counties, National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Council of State Community Development Agencies, National Community Development Association, National Community Stabilization Trust, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Fair Housing Alliance, National Housing Law Project, National Housing Resource Center, National Low Income Housing Coalition, and the Texas Appleseed Disaster Recovery and Fair Housing Project.\n\nThe U.S. Department of Agriculture has recognized heirs\u2019 property as the leading cause of Black involuntary land loss, having contributed to land loss ranging from 4.7 million to 16 million acres over the last hundred years. Heirs\u2019 property is estimated to make up more than a third of Southern Black-owned land \u2014 3.5 million acres, worth more than $28 billion.\n\nIf enacted, the HEIR Act would permit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist heirs\u2019 property owners with obtaining clear legal title to their properties as part of HUD\u2019s homeownership counseling services. It would also allow alternate forms of ownership documentation to be shown when applying for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency already allows alternate forms of ownership documentation for those applying for disaster relief.\n\nTo read the full text of the HEIR Act, click here.", 1, "2026-07-04T07:41:55Z", "2026-07-04T07:42:45Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-sanford-bishop-and-austin-scott-highlight-their-bipartisan-ocmulgee-mounds-bill-at-house-subcommittee-hearing", "Reps. Sanford Bishop and Austin Scott Highlight Their Bipartisan Ocmulgee Mounds Bill at House Subcommittee Hearing", "2026-07-01", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "PHOTO: Congressman Bishop and Congressman Scott with the Macon-Bibb Delegation at the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee Hearing on July 1\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) and Austin Scott (GA-08) testified before the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands regarding their bill, H.R. 9416, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park Redesignation Act. H.R. 9416 continues a more than decade long, but steady and combined effort of local, state, and federal leaders to create Georgia\u2019s first National Park and more closely realize the original vision for this historic and cultural treasure which will also bring more visitors and jobs to Middle Georgia.\n\n\u201cAs our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday this Saturday, it is vital that we preserve and protect our ancient history, including the stories of the indigenous peoples who lived here long before July 4, 1776,\u201d said Congressman Bishop. \u201cOur bill today represents a small, albeit meaningful, step forward that will strengthen Ocmulgee and ensure that its cultural and religious sites are protected now and into the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Georgia's 8th Congressional District, and across the state, the Ocmulgee Mounds are a source of deep pride. Just as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone reflect the heritage of their regions, the Ocmulgee River corridor represents one of the most important cultural landscapes in the Southeast. By redesignating the Ocmulgee Mounds as a National Park, we can ensure that this extraordinary history is recognized at the national level and shared with visitors from across the country and around the world. I\u2019m proud of the bipartisan work that has brought us to this point, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to move this legislation all the way to President Trump's desk and establish Georgia's first national park,\u201d said Congressman Scott.\n\nWATCH: Congressman Bishop\u2019s Testimony and Congressman Scott\u2019s Testimony\n\nThe area is the ancestral home of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and has been inhabited continuously by humans for over 12,000 years. American Indians first arrived in the area during the Paleo-Indian Period hunting Ice Age mammals. Around 900 CE, the Mississippian Period began, and Muskogean people constructed mounds for meeting, living, burial, agricultural, and other purposes, many of which remain today and would be encompassed in the new U.S. National Park and Preserve.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-02T06:20:02Z", "2026-07-02T06:21:32Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-announces-20-million-in-grants-to-help-georgia-longleaf-pine-forests", "Congressman Bishop Announces $20 Million In Grants to Help Georgia Longleaf Pine Forests", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) announced that the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is awarding $20 million for projects that will restore and protect longleaf pine forests in Georgia.\n\n\u201cLongleaf pine forests are part of Georgia\u2019s natural heritage, and restoring them means healthier working lands, stronger wildlife habitat, cleaner water, and a more resilient rural economy for the families who live and work here,\u201d said Congressman Bishop. \u201cGeorgia\u2019s forest industry supports more than 140,000 jobs and contributes billions of dollars to the state\u2019s economy, so investments like these are not just about conservation, they are also about protecting livelihoods, communities, and a way of life. This funding will help landowners, farmers, and foresters voluntarily care for their land while keeping it productive for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe grants are part of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation\u2019s 2026 Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund, a public-private partnership supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and private partners. The grants will fund 25 projects covering Georgia and surrounding states. These projects are expected to establish more than 30,000 acres of new longleaf pine and improve another 350,000 acres through prescribed burning, private landowner assistance, wildlife habitat improvements, seedling production, and at-risk species recovery. In Georgia, this work is especially important as communities continue recovering from Hurricane Helene, which damaged forestland across the state and increased the need for replanting, forest health treatments, and responsible fuel-load reduction to help protect landowners, forestry businesses, and nearby communities.\n\nThe longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the most biologically diverse forest systems in North America. The Natural Resources Conservation Service has designated the Longleaf Pine Range as one of the country\u2019s Critical Conservation Areas because of degraded plant conditions, inadequate habitat, and water quality degradation. Restoring and maintaining these forests can help Georgia communities by protecting water resources, improving wildlife habitat, supporting outdoor recreation, strengthening working forest markets, and making forests more resilient after major storms.\n\nThe Trump Administration\u2019s recent Forest Service budget requests have proposed eliminating funding for the State, Private, and Tribal Forestry account, which helps states, tribes, communities, and private landowners sustain forests and grasslands, protect communities from wildland fire, and restore fire-adapted ecosystems. These programs support the kind of technical assistance, forest health work, landowner outreach, prescribed fire support, wildfire planning, and rural fire capacity that are needed after major storms such as Hurricane Helene. Cutting them would make it harder for landowners and rural communities to replant damaged forestland, reduce wildfire risks, protect forestry businesses, and carry out the same locally led conservation work supported by these grants.\n\nAs Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Congressman Bishop has long championed the conservation, forestry, and working lands programs that help farmers and rural communities care for their land while keeping it productive. He will continue working to protect the federal investments and partnerships that support Georgia landowners, strengthen rural economies, conserve wildlife habitat, and preserve working forests for future generations.\n\nMore information about the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund and the 2026 grant slate is available through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-01T06:34:07Z", "2026-07-01T06:35:35Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/subcommittee-ranking-member-johnsons-opening-statement-subcommittee", "Subcommittee Ranking Member Johnson\u2019s Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing on Protecting Creators in the Age of AI and the Internet", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. (June 30, 2026)\u2014 Today, Rep. Hank Johnson, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, delivered opening remarks at a subcommittee hearing on how to address piracy, copyright theft, and privacy challenges in the age of artificial intelligence, when creators are increasingly being exploited as AI companies use their work without consent or compensation.\n\nBelow are Ranking Member Johnson\u2019s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at today\u2019s hearing.\n\nWATCH Ranking Member Johnson\u2019s opening statement.\n\nRanking Member Hank Johnson\n\nSubcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet\n\nHearing on \u201cA Midlife Crisis? IP and the Internet After 40\u201d\n\nJune 30, 2026\n\nWhen the modern internet was born in January of 1983, many considered it just another Department of Defense project for the military. But thanks to taxpayer funding, the United States was able to partner with research universities and eventually private companies to harness this innovation for use by the general public. Over its first 10 years, the internet evolved from an application to compete with the Soviets to a place to conduct business, to where we communicate with others, and even to a medium for artistic expression.\n\nToday, it\u2019s hard for many of us to imagine a world without new recipes at our fingertips, instant news updates, or pictures of our friends and family on our social media newsfeeds. Good or bad is no longer the question\u2014the Internet is inescapable in modern society. This is quickly becoming the same with generative artificial intelligence, which has been adopted by businesses and consumers alike in just a few short years. Even with widespread adoption of transformative technology, it is imperative that we continue to protect rightsholders when technology is used to steal intellectual property, defraud consumers, and increase inequality.\n\nProducts available online from a trusted website can seem identical to those at brick-and-mortar stores, but instead are produced with harmful chemicals or contain dangerous malware. These nearly identical knockoffs can damage your favorite brand\u2019s reputation and harm their ability to stay in business. Websites that miraculously have Project Hail Mary streaming for free really are too good to be true. And that product with Tom Hanks in the commercial may not have actually been endorsed by Tom Hanks, just a replica created with AI.\n\nSome of these may seem harmless at first glance. But they matter to me and my constituents. Film and TV spending in Georgia, the Hollywood of the South, hit $4.4 billion in 2022, with 412 productions. But increased costs have devastated our film and TV market. Spending was down to $2.3 billion in the last fiscal year, with just 245 productions. Our writers and actors need jobs to keep creating, and market changes have made that all the more difficult to achieve. Across creative industries, innovators from writers and software developers to musicians and painters, are watching their works used to train AI models for free while the barrier to entry gets higher and higher.\n\nIf Congress\u2019s role today is to play armchair psychologist to the internet\u2019s midlife crisis, it is imperative we view harms to creators as the symptom of a more pernicious disease. The question we should be asking ourselves is: Are the innovations before us serving the American people? Or do they exclusively benefit a small handful of the wealthiest, most powerful corporations and individuals in human history?\n\nGeorgia\u2019s 11-million-plus residents have a median household income of just under 82-thousand-dollars. Mark Zuckerberg is worth 220 billion dollars as of December 2025. Groceries in Georgia were found to be the 11th highest in the country earlier this month. Elon Musk just became the world\u2019s first trillionaire. Homes in 79 percent of Georgia counties are considered unaffordable for the average worker. Jeff Bezos just spent an estimated nearly 50 million dollars on his wedding.\n\nAmericans are clearly facing an affordability crisis. The price of everyday consumer devices such as your laptops and computers have climbed an estimated 15 to 25 percent. Data centers are driving up utility costs, straining the grid, and degrading the quality of the everyday appliances families depend on, like our air conditioning and heating systems. Senior citizens are having to choose between paying their utility bills and their prescriptions.\n\nTechnological innovations, while miraculous, are no help if everyone can\u2019t enjoy the benefits. We can do this by meaningfully deploying technology in a way that uplifts us all. This means acknowledging creators as a key part of the ecosystem that is building AI and compensating them as such. This means enacting protections for American workers, building responsibly, and deploying equitably.\n\nI look forward to hearing from the witnesses how we can better protect America\u2019s artists, innovators, and the creative fields. I thank Chairman Issa for holding this important hearing, and I yield back the balance of my time.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-01T06:34:07Z", "2026-07-01T06:35:35Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/06/30/mcbath-scott-omar-investigate-nlrb-general-counsels-potential-conflicts-of-interest/", "McBath, Scott, Omar Investigate NLRB General Counsel\u2019s Potential Conflicts of Interest", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06), Ranking Member Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) are questioning National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel Crystal S. Carey about potential conflicts of interest and improper influence in cases against companies accused of violating the law.\n\nThe request follows Carey\u2019s appearance before the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions (HELP), in which she admitted that she is no longer recusing herself from cases involving her former clients, despite making a commitment to do so during her Senate confirmation process.\n\nIn addition to walking back her commitment to these recusals, the Members highlighted concerning reports that the NLRB is taking actions that appear to benefit the clients of General Counsel Carey\u2019s former employer, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP (Morgan Lewis), as well as allies of President Trump.\n\nAccording to Bloomberg Businessweek, in April 2026, General Counsel Carey\u2019s office offered Amazon, a client of Morgan Lewis, a unilateral settlement that would allow the company to continue to evade accountability at the expense of its workers. And just last week, there was another report that the NLRB approved another settlement of a case that alleged Amazon was a joint employer of delivery drivers just a day prior to Carey\u2019s appearance before the Committee.\n\nThe Members also raised concerns over General Counsel Carey\u2019s commitment to enforce workers\u2019 rights, \u201cThe combination of advantageous enforcement actions for certain companies and your reversal on recusals after being sworn in as General Counsel raises additional concerns about the potential for improper influence in the prosecution of NLRB cases\u2026As the General Counsel of the NLRB, you are the only avenue for workers to enforce their rights under the NLRA as there is no private right of action. If you or your office intervenes to benefit a company, workers are without any recourse,\u201d wrote the Members.\n\nThe Members are requesting answers regarding General Counsel Carey\u2019s potential conflicts of interest and communications with employers and their lawyers regarding NLRB cases no later than July 13, 2026.", 1, "2026-07-01T06:34:07Z", "2026-07-01T06:35:35Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/06/29/mcbath-co-leads-colleagues-in-calling-for-study-on-post-secondary-outcomes-for-students-with-disabilities/", "McBath Co-Leads Colleagues in Calling for Study on Post-Secondary Outcomes for Students with Disabilities", "2026-06-29", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Representative Lucy McBath (GA-06), alongside Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that the Trump-Vance Administration conduct a study to help improve post-secondary outcomes for American students with disabilities. The letter comes shortly after the Administration announced it will further dismantle the Department of Education by shifting the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a move that will make it more difficult for families to ensure that children with disabilities get the appropriate education they are entitled to under federal law.\n\n\u201cWe write to ask that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine how states and local school districts are implementing post-secondary transition services for youth with disabilities served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act) as amended by Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA),\u201d wrote the Members. \u201cTransition services are defined by law as a coordinated set of activities that support movement from school to post-school life, representing one of the most consequential supports for determining long-term outcomes of youth with disabilities.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile federal law has been amended over time to improve the quality of services provided in each state, data continues to show that these services are inconsistently administered and insufficiently studied, leaving millions of students unprepared for life after high school,\u201d the Members continued.\n\n\u201cWe deeply appreciate GAO\u2019s previous work analyzing services that help students with disabilities transition from school to work and believe this inquiry would provide critical insight into how to raise expectations and improve post-school outcomes for students with disabilities nationwide.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, Representative McBath has fought for every student with a disability\u2019s right to a high-quality public education. In September 2025, Representative McBath introduced the Protecting Students with Disabilities Act with other Democratic Members of the Education and Workforce Committee to ensure that special education programs at the Department of Education continue without interruption. Last July, McBath introduced the Charting My Path to Future Success Act which would restore an abruptly canceled federal program that was helping students with disabilities graduate high school and succeed in adulthood in Paulding County and other high schools around the country. She is also the lead sponsor of legislation to ensure that every public school district can retain and recruit the paraprofessionals and other special education staff that families need.\n\nMcBath led her Democratic colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in sending a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought strongly condemning and urging the Trump Administration to rescind their decision to lay off federal employees dedicated to the education and support of students with disabilities and their families.\n\nMcBath is also a cosponsor of the IDEA Full Funding Act, legislation that would ensure Congress fulfills its commitment to fully fund special education programs though IDEA. This work continues Congresswoman McBath\u2019s years-long fight to ensure that every family, no matter where they live or how much money they make, has access to an education that will set them up for a successful future\u2014regardless of their child\u2019s disability.", 1, "2026-06-30T06:29:10Z", "2026-06-30T06:30:42Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-co-introduces-resolution-calling-reforms-protect", "Congressman Johnson Co-Introduces Resolution Calling for Reforms to Protect Democracy", "2026-06-26", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 This week, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee over Federal Courts, joined leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) in announcing a new House resolution calling for reforms to restore voting rights in the wake of the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Louisiana v. Callais that eviscerated the Voting Rights Act of 1965.\n\n\u201cAt this 250-year mark of the beginning of American democracy, we see democracy under attack,\u201d said Rep. Johnson. \u201cWe see democracy for all under attack. There cannot be democracy in this country for just a privileged few. Democracy must exist for us all. Unfortunately, it's the United States Supreme Court that's leading the movement to deconstruct our democracy, and it must be reformed.\u201d\n\nThe resolution calls for the House to adopt legislation to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and \u2013 when Democrats retake the majority in the House \u2013 the elimination of the 60-vote threshold in the Senate and enactment of fundamental reforms to the Supreme Court.\n\nThe resolution also raises the alarm about a years-long campaign by the Supreme Court\u2019s rightwing majority to undermine minority representation nationwide and highlights the threat that the Court\u2019s far-right majority poses to Congressional efforts to advance workers\u2019 rights, curb executive power, and combat corruption.\n\nThe resolution is co-led by Rep. Johnson (GA-4), CPC Chair Greg Casar (TX-35), CBC Chair Yvette Clarke (NY-9), CHC Chair Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and CAPAC Chair Grace Meng (NY-6).\n\nSUPPORTING GROUPS: Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), Demand Justice, Democracy for America Advocacy Fund, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), End Citizens United, Everybody Votes Campaign, Free Speech For People, Greenpeace USA, Indivisible, Japanese American Citizens League, Lawyers for the Rule of Law, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, National Organization for Women, NCNW, OCA-Greater Los Angeles Chapter, Organized Power In Numbers, Progressive Caucus Action Fund, Public Citizen, Reproductive Freedom for All, Secure Elections Network, Stand Up America, Take Back the Court Action Fund, TakeItBack.org, The African American Policy Forum, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, and Voto Latino.\n\nDemocrats, led by Rep. Johnson, have proposed a variety of structural changes to the Supreme Court including: establishing a binding code of judicial ethics for Supreme Court justices, imposing the $50 Congressional gift ban on Supreme Court justices, reform of the shadow docket and Certiorari process, 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices, and expanding the Supreme Court to match the number of federal judicial circuits.\n\nA full copy of the resolution can be found here. Members announced the resolution at a press conference that can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/06/25/mcbath-gun-violence-prevention-task-force-host-press-conference-marking-4-years-of-bipartisan-safer-communities-act/", "McBath, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Host Press Conference Marking 4 Years of Bipartisan Safer Communities Act", "2026-06-25", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Atlanta, GA \u2014 With the arrival of severe weather threats during the summer months, Rep. Lucy McBath is...\n\nAtlanta, GA \u2014 Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) and her office have received the 2026 Democracy Award for \u201cBest...\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Last night, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) hosted an interactive Telephone Town Hall event...\n\nBy Max Rego The Hill Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) on Tuesday renewed her push for legislation expanding red...\n\nWashington, DC \u2013 Today, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) hosted a Spotlight...\n\nWashington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) led...\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and...\n\nATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) \u2014 Georgia\u2019s two U.S. senators and congressmembers representing Fulton County want...\n\nBy Irene Wright NORCROSS, GA (USA Today) \u2013 \"Hey, everybody. I'm grateful to be here.\" Rodney Taylor,...", 1, "2026-06-26T06:29:35Z", "2026-06-26T06:31:46Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-bill-to-expand-internet-access-in-homes-across-the-country-2", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Bill to Expand Internet Access in Homes Across the Country", "2026-06-25", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced the Home Internet Accessibility Act. Congresswoman Williams previously introduced this bill in the 117th and 118th Congress.\n\nPeople rely on high-speed Internet for work, learning, and connecting with the community. The Home Internet Accessibility Act will gather information on all federally assisted housing that lacks the capacity to support broadband service and will task the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with producing an action plan, including retrofitting homes, to close Internet service gaps across our country.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams said:\n\n\u201cIn today\u2019s economy, reliable high-speed internet isn\u2019t a luxury, it\u2019s essential infrastructure\u2014it\u2019s a necessity. Families need it to work, students need it to learn, patients need it to access health care, and small businesses need it to compete. Yet far too many communities\u2014especially Black, Brown, rural, and low-income neighborhoods\u2014are still being left behind. My constituents have made it clear: too many families face unnecessary barriers simply trying to get connected at home. We cannot close the digital divide if we don\u2019t know where it exists. The Home Internet Accessibility Act will give us the data we need to identify connectivity gaps, expand broadband access, and ensure every family has a fair shot at the opportunities of the digital economy\u2014no matter their ZIP code or bank account.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: American Library Association, LeadingAge, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and the National Affordable Housing Management Association\n\nDale Royal, Executive Director, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Atlanta said:\n\n\u201cLISC Applauds the introduction of the Home Internet Accessibility Act. Affordable, reliable home internet is essential to enabling working families to prosper. Addressing access gaps in federally assisted housing is a cost-effective solution to expand opportunities for millions of households across the country.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the text of the Home Internet Accessibility Act.", 1, "2026-06-26T06:29:35Z", "2026-06-26T06:31:46Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/reps-williams-mcgarvey-lead-democrats-from-abortion-ban-states-to-demand-end-to-growing-criminalization-of-miscarriages", "Reps. Williams, McGarvey Lead Democrats from Abortion Ban States to Demand End to Growing Criminalization of Miscarriages", "2026-06-24", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Reps. Nikema Williams (GA-05) and Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) led lawmakers representing states with severely restrictive or near-total abortion bans in a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding the growing criminalization of miscarriages across the country.\n\nSince the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, prosecutors and law enforcement agencies have increasingly treated pregnancy loss as a potential crime rather than a deeply personal medical tragedy.\n\nDuring the first two years after Dobbs, prosecutors across the country filed more than 400 criminal charges related to pregnancy, pregnancy loss, or birth, and 15 states have maintained century-old criminal bans related to \u201cconcealing\u201d a pregnancy loss.\n\nThe letter highlights recent cases where women were criminally charged after a stillbirth or miscarriage, including a 24-year-old in Georgia and a 26-year-old in Nevada.\n\nMembers wrote:\n\n\u201cThese cases are not isolated. They show a national pattern where miscarriage is treated as intentional, and individuals are subjected to criminal investigation and prosecution for events that are unavoidable and naturally occurring.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, lawmakers warn of a growing climate of fear where \u201cpatients are afraid to seek medical care, physicians are afraid to provide it, and families are caught in the crosshairs of politicized enforcement.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo one should be afraid to go to jail during what could be one of the most devastating moments of their life,\u201d the Members concluded. \u201cNo family should face police interrogation when experiencing a health crisis.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter to Secretary Kennedy and Acting Attorney General Blanche here.", 1, "2026-06-25T06:30:03Z", "2026-06-25T06:31:21Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-sen-hirono-push-judiciary-be-more-open-accountable", "Congressman Johnson, Sen. Hirono Push Judiciary To Be More Open, Accountable", "2026-06-23", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Courts Subcommittee Ranking Member Introduces Open Meetings Act to Bring More Transparency to Judicial Conference\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee over Federal Courts, introduced the Open Meetings Act, a bill that would require Judicial Conference meetings to be more open and accessible to the American people.\n\nSen. Mazie Hirono (HI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the Senate companion.\n\nBill text here.\n\nThe Open Meetings Act would require the Judicial Conference to: provide public notice of any meeting 30 days beforehand \u2014 including the agenda \u2014 require audio of meetings be livestreamed that are accessible to the public without charge or registration \u2014 and published on the internet \u2014 and mandate that if the Judicial Conference wishes to have a closed session, it must state the reason for closing meetings to the public.\n\nThe Judicial Conference is the national policymaking body for the federal court system. Established by Congress, it sets guidelines for court administration, oversees the rules of practice and procedure, and advises Congress on legislation affecting the judiciary.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s no reason these meetings should be so secretive,\u201d said Rep. Johnson. \u201cAmericans have lost faith in the Roberts Court. This crisis of confidence is in part because of the perception of partisan politics, dark money in the court system, and blatant ethical violations. If Chief Justice Roberts is consulting AI companies before issuing rules for AI evidence, Americans deserve to know. If the Judicial Conference is going to change gift rules to make it easier for conservative groups to invest in cases, Americans deserve to know. Opening their proceedings to the public can help them regain the trust that\u2019s been eviscerated over the past three decades.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe federal judiciary is a key pillar of our constitutional system of government,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAmericans need to have confidence that the judiciary is beholden only to the law and not to any ideological agendas or special interests. By requiring meetings of the judiciary\u2019s policymaking and administrative arm to be open to the public by default, this commonsense bill will help increase transparency and support that confidence.\u201d\n\nWHAT THE GROUPS ARE SAYING\n\n\u201cAdministrative bodies within the judiciary, including circuit-based judicial councils and the Judicial Conference's two dozen committees, make consequential decisions on ethics, disclosure, case management and IT policies when they meet, and there's no justification for excluding the public entirely from these proceedings,\u201d Fix the Court Executive Director Gabe Roth said. \u201cI commend Rep. Johnson and Sen. Hirono for introducing legislation to improve public access to them while recognizing that closed sessions may at times be necessary to address sensitive matters. FTC is proud to support this good-government initiative to promote greater transparency in the traditionally insulated third branch.\u201d\n\n\u201cTransparency is a keystone to legitimacy. This is why court proceedings are open and why this bill is so important. The open policymaking this bill creates will build trust in the system at a time when it needs it most.\u201d \u2013 Free Law Project, a non-profit working to make the legal space more equitable and competitive\n\nCOSPONSORS\n\nSteve Cohen (TN-09), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Delia C Ramirez (IL-03), Shri Thanedar (MI-13).\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-legislation-to-help-build-credit-and-increase-access-to-homeownership", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Legislation to Help Build Credit and Increase Access to Homeownership", "2026-06-18", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) reintroduced the Expanding Access to Credit through Consumer-Permissioned Data Act. The legislation would increase access to homeownership by tasking lenders\u2014at the request of applicants\u2013to consider financial data that historically is not included in credit scores, such as rental payment history, bank statement information, and pay stubs. Considering this data would help individuals who are credit invisible to have a fairer opportunity to buy a home.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve been unbanked. I know what it\u2019s like to work hard, pay your bills, and do everything right, only to have the financial system tell you that you don\u2019t qualify.\n\nToday, I\u2019m a homeowner, and I\u2019m committed to making sure others have the same opportunity. If someone can show they\u2019re a responsible borrower, they shouldn\u2019t be locked out of homeownership because they lack a traditional credit score.\n\nHomeownership is one of the most powerful tools we have to build generational wealth and close the racial wealth gap. My legislation will expand access to homeownership by recognizing financial responsibility wherever it\u2019s found, helping more families secure the promise of America and build lasting wealth for future generations.\u201d\n\n32 million Americans, disproportionately people of color and low income borrowers, are locked out of homeownership despite paying rent and bills on time, simply because that financial behavior isn\u2019t captured in traditional credit scores. This bill gives those borrowers a way to put their real financial history in front of a lender and have it actually count.\n\nThe Expanding Access to Credit through Consumer-Permissioned Data Act is co-sponsored by Congresswomen Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Alma Adams (NC-12) and Gwen Moore (WI-04).\n\nThe Expanding Access to Credit through Consumer-Permissioned Data Act is endorsed by the Consumer Federation of America and National Consumer Law Center.\n\nClick here to read the text of the Expanding Access to Credit through Consumer-Permissioned Data Act.", 1, "2026-06-19T06:50:32Z", "2026-06-19T06:53:40Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/06/16/mcbath-encourages-georgians-to-prepare-for-severe-weather/", "McBath Encourages Georgians to Prepare for Severe Weather", "2026-06-16", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Atlanta, GA \u2014 With the arrival of severe weather threats during the summer months, Rep. Lucy McBath is encouraging residents in Georgia to be prepared. Alongside meteorologist Jim Cantore, McBath recorded her sixth annual public service announcement advising Georgians to plan, prepare, and practice for severe storms and weather. This year\u2019s announcement featuring McBath and Cantore will air on The Weather Channel this summer.\n\nView the PSA by clicking here or on the image below:\n\n\u201cIn recent years, Georgia has experienced the devastating impact of unexpected severe weather,\u201d McBath said. \u201cI am proud to once again team up with Jim Cantore and The Weather Channel to help keep weather emergency preparedness at the top of mind for families in my district and across Georgia. I want to thank Jim, The Weather Channel, and all meteorologists in local news stations and in our government who work to keep communities prepared, informed, and safe.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/06/16/rep-lucy-mcbath-receives-2026-democracy-award-for-best-of-bipartisan-collaboration/", "Rep. Lucy McBath Receives 2026 Democracy Award for Best of Bipartisan Collaboration", "2026-06-16", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Atlanta, GA \u2014 Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) and her office have received the 2026 Democracy Award for \u201cBest of Bipartisan Collaboration\u201d by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF). This is the second CMF award McBath has won, with her office receiving the \u201cBest of Constituent Service\u201d award in 2024.\n\nThe award honors the representative\u2019s fostering bipartisan relationships and collaboration on behalf of Georgia. The Best of Bipartisan Collaboration category recognizes offices that foster bipartisan relationships and collaboration to achieve positive outcomes and advance effective governance. McBath has led 12 pieces of legislation into law since coming to Congress in 2019.\n\n\u201cWorking well with both parties has always been central to how I serve the people of Georgia in Congress. Too often, people expect Washington to be stuck in conflict, but I believe real progress is possible when colleagues on both sides work together to deliver for our neighbors,\u201d said Rep. McBath. \u201cIt has been a priority for my office to build the trust needed to find solutions that help our constituents. I am honored to receive this recognition from the Congressional Management Foundation, and I thank my staff for their hard work in building these relationships on behalf of those we serve.\u201d\n\n\u201cEffective bipartisan collaboration requires more than a willingness to work together\u2014it requires trust, persistence, and a commitment to finding common ground where progress is possible. What distinguished Rep. McBath\u2019s office was not simply a willingness to work across the aisle, but a sustained commitment to doing so. By building relationships, establishing credibility, and focusing on shared goals, the office demonstrated how bipartisan collaboration can translate into meaningful results and more effective governing,\u201d said Jen Daulby, CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation.\n\nThe Congressional Management Foundation is the premier bipartisan foundation dedicated to strengthening the first branch of government. The Democracy Awards are CMF\u2019s signature program recognizing the best in congressional non-legislative achievements.", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-ambassador-andrew-young-the-right-to-vote-and-fair-representation-is-worth-fighting-for-again", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams & Ambassador Andrew Young: \u201cThe Right to Vote and Fair Representation is Worth Fighting for \u2014 Again\u201d", "2026-06-16", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "As published by the Atlanta Journal Constitution:\n\nOn April 29, the U.S. Supreme Court dismantled the Voting Rights Act, setting off a wave of attacks on Black representation and Black communities\u2019 ability to elect Black leaders across the South.\n\nIn the court case of Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court ruled that the drawing of a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana to remedy previous racial gerrymandering constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.\n\nThe Supreme Court also ruled that to prove racial gerrymandering, the plaintiff must prove racial intent and must \u201cdisentangle\u201d racial intent from partisan motives.\n\nThis essentially gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, by making it much harder for Black voters to prove racial gerrymandering.\n\nSouthern \u2018domino effect\u2019\n\nWhat followed was a domino effect of Southern states attempting to silence Black voters.\n\nFlorida passed its redrawn map and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the map into law on May 4. Tennessee\u2019s new map, which eliminated their only majority Black congressional district, was signed into law on May 7. Louisiana drew a new map with only one majority Black congressional district and was signed into law on May 29. On June 2, the Supreme Court ruled that Alabama could move forward with a congressional district map containing only one majority-Black district instead of its current two.\n\nOn May 13, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp called state lawmakers back for a special session to redraw our own state\u2019s congressional and state legislative district lines. The special session begins in the Georgia State Capitol on Wednesday and we could have new, racist maps signed into law on Juneteenth itself.\n\nThis is not a Southern issue or a Black issue; it impacts us all. An attack on Black political power threatens democracy for everyone. Right now, they are targeting Black representation in the South, but tomorrow it could be a blue district in any state.\n\n\u2018This is our Civil Rights Movement\u2019\n\nIf you have ever wondered what you would\u2019ve done during the Civil Rights Movement, now is the time to find out.\n\nThis is our Civil Rights Movement.\n\nSo, why are Republicans doing this now? Because they\u2019re taking advantage of a Supreme Court filled with Trump yes-men who are willing to go directly against law and precedent to create policies that suit Trump\u2019s agenda \u2014 a deeply unpopular agenda. And Republicans know how unpopular it is.\n\nAlmost half of all Americans feel they\u2019re worse off financially than they were last year. Republicans let Affordable Care Act subsidies expire and increased healthcare costs for millions across the country. Working families are paying the cost of Trump\u2019s illegal war on Iran at the gas pump. And a majority of Americans feel like Trump\u2019s violent ICE has gone too far.\n\nRepublicans know their agenda is unpopular. So, they\u2019re attacking the right to vote.\n\nThe attack isn\u2019t limited to our congressional district lines. Republicans have engaged in a broader effort to restrict access to the ballot box and undermine confidence in our elections.\n\nThey have spread disinformation about candidates and election results, raided the Fulton County Election Hub and Operations Center to stoke fear, attacked mail-in voting, and threatened to put ICE at voting locations.\n\n\u2018We have fought this fight before\u2019\n\nThe fight for the Voting Rights Act and the modern day attacks show that the fight for democracy never ends but evolves.\n\nRather than limiting people\u2019s ability to vote and elect leaders who represent them, we should be strengthening and protecting these rights. Congress should pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act.\n\nCongress should also pass one of the most comprehensive voting rights legislative packages in congressional history, which I, Congresswoman Nikema Williams, introduced this Congress. This legislation would address every aspect of voting, voter registration and election administration to ensure that every eligible voter who wants to participate in a federal election can do so with confidence that their vote will be counted.\n\nWe must also pass the Freedom to Vote Act, which would create broad opportunities to vote before and on Election Day, make Election Day a holiday, expand voter protections to underserved communities and ban partisan gerrymandering nationwide.\n\nOur friend and fellow Fighting Fifth Representative, Congressman John Lewis told us, \u201cOurs is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part.\u201d\n\nThe struggle to pass the Voting Rights Act, the struggle for Black representation in Congress, the struggle for fair representation is alive and well ahead of Georgia\u2019s special session to redistrict.\n\nIf you care about healthcare, affordability, the environment, civil rights, or whatever issue keeps you up at night, then you should care about voting rights.\n\nWe have fought this fight before, and we will fight it again. The battle for fair representation takes place in Congress, in the courts and in our communities. Georgia\u2019s future of congressional representation is at stake. Voters should choose who will represent them \u2014 not the other way around.", 1, "2026-06-17T06:49:24Z", "2026-06-17T06:50:53Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-pride-act-to-promote-lgbtq-financial-inclusion", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces PRIDE Act to Promote LGBTQ+ Financial Inclusion", "2026-06-11", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) reintroduced the Promoting Responsive Inclusion and Diverse Engagement (PRIDE) Act, a bill that ensures equal access to financial services and inclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals in the financial services industry. This legislation strengthens diversity within federal financial agencies by expanding their existing Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion to include the LGBTQ+ community.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cAt a time when the Trump administration is dismantling DEI initiatives across the federal government, we must continue fighting to ensure everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. The PRIDE Act would help ensure that LGBTQ+ Americans are considered in the policies, programs, and services administered by federal agencies. By making protections based on gender identity and sexual orientation part of the Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion\u2019s mission, the bill would help ensure that federal services work for all Americans. The Fifth District has long embraced the principle that everyone deserves equal treatment and representation, and I am committed to bringing that same principle to our nation\u2019s financial regulators.\u201d\n\nThe PRIDE Act raises the importance of financial inclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals, who continue to face significant discrimination in the financial industry. With only 0.9% of Fortune 500 board seats held by out LGBTQ+ individuals, this bill addresses the underrepresentation and workplace discrimination that persists in the industry. Furthermore, same-sex couples are 73% more likely to be denied loans compared to different-sex couples with similar characteristics.\n\nThe PRIDE Act is co-sponsored by Mark Takano (CA-39), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Chuy Garcia (IL-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Dina Titus (NV-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13).\n\nThe PRIDE Act is endorsed by SAGE.", 1, "2026-06-12T06:37:16Z", "2026-06-12T06:39:00Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/06/10/mcbath-hosts-town-hall-event-with-8100-participants-during-gun-violence-prevention-awareness-month/", "McBath Hosts Town Hall Event with 8,100 Participants During Gun Violence Prevention & Awareness Month", "2026-06-10", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Last night, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) hosted an interactive Telephone Town Hall event with featured guest Stephanie Stone, an Associate Director with Everytown for Gun Safety. Stephanie became involved with Moms Demand Action after her son, Paul Sampleton Jr., was murdered in 2012 inside their home in Grayson, Georgia at age 14. She joined Everytown for Gun Safety in 2017 and has dedicated her life to supporting survivors, advocating for safer gun laws, and building communities of healing and action. As part of the Everytown Survivor Network team, she manages SurvivorsConnect, a peer-to-peer support program for gun violence survivors, and the Survivor Membership Lead Program, which supports volunteer survivor leaders in Moms Demand Action chapters across the country. McBath provided updates on her work in Congress, including her efforts during Gun Violence Awareness Month. Approximately 8,100 participants joined the event to listen and ask questions.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to all who tuned for their presence and participation as we continue to observe June as Gun Violence Prevention and Awareness Month,\u201d said Rep. McBath. \u201cThis time is a solemn reminder of why we must continue fighting for common-sense solutions to this public health crisis that has touched far too many of our families and communities. I am especially grateful to have had my friend Stephanie Stone speak with folks. Her powerful advocacy is an inspiration, and I know her voice will continue to motivate each of us.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-raises-questions-on-anonymous-shell-companies-money-laundering-in-financial-services-committee", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Raises Questions on Anonymous Shell Companies & Money Laundering in Financial Services Committee", "2026-06-10", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) continued fighting for transparency, accountability, and safer communities as she raised questions in the exclusive House Financial Services Committee on how foreign criminals are laundering money through American real estate using anonymous LLCs. Neighborhoods like Atlanta\u2019s Ashview Heights have been impacted by these anonymous shell companies, leaving blighted properties in communities with no record of a property owner.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams highlighted how the Corporate Transparency Act could shine a light on this issue as Republicans attempt to dismantle the legislation.\n\nRemarks as prepared:\n\n\u201cI represent Georgia\u2019s Fighting Fifth Congressional District, centered in Atlanta.\n\nAnd I want to talk about something that sounds complicated but is actually very simple.\n\nForeign criminals laundering money through American real estate using anonymous LLCs.\n\nHere is how it works.\n\nThey buy property, the LLC has no identifiable owner, the property sits while the money gets clean.\n\nThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution documented exactly what anonymous LLC ownership looks like on the ground in Ashview Heights when a shell company owned a blighted property and a reporter spent a week trying to find the actual owners.\n\nThis is because the U.S. law didn\u2019t require anyone to say. And that is a problem.\n\nWe can\u2019t know if it\u2019s a small investor, a multinational company, or a criminal network.\n\nAnd right now we have no way to find out.\n\nCongress passed the Corporate Transparency Act to fix this but Republicans are determined to roll it back.\n\nI have a few questions about what that actually cost us.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-11T06:38:38Z", "2026-06-11T06:41:07Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-votes-yes-to-supporting-organized-labor", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Votes YES to Supporting Organized Labor", "2026-06-10", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement after voting YES on the Faster Labor Contracts Act and the legislation being approved in the House of Representatives:\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cWorkers who vote to unionize are exercising a fundamental right. They deserve a fair and timely path to a collective bargaining agreement. That\u2019s why I voted YES on the Faster Labor Contracts Act. I will always fight for workers\u2019 rights, support organized labor, and stand with working families.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-11T06:38:38Z", "2026-06-11T06:41:07Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-pushes-administration-provide-safe-working", "Congressman Johnson Pushes Administration to Provide Safe Working Conditions for Workers Dealing with Rat Infestation at Chamblee IRS Office", "2026-06-10", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "CHAMBLEE, GA \u2013 Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), along with Georgia U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA), are calling on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano to immediately address a rat and cockroach infestation that has plagued the office for weeks and allow employees at the IRS Atlanta campus to work remotely until conditions improve.\n\n\u201cNo one should have to deal with unsafe and unsanitary working conditions like this,\u201d said Congressman Johnson, who represents the area where the IRS facility is located. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to join our Senators in calling for Trump Administration officials to allow these workers to work remotely until this terrible situation is remedied.\u201d\n\nAccording to reports, some employees have also fallen ill from exposure to rodent-borne diseases, forcing some staff members to resign from their positions. Constituents have also called the Congressman's office to express concern over the conditions at the facility.\n\nA copy of the letter can be found HERE, and the text is below:\n\nDear Secretary Bessent and Chief Executive Officer Bisignano:\n\nWe are writing to urge you to take all steps necessary to address the ongoing rat and cockroach infestation at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Atlanta Campus in Chamblee, Georgia. We ask that the IRS give full and fair consideration of employees\u2019 requests to close the facility until it has been thoroughly cleaned and determined safe for occupancy and to telework during the remediation process. We also ask that the IRS provide a briefing to our offices on the IRS\u2019 specific plan to address this occupational health and safety issue.\n\nAccording to local news reporting and a statement by the National Treasury Employees Union, the IRS Atlanta Campus in Chamblee has been infested with rats and cockroaches for several weeks. IRS employees have shared photos and videos of living and dead rats, rat droppings, and rat traps throughout the office complex, as well as employees sitting on their desks to avoid the office floor. This infestation has led to employees falling ill from exposure to rodent-borne diseases and has forced some staff members to resign from their positions. Our offices have also received a number of concerning messages from constituents on this matter.\n\nWhile we are glad to hear that the IRS is beginning steps to remediate the situation, our understanding is that this work is only in its initial stages and not yet complete.\n\nEmployees at the IRS Atlanta Campus have requested that the IRS close the Chamblee office and move to a full telework posture until it eliminates the infestation. As the IRS considers their requests, we also call your attention to a June 2026 memorandum from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which reminds federal agencies with offices in a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city \u2013 such as Atlanta \u2013 of their \u201cauthority to approve situational/unscheduled telework and other workforce flexibilities.\u201d Given that teleworking is an appropriate response to \u201csignificant increases in traffic congestion and commuting delays\u201d from the World Cup, we believe the IRS should also use its \u201csole and exclusive discretion\u201d to enable teleworking in response to this pressing occupational health and safety hazard.\n\nTherefore, we ask that you take all steps necessary to eradicate the rat and cockroach infestation at the IRS Atlanta Campus, including taking full and fair consideration of employees\u2019 requests to close the facility until it has been thoroughly cleaned and determined safe for occupancy and to telework during the remediation process. Please provide our offices with an update on the steps the IRS is taking by June 23, 2026.\n\nSincerely, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/06/09/mcbath-democratic-womens-caucus-thompson-dingell-highlight-domestic-violence-solutions-during-gun-violence-prevention-month/", "McBath, Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus, Thompson, Dingell Highlight Domestic Violence Solutions During Gun Violence Prevention Month", "2026-06-09", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (D\u2011GA\u201106), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Crime Subcommittee and a member of the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus, convened a press conference to spotlight common\u2011sense, evidence\u2011based tools proven to prevent domestic violence. The event, titled \u201cStopping Domestic Violence with Common\u2011Sense Tools,\u201d highlighted key legislative efforts during Gun Violence Awareness & Prevention Month. Rep. McBath leads the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (FERPO), legislation that empowers loved ones and law enforcement to intervene in moments of crisis through federal \u201cred-flag\u201d laws.\n\nMembers participating included Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (NM\u201103), Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Mike Thompson (CA\u201104), and Co\u2011Chair of the Bipartisan Working Group to End Domestic Violence Debbie Dingell (MI\u201106). The full video of the press conference can be found here.\n\n\u201cEvery day in this country, survivors of domestic violence are navigating a terrifying reality. Too often, the most dangerous moment is when a victim tries to leave an abuser. When a gun is present, that danger becomes deadly,\u201d said Rep. McBath. \u201cI know the pain of gun violence personally. My son Jordan was taken from me, and that loss drives every step of my work. Red flag laws save lives. They empower loved ones and give law enforcement the tools to intervene before a crisis becomes a tragedy. During Gun Violence Awareness & Prevention Month, we are calling on our Republican colleagues to bring this legislation to the floor. The American people deserve better. They have been crying out for safety, for humanity, and for action. I am grateful to my colleagues with the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus, the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and the Bipartisan Working Group to End Domestic Violence for standing in this fight. We have never forgotten the families who carry this trauma, and we will not stop until life\u2011saving tools are available to every community. Together, we will protect the American people.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe will never forget the victims of domestic violence because we owe them that. Their pain does not disappear,\u201d said Rep. Leger Fern\u00e1ndez. \u201cEvery month, more than 70 women in America are shot and killed by an intimate partner. Nearly six million women have had a gun used against them by someone who claimed to love them. Those who survive are left with deep emotional scars, and too many never get the chance to rebuild their lives. These tragedies are not inevitable. They are preventable. That is why we are calling on House Republican leadership to bring bipartisan, life\u2011saving legislation to the floor. There are simple, common\u2011sense steps we can take right now to protect our communities that the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus is fighting for every day. Let\u2019s protect everybody in every community.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m here today because this legislation will save lives and I\u2019m here because of Jordan, and because of every family shattered by gun violence,\u201d said Rep. Thompson. \u201cMake no mistake: intimate partner violence and gun violence are deeply intertwined. In America, a woman is killed by her partner every twelve hours. That\u2019s unacceptable and we have tools to help stop this crisis. Red flag laws are one of those tools that help us save lives by allowing law enforcement and loved ones to act before a crisis turns deadly. We need universal background checks, as well. Background checks are fast, constitutional, popular, and serve as the first line of defense to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a danger to themselves or others. We can protect so many people if we simply choose to act and I urge my Republican colleagues to bring Rep. McBath\u2019s red flag legislation and my background checks legislation to the floor for a vote.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-statement-on-the-reckless-republican-budget", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 Statement on the Reckless Republican Budget", "2026-06-09", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement after Republicans passed their $70 billion blank check to ICE and Trump\u2019s $1.8 billion slush fund to reward his friends and violent insurrectionists.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cAs families in the Fighting Fifth struggle to fill their gas tanks, pay for doctor\u2019s visits, keep food on the table, and keep a roof over their head, Republicans are pushing a $70 billion blank check for ICE through Congress without a shred of reform, oversight, or accountability. At the same time, they are backing Trump\u2019s $1.8 billion slush fund for January 6 insurrectionists.\n\nLast year, Republican yes-men cut healthcare and food assistance to pay for Trump\u2019s billionaire tax cuts. Now, instead of taking action to make life more affordable for Americans, Republicans are spending even more money on ICE\u2019s violence and creating a fund that allows Trump to reward his friends. Republicans are complicit in Trump\u2019s corruption.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-10T06:36:00Z", "2026-06-10T06:37:32Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-applauds-us-court-ruling-blocking-trump-administration-s-100000-visa-fee", "Congressman Bishop Applauds U.S. Court Ruling Blocking Trump Administration\u2019s $100,000 Visa Fee", "2026-06-08", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) applauded the ruling by a federal judge today blocking President Trump\u2019s $100,000 fee for employers\u2019 H-1B applications. Judge Leo Sorokin declared in the ruling in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts that \u201cthe substance and application of the $100,000 payment reveal that it is a tax\u201d and that Congress had not delegated that power to the executive branch.\n\nHospitals and health care centers from underserved and rural areas, including Southwest Georgia, informed members of Congress that they already were facing challenges recruiting enough staff and that the Trump Administration fee made providing care even more expensive to these communities. In response, Bishop, along with Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), and Yvette Clarke (D-NY), introduced bipartisan legislation in March 2026 (H.R. 7961), which will exempt physicians and other health care workers from the new $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions. It also prohibits new H-1B fees from being imposed on health care workers that exceed the existing fees under the U.S. Code.\n\n\u201cThe $100,000 fee for employers\u2019 H1-B applications would have discouraged the best and the brightest from coming to America and helping our economy grow and to innovate,\u201d said Congressman Bishop. \u201cWhile the bipartisan legislation that I introduced earlier this year applied only to health care professionals, the ruling by Judge Sorokin is a victory for every American concerned about attracting the world\u2019s smartest talent to our country.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/06/05/crime-subcommittee-ranking-member-mcbath-hosts-spotlight-hearing-on-gun-violence-prevention/", "Crime Subcommittee Ranking Member McBath Hosts Spotlight Hearing on Gun Violence Prevention", "2026-06-05", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) hosted a Spotlight Hearing on Gun Violence Prevention titled \u201cResilience & Innovation: How Communities Are Leveraging Democratic Investments to Combat Gun Violence.\u201d The hearing, held on National Gun Violence Awareness Day, examined how state and local leaders have successfully reduced gun violence using evidence\u2011based strategies supported by Democratic-led investments, including the American Rescue Plan Act and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Ranking Member McBath\u2019s opening testimony is available here.\n\nParticipating in the hearing were Representatives Becca Balint (D-VT-At Large), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), and Lou Correa (D-CA-46).\n\n\u201cToday, on National Gun Violence Awareness Day, we honor the lives stolen by gun violence, including my son, Jordan.\u201d said Rep. McBath. \u201cAs a mother who has lived through this pain, I know the immeasurable weight carried by families and survivors across this country. But I also know what is possible when I refuse to give up. During the pandemic, gun violence surged and communities were stretched thin. Yet leaders, advocates, and service providers stepped forward with determination and innovation. For four consecutive years, fewer Americans have been killed by gun violence. This progress is real and it is happening because communities have been empowered to prevent violence before it occurs. Congress must recommit to comprehensive, community\u2011driven crime prevention so that every family can live in a safe neighborhood and every child can grow up free from fear.\u201d\n\nThe Subcommittee heard testimony from leaders on the front lines of gun violence prevention, including:\n\nChief Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Police, Portsmouth Police Department\n\nGreg Hopkins, Director of Justice Services, City of Richmond\n\nShontel Brunson-Wright, Executive Director, Atlanta Victim Assistance, Inc.\n\nDr. Kyle Fisher, Policy Director, The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention\n\nKaaleah Jones, Deputy Director, Abu Unity Foundation\n\nWitnesses detailed how federal support and flexible funding for public safety, community violence intervention, and victim services have enabled cities to implement programs that have contributed to a historic nationwide decline in violent crime. Many communities have recorded their lowest homicide rates in decades, driven by investments in law enforcement, community organizations, mental health services, youth programming, and trauma-informed interventions.", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bishop-says-funding-bill-falls-short-for-families-farmers-rural-communities", "Bishop Says Funding Bill Falls Short for Families, Farmers, & Rural Communities", "2026-06-05", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Yesterday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), the top Democrat on the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, outlined his opposition to and voted against H.R. 8646, the subcommittee\u2019s Fiscal Year 2027 funding bill.\n\n\u201cEveryone eats the food America\u2019s farmers produce. Everyone needs safe medicine and medical devices, clean drinking water, and affordable fuel, utilities, and internet,\u201d said Congressman Bishop. \u201cThis bill slashes funding for water and wastewater grants needed by small, rural communities across the country that have a low tax base. This bill guts rural energy programs, reduces rural broadband investments and affordable housing programs, and takes development grants away from our rural businesses.\u201d\n\nCongressman Bishop also noted that, \u201cAgricultural producers are facing increased fuel and input costs because of an unauthorized war in Iran and chaotic tariffs. And this bill will cut staff at the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development Agency \u2013 leaving offices closed or understaffed \u2013 when farmers need them the most. Increased ag production costs and less USDA support means the cost of food for families also goes up. And, for the first time, we are not guaranteeing full funding for WIC which means as many as 5 million women, infants, and children may go hungry.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the appropriations process continues, Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate must put aside partisanship to craft a better bill which ensures that Americans can produce the highest quality, safest, most abundant, and affordable, food, fiber, and medicine,\u201d concluded Congressman Bishop.\n\nWATCH: Congressman Bishop\u2019s opening remarks during debate on the FY27 agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies funding bill\n\nUnfortunately, in its present form the bill hurts local, rural communities and economies:\n\nBy steeply cutting critical investments, including water and wastewater grants to help rural communities get safer water services.\n\nBy slashing in half the Rural Energy for America Program loans which help farmers and businesses invest in renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements.\n\nBy cutting Rural Business Development grants.\n\nThe bill hurts farmers and families:\n\nBy cutting the number of employees at Farm Service Agency, Rural Development Agency, and Natural Resources Conservation Service which means many of their local offices will remain closed or understaffed making assistance hard to get at a time when the USDA projects farm income to decline by $4.1 billion from 2025 to 2026.\n\nBy eliminating the program that reimburses producers for the high costs of transporting agricultural commodities or inputs. Higher costs for our farmers mean higher costs for families at the grocery store.\n\nBy eliminating the Healthy Food Financing Initiative that helps feed school children and those facing hunger by purchasing food from local agricultural producers.\n\nBy reducing and transplanting the Food for Peace program thus depriving American farmers of revenue and weakening American diplomacy.\n\nThe bill threatens access to food for hardworking and vulnerable Americans:\n\nBy failing to provide the full fruit and vegetable benefit to USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.\n\nIt undermines efforts to root out fraud, waste, and abuse:\n\nBy cutting funding for the Inspector General and Ethics offices at USDA.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-legislation-to-protect-mothers-and-fight-the-black-maternal-health-crisis-2", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Legislation to Protect Mothers and Fight the Black Maternal Health Crisis", "2026-06-04", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced the Blood Pressure MATTERS Act that would require healthcare insurers to provide pregnant and postpartum moms blood pressure monitoring devices, without cost sharing with the patient.\n\nHigh blood pressure during pregnancy carries significant risks for the mother and baby, including preeclampsia, placental abruption, and premature birth. Rates of gestational hypertension are higher among Black and Native American mothers, contributing to racial health disparities and the Black maternal mortality crisis. Hypertension during pregnancy can lead to harmful outcomes for the pregnant person and baby. High blood pressure can limit blood flow to the placenta, slow fetal growth, contribute to placental abruption and premature delivery.\n\nTo address gestational hypertension, this bill will provide the tools pregnant people need to monitor their health at home and seek the care they need.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cPreeclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality, yet in so many cases, early intervention and access to care can save lives. During the final weeks of my pregnancy, my doctors placed me on bed rest because of preeclampsia. After giving birth, I was preparing to go home when a nurse checked my blood pressure one more time\u2014and it was dangerously high again. I spent two additional days in the hospital receiving treatment for postpartum preeclampsia, and that extra care made all the difference. I was able to go home healthy with my newborn son in my arms. But too many mothers, especially Black mothers, do not get that same chance. The Blood Pressure Matters Act will help give moms the tools and resources they need to protect their health and their babies, save lives, and help end the Black Maternal Health Crisis\u2014one blood pressure reading at a time.\u201d\n\nEndorsing Organizations: 4Kira4Moms, Abortion Forward (OH), Advocates for Youth, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, Birth in Color, Birthmark, Central Phoenix Inez Casiano NOW, Courage California, Desiree Alliance, Every Mother Counts, Ipas US, Lawyering Project, Lilith Fund, Medical Students for Choice, Nancy Davis Foundation, NASPAG, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women and Families, Oshun Family Center, Pennsylvania Religious Coalition for Reproductive Justice, People Power United, Religious Community for Reproductive Choice, and Texas Equal Access Fund\n\nClick here to read the text of the Blood Pressure MATTERS Act.", 1, "2026-06-05T06:35:23Z", "2026-06-05T06:36:42Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-harshbarger-joins-rep-bishop-as-new-co-chair-of-bipartisan-congressional-automotive-performance-motorsports-caucus", "Rep. Harshbarger Joins Rep. Bishop as New Co-chair of Bipartisan Congressional Automotive Performance & Motorsports Caucus", "2026-06-04", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 This week, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) joined Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus. They will serve as the Republican and Democratic co-chairs of the caucus, respectively.\n\n\u201cCars and motorsports embody America\u2019s creative spirit, technological innovation, grit, and drive,\u201d said Congressman Bishop. \u201cI look forward to working with Congresswoman Harshbarger to support these engineering marvels which push the limits of competition, are iconic national treasures, and inspire new generations of collectors and enthusiasts.\u201d\n\n\u201cMotorsports and automotive performance are woven into the fabric of American culture and support an industry that drives innovation, fuels small businesses, and sustains more than a million jobs across the country,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cFrom manufacturers and suppliers to racers, collectors, and enthusiasts, this industry represents the ingenuity and craftsmanship that make America exceptional. I\u2019m honored to serve as Co-Chair of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus alongside Congressman Bishop, and I look forward to working in a bipartisan way to support an industry that means so much to our economy and to communities like ours in East Tennessee.\n\nThe Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus was formed in 1996 to recognize the contributions the automotive performance and motorsports industry has made, and continues to make, to the U.S. economy. At the outset of the 119th Congress, Doug LaMalfa was the Republican co-chair of the caucus but sadly he passed away earlier this year.\n\nMany Middle and Southwest Georgia communities host regular meets and annual expos, including events like Albany\u2019s Southwest Georgia Car Show and the Moultrie Automotive Swap Meet which draws car enthusiasts and collectors from across the state.\n\nCurrent members of the bipartisan, bi-cameral caucus include:\n\nIn the U.S. House\n\nSanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Co-Chair\n\nDiana Harshbarger (R-TN), Co-Chair\n\nRobert Aderholt (R-AL)\n\nJames Baird (R-IN)\n\nTroy Balderson (R-OH)\n\nAndy Barr (R-KY)\n\nDon Beyer (D-VA)\n\nGus Bilirakis (R-FL)\n\nMike Bost (R-IL)\n\nKen Calvert (R-CA)\n\nAndr\u00e9 Carson (D-IN)\n\nBuddy Carter (R-GA)\n\nSteve Cohen (D-TN)\n\nRick Crawford (R-AR)\n\nHenry Cuellar (D- TX)\n\nSuzan DelBene (D-WA)\n\nPaul Gosar (R-AZ)\n\nJosh Gottheimer (D-NJ)\n\nGlenn Grothman (R-WI)\n\nBill Huizenga (R-MI)\n\nDarrell Issa (R-CA)\n\nDave Joyce (R-OH)\n\nMarcy Kaptur (D-OH)\n\nMike Kelly (R-PA)\n\nTrent Kelly (R-MS)\n\nBob Latta (R-OH)\n\nTed Lieu (D-CA)\n\nJohn Moolenaar (R-MI)\n\nDavid Rouzer (R-NC)\n\nLinda Sanchez (D-CA)\n\nPete Sessions (R-TX)\n\nBrad Sherman (D-CA)\n\nAdam Smith (D-WA)\n\nMark Takano (D-CA)\n\nMichael Turner (R-OH)\n\nDavid Valadao (R-CA)\n\nJuan Vargas (D-CA)\n\nJoe Wilson (R-SC)\n\nIn the U.S. Senate\n\nMarsha Blackburn (R-TN)\n\nJohn Boozman (R-AR)\n\nTed Budd (R-NC)\n\nMichael Crapo (R-ID)\n\nRoger Marshall (R-KS)\n\nShelley Moore Capito (R-WV)\n\nJerry Moran (R-KS)\n\nGary Peters (D-MI)\n\nAdam Schiff (D-CA)\n\nTodd Young (R-IN)\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/johnson-blumenthal-warren-call-bank-america-restore-consumers-legal", "JOHNSON, BLUMENTHAL & WARREN CALL ON BANK OF AMERICA TO RESTORE CONSUMERS\u2019 LEGAL RIGHTS & PROTECTIONS", "2026-06-04", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cWe expect companies that pride themselves on consumer protection, like Bank of America, to stand up for its customers and not rely on forced arbitration clauses that quietly strip customers of their rights.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) wrote to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, calling on the bank to immediately remove its recently added forced arbitration agreement, hamstringing consumers\u2019 legal rights and denying them the ability to hold corporations accountable.\n\n\u201cThe new forced arbitration provision will force Bank of America\u2019s customers into a private and secretive system, rigged against their interests. During the arbitration process, corporations can write the rules and have no obligation to make proceedings public. Without access to the public court system, discovery is typically limited, making it hard for consumers to obtain the evidence needed to prove their case,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cWe expect companies that pride themselves on consumer protection, like Bank of America, to stand up for its customers and not rely on forced arbitration clauses that quietly strip customers of their rights,\u201d continued the lawmakers. \u201cAt a time when costs are rising, Americans are struggling to get by, and the Trump administration has abandoned enforcement of even the most basic consumer protection policies, we are deeply disappointed that Bank of America is imposing yet another obstacle for customers seeking accountability and protection.\u201d\n\nThe full letter to Moynihan can be found here and below.\n\nDear Mr. Moynihan,\n\nWe write to urge Bank of America to immediately remove the forced arbitration provision recently added to its Online Banking Service agreement. This inherently unjust provision denies consumers the right to hold corporations accountable and enforce their rights. [1]\n\nIn 2009, Bank of America ended its use of forced arbitration clauses in credit card disputes.[2] The change, welcomed by advocates and consumers alike, followed a lawsuit alleging that Bank of America colluded with other banks to implement arbitration provisions \u2013 effectively severing a customer\u2019s ability to enforce their rights in court.[3] Bank of America\u2019s decision not to include forced arbitration provisions in its terms thereafter persisted for almost 17 years.[4] In fact, in response to a letter sent by Senator Elizabeth Warren in 2017, Bank of America even called its decision to remove the arbitration clauses the \u201cright business practice to maintain relationships with its clients and customers.\u201d[5]\n\nHowever, in a significant departure from its historical commitments, Bank of America recently added a forced arbitration provision to its Online Banking Service Terms. As of May 18, 2026, customers will be forced to resolve almost every dispute with Bank of America through forced private arbitration, denying them their right to a jury trial or to participation in class-action lawsuits.[6] Similarly troubling, the Online Banking Service agreement only gives customers 60 days to opt out of the clause \u2013 leaving most customers likely unaware that their rights are being stripped away.[7]\n\nThe new forced arbitration provision will force Bank of America\u2019s customers into a private and secretive system, rigged against their interests. During the arbitration process, corporations can write the rules and have no obligation to make proceedings public. Without access to the public court system, discovery is typically limited, making it hard for consumers to obtain the evidence needed to prove their case.[8] Additionally, there is no meaningful judicial review, frequently leaving consumers without the ability to appeal a decision even if the arbitrator gets it wrong. The process is binding, forcing consumers into an inherently biased system that they did not choose for themselves.[9]\n\nWe expect companies that pride themselves on consumer protection, like Bank of America, to stand up for its customers and not rely on forced arbitration clauses that quietly strip customers of their rights.[10] At a time when costs are rising, Americans are struggling to get by, and the Trump administration has abandoned enforcement of even the most basic consumer protection policies, we are deeply disappointed that Bank of America is imposing yet another obstacle for customers seeking accountability and protection.\n\nWe urge Bank of America to immediately remove the forced arbitration clause and restore basic consumer protection principles. In addition, in order to gain a deeper understanding of Bank of America\u2019s decision to add a forced arbitration clause to its Online Banking Service Terms, please provide detailed responses to the following questions by June 26, 2026:\n\n1. Why is Bank of America reversing its 2009 decision to eliminate forced arbitration clauses from its contracts?\n\n2. In 2017, in response to a letter sent by Senator Elizabeth Warren, Bank of America stated that it \u201cimplemented revisions to our arbitration policies and procedures almost ten years ago because we believe it is the right business practice for us to maintain relationships with our clients and customers.\u201d[11]\n\na. Is Bank of America no longer concerned with \u201cmaintain[ing] relationships with its clients and customers?\u201d\n\nb. Has Bank of America conducted any analysis of the effects this policy will have on its customers?\n\n3. Did Bank of America conduct internal reviews or analyses before deciding to add forced arbitration clauses to its Online Banking Service Terms?\n\na. If so, please provide any related insight or documentation explaining the factors that contributed to its decision to add forced arbitration clauses.\n\n4. Has Bank of America projected any cost savings or any other return as a result of adding the forced arbitration clause?\n\n5. Will Bank of America commit to reassessing its decision to include forced arbitration provisions?\n\nCITATIONS\n\n[1] Bank of America, \u201cOnline Banking Service Agreement,\u201d May 18, 2026, https://www.bankofamerica.com/content/documents/agreement/OnlineBankingServiceAgreementUpdateEN.pdf.\n\n[2] Kathy Chu, \u201cBank of America ends arbitration of credit card disputes,\u201d ABC News, August 13, 2009, https://abcnews.com/Business/story?id=8324675&page=1.\n\n[3] Associated Press, \u201cBofA Drops Credit Card Arbitration Requirement,\u201d CNBC, August 14, 2025, https://www.citizen.org/article/coalition-letter-opposing-bank-of-americas-adoption-of-forced-arbitration-provisions-in-its-online-banking-service-agreement/#_ftn2.\n\n[4] Ibid.\n\n[5] Letter to The Honorable Elizabeth Warren from John Collingwood, Director of Federal Government Affairs for Bank of America, Sep. 1, 2017, https://www.warren.senate.gov/files/documents/2017_09_12_Responses_to_Arb_Letter.pdf.\n\n[6] Bank of America, \u201cOnline Banking Service Agreement,\u201d May 18, 2026, https://www.bankofamerica.com/content/documents/agreement/OnlineBankingServiceAgreementUpdateEN.pdf.\n\n[7] Ibid.\n\n[8] Economic Policy Institute, \u201cThe Arbitration Epidemic,\u201d December 7, 2015, https://www.epi.org/publication/the-arbitration-epidemic/.\n\n[9] Ibid.\n\n[10] Bank of America, \u201cOur Mission & Vision,\u201d accessed May 19, 2026, https://careers.bankofamerica.com/en-us/company/values.\n\n[11] Letter to The Honorable Elizabeth Warren from John Collingwood, Director of Federal Government Affairs for Bank of America, Sep. 1, 2017, https://www.warren.senate.gov/files/documents/2017_09_12_Responses_to_Arb_Letter.pdf.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/williams-colleagues-urge-federal-investigation-into-canvas-cyberattack-call-for-stronger-cybersecurity-support-for-schools", "Williams, Colleagues Urge Federal Investigation into Canvas Cyberattack, Call for Stronger Cybersecurity Support for Schools", "2026-05-29", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 This week, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) joined Representatives Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), Eugene Simon Vindman (VA-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Mike Thompson (CA-04), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), and Betty McCollum (MN-04) in sending a letter to the Department of Justice and Department of Education urging a full investigation into the recent cyberattack targeting Instructure and its subsidiary, Canvas, and calling for expanded cybersecurity resources for schools.\n\nCanvas, a widely used online learning platform serving millions of students, educators, and institutions nationwide, was targeted in a cyberattack that disrupted access to coursework during final exams and raised concerns about the security of student and faculty data.\n\nThe Members wrote:\n\n\u201cWe write to urge the Department of Justice to take swift action to investigate, and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, the cyber-attack perpetrated against Instructure, and its subsidiary, Canvas\u2026This appears to be the culmination of an ongoing cyber-attack against Instructure\u2013wherein the company was initially breached on May 1st. By May 3rd, Shiny Hunters claimed to have breached 275 million users\u2019 data across nine thousand schools. While it appears that most students regained access by May 8th, this incident highlights the vulnerability of student, faculty, and staff data, and demands thorough investigation.\u201d\n\nThe Members also emphasized the need for stronger cybersecurity protections across the education system.\n\n\u201cThis beach left schools in the lurch, having to act urgently to attempt to protect their students\u2019 data\u2026With so much learning happening online, it is imperative that schools have the resources they need to maintain their student and faculty data privacy.\u201d", 1, "2026-05-30T06:11:53Z", "2026-05-30T06:13:24Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-statement-on-the-federal-court-decision-on-alabamas-congressional-maps", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 Statement on the Federal Court Decision on Alabama\u2019s Congressional Maps", "2026-05-26", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "ATLANTA \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement on the federal court\u2019s decision to block Alabama\u2019s congressional maps.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cThe federal court\u2019s decision today confirms what we all knew: these new congressional maps were deliberately drawn to dilute Black political power and are in violation of the Voting Rights Act.\n\nToday\u2019s ruling is a victory for justice and fair representation, but the fight is far from over. Across the country, we continue to see coordinated attacks on the fundamental right to vote and attempts to silence Black communities.\n\nWe will keep fighting to protect the Voting Rights Act, defend our democracy, and ensure every voter has an equal voice at the ballot box.\u201d\n\nMay 22, 2026\n\nPress\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Legislation to Study Impact of Federal Programs on Racial Inequity\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced the Reviewing the Effects of Policies, Orders, and Rules with Thorough Study (REPORTS) Act. This legislation is designed to study the impact of federal programs and policies on people living near or under the poverty line and racial inequity, including the racial wealth gap. The REPORTS Act [\u2026]\n\nMay 21, 2026\n\nPress\n\nICYMI: Congresswoman Nikema Williams Passes Legislation in ROAD to Housing that Helps Homeowners Keep & Maintain Their Homes\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 The U.S. House of Representatives passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act this week, a major step toward tackling the housing affordability crisis. Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) led the inclusion of multiple legislative action points within the housing bill. A champion for both affordable AND desirable housing, Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 inclusions build [\u2026]\n\nMay 13, 2026\n\nPress\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Legislation to Reduce Noise from Nearby Interstate Highways in Underserved Neighborhoods\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) reintroduced the Negating Neighborhood Noise Act, legislation to give communities the ability to build noise barriers along existing federal interstate highways. Currently, federal funds cannot be used for noise barriers. The Negating Neighborhood Noise Act allows Highway Trust Fund dollars to be used to build noise barriers in [\u2026]", 1, "2026-05-27T06:38:34Z", "2026-05-27T06:40:17Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-legislation-to-study-impact-of-federal-programs-on-racial-inequity", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Legislation to Study Impact of Federal Programs on Racial Inequity", "2026-05-22", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced the Reviewing the Effects of Policies, Orders, and Rules with Thorough Study (REPORTS) Act. This legislation is designed to study the impact of federal programs and policies on people living near or under the poverty line and racial inequity, including the racial wealth gap. The REPORTS Act is co-led by Representatives Shontel Brown (OH-11), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), and Robin Kelly (IL-02).\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cClear and reliable data is essential to understanding which federal programs are actually helping working families and underserved communities in Georgia\u2019s Fifth District and across the country. The REPORTS Act will give us the information we need to better shape policies that address racial inequities and help ensure everyone can share in the promise of America\u2014no matter your ZIP Code, no matter your bank account.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join Congresswoman Nikema Williams on the REPORTS Act. We need economic justice, racial justice, and a strong safety net. Federal policies need to make things better, not worse, especially with a White House that is implementing massive cuts. The REPORTS Act will help us get the information we need to shape policies that are fair and equitable,\u201d said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.\n\n\u201cFor too long, the federal government has implemented major programs and policies without fully understanding their consequences on our most vulnerable communities,\u201d Norton said. \u201cI am proud to co-lead the REPORTS Act because data-driven governance is essential to dismantling systemic barriers. By explicitly requiring federal agencies to analyze how their policies impact families living in poverty and affect racial inequality, we can ensure taxpayer dollars are actively closing equity gaps rather than widening them. This legislation will provide the transparency necessary to keep our limited federal resources focused on what actually works for the people who need it most.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur government should work to improve people\u2019s lives and lower costs of living,\u201d said Rep. Robin Kelly. \u201cI\u2019m proud to co-lead this bill that would report on the efficacy of federal programs to ensure we\u2019re reaching those who need the most help. As the Trump administration works to dismantle critical social services and widen the racial wealth gap, we need the valuable data and analysis to protect vulnerable communities.\u201d\n\nCongressman Kweisi Mfume said:\n\n\u201cRegardless of your place of birth, your level of wealth, and the color of your skin, all Americans are guaranteed equal treatment under the law. The REPORTS Act will ensure that federal agencies live up to that guarantee by analyzing how proposed agency rules and programs impact underrepresented groups that are far too often overlooked, including those with less money and people who are Black or brown. I applaud Congressman Williams\u2019 astute leadership in this area.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the text of the REPORTS Act.", 1, "2026-05-23T06:08:46Z", "2026-05-23T06:10:20Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/icymi-congresswoman-nikema-williams-passes-legislation-in-road-to-housing-that-helps-homeowners-keep-maintain-their-homes", "ICYMI: Congresswoman Nikema Williams Passes Legislation in ROAD to Housing that Helps Homeowners Keep & Maintain Their Homes\u00a0", "2026-05-21", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The U.S. House of Representatives passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act this week, a major step toward tackling the housing affordability crisis. Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) led the inclusion of multiple legislative action points within the housing bill.\n\nA champion for both affordable AND desirable housing, Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 inclusions build policy around making sure working families can own and maintain their homes and property.\n\nIntroduced by Congresswoman Nikema Williams, the Whole Home Repairs Act was included in the housing bill passed by the House. This legislation will:\n\nEnsure resources reach homeowners and small landlords with the most need, providing grants to low- and moderate-income homeowners (including owner-occupants of manufactured homes) and smaller landlords who agree to fair rental practices (ensuring that benefits accrue to the community).\n\nCreate one-stop shops to coordinate existing federal, State, and local home repair programs and assist applicants with navigating and leveraging these funding opportunities more effectively.\n\nDirect HUD to prioritize applicants with plans to implement the program across entire states, as well as applicants that ensure equal resources go to rural areas.\n\nPermit implementing organizations to incorporate workforce training and other related programs.\n\nCreate reporting mechanisms to ensure that resources are used effectively and fairly, and that coordinating activities reduce redundancies.\n\nThe 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act also included language from the HEIRS Act, introduced by Congresswoman Nikema Williams, requiring the U.S. Government Accountability Office (U.S. GAO) to study the impact of heirs properties. This builds momentum for the future passage of the HEIRS Act that would incentivize states to adopt the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act and provides grant funds for legal assistance for heirs\u2019 property owners to clear title\u2014making sure that family homes stay in the family.\n\nTo read the full text of the Whole Home Repairs Act, click here.", 1, "2026-05-22T06:27:39Z", "2026-05-22T06:29:18Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-honors-local-small-businesses-during-small-business", "Congressman Johnson Honors Local Small Businesses During Small Business Month", "2026-05-21", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "DECATUR, GA \u2013 On Saturday, May 16, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) held his annual Pinnacle Awards ceremony, honoring 11 outstanding businesses in his district that are making a difference in the lives of others.\n\nThe 2026 Pinnacle Award honorees were small business owners, executives, leaders, and advocates who, through their selfless service and altruism, have made Georgia\u2019s Fourth Congressional District a better place to live, work, and play.\n\n\u201cThe small business owners we celebrated today matter so deeply,\u201d said Rep. Johnson. \u201cIn a time when so many feel discouraged, uncertain, and left behind, they continue to persevere. They continue to build, to serve, to employ, to invest, and to uplift others despite the challenges before them. In many ways, their resilience is an act of resistance in itself. Their success, their service, and their commitment to community are reminders that the American Dream cannot survive unless ordinary people continue to fight for it every day.\u201d\n\nTHE HONOREES:\n\nWalter Adams, Prestige Uniforms.\n\nGreg Baranco, Baranco Automotive Group.\n\nBeverly W. Davis, Bee Wise Cleaning.\n\nDee Dee Harbin, Redan Trophies & Custom Laser Engraving.\n\nDeVon Hudson, DeVon Hudson Insurance Agency State Farm Agent.\n\nJeff Ordner, Ordner Construction.\n\nCharles David Moody, Jr., C.D. Moody Construction.\n\nTony Ramirez, Luciano\u2019s Ristorante Italiano.\n\nWaleed Shamsid-Deen, Supreme Foods Worldwide.\n\nDrs. Coreen and Conrad Wilson, Columbia Belvedere Animal Hospital.\n\nTony Royal, A.J. Royal Enterprises Inc.\n\nLIVESTREAM: Facebook and YouTube.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:21:02Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/05/20/mcbath-merkley-lead-bipartisan-bill-to-tackle-child-care-workforce-shortage/", "McBath, Merkley Lead Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Child Care Workforce Shortage", "2026-05-20", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act. The bipartisan bill would address the child care workforce shortage by investing in career and technical education (CTE) programs and incentivizing more students to enter the early childhood workforce upon graduation.\n\n\u201cEvery parent deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing their child is in good hands while they go to work and provide for their family. For too long, finding affordable, quality childcare has been out of reach for working Americans,\u201d said McBath. \u201cThe Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act will invest in career and technical programs that open doors for students who want to serve their communities as early childhood educators. It\u2019s our responsibility to prepare the next generation of childcare workers and give families the support they need to thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs I hold town halls in all of Oregon\u2019s 36 counties every year, I hear from folks about child care being too inaccessible. Ensuring working families can access decent, affordable child care is an essential foundation for the middle class to thrive,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cOur bipartisan bill invests in the child care workforce, a win for parents who need child care and for Oregon businesses who need more child care providers.\u201d\n\nIn the House, U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (R-PA-15), John Mannion (D-NY-22), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) co-led the introduction of the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act. The bill is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\n\u201cChild care is essential for children, families, businesses, and communities to thrive,\u201d said Bonamici. \u201cWe need more students to enter this critical profession, and career and technical education (CTE) programs have great potential to make it easier and more affordable for them to do so. I\u2019m grateful to work with a group of bipartisan colleagues to introduce this commonsense legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe shortage of childcare workers has a negative effect upon families needing structured care environments and also our economy,\u201d said Thompson. \u201cI am proud to support the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act to help expand career and technical education, and create pathways in childhood education to meet the needs of parents, children, and workers.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo parent should have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for their children. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in this common-sense bipartisan effort to address the child care shortage head-on. In Central New York and the Mohawk Valley, childhood poverty rates remain among the highest in the nation. This legislation will help strengthen career and technical education (CTE) programs, giving our children the strong foundation they need to succeed. It represents an important step towards a robust federal commitment to supporting children and families across the country,\u201d said Mannion.\n\n\u201cWorking families depend on access to affordable, reliable childcare, but workforce shortages continue to make that harder to find. This bipartisan legislation helps build a stronger pipeline of early childhood educators by investing in career and technical education and creating pathways for students to enter the field. Supporting childcare workers means supporting families, strengthening our economy, and giving children the foundation they need to succeed,\u201d said Lawler.\n\n\u201cAccess to affordable, reliable childcare is essential for working families and for the strength of our economy,\u201d said Kiggans. \u201cRight now, too many parents are struggling to find quality care, while childcare providers continue to face severe workforce shortages. I am proud to support the bipartisan Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act because it takes meaningful steps to strengthen the pipeline of skilled early childhood educators and expand opportunities for students interested in this critical profession. We must ensure America\u2019s parents are supported and their children have a strong foundation to succeed!\u201d\n\nThe Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act would:\n\nAward grants to eligible partnerships such as institutions of higher education, child care providers, or relevant workforce training programs with schools;\n\nEstablish, expand, or support career and technical education and career pathway programs of study in early childhood education.\n\nThe bipartisan Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act is supported by Advance CTE, American Federation of Teachers, Association of Career and Technical Education, Bipartisan Policy Center, Council for Professional Recognition, Center for Law and Social Policy, Child Care Aware, Children\u2019s Defense Fund, Early Care and Education Consortium, First Five Years Fund, First Focus Campaign for Children, National Education Association, National Head Start Association, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Women\u2019s Law Center Action Fund, Save the Children, Zero to Three, and the National Skills Coalition.", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/05/19/mcbath-warren-70-lawmakers-reintroduce-bicameral-bill-to-address-maternal-health-risks-during-public-health-emergencies/", "McBath, Warren, 70+ Lawmakers Reintroduce Bicameral Bill to Address Maternal Health Risks During Public Health Emergencies", "2026-05-19", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) in leading more than 70 lawmakers to reintroduce the Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act to address maternal health risks during public health crises like COVID-19 and the ongoing hantavirus and Ebola outbreaks. In such emergencies, pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women are uniquely vulnerable and face an increased risk for adverse maternal health outcomes.\n\nIn October 2022, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, maternal health outcomes severely worsened. In 2020 and 2021, the disease contributed to 25% of maternal deaths \u2014 80% higher than before the pandemic hit. Women of color proved to be especially vulnerable, with the maternal mortality rate increasing by more than 50% for Black women and doubling for Hispanic women from 2019 to 2021.\n\nThis bill would advance pivotal policies to address current and future maternal health risks during public health emergencies.\n\nThe Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act will:\n\nAuthorize robust funding for federal programs that support maternal and infant health during public health emergencies.\n\nImprove maternal health data collection, reporting, and transparency standards during public health emergencies.\n\nSupport public health education campaigns on providing safe maternity care during public health emergencies.\n\nEstablish a task force on birthing experiences and safe, respectful maternity care during public health emergencies.\n\nThis bill is cosigned in the Senate by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).\n\nThis bill is cosigned in the House by: Representatives LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Christian Menefee (D-Texas), Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Shomari Figures (D-Ala.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (D-Ill.), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), Herb Conaway (D-N.J.), Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (D-Va.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-Ind.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), George Latimer (D-N.Y.), Julie Johnson (D-Texas), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Nellie Pou (D-N.J.), Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio), Ted W. Lieu (D-Calif.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (D-Calif.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Norma Torres (D-Calif.), and Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.).\n\nThe Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act is endorsed by nearly 200 organizations: 1,000 Days, an initiative of FHI Solutions, 4Kira4Moms, A Better Balance, ACA Consumer Advocacy, African American Breastfeeding Network, African Heritage PA Caucus, Alliance to End Hunger, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Nursing, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, American Association of Birth Centers, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American College of Nurse-Midwives, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Heart Association, American Muslim Health Professionals, American Nurses Association, American Psychological Association, American Public Health Association, Ancient Song Doula Services, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Arika Trim Foundation, Association of Black Cardiologists, Association of Black Women Physicians, Association of Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE), Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Association of Physician Associates in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN), Association of Women\u2019s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, Baby Cafe USA, Babyscripts, Bayard Rustin Liberation Initiative, Big Cities Health Coalition, Birthing Beautiful Communities, Birthing Project USA, Black Mamas Village, Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association, Bloom Maternal Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), Blue Shield of California, Bobbie, Boston Medical Center, Breastfeed Durham, Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities, BreastfeedLA, California Breastfeeding Coalition, CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association), Catholic Health Association of the United States, Catholics for Choice, Center for American Progress, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Champaign County Health Care Consumers, Changent (Child First & Nurse-Family Partnership), Children\u2019s Health Fund, Cityblock Health, Commonsense Childbirth Inc., Community Catalyst, Deans\u2019 Nursing Policy Coalition, DONA International, Doula Alliance of Arkansas, Dr. Shalon\u2019s Maternal Action Project, EcoMadres, Engage: Promoting Women\u2019s Economic Security, EverThrive Illinois, Every Mother Counts, Families USA, Fayetteville Police Accountability Community Taskforce, Federation of American Hospitals, Fibroid Foundation, First Focus Campaign for Children, Futures Without Violence, GA Maternal Fetal Health Alliance, GLO Preemies, Glow Birth & Body and The Birth Deck, Grow Midwives, LLC, Hackensack Meridian Health, Harambee Doula Care & Holistic Services, Health Tech for Medicaid (HT4M), HealthConnect One, Healthy Birth Day Inc., HealthyWomen, Heluna Health, HIMSS, Hustle Mommies, Ingram Screening, LLC, International OCD Foundation, Lamaze International, Lifeline for Families Center and Lifeline for Moms Program at UMass Chan Medical School, Living Well Black, Luna Tierra Birth Center, Mainline Maternity Care, Majaica, Malone Center, March of Dimes, Mary Amelia Center for Women\u2019s Health Equity Research, Maternal Applications of Technology for Community Health (MATCH) Coalition, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, Maternity Care Coalition, Melinated Moms, Mental Health America, Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health, Mom Congress, Mom.ME., Mom2Mom Global, Momma\u2019s Village Fayetteville, Moms Clean Air Force, MomsRising, Most Beautiful W.O.M.B. Inc, Mothering Justice, Mothers Out Front, Narrative Nation Inc., National Alliance to impact the Social Determinants of Health (NASDOH), National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM), National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women\u2019s Health, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women\u2019s Health, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of School Nurses, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chicago-Metropolitan Chapter, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), National Health Law Program, National Healthy Start Association, National League for Nursing, National Medical Association, National Medical Fellowships, Inc., National Organization for Women, National Organization for Women \u2013 Hollywood Chapter, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Perinatal Task Force, National Urban League, National WIC Association, National Women\u2019s Law Center, Nemours Children\u2019s Health, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, Northeast Arkansas Doulas, Nurses for America, Nzuri Doula Services, Ob Hospitalist Group, Once Upon A Preemie, Inc, PA Education Association, Pace University, Partners In Health, Poppy Seed Health, Postpartum Support International (PSI), Pregnancy Justice, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, Prolacta Bioscience, Reach Healthcare \u2013 Happy Mama, riskLD, Roots and River Wellness, Sista Midwife Productions, Sister to Sister International, Inc., SisterReach, SisterReach Illinois, Six Dimensions, SMART Recovery, Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, Society for Women\u2019s Health Research, Sojourners, Star Legacy Foundation, The Arc of the United States, The Children\u2019s Partnership, The Collaborative, The Kennedy Forum, The National Women\u2019s Health Network, The Root Cause Coalition, The United Methodist Church \u2013 General Board of Church and Society, Third Way, Trust for America\u2019s Health, U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, Union for Reform Judaism, United Against Inequities in Disease, United Church of Christ Justice and Local Church Ministries, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Urban Baby Beginnings, Urban Mommy Inc, Vitality Wellness Solutions PLLC, What to Expect Project, Wolomi, WomenHeart, ZERO TO THREE.", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-supports-bipartisan-bill-to-fund-national-defense-invest-in-military-families-veterans", "Congressman Bishop Supports Bipartisan Bill to Fund National Defense, Invest in Military Families & Veterans", "2026-05-15", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, supported the passage of H.R. 8469, the Fiscal Year 2027 funding bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. He supported the bill during its consideration by the subcommittee and full committee earlier this year.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s funding bill is a crucial investment in the people and facilities that are vital to our national defense. Quality of life is fundamental to our military readiness. I was glad to work together with Democrats and Republicans to make this investment in our military families and veterans who earn our support through their service and sacrifice,\u201d said Congressman Bishop.\n\nHighlights of the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction & Veterans Affairs funding bill include:\n\n$665 million in additional funding for child development centers, barracks, demolition, installation resilience, and other unfunded requirements which directly touches quality of life and readiness.\n\nVeterans medical care is funded at $121 billion, which is $6.5 billion above what was enacted for Fiscal Year 2026. Also included are increases for women veterans\u2019 care, suicide prevention and treatment, substance use disorder programs, and rural health.\n\n$53.7 billion in advance funding for the Fiscal Year 2028 Toxic Exposures Fund.\n\nCongressional control and transparency provisions to improve VA efficiency and accountability.\n\nContinued push for and funding Electronic Health Record Modernization, but with quarterly reporting requirements to ensure better progress towards demonstrated implementation and patient-safety performance.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:21:02Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-legislation-to-reduce-noise-from-nearby-interstate-highways-in-underserved-neighborhoods", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Legislation to Reduce Noise from Nearby Interstate Highways in Underserved Neighborhoods", "2026-05-13", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) reintroduced the Negating Neighborhood Noise Act, legislation to give communities the ability to build noise barriers along existing federal interstate highways. Currently, federal funds cannot be used for noise barriers.\n\nThe Negating Neighborhood Noise Act allows Highway Trust Fund dollars to be used to build noise barriers in residential areas built before the interstates that are now impacting them. Communities will also have the power to create noise barriers that are aesthetically pleasing and can be used for dual purposes, such as hosting broadband infrastructure or solar panels. Highways I-20, I-75, I-85, and I-285 are some of the loudest, most disruptive interstates in the country and all run through neighborhoods in Georgia\u2019s Fifth Congressional District.\n\nCongresswoman Williams introduced similar legislation in the 117th and 118th Congress. Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) is co-leading the introduction of the Negating Neighborhood Noise Act.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cConstituents and elected officials have made it clear: we must address the disruptions caused by congested highways. For too many communities\u2014particularly those intentionally divided by the construction of our interstate system\u2014these roads have long brought not just displacement, but lasting harm. Today, the constant noise and pollution from those same highways continue to burden the neighborhoods they cut through and more. The Negating Neighborhood Noise Act is a simple solution that allows existing federal resources to be used for desperately needed noise barriers. This is exactly how infrastructure investments should be made: tailored to the needs of communities. The Negating Neighborhood Noise Act would bring meaningful relief from the noise and air pollution affecting families living near our interstate highways.\u201d\n\nCongressman Jim Himes (CT-04) said:\n\n\u201cFar too many Americans have come to accept highway noise as the grating soundtrack of their lives. A cacophony of car horns, emergency vehicle sirens, and truck engines fills communities all along the I-95 corridor in Southwestern Connecticut, reducing my constituents\u2019 quality of life. The Negating Neighborhood Noise Act would empower localities to build noise barriers of their choosing with federal funds so residents impacted by road racket can finally get some peace and quiet.\u201d\n\nEndorsing Organizations: Quiet Communities\n\nClick here to read the text of the Negating Neighborhood Noise Act.", 1, "2026-05-14T06:11:37Z", "2026-05-14T06:12:56Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-mourns-the-passing-of-friend-colleague-former-ga-state-rep-john-white", "Congressman Bishop Mourns the Passing of Friend & Colleague, Former GA State Rep. John White", "2026-05-12", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "ALBANY, Ga. \u2013 Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr. issued the following statement regarding the passing of former Georgia State Representative John White:\n\n\u201cJohn\u2019s life was a testament to courage, service, and dignity \u2014 a man who broke barriers, lifted others, and never stopped working for the common good.\n\n\u201cAs one of the first Black television anchors at WALB, John opened doors and set an example for generations, carrying himself with professionalism, grace, and an unshakable commitment to truth. In 1975, he answered another call to serve, joining the General Assembly where we worked together. Over nearly two decades he fought tirelessly for his constituents by championing education, public safety, and opportunity for working families. He was a relentless leader who measured success by the number of lives that were improved.\n\n\u201cJohn introduced the Georgia Lottery bill in 1977, which was later championed by Governor Zell Miller, and which now funds the Hope Scholarship that supports thousands of Georgia\u2019s college students each year.\n\n\u201cHe enlightened classrooms, strengthened neighborhoods, and instilled hope in countless people who benefited from his compassion and conviction.\n\n\u201cMy wife, Vivian, and I offer our deepest sympathies to John\u2019s family, friends, and all who knew and loved him. Words cannot fully convey the magnitude of this loss, but may the memory of his warmth, his courage as a barrier-breaker, and his extraordinary devotion to public service bring you comfort. We are better because of him.\n\n\u201cLet us honor John White by carrying forward the values he embodied \u2014 leadership, fierce care for our neighbors, and a steadfast commitment to justice and opportunity.\n\n\u201cRest in peace, my friend. Your life changed lives, and your example will light our way for years to come.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:21:02Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-delivers-keynote-speech-innovation-alliance", "Congressman Johnson Delivers Keynote Speech for the Innovation Alliance", "2026-05-11", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Ranking Member Johnson\n\nHouse Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet\n\nKeynote Speech for the Innovation Alliance\n\nMay 11, 2026\n\nThank you for that introduction and thank you for inviting me here to speak with all of you today. Patent and innovation policy is often viewed by people not in the business of inventing as an esoteric area of the law, meant more for corporations than everyday people like you and me. But America\u2019s founders meant for patents to be for the people\u2014not giants. They believed that by rewarding any individual who can meet the standard for a patent, all of us would thrive. But reputations like patent\u2019s \u201csport of kings\u201d can be difficult to overcome. And it\u2019s been made worse by two decades of system change that have made it harder to own and enforce a patent.\n\nI\u2019m here today to say it\u2019s time to make the patent system work for the people again.\n\nOne of the reasons America\u2019s economy became the envy of the world is not just because we have smart people here. It\u2019s because we have a system to allow those people to make a living by coming up with new and better ideas. Innovators with the confidence to invest in themselves know that a novel idea can change not just the world but the course of their own life.\n\nBut it\u2019s not always so easy. Anyone who works with innovators and inventors can tell you that unpredictability is the hallmark of innovation. Patents are granted to creations that are, among a few other requirements, new. To invent, we need to do something that has never been done before. Individuals need the resources, investment, and most of all the promise that if they are able to discover something new, they can own their idea, without someone stealing it.\n\nYes, nothing is stopping inventors from getting to work inventing. But to make those innovations and discoveries worth the time, energy, and money needed to obtain a patent, the resulting patent needs to be more than a piece of paper they can hang on their wall. A patent should be reliable enough for an inventor to be able to convince investors to help transform the idea into a reality\u2014from paper to products on the shelves.\n\nTwo decades of changes that included multiple Supreme Court decisions, landscape-shifting statutory amendments, and technology evolving faster than most experts can keep up, have made for opaque rules governing enforcement of patent rights. Even once an innovator owns their patent, it can be difficult to know that it won\u2019t be taken away if and when a bigger fish infringes on it. That is why I\u2019m a proud cosponsor of the Restore Act, which would bring preliminary injunctions back to patent litigation. It is not the only fix we need, and certainly not the largest, but it is a positive step in the right direction.\n\nBut innovation isn\u2019t just about enforcement; the strength of the patent office affects the strength of individual inventors\u2019 patents too. Let me explain: Under the Trump administration, the patent office\u2019s workplace morale has plummeted, likely because of the administration\u2019s layoffs, which were bizarrely characterized as an attempt to save money, even though the USPTO is self-funded. USPTO employees\u2019 collective bargaining rights were undermined by President Trump, destabilizing the already fragile work force. And the USPTO has limited the number of hours that examiners can be compensated for working on an application.\n\nIf these changes sound to you like internal strife unrelated to patent law, you should look closer. Patent examiners, employees who work on international innovation issues, and coordinators who do outreach to underserved communities directly affect the strength of patents granted, the enforceability of those patents overseas, and the pool of innovators working on the next big idea.\n\nThis lost mission is most obvious in the USPTO\u2019s cancellation of its planned Southeast Regional Outreach Office in Atlanta, Georgia. The USPTO chose Atlanta after a long process, as proscribed under the law. Instead of going forward, the Trump Administration cancelled this outreach to the Silicon Valley of the South and instead opened it within the USPTO headquarters already in Alexandria, Virginia. Yes, this contract was near and dear to my heart, but it also would have served an innovation hub in the United States, to foster more individual inventors, decentralized from Washington, D.C. and the President.\n\nAmerican innovation can thrive only when the opportunity to participate is accessible to all. By placing the Southeast Office at USPTO headquarters just outside of DC, the USPTO has limited its reach and concentrated opportunity among those already best positioned to access it.\n\nAs you can see, I strongly disagree with the Trump Administration, and I dislike what they\u2019ve done to the USPTO. But I acknowledge the effort Director Squires has made to reform the patent trial and appeals board, which reflects ideas my Subcommittee examined when I was Chair, and which has similarities to those proposed in my colleague Congresswoman Ross\u2019s PREVAIL Act legislation. Even then, while these administrative changes are certainly worth discussion, agency action is not the same as legislation.\n\nWhen the Director changes, so can agency rules. Patents exist to ensure that research and development rests on firm, predictable ground. This kind of vacillation between presidential administrations undermines the stability that is essential to a functioning patent system. Ultimately, these are questions for Congress to decide, not the agency; and they are questions I look forward to addressing if I become Chairman of this subcommittee next Congress.\n\nA healthy USPTO requires clear rules, consistent leadership free from political influence and a steadfast commitment to protecting those who take the risk to create. It is incumbent upon us to get these questions right because inventors and job creators are not asking for favors, they are asking for a predictable and stable system they can rely on. When policy shifts with the political whims of an administration, it is the individuals in the American innovation system who pay the price.\n\nI applaud everyone in this room for their commitment to creating a patent system that works for everyone, and I welcome your questions.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:21:02Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/05/08/reps-mcbath-williams-sens-ossoff-rev-warnock-upgrading-stormwater-infrastructure-in-east-point/", "Reps. McBath & Williams, Sens. Ossoff & Rev. Warnock Upgrading\u00a0Stormwater Infrastructure in East Point", "2026-05-08", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "East Point, Ga. \u2014 U.S. Representatives Lucy McBath (GA-06) and Nikema Williams (GA-05), alongside Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock, are delivering resources to upgrade stormwater infrastructure in East Point. $1,092,000 is being delivered for the project through bipartisan government funding legislation that became law on January 23.\n\nThe members brought Republicans and Democrats in Congress together to deliver Federal funding for key stormwater infrastructure upgrades along Norman Berry Drive in East Point, including a storm water main replacement and headwall restoration to improve stormwater flows and prevent sink holes in the area.\n\n\u201cFailing stormwater infrastructure isn\u2019t just an eyesore\u2013it can cause serious safety hazards and street flooding,\u201d McBath said. \u201cWorking together, my colleagues and I helped to bring needed federal investments to repair storm lines in our community. This funding will reduce flooding concerns and keep our community clean.\u201d\n\nWilliams said: \u201cSecuring clean, safe, and dependable water infrastructure for the families of East Point is just one way we can deliver the most basic of needs for Georgians. I\u2019m proud to join my Georgia colleagues in bringing $1,092,000 back to the people of East Point.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery town in Georgia deserves safe, effective water infrastructure,\u201d said Sen. Ossoff. \u201cThat\u2019s why we bought Republicans and Democrats together to upgrade stormwater infrastructure in East Point.\u201d\n\n\u201cSafe and clean water infrastructure is something that every thriving community needs,\u201d said Senator Warnock. \u201cI am proud to work alongside my Georgia colleagues to bring these federal funds to Georgia.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-on-the-passing-of-entrepreneur-humanitarian-ted-turner", "Congressman Bishop on the passing of entrepreneur & humanitarian, Ted Turner", "2026-05-06", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "ALBANY, Ga. \u2013 Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) issued the following statement after the passing of humanitarian and entrepreneur, Ted Turner:\n\n\"I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ted Turner. His vision transformed the landscape of American media\u2014creating outlets that changed how we receive news, how we watch sports, and how the world sees itself. As an entrepreneur and innovator, he displayed a rare combination of bold risk-taking and relentless determination that pushed an entire industry forward.\n\n\"Beyond his business accomplishments, Ted Turner was a committed philanthropist whose generosity extended far beyond monetary gifts. His investments in conservation, education, and public discourse reflected a belief that those who prosper must also give back. That spirit of service and stewardship is a legacy that will continue to benefit communities here at home and around the globe.\n\n\"Vivian and I extend our deepest condolences to his family, his colleagues, and the many people whose lives were touched by his work. In moments like this we remember not only the accomplishments but the human being behind them\u2014the curiosity, the drive, and the capacity to imagine a different future. May his family find comfort and strength in the memories they share, and may his contributions inspire future generations to lead with both ambition and compassion.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:21:02Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-demands-trump-reverse-ending-programs-that-support-minority-owned-small-businesses", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Demands Trump Reverse Ending Programs that Support Minority-Owned Small Businesses", "2026-05-05", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) led 22 other members of Congress in a congressional push demanding President Trump reverse his efforts to dismantle programs that support minority-owned small businesses.\n\nOn March 26, 2026, Trump signed the executive order \u201cAddressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors,\u201d which does not protect against discrimination but instead reinstitutionalizes it. The order prohibits federal contractors from conducting targeted outreach to vendors of color, establishing mentoring or leadership development programs for underrepresented entrepreneurs, or directing any resources toward inclusion. Contractors who fail to comply face cancellation, suspension, and permanent debarment.\n\nIn January 2026, the Trump administration went beyond what any court required and declared the Small Business Administration\u2019s 8(a) Business Development Program a burden on white Americans, stripping race from eligibility determinations entirely. Under the pretense of fraud and abuse associated with DEI favoritism, approximately 4,300 firms were required to submit years of financial records in a sweeping data call. Over 1,000 were suspended for missing the compliance deadline, and more than 600 are now being terminated. In 2025, only 65 businesses were admitted to the program\u2014down from more than 700 the year prior.\n\nIn October 2025, Trump gutted the Department of Transportation\u2019s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, which served as the primary pathway for minority- and women-owned firms to access airport contracting opportunities that had been closed to them.\n\nIn March 2025, Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), the only federal agency created specifically to support the growth of minority-owned businesses.\n\nThe Members wrote:\n\n\u201cFor decades, the federal government has recognized a simple truth: equal opportunity cannot exist where equal access has never been granted. From the Small Business Act of 1953 to the establishment of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program in 1983, this nation made a sustained commitment to ensuring that minority-owned small businesses could compete, contribute, and thrive in the American economy. That commitment was not charity, rather, these investments in economic opportunity sprang from an acknowledgment that centuries of exclusion will not self-correct without deliberate policy changes.\u201d\n\n\u201cLet us be clear about what is happening here. Your administration is not protecting civil rights; rather it\u2019s weaponizing the language of civil rights to dismantle the very infrastructure built to make them real. We are not fooled and we reject that framing entirely.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe call on you to rescind the March 26, 2026 Executive Order, to direct Secretary Sean Duffy to restore the DOT\u2019s DBE and ACDBE programs with race-conscious eligibility intact, direct Administrator Kelly Loeffler to reinstate the SBA 8(a) program\u2019s original mission, and fully restore the Minority Business Development Agency.\u201d\n\n\u201cEntrepreneurs of color built their businesses despite every barrier this country placed in front of them, and they will continue to thrive, despite these discriminatory policies.\u201d\n\nThe letter was signed by: Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Rep. Wesley Bell (MO-01), Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rep. Andre Carson (IN-07), Rep. Ed Case (HI-01), Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Rep. Al Green (TX-09), Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Rep. Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC At-Large), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Rep. Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-02), and Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01).", 1, "2026-05-06T06:05:57Z", "2026-05-06T06:07:49Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/05/04/mcbath-announces-winners-of-the-2026-congressional-art-competition/", "McBath Announces Winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition", "2026-05-04", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "McBath Encourages Georgians to Prepare for Severe Weather\n\nAtlanta, GA \u2014 With the arrival of severe weather threats during the summer months, Rep. Lucy McBath is...\n\nRep. Lucy McBath Receives 2026 Democracy Award for Best of Bipartisan Collaboration\n\nAtlanta, GA \u2014 Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) and her office have received the 2026 Democracy Award for \u201cBest...\n\nMcBath Hosts Town Hall Event with 8,100 Participants During Gun Violence Prevention & Awareness Month\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Last night, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) hosted an interactive Telephone Town Hall event...\n\nMcBath, Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus, Thompson, Dingell Highlight Domestic Violence Solutions During Gun Violence Prevention Month\n\nWashington, DC \u2013 Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (D\u2011GA\u201106), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Crime Subcommittee...\n\nThe Hill: Georgia Democrat renews push for federal red flag law\n\nBy Max Rego The Hill Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) on Tuesday renewed her push for legislation expanding red...\n\nCrime Subcommittee Ranking Member McBath Hosts Spotlight Hearing on Gun Violence Prevention\n\nWashington, DC \u2013 Today, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) hosted a Spotlight...\n\nMcBath, Merkley Lead Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Child Care Workforce Shortage\n\nWashington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) led...\n\nMcBath, Warren, 70+ Lawmakers Reintroduce Bicameral Bill to Address Maternal Health Risks During Public Health Emergencies\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and...\n\nAtlanta News First: Georgia lawmakers press DOJ for details on subpoena for Fulton County election worker information\n\nATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) \u2014 Georgia\u2019s two U.S. senators and congressmembers representing Fulton County want...\n\nUSA Today: Double amputee in Georgia ICE detention shares horrifying story of centers\n\nBy Irene Wright NORCROSS, GA (USA Today) \u2013 \"Hey, everybody. I'm grateful to be here.\" Rodney Taylor,...", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/press-releases?ID=5C1B217F-9070-4C22-A9E1-4B50D892C913", "McBath Announces Winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition", "2026-05-04", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Atlanta, GA \u2014 This weekend, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) hosted students and their families at the Cultural Arts Council Douglasville for her 2026 Sixth District Congressional Art Competition reception and awards ceremony. During the event, she announced the top 3 winners for this year\u2019s competition.\n\n\u201cI am so proud of how well-represented our entire district was in this competition,\u201d McBath said. \u201cIt is a joy each year to celebrate the talent and creativity on display by young people in our community. I give thanks to their parents and teachers who helped inspire a love of the arts at such a young age. Congratulations to our winners and to all our competing students!\u201d\n\nThis year\u2019s competition received 25 submissions from 10 high schools across Georgia\u2019s Sixth Congressional District. Schools represented in the competition were Atlanta Classical Academy, Atlanta International School, Chapel Hill High School, Creekside High School, Douglas County High School, The Galloway School, McEachern High School, New Manchester High School, North Atlanta High School, and Woodward Academy. A digital gallery of all 25 submissions can be viewed on McBath\u2019s website at https://mcbath.house.gov/art-competition.\n\nThe winners of the Sixth District 2026 Congressional Art Competition are:\n\nThird Place: Amya Newell, Crossandra (McEachern High School)\n\nSecond Place: Tim Wang, Still Face (Woodward Academy)\n\nFirst Place: Sarah Vinnik, Out of The Moment (North Atlanta High School)\n\nPictured above: Rep. McBath with competing students at Saturday\u2019s competition\n\nPictured above from left to right: Amya Newell, Rep. McBath, Tim Wang, and Sarah Vinnik\n\nThe first-place winner of the competition will have their work displayed in the Cannon Tunnel at the U.S. Capitol. The second-place winner will have their work displayed in Rep. McBath\u2019s Washington, D.C. office. The third-place winner will have their work displayed in Rep. McBath\u2019s Atlanta district office.", 1, "2026-05-05T05:58:12Z", "2026-05-05T05:59:44Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-condemns-the-prosecution-of-southern-poverty-law-center", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Condemns the Prosecution of Southern Poverty Law Center", "2026-05-04", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) led 16 other members of Congress in condemning the Department of Justice for its prosecution efforts of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).\n\nOn Tuesday, April 21, the Department of Justice sought and obtained an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center on 11 counts of wire and bank fraud. The indictment that the Department of Justice sought was a troubling escalation of the attacks on non-profits, educational institutions and law firms, an ever expanding enemies list.\n\nThe Members wrote:\n\n\u201cThe prosecution efforts of your Justice Department are troubling, sinister, and suspect. We condemn these efforts in the strongest possible terms and will not allow the Department of Justice to dismantle civil rights organizations while simultaneously abdicating your civil rights responsibilities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Department of Justice is weaponizing its powers to weaken the Southern Poverty Law Center and the entire infrastructure of civil rights advocacy. Your attack on the Southern Poverty Law Center began last year when the Department of Justice completely severed its relationship with the Southern Poverty Law Center, a relationship going back decades. Now, your indictment represents a dangerous departure from anti-white supremacist work that Department of Justice has pursued for decades and that Southern Poverty Law Center conducts to protect our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis indictment not only impacts the efficacy and operation of the Southern Poverty Law Center; it also sends a chilling message to other civil rights organizations. As the Trump Administration continues to implement policies which limit and curtail the fundamental rights of Americans. The message is clear:if you stand up against your administration\u2019s civil rights abuses, then you will endanger your tax-exempt status, and come under legal fire.\u201d\n\nIn addition, the Members demanded answers to the following questions:\n\nWhat is the history and practice of the FBI using paid informants in its investigations?\n\nWhich official from the Trump Administration ordered this investigation and pursuit of the subsequent indictment?\n\nWhat data do you have to prove that the use of paid informants \u201cmanufactures the extremism\u201d of the white supremacist groups the Southern Poverty Law Center was investigating?\n\nAre there any other organizations on your list that you plan to indict for similar charges?\n\nIf so, which groups are under investigation for similar charges, and what evidence do you have to show that these organizations criminally misused funds?\n\nThe letter was signed by: Rep. Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Rep. Terri A. Sewell (AL-07), Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Rep. Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06), Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02), Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Rep. Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07), Rep. Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL)", 1, "2026-05-05T05:58:12Z", "2026-05-05T05:59:44Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-statement-on-republican-farm-bill", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 Statement on Republican Farm Bill", "2026-05-02", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement in regards to voting NO to the Republican-led Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567):\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams said:\n\n\u201cThe Republican Farm Bill ignores the millions of working families struggling to keep food on the table\u2014the kids going to school hungry and the parents skipping meals to afford healthcare. It also leaves our 1890 land-grant HBCUs stuck with stagnant funding, even as inflation drives up costs and demand for their services grows. These institutions are pillars of education, research, and opportunity in our communities, and they deserve real investment\u2014not neglect. As Trump\u2019s trade war, tariffs, and inaction on affordability strain family budgets, Republicans are choosing to cut SNAP benefits that keep people fed while shortchanging the very institutions that help communities build a path forward.\u201d", 1, "2026-05-03T06:05:54Z", "2026-05-03T06:07:11Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-statement-on-voting-against-mass-surveillance", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 Statement on Voting Against Mass Surveillance", "2026-04-30", "2026", "2026-04", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement in regards to voting NO to the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act:\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams said:\n\n\u201cMass surveillance is a civil rights issue. This Administration has shown little interest in protecting the civil and Constitutional rights of the American people, and this legislation only makes matters worse. It lacks meaningful warrant requirements and judicial oversight, effectively asking the very agencies with a history of abuse to police themselves. That is not accountability. Congress must establish real guardrails to address the growing risks of over-surveillance.\n\nWe cannot protect our freedoms by chipping away at our privacy. Our fundamental rights should never be sacrificed under the guise of national security. The American people deserve transparency, accountability, and enforceable safeguards\u2014not expanded government surveillance. That\u2019s why I voted no on the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.\u201d", 1, "2026-05-01T06:06:26Z", "2026-05-01T06:08:22Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-statement-on-supreme-courts-gutting-of-voting-rights-act", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams\u2019 Statement on Supreme Court\u2019s Gutting of Voting Rights Act", "2026-04-29", "2026", "2026-04", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement in reaction to the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling on Louisiana v Callais:\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams said:\n\n\u201cThe Supreme Court\u2019s decision is another step away from the promise of equal representation under the Voting Rights Act. This decision weakens the voting power of Black Americans and is a direct attack on Black representation in Congress. It\u2019s clear that Republicans, carrying the water for Donald Trump, are doing anything possible to take power while gutting the voting power of millions of Americans who would hold them accountable. We have fought this before, and we will fight this again to protect our fundamental right to vote and elect leaders who truly represent us.\u201d", 1, "2026-04-30T06:05:15Z", "2026-04-30T06:07:09Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-statement-on-supreme-court-decision-destroying-the-voting-rights-act", "Congressman Bishop Statement on Supreme Court Decision Destroying the Voting Rights Act", "2026-04-29", "2026", "2026-04", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) issued the following statement in response to today\u2019s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which erodes Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965:\n\n\u201cThe price of freedom is truly eternal vigilance. Today\u2019s U.S. Supreme Court decision is the latest in a line of decisions which has decimated the Voting Rights Act and left it a shell of the landmark legislative achievement of the Civil Rights Movement. This decision ignores our country\u2019s history of racism and reopens the door to Jim Crow era, undemocratic tactics that suppressed and denied power to minority voters and communities.\n\n\u201cNonetheless, we shall not be moved, and I will not be deterred. I will continue to use the democratic process to fight for free and fair elections and do all I can to strengthen democratic safeguards.\n\n\u201cCongress should pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, forthwith. As John Lewis, my dear friend and colleague, once said, \u2018the right to vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a democratic society. We must use it.\u2019\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:19:40Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-hank-johnsons-statement-supreme-court-decision-eviscerating", "CONGRESSMAN HANK JOHNSON'S STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT DECISION EVISCERATING THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT", "2026-04-29", "2026", "2026-04", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts Ranking Member Johnson released the following statement:\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 \"Today\u2019s 6 to 3 MAGA Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v Callais hurtles the precept of democracy for all backwards, in the same way as the equally egregious 1896 Louisiana case of Plessy v. Ferguson, which legalized Jim Crow racism. Today\u2019s throwback decision legalizes Jim Crow 2.0 and is a devastating blow to the voting rights of Black people, and to American democracy itself. In the words of the immortal John Lewis -- 'we must get out and vote like our lives depended on it.' \"\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:19:40Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-hosts-2026-fighting-fifth-congressional-art-competition", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Hosts 2026 Fighting Fifth Congressional Art Competition", "2026-04-27", "2026", "2026-04", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "ATLANTA, GA \u2013 This weekend, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) joined high school students from across the Fifth Congressional District of Georgia, their families, art professionals and teachers, and elected officials to celebrate the participants of the 2026 Fighting Fifth Congressional District Art Competition and award this year\u2019s winners.\n\nThe Congresswoman also presented the Janke Studio with a Congressional Proclamation recognizing them as a powerful example of how Atlanta cultivates creativity, builds community, and influences culture on every level.\n\nThe awards recognized were People\u2019s Choice, Staff Choice, Carter\u2019s Choice, 3rd Place, 2nd Place, and 1st Place. The winners were:\n\nFirst Place: \u201cDestined for Greatness\u201d by Mariyah Thompson, Frederick Douglass High School\n\nSecond Place: \u201cThe Future Is In Your Hands\u201d by Madison Brown, Maynard Jackson High School\n\nThird Place: \u201cOrigains\u201d by Amina Jabbi, Benjamin E. Mays High School\n\nCarter\u2019s Choice: \u201c2 Face\u201d by Jayden Lawless, Benjamin E. Mays High School, & \u201cVermilion Bush\u201d by DaShaun Tucker, Riverdale High School\n\nStaff Choice: \u201cAffliction\u201d by Ashton Grakoui, C&H Art Studio\n\nPeople\u2019s Choice: \u201cThe Future Is In Your Hands\u201d by Madison Brown, Maynard Jackson High School\n\n2026 Fighting Fifth Congressional Art Competition first place winner, \u201cDestined for Greatness\u201d by Mariyah Thompson, Frederick Douglass High School\n\nSecond place winner and People\u2019s Choice award winner, \u201cThe Future Is In Your Hands\u201d by Madison Brown, Maynard Jackson High School\n\nThird place winner, \u201cOrigains\u201d by Amina Jabbi, Benjamin E. Mays High School\n\nCarter\u2019s Choice winner, \u201c2 Face\u201d by Jayden Lawless, Benjamin E. Mays High School, & \u201cVermilion Bush\u201d by DaShaun Tucker, Riverdale High School\n\nStaff Choice winner, \u201cAffliction\u201d by Ashton Grakoui, C&H Art Studio\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams with the art competition winners and participants and their families.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams with the 2026 Congressional Art Competition Committee.", 1, "2026-04-28T06:05:12Z", "2026-04-28T06:07:17Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-the-wise-act-to-permanently-fund-clean-water-projects-2", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces the WISE Act to Permanently Fund Clean Water Projects", "2026-04-22", "2026", "2026-04", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced the Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Efficiency (WISE) Act. The bill will permanently set aside 20 percent of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for environmentally friendly water infrastructure projects. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund provides states with funds for water quality projects at the state and local level and is the largest source of federal financing for clean water infrastructure projects. Congresswoman Williams introduced similar legislation in the 117th and 118th Congress. Congresswoman Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13) is co-leading introduction of the WISE Act.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cEnvironmental justice means clean water for all. However, in too many communities, neglected infrastructure leads to unsafe water that puts people\u2019s health and future at risk. No family should have to worry about what\u2019s coming out of their tap. I\u2019m committed to investing in modern, resilient infrastructure and ensuring safe, affordable water so everyone can live healthy, thriving lives\u2014no matter their ZIP code or bank account.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll Ohioans deserve access to clean water, but our aging infrastructure threatens the health and safety of our communities,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cThe WISE Act will build upon the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law\u2019s historic investments to strengthen our water systems by ensuring critical funding from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund is used to build resilient water infrastructure that safeguards our environment. As the Vice Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I am proud to support innovative efforts like these that improve the quality of our water and environment.\u201d\n\nThe WISE Act is supported by numerous environmental organizations including the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Alliance for Water Efficiency, the Water Environment Federation, and the National Wildlife Federation.\n\nTorey Carter-Conneen, CEO, American Society of Landscape Architects said:\n\n\u201cPermanently doubling investment in nature-based solutions is a practical step toward safer, healthier, and more livable communities. By reducing flooding, improving water quality, and lowering long-term costs, these investments deliver lasting benefits people can see and feel in their daily lives, especially in communities most in need. Landscape architects see the impact of these solutions firsthand; our work in planning and design proves they deliver results. Congress should act now to advance the WISE Act.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the text of the WISE Act", 1, "2026-04-23T05:48:52Z", "2026-04-23T05:50:10Z"], ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/honoring-the-life-and-legacy-of-congressman-david-scott", "Honoring the Life and Legacy of Congressman David Scott", "2026-04-22", "2026", "2026-04", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement on the passing of Congressman David Scott (GA-13).\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cI am deeply saddened by the passing of my colleague, Congressman David Scott. He devoted his life to public service and never wavered in his commitment to lifting up the voices of those in Georgia\u2019s 13th Congressional District and communities across our state and country. As the first Black Chair of the House Agriculture Committee in the United States House of Representatives, he leaves a legacy of working to expand our agricultural sector, make food more affordable, ending hunger and supporting our nation\u2019s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.\n\nThroughout my career, I had the privilege of working alongside him\u2014from my days at Planned Parenthood to the Democratic Party to serving together on the House Financial Services Committee. He was always generous with his time, steady in his support, and committed to our shared mission to serve the people of Georgia.\n\nLeslie, Carter, and I are keeping Congressman Scott\u2019s entire family, especially his wife of 57 years, Mrs. Alfredia Aaron Scott, friends, staff, and constituents in our prayers as we mourn this loss and honor his remarkable legacy of service to Georgia and beyond.\u201d", 1, "2026-04-23T05:48:52Z", "2026-04-23T05:50:10Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bishop-mourns-passing-of-friend-colleague-rep-david-scott", "Rep. Bishop Mourns Passing of Friend & Colleague, Rep. David Scott", "2026-04-22", "2026", "2026-04", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", "bishop", "https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), led the U.S. House of Representatives in a moment of silence following the passing of Congressman David Scott (GA-13). Following the moment of silence, he released this statement:\n\n\u201cDavid and I served side by side for decades \u2014 first in the Georgia General Assembly and later together in the United States House of Representatives. More so, we shared a friendship rooted in faith, family, and a deep commitment to the people we represent. I have known David and his family for many years. My wife, Vivian, and I join countless Georgians in mourning his loss and in holding his loved ones close.\n\n\u201cAs a leader on the House Agriculture Committee, David\u2019s voice was both steady and compassionate. It was particularly poignant when, in 2020, he became the first African-American chair of that committee \u2014 a historic moment that reflected his years of principled leadership. He used that platform to fight for 1890 land\u2011grant institutions and disadvantaged farmers who too often have been left behind, working tirelessly to secure resources for the agricultural producers, rural communities, and nutrition programs that sustain our state and our nation.\n\n\u201cDavid\u2019s devotion to the larger agricultural community \u2014 from small family farms across Georgia to cooperative extension and HBCU researchers \u2014 was personal and persistent. He understood that the health of our farms, the dignity of our workers, and the nourishment of our people are bound together, and he labored each day to translate that understanding into results.\n\n\u201cTo Alfredia, his children, grandchildren, and all who loved him: words cannot fully express our sorrow. We will honor David\u2019s memory by continuing the work he loved \u2014 by standing with our farmers, defending nutrition programs, and fighting for opportunity for all.\n\n\u201cMay God comfort his family and may David rest in peace.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:19:40Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-passing-congressman-david-scott", "Congressman Johnson on the Passing of Congressman David Scott", "2026-04-22", "2026", "2026-04", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Hank Johnson released the following statement:\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. -- \u201cI am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my dear friend and colleague, David Scott. He was a man of deep faith who constantly studied the Bible, but he was never pompous and was simply a regular guy. When I came to Congress, he took me under his wing, showed me the ropes, and offered me some guidance that I have carried with me and tried to follow. He was a good man, and I will miss him. My and Mereda\u2019s prayers are with David\u2019s wife Alfredia, his daughters Dayna and Marcye, and the entire family and staff during this difficult time.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:19:40Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 3858, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"party\" = :p1 and \"state\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "Democrat", "p2": "GA"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", 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