{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/2026/07/01/slotkin-van-hollen-colleagues-press-epa-to-reinstate-epa-employees-retaliated-against-for-exercising-their-right-to-free-speech/", "Slotkin, Van Hollen, Colleagues\u00a0Press\u00a0EPA\u00a0to Reinstate EPA Employees Retaliated Against for Exercising their Right to Free Speech", "2026-07-01", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Elissa Slotkin", "S001208", "www.slotkin.senate.gov", "slotkin", "https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/newsroom/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) were joined by more than 20 of their Senate colleagues in pressing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to reverse disciplinary actions taken on employees for signing a \u201cDeclaration of Dissent\u201d in defense of scientific integrity, whistleblower rights, and constitutional protections last year.\n\n\u201cIn light of recent evidence showing a violation of constitutional and whistleblower rights, we demand that you reverse the firings and disciplinary actions imposed on employees for signing a \u201cDeclaration of Dissent\u201d in defense of scientific integrity, whistleblower rights, and constitutional protections,\u201d the Senators began.\n\nOn the June 30, 2025 \u201cDeclaration of Dissent\u201d letter the approximately 270 current and former EPA staff signed, the Senators wrote, \u201cThe language of the letter clearly states that the employees were signing in their personal capacity. EPA has not produced any evidence that would indicate that EPA employees used official resources or otherwise were acting in their professional capacity in writing and signing the \u201cDeclaration of Dissent,\u201d nor has EPA provided a legitimate workplace-related justification for disciplining the signers of the letter that would possibly outweigh employees\u2019 free speech rights.\u201d\n\n\u201cEven after the recent revelations from EPA legal counsel, EPA continues to retaliate against staff by upholding the suspensions of over 140 workers and the firing of 20 others. Overturning the punishments is crucial to prevent a chilling effect on free speech. Stifling dissent cripples the agency\u2019s ability to protect the public and is causing the loss of the experienced staff needed to carry out EPA\u2019s mission,\u201d they continued.\n\n\u201cGiven the lack of any evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever, we support the EPA employees\u2019 continued campaign to be exonerated and applaud them for the bravery it took to speak out about these matters of grave public concern. We call on you to reverse course, to reinstate all those who were fired for speaking out, and overturn all other discipline imposed. Speaking the truth is not a fireable offense. It is the public duty of every citizen who cares about protecting our health,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nSenator Van Hollen was joined in sending this letter by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).\n\nA copy of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-02T06:20:02Z", "2026-07-02T06:21:32Z"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/2026/07/01/slotkin-van-hollen-colleagues-press-epa-to-reinstate-epa-employees-retaliated-against-for-exercising-their-right-to-free-speech/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9625446982681751, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}