url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=819,"Vermont Congressional Delegation Announces Over $33.2 Million in Long-Awaited FEMA Funding to Support Flood Buyouts, Hazard Mitigation Across Vermont",2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"BURLINGTON, VT – The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), today announced the delivery of over $33.2 million in new federal funding, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to support flood recovery and resiliency in Vermont.

This funding includes more than $27.6 million to support the buyout of at least 90 homes across Vermont that are located within a floodplain, at risk of landslide, or sustained irreparable damage from flooding in 2023 and 2024. Families who applied for buyouts will receive compensation for their property from the state of Vermont. The state will then demolish the structure and maintain the land as open green space in perpetuity. The additional $5.6 million in funding will support costs associated with the administration of Vermont’s Emergency Management and future hazard mitigation plans.

“Over the last several years, our office has worked with Vermonters who were uprooted from their homes and left to navigate the complicated FEMA grant-making process while waiting far too long for a path forward,” said Rep. Balint. “For many families, this funding will bring welcome—though bittersweet—closure after years of uncertainty. It will also provide real economic relief and give communities much needed resources to become more resilient to future flooding. I’m grateful to everyone who kept pushing to get these dollars out the door, and I’ll keep fighting to make sure Vermont gets the federal support it needs to recover and rebuild.”

“For too many Vermonters, our state’s recent floods are painful memories of homes washed away, livelihoods destroyed, roads and bridges decimated, and sadly, lives lost. There is no good reason that Vermonters should have to wait years to receive the help they need to recover and rebuild when disasters strike. Volunteers, town work crews, rescue teams, state and local employees and fellow Vermonters have done extraordinary work over the past three years to keep our communities safe, and this long-overdue federal funding will help make Vermont more resilient against the future floods and other climate impacts we unfortunately know are coming,” said Senator Sanders.

“To say that these buyouts are long-overdue is a massive understatement. We have Vermonters whose lives and livelihoods were in limbo for over three years as they waited for FEMA to act. These buyouts are a major step in the right direction, but our work helping folks recover from these floods isn’t over—not by a long shot,” said Senator Welch. “I’ll continue working with federal, state, and local partners to ensure flood-impacted Vermonters gets the support they need and deserve to rebuild their homes and lives.”",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=817,Rep. Balint Introduces Bill to Strengthen Coordination Between 988 and 911 Call Centers,2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL), a member of Congress’s bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, and Doris Matsui (CA-7), a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, today introduced the 988 and 911 Integration Act. This bill, which is part of the larger, bipartisan 988 Implementation Act being introduced today by Reps. Doris Matsui (CA-7) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) would establish a panel, jointly convened by the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice, to make recommendations on integrating 988 and 911 services. The panel would include representatives from each segment of the crisis care response network including behavioral health professionals, law enforcement officers, and crisis response professionals, and would update its recommendations every five years.

In addition to Reps. Balint and Matsui, the 988 and 911 Integration Act is cosponsored by Reps. Lori Trahan (MA-3), Adam Smith (WA-9), Jennifer McClellan (VA-4), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL).

The panel established by the 988 and 911 Integration Act would:

Provide recommendations on technical and operational integration of the 988 and 911 call lines and appropriate response;

Establish training, staffing, and protocol requirements to ensure that 988 and 911 dispatch personnel respond appropriately to callers in crisis;

Ensure appropriate care is provided to members of particularly vulnerable communities, including Native Americans, veterans and service members; and,

Develop data collection and reporting standards to monitor outcomes for individuals who contact 911 and 988 in mental health crisis.

""Especially during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, I’m incredibly proud to be introducing the 988 and 911 Integration Act,” said Rep. Balint, a member of the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus. “One of my top priorities in Congress is reducing stigma and taking real action to improve access to mental healthcare. We know that mental health affects not just individuals, but also their families and communities, too. This bill, alongside the broader 988 Implementation Act, would help local communities strengthen and better utilize 988 resources–a lifeline for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis–and bridge gaps in care in communities all over the country.”

Addressing the mental health and loneliness crises in American communities is one of Rep. Balint’s biggest priorities in Congress. She is focused on finding ways to address the systemic drivers of rising costs in the health care system. Rep. Balint has previously introduced health legislation that would increase the mental and behavioral health workforce pipeline to address shortages and provide increased payment for critical health services like EMS personnel providing care on scene.

The 988 and 911 Integration Act has been endorsed by: Active Minds, American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP), American Association on Health and Disability, American Group Psychotherapy Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare (AABH), Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), Connections Health Solutions, Crisis Text Line, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), Easterseals, Inc., Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice, Huntington's Disease Society of America, International Society for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, Lakeshore Foundation, Legal Action Center, NAMI, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of Social Workers, National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National League for Nursing, Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN), SMART Recovery, Steinberg Institute, Sycamores, The American Counseling Association, The Miles Hall Foundation, The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, The National Federation of Families, The Paramedic Foundation/American College of Paramedics/American Paramedic Association, The Trevor Project, Tourette Association of America, and Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC).

The full text of the 988 and 911 Integration Act can be found here. A one pager can be found here.

A section-by-section summary of the 988 Implementation Act can be found here. A summary of the individual bills within the package, including the 988 and 911 Integration Act can be found here.

###",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=807,Vermont Congressional Delegation Calls on USPS to Address Persistent Shortfalls in Serving Vermonters,2026-08-21,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Read and download the Delegation’s full letter to USPS Postmaster General Steiner.

BURLINGTON, VT – The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), urged the Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service (USPS) to address massive shortfalls in serving Vermonters, who have for years experienced postal delivery delays and egregious service issues. In their letter to USPS Postmaster General David Steiner, who was appointed in 2025, the Delegation outlined how many Vermonters have dealt with reduced deliveries and deteriorating service for several years, following adoption of the Trump Administration’s flawed Delivering for America Plan.

The Delegation emphasized that the significant Postal Service issues facing Vermonters stem from decisions made by USPS leadership: “As you know, the Postal Service’s Delivering for America ten-year plan was launched in 2021, supposedly to modernize and support the financial self-sustainability of the postal network. Five years into this plan, mail delivery service in Vermont is at an all-time low, staffing shortages in the state are pervasive, and USPS has not improved its financial outlook.”

“In the first half of 2026 alone, our offices have received over 2,000 constituent complaints about the USPS mail service. Many of our constituents currently receive just one or two mail deliveries per week. Some residential areas have received zero mail deliveries over consecutive weeks. Vermonters living in South Burlington and the greater Chittenden County region have experienced particularly egregious service issues,” the Delegation continued. “These service failures have a significant impact on Vermonters: tax documents and bills are received after they are due, holiday cards come after the holiday season, and most critically, residents are forced to go without medical care when their prescriptions are not received on time.

The Delegation also underscored that inconsistent mail delivery is impeding state government services in Vermont: “The Vermont Agency of Administration has reported two separate instances over the last year when entire batches of vehicle titles were mailed out from the state Postal Center, received by USPS, and subsequently lost in transit. These incidents not only create unnecessary administrative burdens for the state, they also present real security threats to customers’ most sensitive personal information. Given these repeated detrimental impacts on government services, we are greatly concerned about USPS’ ability to deliver election ballots timely, which are automatically mailed by the state to all registered voters in Vermont, before they are mailed back to town and city clerks’ offices in time to be counted for elections.”

“Insufficient staff and monthslong delays in hiring and onboarding staff, mean that Vermont postal workers are working 12 hour days, seven days a week to ensure Vermonters receive their mail. USPS’ centralization of hiring processes and decision-making, has taken away hiring authority from Vermont postmasters, contributing to the problem,” the Delegation continued. “We deeply appreciate the hard work of Vermont’s postal employees, who, despite limited resources, continue to serve with dedication. We appreciate that USPS’ Northern New England (NNE) District is focused on improving recruitment and retention, including by increasing the number of career fairs and hiring events across the state, but these measures alone cannot remedy the chronic operational deficiencies at USPS.”

USPS’ stated mission is “to provide the nation with reliable, affordable, universal mail service” six days per week. What percentage of households in Vermont are currently receiving six days of mail delivery per week?

How many open mail carrier roles across Vermont remain vacant and what is the average length of vacancy?

Will USPS meet its hiring goals in Vermont this year?

What is the average length of time for hired personnel to complete onboarding and begin work? Please provide data for Vermont and nationally.

What steps has USPS taken to shorten and streamline the hiring and onboarding processes? Are additional authorities or direction from Congress required to further improve efficient staff onboarding?

What is the average length of tenure for postal employees across Vermont?

In January 2026, USPS’ NNE District Office confirmed to the Vermont Congressional Delegation that Vermont lags behind its regional neighbors in new employee recruitment numbers. What resources or strategies have you committed directly to the NNE District to boost statewide hiring efforts?

Due to insufficient staffing and delivery route coverage, Vermont requires the expeditious approval of Contract Delivery Service (CDS) to ensure that mail arrives timely. What steps are you taking to ensure that, while long-term hiring efforts are underway, routes are approved for contract service to ensure adequate coverage?

What are the average on-time delivery rates for last-mile delivery for 2024 and 2025?

What are the average on-time delivery rates for standard mail delivery services for 2024 and 2025?

What steps has the Postal Service taken to ensure that all ballots are timely delivered to eligible voters?

What specific elements of the ten-year plan have you identified that need to be altered or abandoned to ensure USPS can fulfill its mission?

As part of your fleet modernization plan, how many new delivery vehicles will Vermont receive to facilitate mail delivery?",1,2026-08-22T05:24:59Z,2026-08-22T05:26:16Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=780,"Balint, Warren, Banks, and Cline File Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Directing the FTC to Investigate Corporate Roll-ups of Firetruck Manufacturers",2026-07-21,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Resolution (PDF) | One Pager (PDF)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Becca Balint (D-Vt.) and Ben Cline (R-Va.), along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.), filed a bipartisan, bicameral resolution directing the FTC to investigate serial acquisitions of firetruck manufacturers.

Following two decades of consolidation by private equity firms and larger manufacturers, a vast majority of the fire truck manufacturing industry is now controlled by just three companies. Since then:

Prices have skyrocketed. Fire truck prices have doubled over the last decade, far outpacing inflation for heavy-duty truck manufacturing over that time period. Manufacturers have also exploited their market power to implement “floating” prices, increasing the final price of a fire truck after it goes into production.

Manufacturing plants have shuttered. Dominant fire truck manufacturers have restricted supply by closing their own manufacturing facilities, even though demand for fire trucks has increased in recent years.

Delivery backlogs are growing. Since 2019, the lead times for fire truck delivery have nearly tripled, and fire departments are now facing delivery delays of up to five years.

Working conditions are unsafe. Higher prices and longer delivery times for fire trucks have prevented fire departments from replacing aging trucks, depriving fire fighters of the essential equipment required to work safely and effectively.

Rampant consolidation in the fire truck manufacturing industry is undermining public safety, squeezing fire departments’ budgets, and forcing taxpayers to bear the consequences.

TheFederal Trade Commission Act authorizes Congress, through a joint resolution passed by the Senate and House of Representatives, to direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate and report the facts relating to any alleged violations of antitrust law. However, Congress has not used this authority to order an FTC investigation since the Great Depression era.

This bipartisan joint resolution would revive that authority and direct the FTC to report to Congress within one year on:

The extent of anticompetitive practices and violations of antitrust law in the fire truck manufacturing industry, including price fixing, price gouging, serial acquisitions, and monopolization;

The monetary and other harms of anticompetitive practices and violations of antitrust law in the fire truck manufacturing industry on fire fighters, fire departments, states, municipalities, and small businesses; and

Recommendations for legislation or other remedial actions.

“Every community deserves to have the fire trucks it needs to keep people safe. But corporate consolidation has driven up prices considerably and left communities waiting years for this essential, lifesaving equipment,” said Representative Balint. “This is yet another example of why we need strong antitrust enforcement: a handful of powerful companies shouldn't be able to use their power to get richer by making it harder for communities to protect themselves.”

“When giant corporations and Wall Street investors buy up all the fire truck manufacturers, it’s a threat to public safety,” said Senator Warren. “There’s a growing, bipartisan consensus that Congress must stop a handful of corporations from dominating fire truck manufacturing and making it harder and tremendously more expensive to get fire trucks.”

“Anticompetitive practices are strong-arming our cities, wasting taxpayer dollars, and leaving firefighters without life-saving equipment. I’m proud to join this bipartisan investigation as we fight to put hardworking Indiana taxpayers first,” said Senator Banks.

“Too often, growing delivery backlogs in the fire truck manufacturing industry are leaving fire departments across the Commonwealth and our Nation without the necessary equipment first responders need to do their jobs safely and effectively. This bipartisan resolution takes an important first step to restore competition, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and ensure taxpayers and local fire departments receive fair value,” said Representative Cline.

This follows a bipartisan investigation led by Senators Warren and Banks into the harms of private equity roll-ups of fire truck manufacturers that they launched in April 2025.

Senator Warren also sounded the alarm on private equity’s consolidation of the fire truck manufacturing industry at a September 2025 hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Management, District of Columbia, and Census.

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the American Economic Liberties Project (AELP) have endorsed the resolution.",1,2026-07-22T07:34:13Z,2026-07-22T07:35:16Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=781,"Reps. Balint, Velázquez Introduce Online Sellers Bill of Rights to Protect Small Businesses from Corporate Gatekeepers",2026-07-21,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Ending Corporate Greed Task Force, and Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Small Business, today introduced the Online Sellers Bill of Rights, legislation to protect independent online sellers from arbitrary and opaque actions by dominant online marketplaces, like Amazon and Walmart.

Millions of Americans rely on platforms like Amazon and Walmart to reach customers, but those same platforms can suspend sellers, freeze inventory, withhold earnings, or bury products in search results with little warning, explanation, or opportunity to appeal. The Online Sellers Bill of Rights establishes basic due process and transparency requirements to help level the playing field between independent businesses and the dominant corporations that control online commerce.

""No corporation should have the power to destroy someone's livelihood with the click of a button,"" said Rep. Balint. ""Right now, a handful of massive online retailers can suspend sellers, freeze their inventory, and cut off their income with little explanation and virtually no accountability. I'm proud to partner with Ranking Member Velázquez to introduce the Online Sellers Bill of Rights to give small businesses in Vermont and across the country the transparency, due process, and fair chance to compete that they deserve.""

“For too long, small businesses have suffered as large e-commerce platforms block or limit their products with little to no explanation,” said Rep. Velázquez. “Years of work to establish a small business should not be lost because of arbitrary algorithm changes or unfounded product investigations while online platforms like Amazon face no consequences.”

“The Online Sellers Bill of Rights works to stop these injustices by demanding greater transparency and giving merchants a meaningful opportunity to address potential issues, rather than leaving them blindsided,” Rep. Velázquez continued. “As Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee, I have consistently fought for small businesses across the nation to have a fair and equal footing. This piece of legislation is the latest step in that ongoing effort, ensuring that even the smallest vendors have a real chance of making their businesses succeed.”

About 255 million Americans shop on Amazon annually, and roughly 40 percent of all online transactions occur through its marketplace. Meanwhile, more than 50 percent of the e-commerce market is dominated by just four companies, giving dominant platforms enormous power over the small businesses that depend on them to reach customers.

For many sellers operating on razor-thin margins, an erroneous suspension can be financially devastating. Businesses have been removed from online marketplaces after platforms like Amazon incorrectly determined they violated its constantly changing seller policies. Instead of receiving timely explanations or meaningful reviews, many sellers are met with automated, generic and vague responses while losing sales, paying storage fees on inaccessible inventory, and struggling to keep their businesses afloat.

To address these issues, the Online Sellers Bill of Rights would:

Give sellers adequate notice of any policy changes that affect a seller’s business.

Require that platforms demonstrate proof of a violation of a rule or law before suspending or deactivating a third-party seller.

Provide prompt notice to sellers about inventory or funds due to suspicion of unlawful conduct and release that inventory or those funds after 30 days if no proof of illegal conduct is found.

Require platforms return seller's inventory within a reasonable timeframe if there is no proof of violation.

Provide sellers with actionable information and transparency regarding any investigation that risks account deactivation or listing suspension.

The Online Sellers Bill of Rights is cosponsored by Reps. André Carson (IN-7), Valerie Foushee (NC-4), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-4), Pramila Jayapal (WA-7), Hank Johnson (GA-4), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Lateefah Simon (CA-12).

The Online Sellers Bill of Rights is endorsed by the Responsible Online Commerce Coalition (ROCC), Open Markets Institute, Tech Oversight Project, Main Street Alliance, Public Citizen, American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), Strategic Organizing Center (SOC), Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR), and Small Business Majority.

“Independent, third-party sellers are the backbone of a vibrant and competitive online marketplace,” said Joe Van Wye, Policy Director for the Responsible Online Commerce Coalition. ""However, just a handful of dominant platforms abuse their market power to set up and then manipulate a system of vague, unpredictable, and ever-changing rules in ways that undermine these hardworking businesses’ ability to survive and grow, stifling innovation and entrepreneurship in this critical sector. We commend Reps. Balint and Velázquez for their leadership on this issue, and hope this commonsense legislation is quickly enacted.”

""For too long, Amazon has acted as judge, jury, and executioner for the hundreds of thousands of independent businesses that rely on its marketplace to survive,” Barry Lynn, Executive Director of the Open Markets Institute. “A single unexplained algorithm change or frozen payment can wipe out years of hard work. The Online Sellers Bill of Rights establishes a simple and fair proposition: if Amazon and other dominant online marketplaces have become essential infrastructure for commerce, they cannot operate by arbitrary decree. This legislation is about restoring the rule of law to online commerce and ensuring that America's entrepreneurs answer to customers—not unchecked gatekeepers.""

“For too long, dominant online marketplaces have abused and exploited the small, independent businesses that depend on them,” said Morgan Harper, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the American Economic Liberties Project. “When a platform can suspend a seller, freeze their inventory, or cut off their income overnight without explanation or meaningful recourse, that’s not a free market; that’s unchecked gatekeeper power. This bill restores basic fairness and ensures independent businesses get a real chance to compete.”

“Consumers and independent sellers both understand that platforms must police counterfeit products and other kinds of misconduct,” said John Bergmayer, Legal Director at Public Knowledge. “However, these platforms should not be able to deprive sellers of their livelihoods and access to their funds through unexplained, opaque decisions. By requiring greater transparency, a fair process, and meaningful opportunities to challenge platform decisions, the Online Sellers’ Bill of Rights Act promotes confidence in online commerce for buyers and sellers alike.”

“Right now, Amazon can destroy a small business overnight – no warning, no explanation, no straight answers,” said Sacha Haworth, executive director of The Tech Oversight Project. “That's what monopoly power looks like. Sellers are locked in, and Amazon knows it – so it suspends businesses without proof, freezes their money, and even collects fees on inventory they can't touch. Rep. Balint’s Online Sellers Bill of Rights levels the playing field with common sense rules: prove violations, release funds, and give sellers straight answers about their own business. When small businesses can compete, our economy is stronger and consumers win.”

""Small businesses increasingly rely on large online platforms to sell their products, making small firms especially vulnerable when those platforms engage in harmful practices that disrupt small business sales,” said Alexis D'Amato Falvey, Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs at Small Business Majority. “Legislation that would require large online platforms to be more transparent about their policies and ensure they are equipping sellers with timely information regarding changes to a platform's policies would go a long way toward minimizing disruption for small businesses that depend on certain online retailers for the bulk of their sales.""

""The Online Sellers Bill of Rights is a critical step toward ensuring that small businesses can compete fairly in today's digital economy,” Lauren Bealore, National Director of Policy & Programs at Main Street Alliance. “Too often, entrepreneurs who rely on online marketplaces face sudden freezes of their funds or inventory with little transparency or recourse, putting their livelihoods at risk. This legislation would provide much-needed protections and accountability, helping Main Street businesses grow, create jobs, and serve their communities with greater confidence.""

A one pager on the bill can be found here. A section-by-section summary can be found here. The full bill text can be found here.

###",1,2026-07-22T07:34:13Z,2026-07-22T07:35:16Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=779,"Rep. Balint Cosponsors Legislation to Break Up Meatpacking Monopolies, Drive Down Grocery Costs",2026-07-20,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), founding member of the Monopoly Busters Caucus and member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, cosponsored legislation introduced by Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), and Pat Ryan (NY-18), co-chairs of the Monopoly Busters Caucus, to break up dominant meatpacking monopolies, rein in foreign-controlled corporate giants, and end unfair pricing practices that raise costs for American families and box out local farmers and ranchers. The legislation, the Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act, is bicameral, introduced in the Senate by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

“Families are paying more at the grocery store while giant corporations rake in record profits and squeeze the farmers and ranchers who feed our country,” said Rep. Balint. ""A handful of meatpacking giants shouldn’t be able to control our food supply and drive up costs for working people. We need to break up these monopolies, restore competition, and build a food system that works for our families and our independent farmers.”

“Massive corporations are driving up prices, making it unaffordable for working people to put food on the table,” said Rep. Jayapal. “It is a failure of our government to have allowed these corporate interests to swallow up the market, raising costs and putting hundreds of thousands of family farms out of business in the process. This bill is a critical step to level the playing field — to give independent ranchers and farmers a fair shot while ultimately lowering grocery bills for American families.”

“Meatpacking monopolies are crushing hard-working small farmers, ranchers, and business owners—and are jacking up food prices for all of us,” said Congressman Deluzio. “In the richest country in the history of the world that likes our meat, we can’t let it become a luxury good. Let’s pass this bill to break up these monopolies and bring some relief to everyone they’re squeezing at the grocery store right now.”

“Every time we walk into the grocery store, Hudson Valley families are getting squeezed by high prices because a few greedy corporations are raking in record-breaking profits. That’s unacceptable. Instead of taking on the monopolies driving up costs, like the four meatpacking companies that dominate the market, our fundamentally broken system rewards their greed while punishing our family-run grocers, farms, and restaurants,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “As the President’s wars and tariffs hurt our small businesses, we should be focused on lowering costs, strengthening our supply chains, and putting working families ahead of corporate special interests. This bill would break up the monopolies jacking up costs and give our local grocers and farms some extra support. I'll keep fighting to crack down on price gouging, take on greedy monopolies, and make sure every family can afford to put food on the table.”

“Trump keeps driving prices higher and higher. The American people are rightfully fed up,” said Leader Schumer. “Every visit to the grocery store has turned into relentless sticker shock for working families. It’s a consequence of Trump’s failed economic policies and the stranglehold the meatpacking monopoly holds over supply chains and grocery stores. Democrats in the Senate and House are united in bringing down costs for consumers, and I’m proud to champion the Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act to tackle the skyrocketing food costs and deliver the relief working families demand and deserve.

Consolidation in the meatpacking industry is rampant. For instance, 85 percent of the U.S. beef market is controlled by just four companies: Cargill, JBS, Tyson, and the National Beef Packing Company. This corporate consolidation allows these giants to unfairly extract value and take home maximum profits at the expense of farmers and consumers.

The Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act imposes structural reforms to restore competition to the industry. Specifically, it:

Makes it unlawful for a major meatpacking conglomerate to control more than one major type of meat, i.e., pork, chicken, beef;

Imposes hard caps on the concentration of beef markets at both the regional and national levels and authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to order divestiture from the market if those caps are exceeded;

Prohibits foreign leverage over the domestic meat market, empowering FTC to protect competition and national security;

Directs the FTC to enforce against discriminatory pricing practices in retail and wholesale meat markets that hit independent and neighborhood grocers the hardest;

Authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide financial assistance, loan guarantees, and technical assistance to farmers’ cooperatives and small business concerns to acquire meatpacking facilities divested under the Act; and

Creates enforceable penalties for corporations that fail to properly divest, enforceable under the FTC Act.

This legislation builds upon a field hearing hosted by the Monopoly Busters Caucus earlier this year in which an independent rancher testified to the harmful effects of consolidation in the meatpacking industry.

""North Dakota has some of the highest quality beef in the nation, and my fellow ranchers deserve a larger share of the profit for their hard work,"" said Travis Anderson, North Dakota cattle rancher and member of Dakota Resource Council and the National Family Farm Coalition. ""Breaking up the dominant meat processing companies while addressing horizontal integration would make the overall industry more fair and competitive, while also providing consumers with more affordable and abundant choices at the grocery store.""

“The Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act takes on a root cause of the factory farm system that has devastated rural communities, workers, public health, and family farmers – the market power of a handful of giant meatpackers,” said Patty Lovera, policy advisor for the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment. “It’s time to break up the massive companies that have consolidated livestock production and rigged the market against independent producers.”

""Today, we will lose 63 farmers, and at the same time, Americans struggle to feed their families, and that's no accident,” said Joe Maxwell, president of Farm Action Fund. “It's the predictable result of decades of unchecked consolidation that has allowed a handful of corporations to control our food system. As a fourth-generation family farmer, I have witnessed this takeover firsthand. The Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act begins restoring the freedom to farm, the freedom to compete, and the freedom for families to afford the food they need. We applaud Representatives Jayapal, Deluzio, Ryan, and the other sponsors for confronting concentrated corporate power and standing with America's farmers, workers, and consumers.""

“For decades, four meatpacking giants have used their monopoly power to drive up grocery bills and squeeze out the farmers and ranchers who feed America,” said Morgan Harper, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the American Economic Liberties Project. “Rep. Jayapal’s bill takes direct aim at the root of the problem by breaking up the big four meatpackers and restoring real competition. Americans deserve food markets that reward hard work, not corporate gatekeepers. Congress should seize this opportunity to stand with families, farmers, and independent businesses instead of monopoly power.”

The Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act is also sponsored by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jesus G. ""Chuy"" Garcia (IL-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Henry C. (""Hank"") Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), Emily Randall (WA-06), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

It is endorsed by American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment (CFFE), Consumer Federation of America, Demand Progress, Farm Action Fund, Food & Water Watch, Groundwork Action, Montana Cattlemen's Association (MCA), National Family Farm Coalition (NFCC), Open Markets Institute (OMI), and Small Business Majority.

###",1,2026-07-21T07:32:02Z,2026-07-21T07:33:33Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=776,"Balint, Nearly 200 House Democrats Demand Independent Investigations into Killings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Johan Sebastian Guerrero",2026-07-17,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) joined Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and nearly 200 colleagues in calling for independent investigations into Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastian Guerrero’s deaths and demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) halt removal proceedings against the witnesses.

“Both of these incidents have created enormous fear and outrage in the community, and raise serious questions about the safety of community members, regardless of immigration status,” wrote the Members. “Far too many people, Americans and noncitizens alike, are dead as a result of DHS’s reckless actions. There must be accountability and independent investigations.”

On July 7th, ICE agents shot and killed Mr. Salgado Araujo, a father of three U.S. citizens who had resided in the country for 35 years. He was reportedly not ICE’s target in their operation, and despite ICE’s claims that Mr. Salgado Araujo “weaponized his vehicle,” no evidence to substantiate that claim has been presented, and it is disputed by witnesses in the vehicle.

On July 13th, ICE agents shot and killed Mr. Guerrero, a father who also was reportedly not the target of enforcement actions. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims to have shot him in concern for “public safety” after he “attempted to flee.” The agency does not allege that at any point officers feared for their safety. Video of this killing shows ICE officers handcuffing Mr. Guerrero even after he had been shot in the head.

DHS agents, including ICE agents, have shot at least 21 people just since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. Six of these shootings have been fatal, resulting in the death of U.S. citizens and individuals who posed no public safety threat. In two previous shootings, ICE has claimed that victims were also “weaponizing” their vehicles, claims that have turned out to be false statements as evidence emerged.

In addition to the demands for an independent investigation and the commitment that witnesses to the killing of Mr. Salgado Araujo not be deported, the Members are asking for a detailed breakdown of all training materials and guidelines around vehicle stops.

The full text of the letter to DHS Secretary Mullin and ICE Acting Director Venturella can be read here.

The letter was also signed by Alma S. Adams (NC-12), Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Ami Bera (CA-06), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sean Casten (IL-06), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Herbert Conaway (NJ-03), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jason Crow (CO-06), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Bill Foster (IL-11), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Al Green (TX-09), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Pablo Jose Hernández (PR-At Large), Jim Himes (CT-04), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), William R. Keating (MA-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Timothy M. Kennedy (NY-26), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Rick Larsen (WA-02), John Larson (CT-01), George Latimer (NY-16), Susie Lee (NV-03), Summer Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), John Mannion (NY-22), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Sarah McBride (DE-At Large), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kristin McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), James P. McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen S. Moore (WI-04), Joseph D. Morelle (NY-25), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Richard Neal (MA-01), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Josh Riley (NY-19), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Thomas R. Suozzi (NY-03), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), George Whitesides (CA-27), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).

###",1,2026-07-18T06:58:50Z,2026-07-18T07:31:57Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=777,"Balint, Warren Lead Lawmakers in Calling for Antitrust Regulators to Closely Scrutinize Fox Takeover of Roku, Ensure Review is Free from Political Favoritism",2026-07-17,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Text of Letter (PDF)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), a member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, wrote to Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, who oversees the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, urging the agency to “closely scrutinize” Fox Corporation’s (Fox) proposed $22 billion takeover of Roku, Inc. (Roku) and commit to reviewing the merger “free from political interference and in an impartial fashion.”

“We are concerned that, given the Department of Justice’s recent rubber-stamping of deals that may violate antitrust law – and in particular, your apparent role interfering in nonpartisan antitrust enforcement — the (DOJ) may not give this transaction the close review it deserves,” wrote the lawmakers.

Representatives Jerold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust; Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.); Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.); Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.); Summer Lee (D-Pa.); and Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) also joined in signing the letter.

In recent months, senior DOJ leadership, including Associate Attorney General Woodward, and politically connected lobbyists reportedly intervening in antitrust enforcement actions such as the Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)-Juniper Networks merger settlement, which led to the firing of then-Antitrust Division senior official Roger Alford and another deputy after they objected to the interference.

If approved, the Fox-Roku merger would combine the country’s two largest free, ad-supported streaming television services. The result would be greater control by Fox-Roku over how viewers watch TV, the device they use to watch, and what programs they watch, meaning fewer choices for viewers and likely highercosts. The entertainment and streaming industries have seen rapid consolidation in the previous year, including with the Disney-Fubo and Paramount-Skydance deals.

“Eliminating a significant competitor would reduce consumer choice for free streaming services and could give the combined entity market power to start charging for a previously free service,” warned the lawmakers.

Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, who currently leads the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, has reportedlydirected Antitrust Division attorneys to settle antitrust law enforcement cases instead of taking them to trial. Additionally, just three days after his recent designation, Antitrust Division attorneys were reportedly told that the review of the potential Paramount-Warner Bros. merger would be closed.

“We are concerned that settlements invite opportunities for more backroom deals like the ones we have seen during this administration, and will weaken enforcers’ ability to go after antitrust violations in order to lower prices for American families,” wrote the lawmakers.

Antitrust law prohibits mergers whose effect “may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly,” and the DOJ and Federal Trade Commission’s Merger Guidelines require agencies to “examine whether a trend toward consolidation in an industry would heighten … competition concerns” when investigating whether a merger violates the antitrust laws.

“In order to uphold the Antitrust Division’s responsibility to protect competition and consumers, we urge DOJ to closely scrutinize the proposed Fox-Roku deal under antitrust law and seek your commitment that the review will be conducted free from political interference and in an impartial fashion,” the lawmakers concluded.

Senator Warren has led the way in fighting back against the Trump administration’s apparent use of federal agencies for political favoritism:

In July 2026, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) celebrated the news that a coalition of 12 attorneys general filed a lawsuit challenging the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, saying the “megamerger would mean higher costs and fewer choices for Americans.”

In April 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) joined Senator Booker (D-NJ) in introducing the Correcting Lapsed Enforcement in Antitrust Norms for Mergers Act (CLEAN Mergers Act) to restore integrity and independence to federal antitrust enforcement.

In April 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led Senator Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representatives Jayapal (D-Wash.), Deluzio (D-Pa.), Balint (D-Vt.), Craig (D-Minn.), Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Raskin (D-Md.) in requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) Acting Inspector General (IG) William M. Blier open a new, independent investigationinto potential corruption involving the DOJ’s antitrust-related activity.

In February 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Balint (D-Vt.) led colleagues in pressing Attorney General Pam Bondi on whether there was corruption and political favoritism at the Department of Justice (DOJ) involving the agency’s questionable review of the massive merger between real estate giants Compass and Anywhere Real Estate. The lawmakers’ push followed the ouster of top DOJ antitrust official Gail Slater.

In December 2025, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Blumenthal (D-Conn.) called for Attorney General Pam Bondi to recuse herself from the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s review of any Warner Bros. merger due to potential conflicts of interest related to her former employer, lobbying firm Ballard Partners. A DOJ spokesperson had indicated that Bondi would lead the Trump administration’s review of the merger, alongside DOJ Antitrust head Gail Slater.

In September 2025, Senators Warren (D-Mass.), Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Booker (D-N.J.), and Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sounded the alarm on Stanley Woodward’s nomination for Associate Attorney General at the Department of Justice (DOJ), ahead of his Senate confirmation vote expected as early as next week as part of a batch of 100 nominees. Since April 2025, Woodward had served as Counselor to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

In June 2025, Senators Warren (D-Mass.), Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Booker (D-N.J.), and Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wrote to Judge P. Casey Pitts of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, urging the court to use its power under the Tunney Act to determine whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) approved Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.’s (HPE) $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks (Juniper) based on political favors.",1,2026-07-18T06:58:50Z,2026-07-18T07:31:57Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=775,Rep. Balint Introduces Amendment to Republican Budget Resolution to Stop Funding for Unauthorized War in Iran,2026-07-16,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) introduced an amendment during the House Budget Committee's markup of the Republican budget resolution to strike $73 billion in funding for President Trump's unauthorized war in Iran.

Balint's amendment would have prohibited funding for military action that has not been explicitly authorized by Congress, reaffirming Congress's constitutional authority to declare war and rejecting what she called another Republican ""blank check"" for President Trump's military escalation.

""A colleague on the other side earlier in this hearing said this was all a game...It's not a game at all. It's deadly serious,"" said Rep. Balint during the committee markup. ""Americans are disgusted when we think of the work that we do here as a game. And it's truly astounding that we're here, again, considering a highly partisan budget resolution for a third Republican reconciliation bill that increases costs and does nothing to help the people back home. So, let's level set. What are we doing here? Why are we here today? This is about waging war, a war that we were told for the last five months isn't really a war.""

Balint criticized Republicans for rushing the budget resolution through committee with little transparency while proposing tens of billions of dollars in additional military spending without identifying how it would be paid for.

""My [Republican] colleagues constantly howl that the deficit is one of the nation's greatest challenges, yet this resolution contains no substantive ideas for how to pay for this massive increase in spending,” Balint said. “Meanwhile, we hear constantly that we can't possibly afford healthcare or food for Americans...and yet, when it comes to approving tens of billions of dollars in additional Pentagon spending, they’re a rubber stamp...there's always time for more war.""

Balint noted that Congress had already passed a bipartisan War Powers Resolution directing the President to end U.S. military involvement in Iran absent explicit congressional authorization.

""Republicans are in charge of Congress, and they have repeatedly written a blank check for however much Donald Trump wants to pay for any of his pet projects and priorities. They have given up the people's power spelled out in Article I of the Constitution,” she remarked. “Our power as members of Congress is the people's power. That's why I'm introducing an amendment that would prohibit any spending on unauthorized wars, striking the $73 billion in spending [dedicated for the Department of Defense.]""

Later, Balint pushed back against Republican claims that opposing the funding package would weaken national security.

""With all due respect, Mr. Chair, I am sick and tired of hearing from my colleagues on the other side that Democrats want to put national security at risk. Tired of it. When I've got family members of people who are in harm's way right now in the Middle East, who are put in harm's way in Venezuela, who don't have confidence that we are making smart decisions about how we spend our military money. So please, spare me,” said Balint. “The bottom line is that this budget resolution is a poorly planned, poorly drafted backdoor deal to pay for President Trump's decision to start a war with Iran. It's irresponsible. He didn't know how he was going to get out of it. And we see it played out every single day on the news. We deserve so much better than that.”

Balint urged her colleagues to support her amendment and reject the Republican budget resolution, arguing it prioritizes funding an unauthorized war over lowering costs and investing in the needs of American families. Ultimately, the amendment failed on a party-line vote, with every Republican on the committee voting against it.

###",1,2026-07-17T07:15:58Z,2026-07-17T07:17:05Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=774,25 Members of Congress Release Joint Statement on Massie Amendment to Republican Foreign Aid Budget Bill,2026-07-15,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today, 25 Members of Congress, including Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) and 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:

“As Members of Congress, it is our duty to ensure that our constituents’ hard-earned money is used in a way that advances America’s 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—operations 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.

“Palestinians 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.

“Our 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.”

The 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), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (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. Velázquez (D-NY).

###",1,2026-07-16T07:21:44Z,2026-07-16T07:23:13Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=770,"Balint, Welch, Sanders Lead Reintroduction of Bill to Help Protect Vermont Farmland from Flooding",2026-07-10,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), reintroduced the Building Up Farmland Frontiers for Ecological Resilience (BUFFER) Act. This bicameral legislation would ensure all states can access the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) funding to implement buffer zones, agricultural tools used by farmers to protect farmland from flooding, erosion, and water pollution.

“As climate change brings more frequent and severe extreme weather events, it’s critical that farmers in Vermont and across the country have the tools they need to protect their land and livelihoods,” said Rep. Balint. “Ahead of the anniversary of the catastrophic 2023 and 2024 floods, I’m proud to be reintroducing the BUFFER Act alongside our Senators. Our delegation stands united in support of Vermonters as folks continue to rebuild.”

“Our farmers deserve access to the tools and resources they need to fight climate change and make farmland more flood resilient. An essential part of that has to be cutting through red tape that forces Vermont farmers to jump through more hoops to receive compensation for their work than farmers in other states,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Sanders and Rep. Balint on this legislation to help Vermont farmers better mitigate flooding risk and protect our state’s farmland from natural disasters.”

“Vermont farmers are still recovering from multiple years of flooding. They want to ensure their fields are better protected from future storms, especially in the face of climate change. This important legislation will cut through bureaucracy and ensure our farmers are compensated for their work to improve our state’s water quality and protect their land from the kind of damage we saw over the past few years,” said Senator Sanders.

The delegation first introduced the legislation in direct response to Vermont’s catastrophic July 2023 floods.

Buffer zones are agricultural tools used by farmers to protect farmland from flooding, erosion, and water pollution, and provide a habitat for pollinators. Like many states, Vermont requires farmers to implement buffer systems. As such, farmers in Vermont have sought to use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CREP) to implement buffers in their fields. However, because the State of Vermont has a buffer mandate, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has required Vermont to follow an arduous process to access CREP buffer funding. These bureaucratic barriers have hampered Vermonters’ ability to use this vital conservation tool and receive compensation for their preventative work.

The bicameral BUFFER Act aims to ensure that Vermont farmers are compensated for their efforts to improve water quality and protect their fields from flooding. The bill would ensure that all states can access USDA’s Conservation CREP funding to implement buffer zones, even if state law already requires farmers to maintain buffer zones.

Learn more about the BUFFER Act.

Read and download the full text of the legislation.

###",1,2026-07-12T07:28:31Z,2026-07-12T07:30:18Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=757,Rep. Balint Reintroduces Sweeping Legislation to Take on the Affordable Housing Crisis Nationwide,2026-07-01,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"More photos from the announcement event in Burlington can be found here.

Rep. Balint’s remarks at the event can be viewed here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) has re-introduced the Community Housing Act, her sweeping legislation to address our nation’s housing crisis. The legislation would invest $500 billion in federal programs, fund the construction of affordable housing, provide new financing to build affordable units, center inclusive zoning and land use, and provide more pathways to homeownership. The ambitious package embraces perpetually affordable housing through community land trusts and would empower nonprofits across the country to help get people into homes that are affordable and stay affordable.

On June 15, Rep. Balint announced the reintroduction of the Community Housing Act at an event in Burlington. She was joined by local Vermont housing advocates at the event. Rep. Balint also introduced and led this legislation in the 118th Congress.

“Today, I’m proud to have reintroduced my Community Housing Act,” said Rep. Balint. “Confronting our affordable housing crisis is one of my top priorities in Congress because it’s a top priority for Vermonters. This sweeping legislation is about creative solutions, major investments, and concrete actions that we can take to address this crisis and make a real difference in people’s lives. I’m grateful for all the partners who’ve played a role in making this legislation a reality and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get shovels in the ground, increase the supply of housing, and lower costs for folks across the country. Let’s get this bill done.”

According to the Vermont Housing Needs Assessment, half of all Vermont renters are cost-burdened, and one in four pay more than 50% of their income on housing costs. Vermont also has a rental vacancy rate of 3%, which is one of the lowest in the country. In Chittenden County, it’sbeen estimated to be just 1%. Additionally, Vermont has the second-highest homelessness rate per capita in the country: 51 per 10,000 people. In 2021, 32% of Vermont renters had the income needed to buy a median-priced home, but by 2023, that rate had fallen to 6%. Lastly, per 2022 data, about 20,000 homes across Vermont have signs of housing quality concerns.

To address these issues, the Community Housing Act would:

Increase the supply of affordable and deeply affordable housing.

Ensure that affordable housing stays affordable for the long run.

Encourage revamping zoning codes to eliminate barriers to affordable housing construction.

Open more low-cost financing to affordable housing developers.

Support affordable homes and apartments for rural residents.

The Community Housing Act is endorsed by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), the National NeighborWorks Association, and Grounded Solutions Network.

""Across the nation, households with the lowest incomes continue to face rising cost burdens and housing instability,” said Renee M. Willis, President and CEO, National Low Income Housing Coalition. “To address this crisis, we need sustained investments in programs that provide deep affordability and stability for these families. Representative Balint's legislation would increase rental supply where it is needed most by making historic investments in the National Housing Trust Fund, provide funding for legal assistance for renters at risk of eviction through the Eviction Protection Grant program, and fund and reform programs to preserve affordable rental housing in rural areas. I thank Representative Balint for focusing on the needs of low-income renters in this bold legislation.”

A one pager on the bill can be found here. A section-by-section summary can be found here. The full bill text can be found here.

###",1,2026-07-02T06:20:02Z,2026-07-02T06:21:32Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=755,"Rep. Balint Leads 75 Colleagues in Condemning Israeli Military Engagement in Lebanon, Destruction of Civilian Homes and Infrastructure",2026-06-29,2026,2026-06,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today led 75 of her colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing concern about the Israeli military’s operations in southern Lebanon. Since the temporary cessation of hostilities in Lebanon was announced on April 16, 2026, both Israeli forces and Hezbollah have continued military operations in violation of the ceasefire. As the Trump administration implements the memorandum of understanding with Iran, the letter urges the State Department to take all possible steps in bringing a swift end to the wars in Iran and Lebanon.

The Members called attention to reports of the Israeli military’s use of U.S.-origin weapons and equipment in the destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure. Hundreds of civilians have died from these attacks and more than one million people, approximately 20 percent of Lebanon’s population, have been forced from their homes.

“Every government has a right and a responsibility to protect its citizens, and Israel has a right to defend itself,” the Members wrote. “However, this does not justify unrestrained Israeli military operations, especially those that violate the current ceasefire, destroy civilian infrastructure, and lead to the death of hundreds of civilians. All sides must fully abide by the ceasefire agreement.”

“We are troubled by the Israeli military’s practice of mass demolitions of civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon and targeting practices that kill Lebanese civilians,” the Members continued. “After the Israeli military invaded southern Lebanon and began an occupation of the territory, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans to raze all homes in southern border villages, ‘following the Rafah and Beit Hanounmodel in Gaza,’ a reference to the Israeli military’s systematic destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure in Gaza. Since then, reporting and satellite imagery have confirmed widespread demolitions of civilian homes, buildings, and religious sites in southern Lebanon, including the use of bulldozers and controlled demolitions. The Israeli military has also demolished bridges, roads, water pipelines, and fuel stations in southern Lebanon.”

The letter highlights Trump administration’s responsibility to investigate whether U.S.-origin weapons are being used in activities inconsistent with U.S. law and arms transfer agreements, while supporting the Lebanese government and Lebanese Armed Forces in efforts to disarm Hezbollah and strengthen state authority.

“The use of U.S. origin weapons in the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure is a violation of U.S. military assistance transfer agreements with the Israeli government,” the Members wrote. “The targeted, mass destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure does not constitute Israeli self-defense. If U.S.-origin arms are confirmed to be used in these unauthorized activities, we ask the Trump administration to enforce existing law and stop arms transfers being used in these operations until these violations cease.

“The Trump administration should take all possible steps to bring a swift end to the war and continue good-faith negotiations between the Lebanese and Israeli governments,” the Members concluded. “We urge the administration to work to empower the Lebanese government and to fund the Lebanese Armed Forces to pursue Hezbollah’s full demilitarization and disarmament.”

J Street has endorsed the letter, with J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami releasing the following statement: ""We are deeply grateful for Congresswoman Balint and Congressman Castro's leading this important Congressional letter, expressing concern over the situation in southern Lebanon. While Hezbollah must be disarmed and the Lebanese government supported, Congress must ensure that this does not evolve into another long-term Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. We share the Members’ concerns about the Israeli military's conduct in southern Lebanon, especially the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure. The Members are right to seek to ensure that U.S. law is being enforced and that American weapons are not being misused.""

In addition to Rep. Balint, the letter was signed by Reps. Amo, Ansari, Barragan, Bonamici, Carbajal, Carson, Casten, Castro, Chu, Cisneros, Cleaver, Cohen, Davids, Davis, Dean, DeLauro, Deluzio, DeSaulnier, Dingell, Doggett, Escobar, Evans, Foster, Garamendi, Garcia (Chuy), Garcia (Robert), Garcia (Sylvia), Grijalva, Hayes, Hoyle, Huffman, Jackson, Jacobs, Jayapal, Johnson (Hank), Kamlager-Dove, Kaptur, Kelly, Khanna, Leger Fernandez, Lofgren, Lynch, Magaziner, Matsui, McCollum, McDonald Rivet, McGarvey, McGovern, McIver, Min, Moulton, Pallone, Pelosi, Pingree, Pocan, Quigley, Randall, Ross, Ryan, Salinas, Schakowsky, Scott, Simon, Stansbury, Takano, Thompson (Bennie), Thompson (Mike), Tokuda, Tonko, Tran, Vasquez, Velázquez, Waters, Watson Coleman, Williams.

Earlier in June, Rep. Balint voted in favor of a War Powers Resolution to cease U.S. involvement in the war in Lebanon.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

###",1,2026-06-30T06:29:10Z,2026-06-30T06:30:42Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=756,"Rep. Balint Says Congress Must Do More to Protect Kids Online, Hold Big Tech Accountable",2026-06-29,2026,2026-06,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today released the following statement after voting against the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, saying the bill falls short of meaningfully addressing the mental health harms fueled by Big Tech:

“As a parent and former teacher, I know firsthand how deeply families worry about the impact social media is having on their kids. The evidence is overwhelming: Big Tech has built products designed to keep children scrolling, clicking, and coming back – turning record profits while fueling a youth mental health crisis marked by rising rates of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicide, and other mental health challenges.

“This bill doesn't do nearly enough to hold Big Tech accountable. If Congress is serious about protecting kids online, we need legislation with real, enforceable consequences for companies that exploit children's attention and put their health at risk. I've introduced bipartisan legislation focused on the mental health impacts of social media, and I'll continue fighting for comprehensive legislation that puts children's well-being ahead of corporate profits.”

Rep. Balint has long advocated for stronger protections for children online. She is the Democratic lead of the bipartisan Protecting Young Minds Online Act, which would establish a national strategy to study and address the effects of social media and emerging technologies on youth mental health.

###",1,2026-06-30T06:29:10Z,2026-06-30T06:30:42Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=749,Rep. Balint Statement on Trump Administration Efforts to Violate Mohsen Mahdawi’s Constitutional Rights,2026-06-22,2026,2026-06,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), vice ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement on the Trump administration’s continued efforts to deport Mohsen Mahdawi in direct violation of his First Amendment rights. Mohsen Mahdawi is a Vermonter, a student activist at Columbia University, and a legal permanent resident.

“What the Trump administration is trying to do here is yet another step in their campaign to silence dissent in our country. Mohsen Mahdawi is a lawful permanent resident who was exercising his Constitutional rights. It’s deeply distressing that the administration is going to such lengths to try to silence him and force him out of the country.

“I want to be crystal clear to the American people: if Trump and his enablers get away with infringing on anyone’s First Amendment rights, they can come for any of our First Amendment rights. That’s why I was so eager to introduce the bicameral Land of the Free Act, which would guarantee all people within our borders the right to due process and freedom of speech.

“I will continue to stand with Mohsen throughout this absurd legal saga.”

Rep. Balint has consistently defended Mohsen Mahdawi since his initial April 2025 arrest in Colchester during a scheduled citizenship interview. Shortly after, Rep. Balint led a rally at the State Department to demand Mohsen’s release and highlight the unjust abductions across the country. Later in the month, in response to his arrest, Rep. Balint and 67 other House Democrats demanded the legal basis for his arrest from Secretaries Rubio and Noem and received no response. In August 2025, Rep. Balint introduced the Land of the Free Act alongside Rep Deborah Ross (NC-02). The bill would repeal Section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which grants the U.S. Secretary of State the power to deport visa-holders and legal permanent residents whose presence in the United States would have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.” Later, in February 2026, Rep. Balint was joined by Mahdawi at the People's State of the Union in protest of President Trump’s State of the Union Address.

###",1,2026-06-23T06:27:52Z,2026-06-23T06:29:20Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=750,Rep. Balint Joins SEEC Institute Roundtable on Rural Development in Burlington,2026-06-17,2026,2026-06,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"BURLINGTON, VT — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) yesterday joined the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Institute for a roundtable on rural development. This comes as part of SEEC’s “Thriving Economy Project” and focused specifically on rural economies in Vermont and across the nation. Rep. Balint was joined on the panel by issue experts from across the Green Mountain State and nation and the panel was facilitated by MacKenzie Bills, the Founder and CEO of MacKenzie Bills Strategies, LLC, SEEC Policy Consultant, and Reimagining Rural Assistance Network (RRAN) Policy Consultant.

The panelists’ discussion was centered on four topic areas:

Federal and State rural development programs and policies;

Capacity building and technical assistance;

Outdoor recreation and tourism; and

Blue Sky: The Future of Rural and Tribal Development.

“Vermont has long understood that protecting our natural resources and growing our economy go hand in hand,” said Rep. Balint. “Our forests, farms, trails, and waterways support jobs, attract visitors, and sustain communities across the state. As we think about the future of rural America, we should be investing in the people, places, and natural resources that make rural communities strong. I’m grateful to SEEC Institute for bringing together leaders from across Vermont to share ideas and help chart a path forward.”

""The Growing Rural and Tribal Economies chapter of the Thriving Economy Project reflects something we hear from rural and Tribal leaders across the country: the solutions are already out there; they just need the policy support to scale,” said Max Frankel, Executive Director of the SEEC Institute. “Convenings like this and our project are focused on identifying those policies and getting them in front of policymakers like Representatives Balint and Stansbury who can act on them.”

“Convening leaders from around Vermont to better understand our communities is the essential first step to our work,” said Tricia Coates, Director of the University of Vermont Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships. “We were pleased to work with the SEEC Institute and the office of Congresswoman Balint to bring these voices to the table.”

""Rural and Tribal communities are dealing with compounding challenges, from disaster recovery to broadband gaps to the rising cost of living,” said MacKenzie Bills, Rural and Tribal Economies Chapter Lead (SEEC Institute). “The federal government has much opportunity if it coordinates and supports these communities effectively. The Growing Rural and Tribal Economies work in the Thriving Economy Project is about connecting the communities and leaders already doing the great work with the policy levers that can help it grow.”

SEEC’s Thriving Economy Project is comprised of a coalition of members of Congress, former senior congressional aides, officials from multiple presidential administrations, and leading energy and environmental policy experts who are collaborating on a new policy blueprint aimed at strengthening economic competitiveness, creating jobs, and delivering affordable and reliable energy for American families and businesses. The project will culminate in a landmark report to be released in September 2026 outlining a roadmap to build the economy Americans want - one that creates opportunity and long-term growth while recognizing that a truly thriving economy depends on protecting the natural resources and environment that communities across the country rely on.

###",1,2026-06-23T06:27:52Z,2026-06-23T06:29:20Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=738,Rep. Balint Statement on Voting YES on Lebanon War Powers Resolution,2026-06-04,2026,2026-06,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today released the following statement after voting in favor of a War Powers Resolution to cease U.S. involvement in Netanyahu’s deadly war in Lebanon.

“Americans don’t want their taxpayer dollars to fuel Netanyahu’s attacks in Lebanon that have killed hundreds of civilians and displaced over a million people, just as they do not want to fund Trump’s war of choice in Iran. Both Netanyahu and Trump have continued to double down on chaos and conflict, leaving the American people to foot the bill at a time when they can’t even afford the basics—rent, groceries, prescriptions, or gas. Congress must draw the line.”

Rep. Balint has consistently warned that continued spending on overseas conflicts comes at the expense of investments Americans need here at home, including lowering costs, expanding affordable housing, strengthening health care, and supporting working families.

###",1,2026-06-05T06:35:23Z,2026-06-05T06:36:42Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=737,Rep. Balint Statement on House Passage of War Powers Resolution to End War in Iran,2026-06-03,2026,2026-06,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted 215–208 to pass a War Powers Resolution directing the President to end U.S. military involvement in Iran without explicit authorization from Congress. Four Republicans joined Democrats in the vote, marking a rare bipartisan rebuke of the administration.

“When I introduced a War Powers Resolution in April, it was because Congress cannot continue to sit on the sidelines while our country is dragged into an unauthorized war. Today’s vote is a long-overdue step toward reasserting our constitutional authority and ending a conflict that has already cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.

“The President has never explained the war and never received authorization from Congress, yet our service members are being put in danger and families across the country are bearing the cost of higher gas prices, rising costs of living, and the diversion of critical resources away from urgent domestic needs. That is unacceptable. While this resolution does not immediately end military operations, it makes clear that Congress will not be sidelined. The Senate must now act to bring our troops home and stop this madness.”

Rep. Balint originally introduced her War Powers Resolution on April 30, 2026, as part of a coordinated effort with members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus to force Congress to vote on ending U.S. military involvement in Iran and reassert its constitutional war powers authority. Rep. Balint has been vocal in her opposition to the war since its beginning, including when she slammed Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought in a Budget Committee hearing for the President’s request of $350 billion of additional funding for the war – the same cost of extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits for another ten years.

###",1,2026-06-05T06:35:23Z,2026-06-05T06:36:42Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=733,Rep. Becca Balint Votes to Advance Bipartisan Housing Package to Address Affordability Crisis,2026-05-21,2026,2026-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), a consistent and outspoken advocate for building affordable housing, voted in favor of H. Res. 1299, amended legislation to strengthen and advance the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644), a comprehensive package to expand housing supply, improve affordability, and strengthen protections for renters and homeowners.

“For so many Vermonters, renting or owning a home is simply unaffordable right now. That’s why expanding access to affordable housing for Vermonters is one of my top priorities in Congress and I’m committed to leading on solutions that meet the scale of this crisis,” said Rep. Balint. “This bill strengthens housing supply and affordability, but our work cannot stop here—I will keep pushing for bold change for working families in our state and across the country.”

The United States is currently facing a severe housing shortage, with an estimated 4.7 million home gap nationwide. Rising housing costs have placed increasing pressure on families, with millions of renters and homeowners spending a significant portion of their income on housing and a growing number at risk of foreclosure or displacement.

H. Res. 1299 takes a comprehensive approach to addressing these challenges by:

Expanding financing and support for new housing development, including multifamily, manufactured, and rural housing;

Removing barriers that slow down housing construction and limit supply;

Strengthening protections for renters, including the creation of a renter resource center and dispute hotline;

Supporting community financial institutions that play a key role in financing housing and local development;

Encouraging innovative housing solutions, including modular construction; and,

Improving federal programs aimed at reducing homelessness.

The legislation also includes provisions to limit excessive corporate ownership of single-family homes while ensuring continued housing construction and avoiding policies that could lead to widespread evictions.

Rep. Balint has consistently emphasized the need for bold, practical solutions to bring down housing costs and ensure that more Americans have access to safe, stable, and affordable homes. As a part of that work, Rep. Balint introduced the Community Housing Act, a comprehensive plan to invest in housing supply, support renters, and ensure that affordable homes remain accessible for generations to come. In addition to supporting investments in housing supply, she also introduced the End Rent Fixing Act to stop corporations from using price-fixing algorithms to raise rents on working families.

###",1,2026-05-22T06:27:39Z,2026-05-22T06:29:18Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=741,"Balint, Dean, Salazar, Blackburn, Coons, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Protect Americans from AI Deepfakes",2026-05-20,2026,2026-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) reintroduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill to federally protect individuals from AI-generated deepfakes. The Support the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act clearly defines a person’s right to control their voice and likeness. The NO FAKES Act would address the rampant spread of unauthorized AI-generated deepfakes without stymieing innovation or censoring free speech.

""Artists, creators, and anyone who uses the internet must have the basic right to control digital replicas of their own voice and image. AI is moving fast, and we need to make sure these guardrails are in place now, not later,” said Rep. Balint. ""The NO FAKES Act is a commonsense, bipartisan, and essential bill. I am proud to join Representatives Dean and Salazar in introducing this legislation to protect Americans' right to control their own identity online.”

“The use of AI is only growing, and Congress must catch up with common sense, common ground regulations,” Rep. Dean said. “By granting every person a clear, federal right to control digital replicas of their own voice and likeness, the NO FAKES Act will empower victims of deep fakes; defend against sexually explicit deepfakes; and safeguard human creativity and artistic expression. We must support technological innovation while preserving the privacy, safety, and dignity of all Americans.”

“In this new era of AI, bad actors are quickly and easily profiting from the creativity of others. Our laws must catch up,” said Rep. Salazar. “The NO FAKES Act is simple and sacred: you own your identity—not Big Tech, not scammers, not algorithms. Deepfakes are digital lies that ruin real lives, and it’s time to fight back.”

“No one should have to worry about their likeness being stolen and used in a fake video without their consent,” said Rep. Morelle. “A.I. is moving fast, and the harm is already real, from explicit deepfakes to scams, fraud, and the theft of artists’ work. I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan NO FAKES Act to make sure honest Americans, not scammers or algorithms, stay in control of their own identity.”

""The NO FAKES Act protects every American's fundamental right to their own voice and likeness while preserving the innovation and creative expression that makes AI a powerful tool. It holds platforms accountable while preserving First Amendment freedoms for creators—shining a light for industries and individuals that have operated in regulatory darkness"" Rep. Moran said.

U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

“Whether they’re Tom Hanks or an 8th grader in Wilmington, no one should worry about someone stealing their voice or likeness,” Sen. Coons said. “We’re reintroducing a stronger NO FAKES Act after working with stakeholders from across the country to make the protections in our bill more robust without compromising Americans’ free speech rights. I am proud that NO FAKES is the most advanced piece of AI legislation before Congress right now with the broadest network of supporters. Americans can’t afford to wait any longer for Congress to pass this bill and send it to the president’s desk.”

“AI should empower innovation – not give scammers and online predators a free pass to exploit someone’s voice and visual likeness without permission,” Sen. Blackburn said. “From artists and songwriters to students and everyday Americans, people deserve meaningful protections against deceptive deepfakes and digital impersonation. The NO FAKES Act would establish clear guardrails that protect the creative community in Tennessee and nationwide, and we are grateful to have more support than ever before for this bipartisan and bicameral legislation.”

The NO FAKES Act would:

Recognize that every individual has a federal intellectual property right to their own voice and likeness—including an extension of that right for the families of individuals after they pass away;

Empower individuals to take action against bad actors who knowingly create, post, or profit from unauthorized digital copies of them;

Protect responsible media platforms from liability if they take down offending materials when they discover them; and

Ensure innovation and free speech are protected.

“RIAA proudly endorses the NO FAKES Act of 2026, a widely supported consensus bill developed through a bipartisan, bicameral process and championed by American AI developers, the creative community, child safety groups, conservative groups, labor unions, and free speech advocates. Polling confirms that 92% of Americans are concerned about the impact of AI deepfakes on our neighbors and culture and reveals near total support for a Federal law that protects voice and likeness. NO FAKES provides those important protections while securing freedom of expression, reducing litigation and achieving the full promise of American AI technology. We applaud the efforts of Senators Coons and Blackburn alongside Representatives Salazar and Dean, along with their bipartisan colleagues, on crafting this legislation that has also been recommended by the White House’s National AI Framework. This is an example of communities coming together to solve an important issue, and we are closer than ever to NO FAKES becoming the law of the land this year,” Mitch Glazier, RIAA Chairman & CEO said.",1,2026-06-11T06:38:38Z,2026-06-27T22:21:02Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=730,"Reps. Balint, Salinas Lead Lawmakers Demanding Answers from HHS on Reported Plan to “Deprescribe” Psychiatric Medications",2026-05-19,2026,2026-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Andrea Salinas (OR-06), led a group of 14 lawmakers in sending a letter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), expressing opposition to the agency’s reported plans to promote the “deprescribing” of psychiatric medications.

The lawmakers warn that Secretary Kennedy’s campaign to “deprescribe” psychiatric medications undermines access to evidence-based mental health care for patients who rely on psychiatric medications. They urge the administration to ensure that any guidance remains grounded in science and centered on patient safety.

“Secretary Kennedy’s attacks on psychiatric medications are dangerous and wrong,"" said Rep. Balint. ""Mental health care is health care. People deserve access to treatment that’s grounded in science and guided by their doctors - not by the Secretary’s personal opinions, politics, stigma, or misinformation.”

“The decision for a patient to stop taking an SSRI should be between the patient and their doctor. End of story,” said Rep. Salinas, Co-Chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus. “SSRIs and other psychiatric medications are life-sustaining care for millions of Americans, and any federal guidance on mental health treatment must be rooted in science, not stigma, ideology, or one man’s personal experience. Secretary Kennedy’s approach risks confusing patients, undermining trust in public health, and disrupting care for people who need support. HHS must clarify its plans, protect access to evidence-based treatment, and ensure these deeply personal decisions remain between patients and their doctors.”

“We write with serious concern and vehement opposition to your stated intent to promote ‘deprescribing’ of psychiatric medications to reduce what you have mischaracterized as an overuse of antidepressants,” the letter states.

They emphasized that psychiatric medications, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro, are some of the leading treatments for depression and anxiety and are approved for psychological treatment by leading medical organizations.

“Psychiatric medications like antidepressants and other evidence-based treatments are, for many Americans, not ‘optional interventions.’ These treatments are essential, life-sustaining care,” the lawmakers wrote.

The letter challenges recent public statements Sec. Kennedy has made that encourage medication tapering, which undermines trust in public health guidance and can harm patients’ health and safety. Efforts to “deprescribe"" psychiatric medicines creates confusion among patients, increases stigma around mental health, and disrupts treatment that is critical for those with mental and behavioral health issues.

“These are unequivocally false and destructive claims, and they undermine trust in our nation’s public health institutions,” the letter states.

“Encouraging Americans to ‘deprescribe’ risks patients abruptly stopping their medication, which can cause relapse, withdrawal complications, or increased suicide risk,” they wrote.

The members urged HHS to focus on reforming structural challenges in mental health care to improve treatment access, instead of oversimplifying our nation’s mental health crisis by solely emphasizing medication reduction.

“The Health and Human Services Department should focus on the systemic drivers of our nation’s mental health crisis, which are persistent barriers to care, workforce shortages, and unaffordable access to comprehensive treatment,” the letter reads.

Lawmakers asked HHS to detail safeguards for patients, including protections against inappropriate pressure to discontinue treatment and assurances that clinical decisions remain between patients and providers.

They concluded by calling for transparency and collaboration with clinicians, patients, and Congress to ensure continued access to mental health care.

“I urge the administration to clarify its approach and work with clinicians, patients, and Congress to ensure that all Americans have access to the mental health care that they need,” the lawmakers wrote.

Representatives Balint and Salinas were joined by signers Representatives Beyer (VA-08), Cleaver (MO-05), Elfreth (MD-03), Garcia (CA-42), Goldman (NY-10), Kelly (IL-02), Moulton (MA-06), Ramirez (IL-03), Thanedar (MI-13), Tlaib (MI-12), Tonko(NY-20), Underwood (IL-14), Velazquez (NY-07), Watson Coleman (NY-12).

The full text of the letter can be viewed here.

###",1,2026-05-20T06:27:31Z,2026-05-20T06:28:54Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=728,Vermont Congressional Delegation Announces Over $20 Million in FEMA Funding to Help Vermont Rebuild and Recover from 2023 Floods,2026-05-13,2026,2026-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), today announced the delivery of $20.83 million in federal funding, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to support the Vermont Agency for Transportation (VTrans) and the City of Montpelier to repair damage caused by severe storms, flooding, and washouts in July 2023.

The federal funding will deliver nearly $12 million in long-overdue funding to support permanent repairs to Montpelier’s City Hall, Fire Department, Police Department Buildings, and Fire Department Sidewalk and Ramp. VTrans will receive an additional $9 million to help rebuild portions of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and the Washington County railroad.

“The 2023 floods were brutal, causing long-lasting damage for Vermonters and Vermont communities. This newly released federal funding, totaling more than $20 million, will help repair Montpelier’s hard-hit municipal buildings and state rail and trail infrastructure. Much of this funding was delayed by FEMA for years—it never should have taken so long to get to Montpelier, and is a glaring example of how this agency needs reform. We will continue to fight for the FEMA funding our state needs, and will work with new leadership at the agency to deliver the assistance Vermonters need to fully rebuild and recover,” said the Vermont Delegation.

The federal funding grants announced include:

$11,782,017 to the City of Montpelier to repair severe damage the capital’s City Hall, Fire Department and fire station concrete ramp/sidewalk, and Police Department buildings as a result of severe flooding in July 2023. This funding will help restore these facilities back to their pre-disaster design, capacity, and function utilizing current codes and standards, including repairing damage to windows, interior and exterior doors, drywall, insulation, flooring, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, stairs, and more. The project includes a hazard mitigation proposal (HMP) to reduce the risk of future damage by adopting multiple wet and dry floodproofing measures.

$6,168,905.58 to the Vermont Agency for Transportation (VTrans) to repair a culvert on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that was washed away by floodwater in July 2023.

$2,880,995.41 to the Vermont Agency for Transportation (VTrans) to rebuild railroad ballast and associated embankments along the railroad in Washington County, which was damaged by flooding in July 2023.

###",1,2026-05-14T06:11:37Z,2026-05-14T06:12:56Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=726,"Balint, Welch Host Roundtable on Election Integrity with Vermont Secretary of State Copeland Hanzas and Vermont Town Clerks",2026-05-07,2026,2026-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"SHELBURNE, VT – U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, alongside U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committees, today hosted a roundtable discussion at the Shelburne Town Offices with Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas and Town Clerks to defend the integrity of free and fair elections in Vermont.

“Our town clerks are the backbone of our democracy,” said Rep. Balint. “At a time when there’s widespread misinformation about elections, it’s especially important for Vermonters to hear directly from the people who administer our elections. They are dedicated public servants who do their work with care, transparency, and integrity. I appreciated the opportunity to hear from our state and local officials today about the safeguards already in place and the challenges they’re addressing. I know Vermonters want us all to keep working together to keep our elections free, fair, and secure.”

“The SAVE America Act is a scam—it’s a bill in search of a problem. Representative Balint and I know it, and so do Vermont’s leaders, town clerks, and voters. In Vermont, our town clerks are on the front lines of protecting our democracy, and their hard work is essential to continuing our state’s proud history of high voter participation and secure elections. This bill would jeopardize that legacy by endangering the rights of thousands of eligible Vermonters to exercise their right to vote,” said Senator Welch. “President Trump and Republicans’ push for this bill—which would disenfranchise millions of voters right before the 2026 midterm elections—is no accident. We’re doing everything in our power to kill this bill, keep the integrity of Vermont’s elections strong, and ensure that every eligible voter can exercise their fundamental right to have a say in our democracy.”

Town Clerks from Burlington, St. Johnsbury, Winooski, Brattleboro, Morrisville, and Shelburne attended to discuss the voting process and share the many steps taken to ensure fair, secure elections in Vermont. Diana Vachon, Shelburne Town Clerk, is the President of the Vermont Municipal Clerks’ and Treasurers’ Association (VMCTA).

View photos from the event here.

The Vermont Congressional Delegation opposes to President Trump’s executive orders on voting and Republicans’ Save America Act, which threaten to block millions of U.S. citizens from voting—disproportionately impacting women, people of color, seniors, and rural voters—and make it harder to register and vote by disrupting online registration and eliminating universal mail-in voting.

###",1,2026-05-08T05:46:43Z,2026-05-08T05:48:09Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=708,"Rep. Becca Balint Votes No on House Farm Bill, Citing Cuts to Nutrition Assistance and Missed Opportunities for Rural Housing and Working Families",2026-05-05,2026,2026-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) voted against a partisan Farm Bill that fails to meet the needs of rural communities and working families. Rep. Balint offered two amendments related to affordable housing and both were rejected by House Republicans.

Every five years, Congress reauthorizes the Farm Bill, which impacts both farmers and families across the country. But the bill passed by House Republicans last week locks in cuts to SNAP that take food assistance away from millions, while failing to deliver meaningful relief for small and midsize farmers facing rising costs. It also cuts conservation funding and undermines investments in rural communities.

“As written, this bill did not meet the moment,” said Rep. Balint. “It weakens food assistance at a time when too many families are already struggling with the cost of groceries, and it falls short in addressing the long-term challenges facing rural communities. We should be lowering costs, strengthening local agriculture, and expanding opportunity—not moving in the opposite direction.”

Rep. Balint offered two amendments to the bill that would have advanced investments in rural housing stability and homeownership opportunities that are urgently needed in Vermont and across the country. Republicans rejected the amendments.

Her proposals included:

Balint Amendment 199 - which would have strengthened pathways to homeownership by investing in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) homeownership program and the USDA Section 502 Direct Loan Program, helping renters and rural residents build long-term housing stability and equity.

Balint Amendment 203 - which would have permanently authorized the USDA Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization (MPR) program to protect and preserve affordable rural rental housing, while also addressing the growing crisis of expiring USDA rental assistance contracts that put low-income residents at risk of displacement.

Rep. Balint is commitment to advancing legislation that better supports farmers of all sizes, protects nutrition assistance, strengthens conservation programs, and invests in the long-term stability of rural communities.

###",1,2026-05-06T06:05:57Z,2026-05-06T06:07:49Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=699,Rep. Balint Introduces War Powers Resolution to End War of Choice in Iran,2026-04-30,2026,2026-04,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today introduced a War Powers Resolution to bring an end to Trump’s illegal war of choice in Iran that has cost American taxpayers an estimated $25 billion since its start.

“Americans don’t even know why we are in this war, and neither does Congress,” said Rep. Balint. ""This unauthorized war is yet another example of the Trump administration’s brazen and illegal attempts to consolidate power. At a time when Americans have told us everything is too expensive, it is shameful that we are wasting upwards of a billion dollars a day on this. We need it to end, to bring our servicemembers back to safety, and to get Congress and this administration to focus on lowering the cost of living here at home. Today, I introduced a War Powers Resolution which would direct the President to stop the use of U.S. Armed Forces in Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war from Congress. It is essential to hold every member of Congress accountable for allowing this war to continue and put them on record for the American people to see.”

Rep. Balint joins the efforts of Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) members, including Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), John Garamendi (CA-08), and Chuy Garcia (IL-04), who are working in coordination to force votes in Congress on bringing the war in Iran to an end. War Powers Resolutions are privileged in the House of Representatives, meaning that this resolution will get a vote on the House floor in the coming weeks.

Congresswoman Balint has been vocal in her opposition to the war since its beginning. Most recently, she slammed Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought in a Budget Committee hearing for the President’s request of $350 billion to continue funding the Iran war – the same cost of extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits for another ten years. In the two months since the beginning of the war, gas prices in Vermont have increased by 34%, and have reached their highest peak nationally in four years.

The text of the War Powers Resolution can be viewed here.

###",1,2026-05-01T06:06:26Z,2026-05-01T06:08:22Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=697,"Balint Leads CPC Task Force Hearing on Taxing Corporate Greed, Calls for Fairer Tax Code",2026-04-24,2026,2026-04,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Ending Corporate Greed Task Force, convened a shadow hearing this week on “Visions of an Affordable Life: Taxing Corporate Greed,” bringing together lawmakers and policy experts to examine how the current tax code fuels corporate profiteering and deepening inequality, and to outline potential solutions to ensure the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share.

At the hearing, Members and witnesses underscored how rising costs for working families are being driven by a tax system that rewards corporations and billionaires while leaving everyday Americans behind.

“As a former history teacher, I often mention that we are in a second Gilded Age. And we have a responsibility to do things differently because it doesn't end well. The tax code is at the center of this problem,” said Rep. Balint. “If we're serious about making life more affordable and more manageable, which I am and which everyone here today is, then we have to make sure that taxes are a way to even the playing field for Americans.”

“I think it is on us as Democrats, on our side of the aisle, to say no we understand this has been a long time in coming. This is a problem that we have not tended to enough and that's how we got here,” Balint continued. “It doesn't make any sense for us to get the gavels back if we don't use that power to make this a more fair and equitable economy...you shouldn’t have to be super wealthy and well-connected to have a good life in this country.""

Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02), Co-Chair of the Task Force, emphasized the role of corporate influence in shaping tax policy.

“My Republican colleagues hear what we hear when we do town halls, yet we see these policies move forward that totally ignore what [the witnesses] just talked about today,” said Rep. McGovern. “My view is that is it not that they are ignorant about what the realities are, it is that they’re bought and they’re owned by corporate special interests. It’s the money in politics.”

Rep. Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Co-Chair, highlighted how the current tax code reflects misplaced priorities.

“A tax code is a statement of our values, and our values are completely upside down right now,” said Rep. Dexter. “It needs to create a stable foundation for families and communities to have what they need. Instead, our current system has rewarded the wealthiest Americans and corporations, short-changes workers, as we've heard, and concentrated wealth and power at the top.”

Witnesses provided data and firsthand perspectives on the consequences of an inequitable tax system.

“Americans are deeply frustrated with the tax code, not because taxes exist, but because the system feels rigged. They see corporations posting record profits while paying effective rates well below what a teacher or a nurse pays. They see billionaires treating the tax code like a game that they always win while their own costs for housing, healthcare, and childcare keep climbing,” said Elizabeth Wilkins, President and CEO of the Roosevelt Institute. “That sense of unfairness is corrosive. It doesn't just make people angry about taxes, it erodes their belief in their government and that their government works for them at all.”

Kristen Crowell, Executive Director of Families Over Billionaires, spoke to the lived experiences of working families.

“The decisions that are made here in Washington, D.C. don’t stay here in Washington. They land on our kitchen tables, in community health clinics, and in the lives of ordinary people all across the country,” said Crowell. “This is not Democrats and Republicans from a voter perspective. That is over. It is class warfare. And that's what it feels like to families. They feel under attack.”

Zorka Milin, Policy Director at the FACT Coalition, outlined how corporations exploit loopholes.

“We analyzed this treasure trove of fresh tax data and found that 40 major American corporations reduced their tax bills by more than $11 billion through tax havens last year alone,” said Milin. “These findings confirm that our tax code fails to stop big corporations from moving their profits offshore at enormous costs to our federal revenues and domestic jobs. This isn't America first. It's corporations first, Americans last.”

Corey Husak, Director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress, pointed to structural inequities in the tax system.

“Voters say the rich aren't paying their fair share, and they're right,” said Husak. “Wall Street investors already have access to low capital gains rates. Why do they need exemptions from even paying that? Many pass-through business owners, like the president, are billionaires. Why do they need a pass-through deduction giving them lower marginal tax rates than their own workers?”

Elizabeth Watson, Director of Federal Government Affairs at AFSCME, emphasized the broader impact of inequality.

“Wealth inequality in America just reached a 30-year high. Today, one-third of wealth in the US is held by 1% of Americans,” said Watson. “These rich Americans have a powerful lobby in Congress fighting to rig the tax code in their favor. They're fighting to make it nearly impossible for working people to collectively bargain for their fair share.”

Together, members and witnesses made clear that fixing the tax code is central to lowering costs, restoring fairness, and rebuilding trust in government.

Background

The CPC Ending Corporate Greed Task Force is focused on developing and advancing policies to hold corporations and billionaires accountable, including efforts on tax fairness, antitrust enforcement, price gouging, money in politics, and financial regulation.

The full livestream of the hearing can be viewed here.

###",1,2026-04-25T05:38:36Z,2026-04-25T05:40:21Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=674,Rep. Balint Statement on Trump Firing Pam Bondi as Attorney General,2026-04-02,2026,2026-04,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after reporting that President Trump has removed Pam Bondi from her position as Attorney General:

“Pam Bondi drove the Justice Department into the ground and should have been removed long ago. Under her leadership, corruption and incompetence reigned. Bondi did not pursue justice on behalf of all Americans, she worked to cover up the misdeeds of the President and his ultra wealthy friends. She led political purges of career prosecutors, let white collar criminals off the hook, forced out those who would not agree to go along with pay-to-play schemes, and failed the Epstein survivors. Being fired, however, is not a ‘fix all.’ Congress still has a responsibility to hold her accountable for her wrongdoing, and I will continue pushing for that oversight.

“I also have serious concerns about the path forward for the Department and have doubts about whether Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche or rumored successor Lee Zeldin will change the course of the Department. I will be watching closely.

“The public made their voices heard on both Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi and it made a real difference. We need to keep showing up, keep demanding better, and keep holding those in power accountable, including other cabinet officials.”

###",1,2026-04-03T05:34:17Z,2026-04-06T21:06:43Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=673,Balint and Wyden Introduce Bill to Strengthen Protections for Journalists Against Unreasonable Government Searches,2026-03-29,2026,2026-03,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced a bill on Friday to strengthen privacy protections against unreasonable government searches and seizures that could chill reporting critical of the government. The bill follows Donald Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) raiding the home of a Washington Post reporter.

“This is the most corrupt administration in history, and we only know that because journalists have been doing the tireless work of delivering truth and transparency to the American people,” Balint said. “A free press serves an essential role in our democracy, which is why it is protected by our Constitution. We need to close the loopholes that have allowed administrations to strong-arm and intimidate journalists, and I am proud to work with Senator Wyden to do just that.”

“My father was a journalist who escaped Nazi Germany. He taught me you can’t have a functioning democracy without a free press,” Wyden said. “Our bill sends a clear message that government agents have no business seizing the notes and electronic devices of reporters who are just doing their jobs. Congress must once again step up to protect journalists against attempts to intimidate reporters and chill sources who could blow the whistle on government wrongdoing.”

Under the Privacy Protection Act of 1980, the government cannot search or seize journalists’ documentary or work-product materials, except in certain narrow circumstances. Congress passed that law out of concern about the chilling effect of government raids on the press, and required the government to use less intrusive methods. Unfortunately, the law contains numerous loopholes that have been exploited across presidential administrations. The government never needs to prove an exception to the law before obtaining a search warrant, or even mention that the law exists. Even if a judge finds that a search or seizure is illegal under the Privacy Protection Act, the government can still use those illegally obtained materials in court.

Balint and Wyden’s bill would strengthen protections for journalists and close these loopholes. The Privacy Protection Updates Act would:

Require the government to disclose the existence of the Privacy Protection Act and prove that an exception applies, if the government wants to search or seize a journalist’s materials with a warrant.

Maintain the existing exception for exigent circumstances, but establish a new process for mandatory judicial review within 48 hours of the emergency seizures of a journalist’s materials to determine whether the search or seizure was justified.

Create a process for suppression of journalist records that are illegally searched or seized.

Clarify that the Privacy Protection Act applies to journalist records stored on the cloud.

The Privacy Protection Updates Act is endorsed by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Demand Progress, Freedom of the Press Foundation, and Protect the 1st Foundation.

“Free people rely on a free press, and the press is only free if it is unrestricted by government spying and intimidation. Sen. Wyden and Rep. Balint’s update to the Privacy Protection Act is a much-needed safeguard that removes incentives to ransack the notes and sources of reporters. This bill corrects the law to ensure that the government cannot suppress free journalism and speech,” said Bob Goodlatte, former Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and Senior Policy Advisor for Protect the 1st.

“Ignorance of the law is no defense, unless you're a prosecutor looking for a warrant to ransack a journalist's files. At least six times in recent years -- most recently, the raid of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson -- prosecutors seeking such warrants have failed to disclose to judges that, subject to a few narrow exceptions, they're illegal under the Privacy Protection Act of 1980. By the time the judge figures it out, it's too late -- the journalist's sources are compromised, and they can't publish any stories or investigations stored on seized devices. We commend Sen. Wyden and Rep. Balint for recognizing this intolerable status quo and taking action to give the PPA some teeth and protect journalists' ability to inform the public. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have opposed journalist surveillance in the past and we hope this bill receives the enthusiastic bipartisan support it deserves,” wrote Seth Stern, Chief of Advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation.

“The Privacy Protection Updates Act is what it looks like to take press freedom seriously. This necessary bill transforms a well-intentioned but outdated law into a modernized framework for a free and independent press with real consequences—establishing a powerful exclusionary rule, requiring greater transparency from the government in warrant applications, and ending the weak damages-only civil remedy that left journalists unprotected. Press freedoms are too vital to be left to the government's honor system, especially when the White House keeps eroding our core civil liberties. We thank Sen. Wyden and Rep. Balint for their leadership and urge all members of Congress to get behind this needed bill,” said Kate Oh, Special Advisor at Demand Progress.

“The government needs guardrails to prevent overreach. Reforms to the Privacy Protection Act will strengthen protections, enabling journalists to do their job and keep the public informed,” said Katherine Jacobsen, U.S., Canada, and Caribbean Program Coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The one-pager of the bill is here.

The full bill text is here.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-06T21:05:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=669,"Sanders, Welch, Balint Statement on Recent ICE Raids in South Burlington",2026-03-12,2026,2026-03,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"BURLINGTON, VT – The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), today released the following statement regarding the recent ICE raids in South Burlington:

“President Trump’s domestic army, ICE, came into Vermont yesterday from out of state and, as is virtually always the case, acted in an irresponsible, reckless and unprofessional manner.

“What happened yesterday in South Burlington was outrageous and avoidable. Rather than notifying local and state law enforcement of a planned arrest, ICE created a crisis that resulted in them using flashbang grenades and tear gas against protestors. To make matters worse, they failed to arrest the person they were initially pursuing and instead arrested at least three individuals who were not named on the warrant.

“As a result of the reckless actions of ICE, local and state police were put in an impossibly difficult situation.

“At a time when our country is deeply divided, this is not the way a federal agency should be conducting itself. It is long past time for Congress to take action to rein in ICE’s lawlessness.”

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-06T21:05:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=666,"Reps. Balint, Takano, Pocan Join Sens. Schiff, Smith to Reintroduce Bill to Expand Access to Lifesaving HIV Prevention Medications",2026-03-05,2026,2026-03,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) joined Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Representatives Mark Takano (CA-39) and Mark Pocan (WI-02) to reintroduce the PrEP Access and Coverage Act, legislation to expand the availability of lifesaving HIV prevention medications and care. The bill would ensure HIV prevention drugs, as well as screenings, diagnostic procedures, administrative fees, and clinical follow-ups are covered by health insurance without out-of-pocket costs for patients. It would also establish community public health campaigns and improve access to medications for uninsured Americans.

The introduction of this bill comes as the Trump administration has initiated sweeping cuts to CDC grants that support HIV prevention programs and several states have limited funding for those receiving federally funded HIV treatment.

“Every Vermonter deserves affordable, stigma-free access to lifesaving HIV prevention and treatment,” said Rep. Balint, Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. “As the Trump administration drives up health care costs and slashes funding for PrEP and HIV prevention, I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to protect access to HIV medication and recommit to ending the HIV epidemic once and for all.”

“HIV prevention drugs and care should be accessible and affordable to every American to keep our communities safe and help people live healthy lives. Under Donald Trump, health care is becoming increasingly expensive and unattainable as this administration makes devastating and politically motivated funding cuts to programs intended to mitigate the spread of HIV. This bill is essential to filling the gap with necessary HIV treatments to ensure people don’t go without life-saving medication, and I’m proud to join my Senate and House colleagues in introducing it,” said Senator Schiff.

“Everyone deserves access to affordable and effective accessible health care,” said Senator Smith. “Minnesotans and folks across the country are unduly burdened by the costs associated with of preventative, life-saving HIV medication. It’s especially important to introduce this bill now as the Trump Administration has made huge funding cuts limiting access to HIV medication. My bill makes sure patients can access HIV prevention drugs and all of the ancillary services that add up when they’re trying to access this care.”

""HIV can impact any of us, and it is critical that treatment and prevention are readily available to everyone,"" said Congressman Takano, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. ""This Administration has ushered in historic cuts to health care for millions of Americans, including access to PrEP and HIV prevention programs. I am proud to co-lead this legislation to ensure that access and availability are not barriers to putting an end to this public health crisis.""

“Making it easier to access lifesaving medicines like PrEP just makes sense,” Chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus Mark Pocan (WI-02) said. “We’ve made great strides in fighting this disease, but there is still more we can do. Removing barriers to these preventive medicines, rather than making folks go through hoops will save lives. Thank you, Senators Schiff, Smith and Congressman Takano, for introducing this vital legislation.”

The PrEP Access and Coverage Act would eliminate barriers and ensure access to HIV prevention medication by:

Ensuring comprehensive health insurance coverage of HIV prevention drugs by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for the medications and associated costs for individuals who are enrolled in federally regulated private and public health insurance.

Prohibiting prior authorization requirements for HIV prevention drugs under private and public health insurance plans.

Prohibiting denying coverage or increasing premiums for disability insurance, long-term care insurance, or life insurance policies based on a person taking medication for HIV prevention.

Directing the Department of Health and Human Services to establish public health education campaigns to increase utilization of PrEP and PEP among individuals at risk of contracting HIV.

Establishing a grant program for States, Territories, Tribes, and health care facilities, such as Federally Qualified Health Centers and family planning centers, to expand access to PrEP and PEP for uninsured individuals and underserved communities.

Directing the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury to monitor compliance with PrEP and PEP coverage requirements among private insurers and take appropriate enforcement actions.

This legislation is endorsed by the Congressional Equality Caucus, HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, PrEP4All, Equality California, The AIDS Institute, Whitman-Walker Health, Aliveness Project, National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), Human Rights Campaign, and NMAC.

“The ‘PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026’ would create a comprehensive national PrEP program that guarantees PrEP for everyone who needs it, both the insured and uninsured. It would fill a critical gap in our nation’s response to ending HIV; while we have a comprehensive HIV treatment program, we need a corresponding program for prevention. We urge Congress to swiftly pass it,” said HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute Executive Director Carl Schmid. “We praise Sens. Smith and Schiff and Reps. Takano, Balint, and Pocan for championing this bill that would ensure people with insurance have access to PrEP, including newer long-acting options, without cost-sharing or prior authorization. To increase PrEP uptake, especially in communities where it has been lacking, it would provide grants to states, community-based organizations, community health centers, and others to establish and support PrEP programs. These programs would not only provide PrEP for the uninsured, but also much needed community and provider outreach.”

“We’re grateful to Senator Smith and Senator Schiff for their leadership on the PrEP Access and Coverage Act. Communities most impacted by HIV continue to face unnecessary complexity in accessing PrEP medications, required lab work, and other essential services. With only one in four of the 2.2 million Americans who could benefit from PrEP currently able to access it, the need for clear, consistent, no-nonsense PrEP coverage across all public and private insurers is urgent. At a moment when protections for preventive care are being actively undermined, this legislation would safeguard and strengthen a national vision for PrEP access that aligns with our shared goal of ending HIV as an epidemic.” Jeremiah Johnson, Executive Director, PrEP4All

The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-06T21:05:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=667,Rep. Balint Votes for War Powers Resolution to Rein in Trump’s Military Actions in Iran,2026-03-05,2026,2026-03,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today released the following statement after voting for the War Powers Resolution that would rein in the President’s use of military force in Iran (H. Con. Res. 38) and to re-affirm Iran remains the largest state sponsor of terrorism (H. Res. 1099):

“The Iranian people have suffered under a brutal and oppressive authoritarian regime for decades. Iran is the primary state sponsor of several terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah. Condemning Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism does not authorize the President to start an illegal war.

“Two things can be true at once: the regime in Iran should be condemned, and there continues to be no good case being made to Congress that there was an imminent threat to us or our interests that warranted troops being put in harm's way. Congress makes the decision on if we should go to war, not the President. That is why I also voted for today's War Powers Resolution, which would require the Trump administration to get congressional approval to continue their military actions in Iran.

“It seems Republicans are desperate to abdicate their authority and grasp at straws that excuse the administration’s dangerous, illegal attack that has already resulted in the tragic loss of six service members. They have failed to learn from history and are continuing to repeat their deeply unpopular playbook of cutting taxes for the rich and starting wars in the Middle East. Americans do not want to be dragged into another endless war in the Middle East, and I will continue to do everything in my power to hold this administration accountable to the People and to the Constitution.”

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-06T21:05:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=665,Rep. Balint Statement on Trump's Unauthorized Attack on Iran,2026-02-28,2026,2026-02,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"BRATTLEBORO, VT – Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today released the following statement after it was announced that President Trump had launched an unauthorized attack against Iran overnight:

“President Trump has launched another dangerous, illegal attack on Iran without authorization from Congress. We have no reason to believe America was at any imminent risk - especially after President Trump claimed to have ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear program in June. It’s true that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leads a brutal and oppressive regime, and I support the Iranian people bravely protesting to bring change. But this attack is not a plan for peace. It has put our troops in harm's way, thrown the entire region into conflict, and violates our Constitution and Congressional authority.

“Speaker Johnson must immediately reconvene the House so we can pass a War Powers Resolution to rein in this unauthorized use of our military and taxpayer dollars.

“We have no kings in America. We are a democracy in which the people get to decide the course of our nation. We must stand with the American people who have told us they do not want any costly wars or regime change. They want us focused here at home on providing healthcare, bringing down the cost of groceries, and building more homes. We as members of Congress must listen to what Americans have told us and vote accordingly.”

###

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February 4, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-06T21:03:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=663,Rep. Balint to Speak at the “People’s State of the Union” and stand with Americans Impacted by Trump Instead of President’s Address,2026-02-24,2026,2026-02,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today announced that she will join Democratic colleagues, community leaders, and Americans directly impacted by the Trump Administration’s policies at the People’s State of the Union on the National Mall, rather than attend President Trump’s State of the Union address.

Hosted by MoveOn, the People’s State of the Union will feature members of Congress alongside constituents and storytellers speaking about the real-world impacts of the Trump administration’s decisions — including health care cuts, rising costs, attacks on Constitutional rights and ICE’s violent immigration enforcement actions.

“The State of the Union is meant to be a serious reflection of our nation’s progress, our shortfalls, and the path forward,” said Rep. Balint. “Instead of sitting through what has become President Trump’s annual self-congratulation, misinformation, and division speech, I look forward to a night of standing with colleagues, organizers, advocates, and everyday Americans who are committed to doing the real and honest work of protecting our rights, strengthening our communities, and holding those in power accountable.”

Rep. Balint will be joined by Mohsen Mahdawi, a Vermont constituent, student leader, and advocate for Palestinian human rights whose life has been directly affected by Trump’s attack on Americans’ First Amendment rights.

“Vermont and the United States have become home to me not only by residence, but through the love, safety and solidarity I have experienced in this community,” said Mr. Mahdawi. “That is why being imprisoned on the very day I sought citizenship was not only devastating but also a profound betrayal of the principles on which this country was founded. I remain steadfast in my commitment to this country’s ideals, my recognition of the power of our voices, and my belief in the principles of democracy. Palestinians and Americans are fighting the same fight, a fight for dignity and rights without conditions. When we stand together across movements, across borders, across every line they use to divide us, we make it impossible to ignore that love is stronger than fear, hope is more powerful than despair, and freedom will always outlast oppression.”

The event begins at 8:00 PM ET on the National Mall and will be livestreamed. Press interested in covering this event in person should register their interest here.

About Mohsen Mahdawi

Born and raised in Al-Far’a refugee camp in the West Bank of Palestine, Mohsen Mahdawi's early years were defined by Israeli military occupation. At twenty-four, he moved to the United States and experienced freedom and safety for the first time in his life, finding in Vermont a true home rooted in belonging and the strength of a supportive community. At Columbia University, he became a leading voice for Palestinian rights through dialogue and coalition-building, including with Jewish and Israeli communities.

In April 2025 when Mohsen walked into an immigration office for his citizenship interview and was handcuffed and detained by ICE in retaliation for his pro-Palestinian activism. Mohsen continues his graduate studies in Diplomacy while defending his rights in courts and building an organization dedicated to human rights and nonviolent conflict resolution.",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-06T21:03:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=660,"Following DOJ Antitrust Shakeup, Balint, Warren, Lawmakers Raise Questions About Corruption Surrounding DOJ Approval of Massive Housing Merger",2026-02-20,2026,2026-02,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led colleagues in pressing Attorney General Pam Bondi on whether there was corruption and political favoritism at the Department of Justice (DOJ) involving the agency’s questionable review of the massive merger between real estate giants Compass and Anywhere Real Estate. The lawmakers’ push follows the ouster of top DOJ antitrust official Gail Slater last week, raising questions about whether political interference is causing DOJ to stymie critical antitrust reviews of massive mergers that threaten to raise costs for consumers.

“This decision raises questions about corruption under your watch and its impact on housing affordability for American families. Allowing this merger will make it easier for these firms to exert greater control over the real estate market, limit consumer access and choice, and ultimately exacerbate the housing crisis that has put homeownership out of reach for millions of Americans,” wrote the lawmakers.

The letter was also signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.).

Real estate brokerage behemoths Compass and Anywhere announced a $1.6 billion merger in September of last year, subject to DOJ review. In a surprise move last month, Compass announced that it had completed its acquisition of Anywhere far ahead of schedule. The merger combines two of the nation’s largest residential real-estate brokerages, creating the largest agent network in the country — and raising antitrust and competition concerns.

With a housing crisis already flattening American families under Donald Trump, further consolidation in the market threatens to make it even harder for consumers to afford homeownership. Mergers like Compass-Anywhere can push homeownership even further out of reach — making a thorough and serious DOJ review of the merger all the more critical.

But DOJ leadership — namely the office of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche — reportedly hindered the agency’s antitrust review of the Compass-Anywhere merger, failing to protect Americans. Recent reporting revealed that DOJ Antitrust Division leadership, including recently-ousted Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, sought an extended investigation of the transaction given concerns it might violate federal antitrust law, but senior DOJ leaders overrode Slater and cleared the transaction without additional review. This decision by DOJ leadership apparently came after Compass hired Mike Davis — a Trump-allied lawyer who has been involved in other merger review controversies. Reporting suggests that Davis was responsible for pushing the Compass-Anywhere review forward — and after Slater was forced out of DOJ, Davis bragged that he recommended her firing.

“The fact pattern reported in the Compass-Anywhere deal is deeply disturbing, indicating that it may be another example of well-connected industries and lobbyists obtaining inside access to high-level Trump Administration DOJ officials, and using this access to pervert the antitrust process to obtain approval of anticompetitive mergers that will reduce competition and harm the public,” wrote the lawmakers.

This isn’t the first instance of apparent corruption under AG Bondi’s watch at DOJ. In July, lawmakers sounded the alarm regarding DOJ’s settlement of the Hewlett Packard-Juniper networks merger, after reports indicated that defendants retained lobbyists and consultants with ties to the Trump White House and DOJ leadership — resulting in the ouster of multiple of Slater’s deputies. In December, lawmakers pressed Bondi to recuse herself from DOJ’s review of any merger involving Warner Bros., given Bondi’s own apparent conflicts of interest and the cloud of corruption at the DOJ. Earlier this week, Senator Warren joined colleagues in pressing Bondi on Slater’s ouster, citing reports about Mike Davis’s involvement and sounding the alarm about the Trump administration’s commitment to enforcing antitrust laws.

“Corruption in this process could exacerbate the current housing crisis, under which foreclosures are up 26 percent and mortgage delinquencies are at a four-year-high, while also setting a dangerous precedent that invites political interference in merger review across industries and undermines the antitrust laws that Congress put in place to safeguard competition and protect Americans,” wrote the lawmakers.

To ensure that the DOJ enforces antitrust law independently and fairly, the lawmakers pressed for more information about the agency’s unusual approval of the Compass-Anywhere merger and requested answers by March 5, 2026.

Text of Letter (PDF)

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-06T21:03:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=662,Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Blocking Trump Tariff Regime,2026-02-20,2026,2026-02,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Trump does not have the authority to impose broad tariffs under the emergency act he has cited:

“Today's ruling was a major victory in defending Congress's power of the purse and reining in a President who has abused his power. As Vermonters, our tourism industry, small businesses, and border communities are deeply connected with our Canadian neighbors, and the impact of these tariffs has been severe. The chaos and instability - and the administration's harmful rhetoric - have hurt our small businesses, raised costs for working people, and caused our nation reputational harm.""

“Targeted, strategic tariffs can strengthen American industries or bring good jobs home, but President Trump’s tariff regime was neither strategic nor predictable. Our families and businesses deserve smart, steady economic leadership, not economic whiplash.""

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-06T21:03:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=658,Rep. Balint Issues Statement After Viewing Unredacted Epstein Files,2026-02-10,2026,2026-02,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after reviewing unredacted Epstein files at the Department of Justice:

“What I saw in the Epstein files over the last two days was sickening and enraging. It is absolutely clear that we have a two-tiered system of justice in this country. One for the rich and powerful where the law is optional, and one for the rest of us. The sheer number of people involved — and the layers of cover-up that allowed this international criminal conspiracy to rape girls — is staggering. But more than anything, I am heartsick for the survivors, who have endlessly asked for compassion and justice, and instead been met with a political circus. They will continue to be front and center in my heart and mind as I question Attorney General Bondi tomorrow during her testimony before the House Judiciary Committee.”

Attorney General Bondi will testify before the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow at 10:00 AM. The livestream can be viewed here.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-06T21:03:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=657,"Balint, Padilla and Watson Coleman Aim to Bolster Mental Health Care Workforce Through New School Programs",2026-02-05,2026,2026-02,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, to introduce the Mental Health Career Promotion Act to bolster the behavioral and mental health care workforce pipeline by providing students with educational opportunities to learn about and pursue careers in the field. The bill would create the Behavioral and Mental Health Career Promotion Grant Program, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to provide funding to schools to establish mental health career promotion programs for high school and community college students.

Millions of students across the country struggle with their mental health, with two in five reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the last 30 days, andone in five reporting that they have seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023. Despite the severity of these challenges, many students go untreated because they do not know where to seek help and there are not enough trained mental health professionals available to meet the growing demand.

“Right now, we are in the middle of a mental health crisis without enough professional support to meet the need,” said Representative Balint. “That shortage shows up every day in our schools, our families, and our communities. This bill aims to address that by creating clear pathways into mental health careers for high school and community college students, connecting them early with mentorship, training, and hands-on experience with local providers. The goal is a stronger, more sustainable mental health workforce that can meet people where they are and deliver care when it’s needed most.”

“Far too many people struggling with their mental health are left to suffer in silence because of our nation’s severe shortage of qualified providers,” said Senator Padilla. “As this crisis grows — especially among teens — we must meet students where they are at by expanding resources for students to learn about careers in mental health care. Our bill does exactly that by investing in the next generation of the nation’s mental health workforce.”

“Mental healthcare, like so many other professional fields, is facing a shortage of skilled professionals,” said Representative Watson Coleman. “As millions of Americans struggle with their mental health, the number of therapists and counselors can’t meet the needs of those looking for assistance. I’m proud to co-lead the Mental Health Career Promotion Act with Rep. Balint. This important piece of legislation will create a pipeline for students in high school and community colleges to explore a career in mental health services. We will be investing in the future of not only these students but to all the communities they will serve with their expertise in mental and behavioral health.”

“The American Psychological Association applauds Senator Padilla and Congresswoman Balint for introducing the Mental Health Career Promotion Act, which would help encourage our nation’s students to pursue careers in mental health,” said American Psychological Association CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD. “Introducing young people early to the benefits of working in mental health fields, including psychology, can help ensure the future of this critically needed workforce.”

“In 2023, suicide was the second leading cause of death for teens and young adults age 15-24, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen prevention efforts and build a robust and responsive mental health workforce,” said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). “AFSP strongly supports the Mental Health Career Promotion Act. Expanding exposure to mental health careers and mentorship opportunities for high school students is an important investment in the future of the mental health workforce. We thank Senator Padilla for his leadership and commitment to advancing the mental health and well-being of our nation’s youth.”

According to the most recent data from the Department of Health and Human Services, more than half of all Americans live in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area. This challenge is only expected to get worse: between 2021 and 2026 the total number of mental health professionals in the United States is projected to decline by 13 percent while demand for these professionals is expected to increase by over 50 percent.

To help address these challenges, the Behavioral and Mental Health Career Promotion Grant Program’s funding would create partnerships between high schools and community colleges with a community-based mental or behavioral health authority to educate and promote careers in mental health. Specifically, this grant program would:

Provide educational presentations to students that increase exposure to and knowledge of the mental health field;

Coordinate internship and externship opportunities for students who are interested in mental health;

Arrange opportunities for students to interact with and shadow mental health care professionals; and

Establish student mentorship opportunities in mental health.

Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) are cosponsoring the bill in the Senate.

The Mental Health Career Promotion Act is endorsed by organizations including American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Jed Foundation, National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

A one-pager on the bill is available here.",1,2026-04-02T05:33:17Z,2026-04-06T21:03:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=655,Rep. Becca Balint's Statement on ICE Detention of Vermont Pastor and Nursing Assistant,2026-02-04,2026,2026-02,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-At-Large), today released the following statement:

“We are horrified to learn of the detention of Vermont pastor and nursing assistant Steven Tendo by ICE outside of his workplace today — just days ahead of a regular check-in with immigration authorities. Pastor Tendo fled persecution and torture in Uganda and has lived peacefully in Vermont for many years as a valued member of our community. People like Pastor Tendo are exactly who our asylum system is meant to protect. We join together with many Vermonters in calling on the Trump administration to ensure Pastor Tendo is allowed to return to Vermont and that he is immediately afforded full due process, including the right to contact his attorney while his appeal is considered.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T21:03:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=654,Rep. Balint Votes Against Funding for DHS Amid Rising ICE Violence Across the Country,2026-02-03,2026,2026-02,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), Vice Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after voting against the Continuing Resolution that would fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for another two weeks:

""DHS needs to be reined in now. I refuse to give them another dime while Secretary Noem allows masked federal agents to terrorize our streets without accountability. They are killing Americans, using preschoolers as bait, and trampling on all of our constitutional rights. Accountability and change must come first, not money.""

Rep. Balint remains committed to conducting oversight and holding ICE accountable. She has traveled to do on the ground oversight in Chicago during ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ in October and in Minnesota this month after the killing of Renee Good. She has also signed onto articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T21:03:58Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=653,"Rep. Balint Reintroduces Bicameral ‘EMS ROCS’ Act to Support EMS Providers in Rural Communities Bill Aligns Medicare Payments for EMS Providers with Community Needs, Ensures EMS Can Provide Essential Medical Care to Rural Communities",2026-01-29,2026,2026-01,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"BURLINGTON, VT – U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), and U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today reintroduced the Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-scene Care and Support (EMS ROCS) Act, bicameral legislation that would require the government to pay for vital EMS services provided to individuals on Medicare.

Currently, Medicare does not reimburse EMS providers unless the patient is transported to a hospital. However, EMS providers regularly deliver vital services on-scene when responding to 911 calls. In rural communities, the demand for EMS services for medical emergencies continues to increase—especially for Medicare beneficiaries, who make up about 40% of patients treated by EMS.

“For rural Americans, our EMS providers are often heroes that deliver lifesaving care on scene when hospitals are far away and minutes matter,” said Rep. Balint. “They should be paid for that work regardless of whether it’s provided at home or in the ambulance. The EMS ROCS Act is a crucial step towards fixing the 'no payment' loophole and preserving access to care for rural Vermonters.”

“Vermont’s EMS providers deliver essential medical services in rural communities, and they deserve to be reimbursed for that work. That’s why it only makes sense that our government should pay for vital EMS services, regardless of whether someone needs an ambulance ride to the hospital,” said Senator Welch. “We need commonsense solutions modernize Medicare to ensure that EMS are paid for their lifesaving work—our bill does just that.”

“Simply put, EMS are the first responders to some of people’s most difficult moments, and often are the difference between life and death,” said Senator Sanders. “We must do everything we can to ensure they receive the support and resources they need and deserve, and that includes reimbursement for all the care they provide. Rural communities in Vermont and across the country depend on their essential services and this bill is a right step forward in helping EMS agencies get fairly compensated for these services – even when transportation to the hospital is not needed.”

In addition to Rep. Balint, the legislation is cosponsored in the House by Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.-AL), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), André Carson (IN-07), Terri Sewell (AL-07), and Summer Lee (PA-12).

Inflationary pressures, coupled with the increasing volume of services that are ineligible for reimbursement, pose a serious threat to EMS providers, particularly those serving rural and older communities. These challenges are forcing EMS providers to curtail service and, in some areas, shut down services entirely. In recent years, several EMS providers in rural Vermont have closed their doors due to mounting expenses, leaving local residents with fewer options for emergency services.

The EMS ROCS Act is endorsed by the American Ambulance Association, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), National Rural Health Association, and the Vermont Ambulance Association.

“The National Rural Health Association applauds Congresswoman Balint and Senator Welch for introducing the EMS ROCS Act. Rural EMS providers face unique challenges due to higher fixed costs over a lower volume of services, greater distances for responding to calls, and workforce shortages. Additionally, Medicare under-reimburses for rural transports by 89%. NRHA is proud to have bicameral support for legislation that improves challenges in Medicare reimbursement for rural EMS, which will expand access to emergency services and improve healthcare in rural areas,” said Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association.

“With his reintroduction of the EMS ROCs Act, Senator Welch demonstrates yet again his profound support for the quality medical care our paramedics and EMTs deliver every day to Vermonters. By ensuring that ambulance service organizations are reimbursed for on-scene medical treatment, regardless of patient transport, this legislation aligns policy with the advancements in pre-hospital medical care,” said Drew Hazelton, President, Vermont Ambulance Association.

Learn more about the EMS ROCS Act of 2026 here.

Read and download the full text of the bill.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T21:01:44Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=651,Rep. Balint Welcomes Decision to Stop Vermont USCIS Reassignments to Minnesota,2026-01-26,2026,2026-01,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"BRATTLEBORO, VT — Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today welcomed the news that Vermont-based USCIS employees will no longer be sent to Minnesota to conduct immigration enforcement, after raising concerns about the change in mission:

“Given the aggressive ICE operations underway in Minnesota which have already led to deadly force and widespread fear, I raised serious concerns about sending Vermont USCIS employees into roles far outside their mission and training. I’m relieved those reassignments are no longer moving forward, and that these public servants can remain focused on helping people navigate the immigration system safely and lawfully.”

Rep. Balint’s statement regarding the original reports of Vermont USCIC employees being deployed to Minnesota can be viewed here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T21:01:44Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=647,Reps. Balint and Jayapal Push Meta and Google to End ICE Ad Partnerships Using White Nationalist Propaganda,2026-01-22,2026,2026-01,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL), Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, have sent letters demanding answers from Meta and Google after reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is using their platforms to run immigration enforcement recruitment for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) using “self-deportation” and other advertisements that rely on white nationalist imagery and rhetoric.

In letters sent yesterday, the lawmakers warn that these advertising campaigns are part of an effort to massively expand ICE recruitment, including to surge ICE officers to cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, Portland, and New Orleans. To meet these recruitment targets, ICE has lowered hiring standards and turned to paid digital ads across major platforms.

The letter to Meta cites reporting that DHS has spent millions of dollars on paid ads with their platforms, including ads clearly connected to white nationalist themes, using images and slogans historically used by neo-Nazi groups. In one recent example, “DHS posted a recruitment ad on Instagram proclaiming ‘we’ll have our home again’, which is a song popularized in neo-Nazi spaces and used in white nationalist calls for a race war.” The letter to Google also calls out a reported $3 million in ICE advertisements on Google and YouTube that promoted ‘self-deportation,’ a strategy being used by the Trump administration to intimidate immigrants into leaving the country. In total, ICE placed $5.8 million in ads with Meta and Google last year.

Reps. Balint and Jayapal underscored the real-world consequences of expanded and insufficiently vetted immigration enforcement, citing deaths, warrantless arrests, mass raids, and a record number of deaths in ICE custody. “The impact of an unqualified army of ICE agents being unleashed across the country has been severe,” the lawmakers said.

The lawmakers are demanding transparency about the scope of the companies’ agreements with DHS and are calling on Meta and Google to commit to ending their digital advertising partnerships with the agency. They also raised concerns that the advertisements may conflict with the companies’ own content and advertising standards, questioning how this material was permitted to run on their platforms in the first place.

The lawmakers’ letter to Meta can be viewed here.

The lawmakers’ letter to Google can be viewed here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T21:01:44Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=648,Rep. Becca Balint’s Statement Following Former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Public Testimony Before the Judiciary Committee,2026-01-22,2026,2026-01,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), Vice Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified publicly before the Committee, detailing his investigations into President Donald Trump’s criminal attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election:

“Today’s testimony confirmed that President Trump was the principal architect of the January 6th insurrection. Mr. Smith laid bare the pattern of threats, intimidation, and retaliation he and his team have faced from Trump and his loyalists for simply following the facts and the law. The President has repeatedly attacked him by name, fired career prosecutors and FBI agents who worked on the investigation, and made clear that retribution—not justice—is the goal.

“This is the same dangerous playbook that led to January 6: undermine the truth, target those who enforce the law, and incite others while avoiding giving direct orders. No President is above the law, and the American people should be outraged that the independence of our justice system is being dismantled in plain sight.”

While Special Counsel Smith was able to provide information about most of his work, there is information about the classified records investigation subject to a gag order from Trump appointed Judge Aileen Cannon. House Judiciary Democrats have requested a follow-up hearing to hear more from Special Counsel Smith when the gag order is lifted on his full work into the classified documents aspects of the case.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T21:01:44Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=649,Rep. Becca Balint’s Statement Following Former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Public Testimony Before the Judiciary Committee,2026-01-22,2026,2026-01,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"“Today’s testimony confirmed that President Trump was the principal architect of the January 6th insurrection. Mr. Smith laid bare the pattern of threats, intimidation, and retaliation he and his team have faced from Trump and his loyalists for simply following the facts and the law. The President has repeatedly attacked him by name, fired career prosecutors and FBI agents who worked on the investigation, and made clear that retribution—not justice—is the goal.

“This is the same dangerous playbook that led to January 6: undermine the truth, target those who enforce the law, and incite others while avoiding giving direct orders. No President is above the law, and the American people should be outraged that the independence of our justice system is being dismantled in plain sight.”

While Special Counsel Smith was able to provide information about most of his work, there is information about the classified records investigation subject to a gag order from Trump appointed Judge Aileen Cannon. House Judiciary Democrats have requested a follow-up hearing to hear more from Special Counsel Smith when the gag order is lifted on his full work into the classified documents aspects of the case.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T21:01:44Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=642,Rep. Balint Raises Alarm Over Reports of Vermont USCIS Employees Sent to Minnesota Amid ICE Enforcement Operations,2026-01-17,2026,2026-01,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"“At a time when aggressive ICE operations in Minnesota have already led to deadly force and widespread fear in our communities, I am outraged to hear that Vermont USCIS employees are being sent to Minneapolis to play ICE enforcement roles that fall far outside of their mission or their training. These are highly skilled public servants who came to this work to help people navigate the immigration system fairly and lawfully, not to do dangerous door-to-door enforcement. DHS must explain why this is happening and ensure Vermont public servants are not being put in harm’s way or being compelled to carry out work they did not sign up for.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T21:01:44Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=650,"Rep. Becca Balint Says ""Hell No"" on ICE Funding",2026-01-15,2026,2026-01,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Today, Rep. Becca Balint released the following statement after arriving in Minnesota to conduct oversight regarding ICE's killing of Renee Nicole Good:

“I am a hell no on any more funding for ICE. Right now, I am in Minnesota demanding answers and accountability for the deadly force used by ICE agents, including the brutal killing of Renee Nicole Good last week and the ongoing influx of ICE agents that has shaken their community. Americans deserve true justice and accountability, and we must reject these terrorizing tactics that have no place in our communities.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T21:01:44Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=641,Rep. Becca Balint Backs Impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem,2026-01-14,2026,2026-01,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"“Kristi Noem has proven to be an unqualified leader in charge of what has become a rogue army of ICE agents. Americans have been stunned by the cruelty and callousness of agents under her leadership, and she has been unaccountable to members of Congress who have rightly demanded answers on behalf of our constituents. Over the past year, Secretary Noem has endangered our communities, disregarded due process, and undermined the legal immigration system. Now, with her botched handling of the Renee Nicole Good shooting investigation, she has further eroded public trust by lying to Americans and telling us that we can’t believe our own eyes.

“Good was a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, and it’s clear she was not a domestic terrorist. Renee, her family, and her community deserve full accountability, and justice must be served. That includes holding Secretary Noem accountable for her role in creating and condoning an environment in which unchecked force and disregard for our constitutional rights have become routine. Secretary Noem should be impeached and held responsible for her actions.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T21:01:44Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=640,Rep. Becca Balint’s Statement on Passage of ACA Premium Tax Credits Extension,2026-01-13,2026,2026-01,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement following passage of Democrats’ three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits:

“During what has been a really hard week for Americans, I am grateful to share the good news that we were able to secure House passage of a three-year extension of the ACA premium tax credits – a crucial step forward in our work to address soaring health care costs. In the end, several Republican members joined us, Speaker Johnson’s work to keep this from getting to the floor failed, and the collective voice of the American people prevailed.

“Now, we need the Senate to do its part to get this across the finish line so we can focus on finding long-term solutions for our expensive, broken health care system. I encourage all Vermonters to keep the pressure on, share your stories, and make your voices heard.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T21:01:44Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=637,Rep. Becca Balint’s Statement on Trump’s Unilateral Military Action in Venezuela,2026-01-03,2026,2026-01,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"“Nicolás Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator, and Venezuelans have suffered greatly under his regime. That does not diminish the fact that President Trump has zero authority to use military force to remove the leader of another sovereign country. This unilateral military action was reckless, illegal and taken without any congressional briefing, approval or oversight. It brings us further down the dangerous path of abandoning our democratic principles, consolidating power, and destroying our Constitution.

“Americans do not want another war, another regime change, or another occupation of a foreign nation. We have made these horrible mistakes before, and American soldiers and their families have paid the price. Democrats in Congress need Republicans to stand with us to protect and defend the Constitution and congressional power. We are the elected officials closest to the people. We have a sacred duty to represent our people, to protect their rights, and to speak out and push back against any administration that violates the law.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T21:01:44Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=634,Rep. Becca Balint’s Statement on the Shooting at Brown University,2025-12-14,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"""I am filled with sorrow and rage this morning after learning that two students were killed at Brown University and many others are fighting for their lives. Last night was yet another reminder that gun violence touches everyone.""

""This is NOT the price we must pay for our freedom. I will continue to fight for sensible gun laws.""

""We all deserve that.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=635,Bipartisan Statement from All 25 Jewish House Members on Antisemitic Attack in Australia,2025-12-14,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Brattleboro, VT — All 25 Jewish Members of the US House of Representatives released the following statement in response to an attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia that targeted Jewish people celebrating the first night of Hanukkah:

“On a night meant for celebration, Jewish families in Australia, gathering in joy and peace on the first night of Hanukkah, were grotesquely targeted with hate and murderous intent. Sadly, this attack does not come as a surprise to the Jewish community of Sydney who have been raising a clarion call for local and national authorities to take concrete steps against a rising tide of antisemitism.

“We stand in solidarity with the Australian Jewish community and together extend our condolences to the family and friends of the people murdered and are praying for the complete recovery of the dozens wounded, and the entire Jewish community feeling besieged.

“Antisemitism is a cancer that eats at the core of society, whether in Australia, the United States, or anywhere it is allowed to take root and grow. We join leaders around the globe in condemning this evil act and in calling for justice, peace, and unwavering support for those affected. We also call on all leaders to do better standing up to antisemitism, bigotry, and hate. We must also do better in our work for a world where everyone can celebrate their faith and traditions free from discrimination and fear.

“Jews around the world will continue to gather this week to celebrate Hanukkah and its story of religious freedom and defiant optimism. As we light the menorah each night and remember the miracle of the festival of lights, let us proclaim that light is stronger than darkness, right is stronger than might, and justice is stronger than tyranny. Wishing all Jewish communities and the world around us strength and peace.”

The 25 members who signed the statement include:

Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT)

Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA)

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)

Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL)

Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL)

Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA)

Rep. Craig Goldman (R-TX)

Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY)

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ)

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA)

Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN)

Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH)

Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA)

Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI)

Rep. Max Miller (R-OH)

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL)

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL)

Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA)

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA)

Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA)

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=633,Rep. Becca Balint Offers Support for the Vermont Air National Guard and Opposes Unauthorized Military Actions by the Trump Administration in the Caribbean,2025-12-13,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Brattleboro, VT — Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement on the deployment of the Vermont Air National Guard’s (VTANG) 158th Fighter Wing in support of Operation Southern Spear:

“My heart is with all the Vermont National Guard members and their families as they prepare for a deployment during the holidays. Vermonters are proud of the brave men and women who sacrifice a lot to serve in the National Guard, representing both Vermont and our country. I know I speak for all Vermonters when I say that I am praying for their safe return back home when their deployment is over.”

“I am, however, deeply concerned about the Trump administration's decision to deploy the 158th Fighter Wing of the Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG). Any deployment must be based on lawful authority, and full transparency must be provided to Congress. Wile the media is reporting that VTANG will be deploying to the Caribbean to take part in Operation Southern Spear, the Vermont congressional delegation has received zero notice, information, or clarity about the location, duration, and purpose of this deployment. This is not normal, nor should it be tolerated.”

“The decision to send our service members into harm’s way must be rooted in a clear mission and safety. It should not be based on unpredictable, unilateral and unlawful directives from any president. I have witnessed the Trump administration violate Congress’s constitutional authority and conduct unauthorized military activity. None of the strikes on boats in the Caribbean, which have killed more than 80 people, were authorized by Congress. This administration has continually failed to provide a justification for this use of lethal force.”

“Vermonters have been clear with me: they do not support our entanglement in a war with Venezuela. I unwaveringly support our troops and their families, but I do not support military action without Congressional authorization.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=632,Vermont Congressional Delegation Introduces Resolution Congratulating Vermont Green Football Club on Historic Season,2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"BURLINGTON, VT – This week, the Vermont Congressional Delegation, Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT.), and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT.), introduced a bicameral resolution congratulating the Vermont Green Football Club on their historic win in the 2025 USL League Two National Championship. The Vermont Green FC’s win came after an undefeated season and marks the second year in a row a Vermont-based soccer team has won a national championship.

“Vermont Green FC has proven that Vermont is a soccer state. In just three years, they have not only built a team but built a community,” said Rep. Balint. “Their undefeated season, overflowing with crowds, has made our state proud. I'm looking forward to watching them defend their title in 2026.”

“I think I speak for the whole state in congratulating the Vermont Green on their extraordinary championship season, and I am glad to join my Vermont colleagues to recognize their accomplishments in the Congressional record. Undefeated. Two overtime playoff wins. Finally, national champions. Unbelievable,” said Senator Sanders. “Vermont Green is respected by Vermonters and soccer fans around the country for their skill and heart on the field. The founders built their team the Vermont way — by involving the community and creating an organization rooted in social and environmental justice. What they have done is truly remarkable, and we know they are just getting started.”

“I’m pleased to join Senator Sanders, Rep. Balint, and all Vermonters in congratulating the Vermont Green FC on their well-deserved USL League Two National Championship win following an incredible and undefeated season. We’re so proud of this team’s achievements and of their commitment to building a soccer community that reflects the core values of Vermonters: hard work, dedication, and teamwork,” said Senator Welch. “We look forward to cheering on the Boys in Green as they defend their title in 2026!”

Read and download the full text of the resolution.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=630,"Reps. Balint, Tokuda, Fitzpatrick, LaMalfa, Tran, Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Mental Health Care Services for First Responders",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Yesterday, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), joined by colleagues Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01), and Derek Tran (D-CA-45), introduced legislation to increase access to specialized mental health, substance abuse, and crisis counseling services for first responders.

The Crisis Assistance and Resources in Emergencies (CARE) for First Responders Act aims to strengthen resources and support systems for the individuals who are often first on the scene during emergencies. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, rescue workers, 911 operators, and other emergency response personnel regularly face significant yet frequently unseen trauma and challenges as they confront disasters and assist survivors in their moments of greatest need.

The CARE for First Responders Act would prioritize the needs of first responders by:

Ensuring access to FEMA counseling and mental health services after major disasters.

Funding on-site and mobile support through a grant program for mental health and substance use services.

Expanding an existing, confidential 24-hour hotline to provide specialized first responder support.

Establishing a peer counseling program at the Department of Health and Human Services to assist first responders and their families.

Directing the Department of Health and Human Services to research best practices for mental health care and suicide prevention for first responders.

“Because of the difficult work they do on the frontlines, Vermont’s first responders are facing serious mental health challenges,” said Rep. Balint. “I’m proud to join Rep. Tokuda once again in fighting to ensure that our emergency personnel, firefighters, 911 dispatchers, and law enforcement officers have access to the mental health resources they deserve. Our first responders shouldn’t have to shoulder the weight of their jobs alone.”

“Our first responders go above and beyond, carrying the weight of trauma that no one should have to bear alone. After the devastating fires on Maui two years ago, I saw firsthand the toll that disasters can take on first responders and their families,” said Rep. Tokuda. “I’m proud once again to introduce the CARE for First Responders Act to ensure our frontliners who protect our communities have the specialized health support they desperately need and deserve. I’m grateful to my Republican and Democratic colleagues for their partnership in this effort because crises don’t care about politics, and neither should we when it comes to supporting our first responders.”

“I’ve met too many local firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and telecommunicators who carry the heaviest parts of this job by themselves, not because they want to, but because the support isn’t there when the shift ends. The CARE for First Responders Act changes that: true 24/7 confidential crisis care, tailored mental-health services during major disasters, and peer counselors who have lived the same calls. No one who saves lives should ever feel like they have to save their own alone,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force.

“First responders, medical personnel, and wildland firefighters carry an incredibly heavy burden,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “They run toward danger when the rest of us run away, and the toll it takes on their mental and emotional health is real. Too often, getting the support they need is complicated or delayed. The CARE for First Responders Act will hopefully relieve some of that burden and let our first responders know that their work is not unnoticed or unappreciated.”

“From fighting crime to managing natural disaster response, California’s first responders are on the front lines of keeping our community safe. This work is essential, but it also poses unique burdens on those who protect us day-in and day-out. First responders face serious mental health risks but often lack access to specialized treatment plans that properly manage their needs. I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation to provide our first responders with the mental health support they deserve,” said Rep. Tran.

The legislation is endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), APCO International, and the National Association for Rural Mental Health.

Full text of the bill can be viewed here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=631,Rep. Becca Balint joins Members of Congress to Support Journalist Dylan Collins and Demand Accountability for Netanyahu Govt’s Targeting of Journalists,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, December 11th, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) joined a press conference with Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), Vermonter and Agence France-Presse (AFP) video journalist Dylan Collins, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Amnesty International USA to show support for Dylan Collins, an American citizen and journalist. Dylan Collins was attacked and wounded by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) while reporting in Southern Lebanon. This event also conveyed solidarity with the other journalists who were wounded, as well as the family of Issam Abdallah, the Reuters journalist who was killed in the attack.

“For over two years, there have been no answers for the journalists who were harmed from a targeted attack by the Israeli Defense Forces in Southern Lebanon. Dylan Collins, an American and a Vermonter, was severely wounded alongside six of his colleagues. A Reuters journalist, Issam Abdallah, was killed instantly. All of them were clearly identified as press."" Rep. Becca Balint said.

""I want to thank my colleagues, Senators Welch and Van Hollen, for continuing to demand accountability from both the Israeli and United States government. I will continue to oppose any attempt to intimidate or silence the press and seek accountability for the victims and their families.""

“Here’s the bottom line: the Netanyahu government has made it crystal clear that they never had serious intentions to investigate the deadly October 2023 attack that wounded Dylan Collins. It isn’t asking much of the Israeli government to conduct an investigation that meets international standards and to punish those responsible for this attack. Yet for over two years, we have done everything reasonably possible to get answers and accountability, only to be stonewalled at every turn. But we’re not going to give up our fight for answers,” said Senator Welch. “We’re demanding accountability from the Israeli government and our own to get justice for Dylan, his colleagues, and every member of the press targeted by the IDF since October 7, 2023.”

“Over two years ago, Dylan Collins was injured by an IDF strike that left one reporter dead and several of his colleagues hospitalized alongside him. Since that strike, there have been no answers or accountability regarding what happened to Dylan and his colleagues. This silence has become part of a pattern of attacks on journalists by the IDF, with no resolution and no justice. It’s long past time for the U.S. government to live up to its stated commitment to defend American citizens abroad, and pursue accountability for this attack — it is essential not only for justice for Dylan and his colleagues, but also for the defense of press freedom around the world,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“Vermonters continue to rebuild their homes, businesses and communities in the wake of the devastating 2023 floods — the worst natural disaster in our state since 1927. The recovery process is expensive, and this federal funding is absolutely essential for cities and towns across our state,” said Sanders. “By investing in essential infrastructure, economic revitalization and mitigation against future disasters, this funding will help Vermonters rebuild stronger than before. I am proud to have helped champion this funding and will continue to demand that the federal government stand with people throughout our country in their times of need — especially after natural disasters like the ones we’ve experienced in Vermont.”

“This was not a ‘fog of war’ incident. It was a war crime carried out in broad daylight and broadcast live television,” said Mr. Collins. “As an American, I thought my government would fight for me. I thought that when an American citizen is wounded in an attack carried out by the U.S.’s greatest ally in the Middle East, that we would get answers.”

“For more than two years, we have demanded answers about Israel’s deadly attack on a group of journalists, including an American and Vermonter. Having killed nearly 250 journalists in two years, it is clear Israel has no intention of investigating their crime. But it is even more outrageous that our own government — under both Biden and Trump—has helped that coverup. This Israeli impunity continues because of Washington's silence. We will not forgive. We will not forget. And we will keep demanding justice,” said Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

“For decades, Israel’s purported investigations have functioned not to establish facts or deliver justice, but to shield Israeli forces from accountability for the targeted killing of journalists. The international community must now step in to break that pattern of impunity by ensuring effective war crimes investigations are opened,” said Amelia Evans, Advocacy Director, Committee to Protect Journalists. ""Failing Dylan Collins is an unacceptable dereliction of a vital responsibility by the U.S. government — to defend U.S. citizens around the world. The Trump administration must uphold its duties to its citizens.”

“More than two years have passed without accountability for the October 13 attack,” said Elizabeth Rghebi, MENA Advocacy Director, Amnesty International USA. “Israel must not be allowed to continue to kill and attack journalists with impunity. Those responsible for the unlawful attack on October 13 by Israeli forces must be held to account. We urge U.S. authorities to open an independent and thorough war crimes investigation in this case and to ensure accountability goes to the top of the Israeli military’s chain of command.”

Watch a livestream of the press conference here

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=629,"Rep. Becca Balint Votes ""No"" on Inflated Defense Spending Bill",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement on this year’s defense spending bill:

""We cannot continue to bankroll a nearly $1 trillion military budget while shortchanging our schools, housing, and health care system. As Americans face rising premiums from the expiration of the Affordable Care Act subsidies, I can’t green light this spending while Republicans claim there’s no money for health care.”

“The Trump administration has weaponized the military and our service members against Americans. Over 35,000 federal troops have been sent into states and cities to carry out President Trump’s violent anti-immigrant agenda. I refuse to be complicit in funding Trump’s illegal deployment of our service members on U.S. soil.”

""I cannot vote for a defense authorization bill while Trump uses the military as his personal intimidation force and makes life unaffordable for Americans.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=628,"Rep. Balint Opposes SCORE Act, Cites Antitrust Concerns",2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, DC — Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement on her opposition to the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act:

“In addition to harming women’s sports programs and preempting labor protections, the SCORE Act includes an irresponsible antitrust exemption. The SCORE Act’s antitrust exemption opens the door to abuses of the already significant power imbalance between athletes, schools, and conferences. I’m alarmed by the possibility of algorithmic price fixing by schools under Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) agreements. I’m proud to join antitrust experts across the spectrum, including eight former Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officials, and five state attorneys general, in opposing the SCORE Act.”

The landmark 2021 Supreme Court decision National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston unanimously held that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was subject to antitrust laws and that it had unlawfully used its monopoly power to limit NIL compensation to college athletes. The SCORE Act broadly shields the NCAA, athletic conferences, and educational institutions from antitrust liability.

Granting this sweeping immunity deprives state and federal antitrust enforcers the power to hold institutions accountable for actions that undermine athletes’ rights and harm competition. It is a free pass for athletic conferences and educational institutions to take anticompetitive actions to unfairly limit college athletes’ compensation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=627,Vermont Delegation Condemns Anti-Palestinian Hatred on Second Anniversary of Burlington Attack,2025-11-25,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"BURLINGTON, VT — The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-At-Large) today condemned anti-Palestinian hatred and violence. Their statements came on the second anniversary of an attack on college students Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, in Burlington.

Senators Welch and Sanders today also announced a forthcoming Senate Resolution commemorating the second anniversary of the attack and denouncing bias, hatred, and threats to life and safety. The Senate Resolution will be officially filed when Congress returns in early December.

“The idea that three young men just walking down the street were shot, for no other reason than that they are Palestinian, is unspeakable. It’s incomprehensible. No one should fear for their safety simple because of who they are, and we must remain vigilant against the rise in hate crimes targeting Muslims and Palestinian-Americans in particular. We must come together and remain committed to fighting all forms of bigotry and intolerance,” said Senator Sanders.

“After the shocking attack in Burlington against Hisham, Kinnan and Tahseen, Vermonters came together to condemn violence and declare that our state will not tolerate hate in any form. I’m proud that Vermonters have continued to come together to advocate for peace. Threats made against Palestinian Americans are on the rise across the country, and the United States Congress must speak with one voice to condemn anti-Palestinian hate, antisemitism, and violence against anyone on account of their race, religion, or ethnicity,” said Senator Welch.

“Vermonters do not tolerate hate in our state. The attack on Palestinian students in Vermont two years ago is no exception,” said Rep. Balint. “While some people want to fan the flames of bigotry and sow division, we must stand together against all forms of hate. The rise in Islamophobia and antisemitism poses a clear and present threat. Everyone deserves to be safe — no matter who you are or where you come from. For Hisham, Kinnan, and Tahseen, we need to make it crystal clear that we stand against all kinds of hate, bigotry, and racism.”

On November 25, 2023, Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad were shot and badly injured in an unprovoked attack, simply for speaking in Arabic and wearing a traditional Palestinian scarf. The three students were visiting family in Burlington for the Thanksgiving holiday. All three victims were injured in the unprovoked attack and Mr. Awartani was paralyzed.

###",1,2026-04-07T15:46:19Z,2026-04-07T20:18:39Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=625,Reps. Becca Balint and Jill Tokuda Reintroduce Bill to Bolster Mental Health Supports after Disasters,2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) reintroduced the Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act. Following a year of climate emergencies across the country, Americans are suffering the cost. While the physical damage is clear, disaster-stricken communities need resources to cope with the mental and emotional damage they endure.

Current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants are authorized to provide professional counseling services to victims of major disasters through the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCATP). The Addressing Addiction After Disasters (AAAD) Act strengthens the CCATP by allowing FEMA to provide services for substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder.

“Too many communities in Vermont and across the country have endured devastating natural disasters driven by climate change. These disasters cause severe financial and emotional stress on regular people, which can lead to an increase in substance-use and alcohol-use disorders,” said Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL). “I’m proud to work with Rep. Tokuda and our colleagues to bring forth legislation that helps destigmatize these struggles and provide services to support those dealing with a substance use disorder and mental health issues in the aftermath of a disaster.”

""When a disaster strikes, it leaves scars that cannot always be seen. The emotional strain can push those already struggling with addiction into more despair, stress, and trauma,"" said Rep. Tokuda (HI-02). ""That's what I'm proud to join Rep. Balint in introducing this legislation to ensure victims have access to the services they need to care for their health, safety, and well-being. Recovery after a disaster isn't just about rebuilding roads and bridges — it's also about rebuilding lives.""

The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Norton, Fields, Moulton, Carson, Soto, Costa, Thanedar, Budzinski, and Davids.

Studies show that following Hurricane Katrina, alcohol consumption increased by about 185% from before the storm and the annual hospitalization rate for substance use disorders increased by approximately 30%. Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, 60% of individuals with substance use disorders experienced withdrawal and 70% of those on opioid maintenance therapy could not obtain sufficient doses.

The CCATP helps people recover and rebuild their lives after a disaster. The CCATP works through immediate interventions such as:

Assisting disaster survivors with navigating their current situation and reactions

Reducing stress and providing emotional support

Reviewing survivors’ disaster recovery options

Disseminating the use or development of coping strategies

Connecting survivors with other people and agencies who can help them in their recovery process.

The Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act is endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), Kennedy Forum, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), National Association of Behavioral Healthcare (NABH), and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The full bill text is here.",1,2026-04-07T15:46:19Z,2026-04-07T20:18:39Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=626,Reps. Becca Balint and Jesús “Chuy” García Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Companies Using Algorithms to Illegally Raise Rents,2025-11-20,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, November 19th, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) introduced the End Rent Fixing Act to prohibit digital price fixing by landlords. In the midst of a crisis of housing availability and affordability, landlords are using algorithms to collude and increase rents for American families. Companies like RealPage and Yardi brand themselves as providing property management software, but in reality they facilitate collusion to push higher and higher rents.

These companies collect real-time price and lease information from landlords and use it to suggest rent increases, which suppresses price competition in the rental housing market. This is exactly how a price fixing cartel operates, but instead of using code names and secret meetings, this price fixing is offered as a service.

“Families in Vermont and across the country are being crushed by the housing affordability crisis — a result of corporate greed,” said Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL). “Landlords are colluding to illegally push rent higher and higher. The End Rent Fixing Act will prevent this type of price fixing and protect people’s wallets. Everyone deserves affordable housing. We cannot allow greedy corporations to get away with this.”

“Companies like RealPage and Yardi are building algorithms that jack up rent prices for consumers, making the housing and affordability crisis worse. I’m proud to join my colleague Congresswoman Balint in reintroducing the End Rent Fixing Act as we continue our fight against this new frontier of anticompetitive, anti-consumer behavior,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García. “People should never have to choose between paying rent and buying food.

The Council of Economic Advisors found that in 2023, rent fixing cost renters at least $3.8 billion. Increased rents push more people into homelessness, which reached record levels in 2024. Rent fixing does not give renters more amenities or a better deal: it only makes rent more expensive to line the pockets of landlords and companies like RealPage and Yardi. The End Rent Fixing Act will strengthen all these efforts by setting a federal floor of protection against this collusive activity and making lawsuits against rent fixers easier to win.

The End Rent Fixing Act would:

Make it unlawful for rental property owners to contract for the services of a company that coordinates rental housing prices and supply information, and designate such arrangements a per se violation of U.S. antitrust law.

Prohibit the practice of coordinating price, supply, and other rental housing information among two or more rental property owners.

Allow individual plaintiffs to invalidate any pre-dispute arbitration agreement or pre-dispute joint action waiver that would prevent their bringing a suit.

The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Bonamici, Casar, Craig, Deluzio, Gomez, Goodlander, Jayapal, Johnson (GA), Norton, Omar, Ramirez, Salinas, and Tlaib.

“Corporate landlords across the country are pricing families out of their homes. By using algorithms from corporations that get a cut of those profits, these landlords collude and make life unaffordable for working people – who are already paying too much as inflation continues to skyrocket. I’m proud to sponsor the End Rent Fixing Act of 2025 to ensure that renters are protected from this greedy and destructive behavior,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07).

""At a time when Minnesotans are struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads, corporations are colluding with large landlords to price working families out of the housing market,"" said Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05). ""I'm proud to support this legislation to crack down on these predatory price-fixing practices and give Minnesotans, and renters across the country, the housing protections they need.""

U.S. Senators Peter Welch and Ron Wyden are leading the Senate version of the bill. It is cosponsored by Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Cory Booker, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Van Hollen, Tina Smith, Andy Kim, Jean Shaheen, John Fetterman, Bernie Sanders, and Sheldon Whitehouse.

“Vermonters are amongst the hardest hit by the housing crisis raging across the country. We have the fourth-highest rate of homelessness in the nation. In the midst of this crisis and at a time when families are struggling to put food on the table—thanks to Trump’s reckless economic policies—housing providers are using anticompetitive pricing algorithms to raise rents. It’s outrageous,” Welch said. “The End Rent Fixing Act of 2025would crack down on these pricing algorithms and prevent future monopolies on the housing market to protect renters in Vermont and nationwide.”

“Setting prices with an algorithm is no different from doing it over cigars and whiskey in a private club,” Wyden said. “These cartels are already being sued for violating antitrust laws, but I don’t want there to be a sliver of doubt that fixing rents with an algorithm is illegal. Housing costs are crushing American families. Companies shouldn’t be using AI to make the housing crisis worse.”

The full bill text is here.

A one-page summary of the bill is here.

The End Rent Fixing Act of 2025 is endorsed by the American Economic Liberties Project, the Center for American Progress, Color of Change, the Consumer Federation of America, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and the Open Markets Institute.

###",1,2026-04-07T15:46:19Z,2026-04-07T20:18:39Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=624,Rep. Balint Votes to Release the Epstein Files,2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement after voting YES on H.R. 4405 to release the Epstein files:

“Powerful men protect powerful men, including all those around Jeffrey Epstein. My vote today to release the Epstein files will bring transparency, accountability, truth, and justice to the thousands of survivors who have waited far too long. We are sending a message to all victims of trafficking and sex abuse that we stand with you. We stand with you in the face of intimidation, and the rich and powerful men who have enabled the abuse. The American people deserve to see what’s in the files. The Senate must send this to the President’s desk immediately.”",1,2026-04-07T15:46:19Z,2026-04-07T20:18:39Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=623,Rep. Becca Balint Votes No on Government Funding that Fails to Address Health Care Cuts,2025-11-12,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement after voting against a continuing resolution that fails to extend Affordable Care Act health care tax credits:

“I’m a hell no on any bill that cuts healthcare and skyrockets premiums for millions of American families. Americans are suffering through a health care crisis of Republicans’ making, after fifteen years of efforts to dismantle the ACA and replace it with nothing.

“Republicans refusal to come to the table for the last 40 days tells us everything we need to know about where their priorities lie. From the beginning Trump has used the shutdown as a political game - from withholding food from children to harassing air traffic controllers who take on second jobs to make ends meet. This bill is just another way to ram through his corrupt agenda - carving out $500,000 payouts to Senators allegedly implicated in the January 6th insurrection. The corruption is staggering.

“I can’t in good conscience vote for something that further damages an already broken health care system. Americans are disgusted by a system that screws them over at every turn. I want Vermonters to know I’m in this fight for a health care system that truly serves us. We deserve that and an economy that works for all of us, not just the billionaire class. The fight doesn’t end here.”

The bill includes a provision that provides a legal path for Republican Senators implicated in the January 6th insurrection to get at least a half million-dollar payout. That payout is based on baseless concerns over lawful subpoenas issued by prosecutors who were investigating those Senators' involvement in the attempt to overthrow the government on January 6, 2021.

###",1,2026-04-07T15:46:19Z,2026-04-07T20:18:39Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=617,"Rep. Becca Balint Mourns the Loss of Middlebury College Student, Lia Smith",2025-10-27,2025,2025-10,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Middlebury, VT – Rep. Becca Balint released the following statement following the death of Middlebury College student, Lia Smith:

“I’m absolutely heartbroken for the family of Lia Smith and the Middlebury College Community. As a parent, I’m crushed by this news and grieving for her parents and loved ones. The loss of a child is unimaginable. The community will remember Lia as a bright student, talented athlete, and friend. She was pursuing a double major in computer science and statistics. She was an outspoken advocate for her community as a trans woman and athlete.

“I’m grateful for the efforts by local, state, and federal law enforcement in this investigation and to everyone who played a role in the search. Vermont stands with the Middlebury community during this extremely difficult time. Please, Middlebury students, faculty, and community members, take care of one another as you mourn this devastating loss.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:10:06Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=615,Rep. Becca Balint and Rep. Mark Takano Introduce Intersex Awareness Day Resolution,2025-10-24,2025,2025-10,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C – Today, Congressional Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Mark Takano (CA-39) introduced the Intersex Awareness Day Resolution. The resolution recognizes October 26 as Intersex Awareness Day and affirms the dignity and the universal human right to bodily autonomy of intersex people. Intersex Awareness Day honors the first public demonstration by intersex people in the United States, which took place at the annual conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics on October 26th, 1996, to advocate for bodily autonomy, oppose non-consensual genital surgery, and decrease stigmatization. Since 1996, October 26th has become a day during which intersex people and allies come together to celebrate and uplift the intersex community.

“This has always been about basic human dignity and the millions of intersex Americans who are no less worthy of respect and dignity than anyone else,” said Rep. Balint (VT-AL), Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. “And as the Trump Administration insists on denying the existence and rights of intersex Americans, we will not be deterred in standing up for their rights. It’s critical that we, the LGBTQI+ community, work to raise awareness of the stories and needs of intersex people. I’m proud to reintroduce this resolution with Chair Takano to stand up for intersex Americans and affirm everyone’s right to bodily autonomy.”

“Republicans’ attacks on the trans community don’t just hurt trans people—the effects spill over onto intersex people, too, because these attacks are based on the false premise that people’s sex-related traits always fit neatly into one of two binary options. Intersex people cannot be left out of the conversation when we talk about the impacts of these attacks,” said Rep. Mark Takano, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. “As the lead sponsor of the most comprehensive nondiscrimination bill for the intersex community—the Equality Act—I’m proud to join Congressional Equality Caucus Co-Chair Becca Balint in introducing this resolution recognizing Intersex Awareness Day, because there is no justice for the LGBTQI+ community without justice for the intersex community.”

This resolution:

Encourages the Federal Government, States, localities, nonprofit organizations, schools, and community organizations to observe the day with appropriate programs and activities, with the goal of increasing public knowledge of the intersex community and empowering individuals to celebrate and respect their diversity.

Urges health care providers to offer culturally and clinically competent care to the intersex community that respects bodily autonomy and self-determination, and encourages schools to support education regarding the intersex community, and connect individuals to resources for young people with intersex variations and their families.

Encourages the Federal Government, States, international funding organizations, and bilateral and multilateral aid efforts to prioritize the health and human rights of intersex people.

Intersex refers to individuals with innate variations in physical traits that differ from stereotypical expectations for male or female bodies regarding the development, appearance, or function of sex-related characteristics. This includes variations in one or more traits or characteristics, such as reproductive organs, genitals, hormone production and response, or chromosome patterns, which may present at birth or may occur naturally later in life.

The resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Pocan, Bonamici, Foushee, Frost, Mullin, Peters, Tlaib, Norton, Torres, Watson Coleman, Jayapal, Ramirez, Johnson (Hank), Carson, Garcia, Jacobs, Evans, Randall, and Huffman. The resolution is endorsed by the Congressional Equality Caucus (CEC), InterACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, and Trevor Project.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:10:06Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=616,Rep. Becca Balint Conducts ICE Oversight in Chicago,2025-10-24,2025,2025-10,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Chicago, IL – Today, Rep. Becca Balint, Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, joined Democrats in Chicago for a hearing on ICE attacks on Chicago. The hearing titled Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump’s Assault on Chicago was hosted by U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, along with Chicago-area Representatives Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Robin Kelly (IL-02), and Danny K. Davis (IL-07).

The purpose of the hearing was to dive deeper into Trump’s unlawful and aggressive actions in Chicago and featured witnesses who spoke to personal trauma, constitutional violations, and labor implications. There were over a dozen Members of Congress in attendance from across Illinois and the country.

Watch her full remarks here.

Read excerpts from her remarks from the hearing below:

“Thank you, Ranking Member Jayapal. Thank you for the entire democratic delegation from Illinois that are here. Thank you for hosting us. But most importantly thank you [witnesses] for being willing to come here with us to tell us exactly what's going on because I can tell you our constituents are enraged too. They're enraged by what this government is doing in our name. They are enraged on your behalf. They hate what they're seeing on their TV screens and their phone screens, and they want us to be here witnessing and spreading the alarm and that's why we're here.

“And I want to be really clear, some of us were talking about this yesterday, this is all about abuse of power. From the illegal firings of federal workers, to taking away people's health care, to destroying the East Wing of the White House, and now being here watching the ways in which they are terrorizing neighborhoods here in Chicago and across this country. It is about abuse of power and as I said, we are enraged.

“Yesterday we had an opportunity from people who are directly impacted by the terror that is being brought here in Chicago. People snatched off the street, disappeared. People who are dropping their kids off at school. People who are just trying to go to work. The big lie - they are not criminals. They do not have criminal records. These are people, the backbones of our communities, that are being hauled off. And they with the respect and the dignity the human dignity that they all deserve as human beings. And one woman told us that her mother had said how shocked she was that here in the United States she could be treated with so much inhumanity, on our watch, in our name

“Pastor Black, I know you know something about this, you were there protesting peacefully, you were praying, you were shot with pepper balls to the head. It's a shocking video of unnecessary violence. And you are not the only religious leader that has tried to give comfort to those who have been detained and ICE has refused entry. Can you please tell me why you feel called in this moment to stand up for immigrants?”

Witnesses at the hearing included:

Lawrence Benito, Executive Director, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Pastor David Black, First Presbyterian Church

Bob Reiter, President, Chicago Federation of Labor

Kevin Fee, Legal Director, ACLU of Illinois

Juliet de Jesus Alejandre, Executive Director, Palenque LSNA

Any Huamani, Immigration Defense Coordinator

Genesis O., Directly Impacted Chicagoan",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:10:06Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=614,"Rep. Balint Announces Departure of State Director, David Scherr",2025-10-09,2025,2025-10,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"BURLINGTON, VT – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) announced that David Scherr, State Director, will be departing the office and taking on a new role in Vermont. David has served as State Director, leading the Vermont offices, since day one of Rep. Balint’s tenure in Congress. Jessica Nordhaus, Director of Community Outreach, will serve as interim State Director.

“David Scherr has been a central figure on my team and for all Vermonters who engage with my office. He has built and led our team in Vermont with dedication, excitement, and a deep understanding of the needs of Vermonters,” said Rep. Balint. “I’m profoundly grateful for his contributions to our mission and I look forward to seeing his public service to the state continue in a new role. David will be greatly missed.”

“It has been a genuine honor to serve Congresswoman Balint as her State Director,” said David Scherr. “As Vermonters know well, the Congresswoman leads with care, integrity, and thoughtfulness. She brings wit, humor, joy, and energy to her role and to those lucky enough to be around her. I am so grateful to have been a part of her team and served someone who provides a model of compassionate, forceful leadership in these challenging times.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:10:06Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=613,Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Anniversary of October 7th Attack,2025-10-07,2025,2025-10,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint released the following statement in on the second anniversary of the October 7th Attack on Israel:

""Today is the second anniversary of the horrific October 7 attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli civilians. I mourn all the lives lost that day and for all those killed and wounded, both Israelis and Palestinians, in this horrible ongoing war. I continue to pray for the safe return of the hostages and the end of suffering in Gaza. May this year finally bring peace.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:10:06Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=606,"Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Republican Government Shut Down, Refusal to Protect Health Care",2025-09-30,2025,2025-09,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL), member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement in response to Republicans' choice to shut down the government:

“Republicans once again chose to turn their back on Americans’ health care. If they wanted to keep the government open, they would have returned to DC and taken a seat at the negotiating table with Democrats to protect health care for working Americans. I won’t just stand by and support their plans to rip away health care from millions. This is not what the American people want.”

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed that Republicans’ health care plan would strip coverage from 15 million Americans and send premiums soaring for millions more. Republican policies will impose the largest Medicare cut in American history.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:07:37Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=604,Rep. Becca Balint Condemns Political Violence,2025-09-19,2025,2025-09,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement ahead of her vote on H.Res. 719:

“I'm voting yes because we need to take a stand against political violence. Like so many Americans, I'm sick of the dehumanizing and demeaning rhetoric. And it’s incumbent upon leaders to use our platform to take the temperature down. I want to be on the record condemning political violence in any form. With this resolution, Republicans have tried to use this moment to polarize us further by bringing a cynical and divisive resolution to the floor. This vote should not be interpreted in any way as agreeing with the hurtful, offensive things that Charlie Kirk has said.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:07:37Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=605,Rep. Becca Balint Vote No on The Republican Funding Bill,2025-09-19,2025,2025-09,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement following the vote on the Republican continuing resolution:

“I will not vote to allow a health care crisis that’s devastating working people to continue. Republicans have once again chosen the partisan route. Rather than continuing bipartisan, good-faith negotiations to fund the government in a responsible way, they’ve shut down any option for compromise. Instead, they’ve gone forward with a funding bill that does nothing to undo the health care crisis of their own creation.

“Costs continue to rise for Americans, inflation continues to rise, and this bill does nothing to help. Millions of Americans are still in danger of losing their healthcare as a result of Republican cuts. It’s time for the President and Speaker Johnson to listen to the needs of the American people. Because this isn’t a game. I oppose this bill, and I oppose the Republican’s relentless assault on healthcare, science, and the Constitution.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:07:37Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=603,Rep. Becca Balint: “I believe Israel is Committing a Genocide in Gaza”,2025-09-17,2025,2025-09,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint published an op-ed on the situation in Gaza, calling Israel’s offensive that has killed over 60,000 Palestinians a “genocide.” In a report released this week, a UN commission found that Israel has “committed four genocidal acts” since October 7, 2023. She is the first Jewish Member of Congress to use the term “genocide” to describe what is happening on the ground in Gaza.

Read her op-ed here:

My grandfather was murdered on a death march from Mauthausen concentration camp in the last few weeks of World War II. Like many American Jews, I hold an emotional connection to Israel because it was a refuge after the genocide against the Jews across Europe. Many of us now grapple with the pain of witnessing the suffering of Gazans and the pain of waiting for the Israeli hostages to be released.

Today, I believe the Israeli government is committing a genocide against the Palestinian people. As the granddaughter of a man murdered in the Holocaust, it is not easy for me to say that. But the trauma of the Holocaust serves as a reminder of the power of speaking out. I feel compelled to speak out because I know there are so many others like me who are horrified by what they see.

As I write this, babies and young children are starving while the extremist Israeli government continues to withhold aid and commit acts of violence against civilians. The suffering goes beyond the tragic loss of life inherent to war; at this point, the Netanyahu government’s actions appear to be a systematic, intentional destruction of the Palestinian people. It’s difficult not to come to this conclusion when some top Israeli officials all but say it themselves, calling Palestinians “human animals” and pledging to turn Gaza into “hell.”

Leading international genocide scholars have reached the same conclusion, determining that Israel’s actions in Gaza now meet the criteria for genocide, which they define as being ""committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group."" That is what we are seeing in Gaza right now.

And many Americans believe the same. According to a recent Quinnipiac poll, American disapproval of the Israeli military action in Gaza has now reached 60%. And half of the voters surveyed, including 77% of Democrats, believe the Israeli government is committing genocide.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, and almost 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, wiping out entiregenerations of families. Israeli Defense Force reports show that five out of six Palestinians killed by Israeli forces have been civilians. The World Health Organization reports that 94% of hospitals in Gaza are damaged or destroyed. The Israeli government continues to restrict humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, while escalating military operations. It’s reported that more than half of Gaza’s population is undergoing a famine.

America has a moral responsibility to own our complicity in this genocide and to use our power to stop it. While international bodies like the International Court of Justice often take years, sometimes decades, to reach a final verdict, long after genocides have ended, the scale and immediacy of this crisis demand urgent action. The United States has, as recently as in Sudan earlier this year, independently recognized genocides to galvanize international response. And this moment demands the same. Such recognition can be critical in steering American foreign policy. Those of us in government can and must save lives by using our platform to stop horrific suffering and end the endless shipment of arms to Israel.

Being clear about what's happening in Gaza does not minimize the horrors of the Holocaust or the violence committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023. I will always condemn both the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia in our country. And I grieve for all the Israelis who suffered horrific brutality at the hands of Hamas and for those who lost family and friends on and after Oct. 7, the most severe attack on Jews since the Holocaust. I weep for the Palestinian babies and children dying from starvation and lack of medical care.

I do not write this to create a litmus test for others, and I don’t think it’s useful to fixate on getting other leaders to use the specific word “genocide.” Many Americans do see the profound suffering that Israel is causing but are hesitant to use the label because many Jews still live with the trauma of the Holocaust. More important than the word itself is that we change the conversation and change our policy. That’s what Americans want. They are demanding that we speak out against the atrocities being committed with our taxpayer money. We need to listen.

I want both a safe and secure Israel and a safe, secure independent Palestinian state. The policies of the Israeli government right now are not going to keep Israelis safe but instead are further isolating Israel on the world stage.

The dire situation in Gaza demands clarity and courage from us right now. The United States must find its way back to its founding principles of life and liberty by honestly acknowledging the realities in Gaza and working to change them.

Speaking truth and demanding action is the first step on the path forward.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:07:37Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=602,House Republicans Reject Balint Amendment to End Trump’s Use of the National Guard as a Military ‘Reaction Force’ Against American Citizens,2025-09-09,2025,2025-09,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement after the Rules Committee rejected an amendment she sponsored to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would repeal the provisions of Executive Order 14339 issued August 25, 2025 related to the creation of a standing National Guard quick reaction force available for rapid nationwide deployment for quelling civil disturbances. Rep. Balint’s amendment aimed to stop Trump’s use of the National Guard as a military reaction force against U.S. cities.

“The Trump Administration has manufactured an urgent crime crisis in DC, when there are no facts to support these claims, in order to justify creating a standing military reaction force through the National Guard. Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to blue cities he does not agree with is nothing more than a wannabe strongman stance, is not based in reality, and does not reflect the will of the people. I introduced an amendment to the NDAA to put an end to the increased military presence in DC and other cities, as well as Trump’s use of the National Guard as a standing, quick reaction force to be used against American citizens. Republicans in Congress fell in line with Trump once again and threw out the amendment. Congress cannot continue to allow Trump to wage war on American citizens, on American soil.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:07:37Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=600,ICYMI: Balint Joins Steil to Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Kids’ Mental Health Online,2025-09-08,2025,2025-09,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Last week, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01) introduced the Protecting Young Minds Online Act, which requires the Center for Mental Health Services to develop and disseminate a strategy to address the effects of new technologies, like social media, on children’s mental health.

“The loneliness crisis in this country affects us all one way or another. And young Americans are relying on social media and technology to find a sense of connection. But we know social media exposure can also have negative effects on mental health,” said Balint. “As a mom of two teens, and a former teacher, I’m deeply concerned about the mental health impact of social media on our youth. It’s critical we act to better understand the potential harms. I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to take the important step to promote positive use of social media and protect our youth.”

“Social media and emerging technologies can have a harmful impact on children, driving depression, anxiety, and in worst cases, self-harm and suicide,” said Steil. “The federal government should work alongside families, teachers, and children to provide the tools necessary to promote positive mental health and keep our children safe.”

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in mental health disorders in youth, including depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth ages 15-24. Approximately one out of every 10 high school students reports attempting suicide each year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly one in three teenage girls seriously considered attempting suicide, and 40% of all students reported persistent sadness or hopelessness.

To read the full text of the legislation, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:07:37Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=599,"400+ Glens Falls, NY Residents Join Rep. Balint and Colleagues in Elise Stefanik District for Town Hall Event",2025-08-25,2025,2025-08,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) joined local leaders, unions, and her colleagues Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-7) to expose how Republican policies are harming the region and answer attendees’ questions. Over 400 people attended the Progress for the People town hall organized by Indivisible Adirondack-Saratoga, Citizen Action of New York, Communications Workers of America, and the Progressive Caucus Action Fund (PCAF) in Glens Falls, NY on Friday.

The Republican budget law, signed by President Trump on July 4th, is expected to cost 17 million Americans their health insurance and take food away from 40 million people in order to funnel billions to tax giveaways for corporations and the ultra-wealthy and turbo-charge the administration’s mass deportation machine.

“Americans need to hear directly from Progressives on our vision for the future. A future where life can be easier, where dreams and opportunities feel within reach, and no one worries about deciding between health care and making rent. We can build an America that truly works for working people and delivers real progress on the things that matter.” said Rep. Balint. “In Glens Falls, Elise Stefanik refuses to listen to or show up for her constituents. And Americans need us to stand up for our democracy, for our rights, and for our freedom to live without the crushing burden of corporate greed. I’m so proud to cross the border to New York with my colleagues to make sure every voice is heard.”

“I was so proud to join my Progressive Caucus colleagues in Glens Falls to highlight the devastating consequences of the GOP’s Big, Ugly Bill for working families here in New York and across the nation,” said Rep. Tonko. “We heard powerful stories from so many community members who are already feeling the impact of this disastrous legislation, and those voices will guide us in Washington as we continue our fierce advocacy on behalf of those we serve. While Republicans hide from defending their indefensible budget, my colleagues and I stand firmly with our communities and stand ready to give them the tools they need to join us in fighting back.”

“Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill is an assault on every person who calls this country home and a shameful betrayal of our shared humanity,” said Rep. Pressley. “That’s why I was proud to join Reps. Balint and Tonko to let the people of Glens Falls, of the Massachusetts 7th, and across the country know that we refuse to accept this injustice as an inevitability, and we will always fight for you. Trump and Republicans – like Rep. Elise Stefanik – refuse to face their constituents because they know their policy violence will make people across America sicker, poorer, hungrier, and more vulnerable. We will not let them hide from their cuts to healthcare, to food assistance, to abortion care – because lives depend on it and families deserve more.”

The town hall provided a chance for community members to get their questions answered, find resources, connect to local organizations working for community justice, and hear about a progressive vision for our nation. Questions focused on the harm caused by the Republican budget bill, threats to health care, rising costs for working people, and the need for elected representatives to be truly accountable to their constituents.

“It was so inspiring to see three Congress people show up to answer questions in a Town Hall in our district!” said Doreen Miller, a member of Indivisible ADK/Saratoga. “Our Congress person, Elise Stefanik, has not shown up in years to talk to us and explain her reasoning for her votes. We need representation in Congress too!”

“Glens Falls showed up tonight because folks are sick of paying higher prices while billionaires get giveaways, and they want answers,” said Catherine Rowland, PCAF’s Director of Government Affairs & Access. “Tonight was about making sure communities get those answers and giving real people a platform to demand better from this Republican Congress.”

“CWA is very proud to stand with our fellow labor, community, and elected allies to help foster both discussion and a plan to fight back against these continued attacks on our jobs, livelihoods, and freedoms."" said Dennis Trainor, Vice President CWA District 1. ""Many of those currently in power have abandoned working families and laid waste to our communities and the unions that have helped build them over generations, and we will not sit idly by while the so-called ""Big Beautiful Bill"" deepens the country's affordability crisis and leaves millions without healthcare and out of work. We will make sure that every New Yorker understands the impact of this bill, and who is responsible for the biggest tax cuts for the wealthy, while taking away healthcare from millions of Americans.""

“We are under attack by a cruel budget that strips health care, food, and opportunity from working people while lining the pockets of billionaires,” said Ravo Root, Lead Organizer at Citizen Action of New York. “When our neighbors come together like this—sharing stories, building power, and demanding accountability—we remind those in Washington that we are organized, we are watching, and we will not stop until our communities get the justice and investment we deserve.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T14:57:50Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=597,Rep. Balint Joins Rep. Ross to Introduce Bill to Repeal Trump Deportation Power Targeting Free Speech,2025-08-13,2025,2025-08,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02), and members of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced the Land of the Free Act. This legislation would repeal Section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which grants the Secretary of State the power to deport visa-holders and legal permanent residents whose presence in the United States would have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”

Since taking office in January, President Trump and his administration have tried to use this power to deport visa-holders and legal permanent residents who are exercising their constitutionally protected right to free speech. Up until this administration, it was used sparingly, only 15 times in 35 years. However, now the executive branch is abusing this power and using it to try to deport individuals whose speech it finds inconvenient.

“The Trump administration is using any excuse they can to deport people for speech they don’t like,” said Congresswoman Balint. “But Americans know the Constitution guarantees people within our borders the most basic of rights including due process and free speech. This administration has ignored those fundamental rights to flex their authoritarian power and remove people they disagree with. Rep. Ross and I won’t let them continue to trample on our rights. It's time we take away the Trump administration's power to arbitrarily detain people and firmly protect everyone's right to free speech in this country.”

“Since day one, the Trump administration has continually violated the constitutionally protected free speech rights of immigrants in this country,” said Congresswoman Ross. “We cannot let this corrupt administration go unchecked and undeterred. That’s why Congresswoman Balint and I are introducing legislation to curb their abuse of federal law to deport individuals who they disagree with. The freedom of speech is a foundational principle of our democracy, and I urge my colleagues to join us in this important fight to protect it.”

This legislation is endorsed by American Civil Liberties Union, Indivisible, MPower Change Action Fund, and Demand Progress.

“The First Amendment protects everyone on US soil, citizen or not,” said Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union. “If someone can be detained and deported because of their political beliefs, then the free speech rights of each and every person in the United States are in serious danger. The ability to speak out and protest is foundational to our democracy, and we thank Reps. Ross and Balint for working to ensure that dissent cannot be grounds for deportation.""

“We support the Land of the Free Act because no president should be able to leapfrog bedrock constitutional rights and declare someone a threat to the nation on a whim,” said Demand Progress Policy Director Emily Peterson-Cassin. “Without this needed bill, student activists like Mohsen Mahdawi and Mahmoud Kahlil could be just the first of many victims frivolously punished by the government for merely exercising their free speech rights. We thank Reps. Ross and Balint for fighting to defend the free speech fights of all Americans.”

""The Land of the Free Act is a key to protecting the very foundation of our democracy: freedom of speech, political opinion, protest, and dissent,” said Andrew O'Neill, National Advocacy Director, Indivisible. “Over the last eight months, we’ve seen in the cases of Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Öztürk, and others how Section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act can be weaponized to silence and punish anyone whose views the administration opposes—undocumented, legal status, or citizen alike. This provision has been abused to target students, journalists, and community leaders critical of U.S. foreign and immigration policy. This new legislation would establish a clear line: in the U.S., we do not exile people for exercising their constitutional rights. Political repression anywhere is a threat to freedom everywhere. We thank Congresswomen Ross and Balint for introducing this bill and standing firm in safeguarding our right to free speech, dissent, and political expression.”

""As the largest Muslim digital advocacy organization with more than 500,000 members nationwide, MPower Change Action Fund is proud to endorse the Land of the Free Act of 2025,"" said Yasmine Taeb, Legislative and Political Director at MPower Change Action Fund. ""We applaud Rep. Becca Balint and Rep. Deborah Ross's leadership in introducing this legislation to repeal Section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, an obsolete Cold War-era provision used and abused by the Trump Administration to abduct, detain, and threaten with deportation Mahmoud Khalil, Rümeysa Öztürk, Badar Khan Suri, Mohsen Mahdawi and other students and scholars exercising their First Amendment protected rights. We urge House members to cosponsor the Land of the Free Act of 2025 and call for its swift passage.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T14:57:50Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=584,Rep. Becca Balint Slams Republican $9 Billion Federal Funding Clawback,2025-07-18,2025,2025-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement on the passage of the rescissions package, which slashes $7.9 billion from international development and humanitarian programs, and $1.1 billion from public media.

“This rescissions package is a betrayal of working families, especially in rural communities like Vermont,” said Rep. Balint. “Millions of Americans rely on our public broadcasting system for free and factual news coverage and programming, including lifesaving emergency alerts. This is clearly not about cost-cutting, as Republicans just voted for huge tax cuts for billionaires. It’s about prioritizing the ultra-rich and leaving rural communities vulnerable.”

These cuts would continue the reckless agenda started by Elon Musk and weaken the United States’ power around the world. This terrible bill comes on the heels of Republicans' cuts to Medicaid and food assistance—all to fund tax cuts for billionaires.

This Republican package hurts hardworking American families by:

Harming millions of preschool-age kids (and their families) that currently benefit from PBS Kids children’s educational programs, such as Sesame Street or Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, that improve children’s literacy and math skills.

Terminating $1.1 billion in funding for public television and public radio, including funding that is allocated directly to more than 1,500 locally-owned public television or public radio stations.

Vermont stations received more than $2 million from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Fiscal Year 2024.

Hurting rural communities, as locally-owned public television stations and public radio stations are often the only trusted and reliable news source available, as well as the only coverage of local high school sports.

Threatening public safety and disaster response, as public television and public radio provide emergency alerts even when other communications systems go down.

Cutting global health programs and undermining America’s global leadership and security.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T14:40:33Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=585,"House Votes to Fund Vermont Small Business, MVP Robotics, Contract with Department of Defense",2025-07-18,2025,2025-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL)’s amendment to include a $10,000,000 Department of Defense contract with a Vermont small business, MVP Robotics, in the appropriations bill passed today. MVP Robotics is headquartered in Bradford, VT and employs 23 people across Vermont and New Hampshire. The passage of Rep. Balint’s amendment will bring major growth to an emerging technology company. MVP Robotics dual use technology was developed for sports teams and military training.

“It is critical our small businesses have growth opportunities to bring jobs to and grow innovation in Vermont,” said Rep. Balint. “And since its founding MVP Robotics has been on the cutting edge of our state’s technology industry. I’m thrilled to have secured this amendment in the larger Department of Defense spending bill to continue to support our state’s culture of innovation and the strength of our small businesses.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T14:40:33Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=583,Rep. Becca Balint to Chair Progressive Caucus Task Force to End Corporate Greed,2025-07-16,2025,2025-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) launched a Progressive Caucus Task Force to end corporate greed. Rep. Balint’s Task Force is one of four that will be focused on advancing a slate of policy proposals to set a vision for the Democratic agenda that puts the needs of working people first.

“I came to Congress to unrig a system that makes it so hard for so many Americans to get a fair shot,” said Rep. Becca Balint. “And today, I’m fired up to launch the Ending Corporate Greed Task Force alongside my colleagues to do the real work necessary to build an America that gives people a real chance at an easier life. Corporate greed is at the root of so many of the struggles working people face. It’s time we take back power over our rigged economy and fight back against the greed that makes everything harder for the rest of us. Because we have a vision for a reality where we can all afford to make rent, have affordable health care, get paid fair wages, and get an education without crippling debt.”

The four Task Forces—focused on lowering costs, ending corporate greed, fighting corruption, and securing better pay and benefits—are part of a broader effort by the Progressive Caucus to define a Democratic governing agenda that is clear, popular, easy to understand, and quickly delivers material benefits to working people. The other task forces launched today by the Caucus will be led by the following Members:

Rep. Omar, Promoting Peace & Security

Rep. Min, Fighting Corruption

Rep. Johnson, Fighting Corruption (Vice Chair)

Rep. Ansari, Lowering Costs

Rep. Randall, Better Pay and Benefits",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T14:40:33Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=582,Rep. Becca Balint on Passage of Devastating Republican Tax and Spending Bill,2025-07-03,2025,2025-07,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement on the passage of the Republican tax and spending bill that guts Medicaid, food assistance and other critical programs that Americans rely on. The Republican budget includes over $800 billion in cuts that will decimate Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. These cuts put rural hospitals at risk of immediate closure. It will kick nearly 17 million Americans off their health insurance and throw at least 4 million people off food assistance, all to bankroll tax breaks for billionaires and massive corporations. All Democrats voted no.

“This Republican budget is far and away the cruelest piece of legislation I’ve seen in my career. It’s an utter moral failure,” saidRep. Becca Balint. “This bill will leave people without food, without healthcare, without options to keep their families afloat. That’s the painful reality of this bill. It comes after the poorest among us to give to the richest, while Americans are already struggling to put food on the table, afford medications, and pay rent in an economy rigged against working people.”

“I’m horrified to see the Republican party almost unanimously support propping up billionaires at the expense of their own communities. It’s sickening and speaks to their vision for America. But I’m not giving up hope. It’s going to take all of us fighting together to work to reverse some of the worst policies passed today.”

Republicans’ reckless tax and spending bill will:

Add over $3.9 trillion to the national debt, a $1 trillion increase over the House-passed bill.

Kick nearly 20 million people off their health insurance and increase health care insurance costs for everyone.

Medicaid is the largest single-payer of maternity care in the United States, covering an estimated 40% of births. One in five women, and nearly half the country’s children, are covered by Medicaid.

Defund Planned Parenthood. The bill prohibits health clinics from accepting Medicaid funds for family planning and reproductive health care services if they provide abortions. The destruction of Planned Parenthood’s critical family planning and reproductive health care clinics will cost taxpayers $52 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and close 200 clinics.

Cut to nutritional assistance jeopardizing SNAP for 40 million people including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities and 1.2 million veterans.

Block future increases to the Thrifty Food Plan, which determines SNAP benefits.

Increases household energy costs by an average of $400 and will lead to millions of jobs lost and $197 billion in lost wages.

Cut clean energy incentives and add a tax to wind and solar energy.

Spend more than $150 billion in funding for Trump’s cruel immigration enforcement agenda which breaks down our legal immigration system, deports people without due process and has turned its back on asylum seekers and refugees.

Rep. Becca Balint is a member of the House Budget Committee. Throughout the budget process, Rep. Balint has offered amendments to protect Social Security and reduce health insurance costs. Her amendments to prevent the House of Representatives from considering legislation that would cut Social Security benefits, increase the retirement age, or privatize Social Security were all rejected by Republicans in the House Budget and Rules Committees. This week, Rep. Balint filed amendments to:

Prohibit funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain individuals on the basis of their protected speech,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T14:40:33Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=580,Balint Joins Bonamici and Frost to Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Care and Services for LGBTQI+ Seniors,2025-06-27,2025,2025-06,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Becca Balint (D-VT), and Maxwell Frost (D-FL) introduced legislation to improve the long-term health and care of LGBTQI+ seniors.

Decades of marginalization and institutional barriers have left LGBTQI+ seniors with fewer sources of support, higher poverty rates, increased social isolation, and inadequate access to health care. Many of these seniors enter their golden years with the detrimental physical and emotional health effects of having lived through a lifetime of discrimination. The Ruthie and Connie LGBTQI Elder Americans Act would help overcome these barriers by decreasing isolation, improving health, and increasing access to culturally competent services and supports.

The legislation is named for Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz, long-time advocates for LGBTQI+ equality. Connie fought for the rights of LGBTQI+ older adults until her death in 2018. Ruthie, her widow, continues to serve as a champion for the cause.

“Decades of discrimination have left many LGBTQI+ seniors without the support and resources they need to stay healthy as they age,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “LGBTQI+ seniors are resilient, and they deserve to enjoy full, vibrant lives with the support they need to thrive. I’m grateful for Ruthie and Connie’s advocacy on behalf of LGBTQI+ seniors, and I’m glad to lead this legislation in their honor to provide LGBTQI+ seniors specialized access to care and services without discrimination.”

“LGBTQI+ Americans are facing an overwhelming rise in attacks in the face of a hateful administration,” said Congresswoman Becca Balint. “And our LGBTQI+ seniors are being left behind with fewer supports, higher poverty and social isolation rates, and inaccessible health care. We owe it to our seniors to ensure they have access to the care and services they need. I'm proud to join Reps. Bonamici and Frost in uplifting the needs of LGBTQ+ seniors and celebrating the work of Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz.”

“Like all Americans, our LGBTQ+ elders deserve to be able to live their golden years with the peace and security of quality, affordable care and a community that loves and respects them,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “In honor of the incredible work of Florida’s own Ruth and Connie, we must act as LGBTQ+ seniors face poverty and isolation to ensure they can live their lives free of discrimination.”

The legislation is endorsed by: Congressional Equality Caucus, SAGE, Human Rights Campaign, Justice in Aging, and Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE).

“SAGE is honored to cosponsor the Ruthie and Connie LGBTQI Elder Americans Act, which addresses a critical need: support for the ever-growing number of LGBTQ+ Americans who are over 60,” said SAGE CEO Michael Adams. “By permanently establishing the National Resource Center on LGBTQI Aging, aging service providers will have access to a wealth of resources, information, and tools to help them create welcoming and affirming environments for LGBTQ+ participants.”

LGBTQI+ seniors now face additional obstacles from an administration that seeks to disenfranchise them and their community. Because of these profound challenges, LGBTQI+ seniors require specialized services and support that are scarce and severely underfunded in every part of the country.

The Ruthie and Connie LGBTQI Elder Americans Act would:

Include LGBTQI+ older adults among women, rural, and racial and ethnic minorities as a population with the greatest economic and social needs under OAA;

Permanently establish the National Resource Center on LGBTQI Aging to provide critical resources, information, and tools for aging service providers to better address the needs of LGBTQI+ seniors;

Require the Assistant Secretary of Aging to oversee data collection for LGBTQI+ adults, their needs, and efficacy of state aging resources to meet those needs.

Require the long-term care ombudsman to collect and analyze data regarding LGBTQI+ discrimination; and,

Prioritize grants for organizations working to improve LGBTQI+ health, long-term care, and access to culturally responsive services.

A fact sheet about the legislation can be found here, and the text of the legislation can be found here.

Bonamici also Chairs the Congressional LGBTQI+ Equality Caucus’ LGBTQI+ Aging Issues Task Force, and led the last two bipartisan updates to the Older Americans Act.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T01:08:28Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=581,Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Ruling on Judicial Powers and Birthright Citizenship,2025-06-27,2025,2025-06,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL), member of the House Judiciary Committee, reacts to the Supreme Court decision in the case of Trump v. CASA. The court ruled 6-3 to restrict federal judges from stopping the nationwide enforcement of blatantly unconstitutional laws. Justice Sonia Sotomayor called the majority’s decision “a travesty for the rule of law.” The ruling does not address the constitutionality of birthright citizenship. The Trump Administration continues to evade the question of the obvious violation of our constitution in trying to end birthright citizenship.

“Trump seeks unrestrained, unchecked power. By carefully choosing to go after birthright citizenship in this way, his administration has made it easier to continue to violate the constitution. And the court’s conservative majority is conveniently allowing it by limiting the lower courts’ checks on the President, further emboldening Trump to rule like a king. Today, they avoided the question of birthright citizenship to allow Trump to continue his assault on our rights, on immigrants, and the constitution. Let me be clear today: if you’re born in America, you are American. Anything to the contrary is a blatant violation of our constitutional rights.

“This is not only another attack on birthright citizenship, it is an attack on our democracy, making it more difficult for people to individuals their rights. The American people need a judiciary that puts the constitution and the rule of law before anything else.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T01:08:28Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=576,"Rep. Balint Announces South Burlington $700,000 Award from Environmental Protection Agency for Bartlett Bay Wastewater Facility Improvements",2025-06-24,2025,2025-06,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) is proud to announce that the City of South Burlington will receive an award of $700,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve the Bartlett Bay wastewater facility. Rep. Balint secured this funding, alongside fourteen other community projects, through the FY2024 appropriations bill.

“By funding improvement projects that will lower costs, ensure safe water, and reduce our carbon footprint, this kind of investment will make a meaningful difference in the daily lives of Vermonters. I’m proud to get this funding over the finish line and to do the real work that will mean cleaner and safer communities for Vermont,” said Rep. Balint.

The funding will be used to reduce the overall carbon footprint as part of the current upgrade of the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) in South Burlington. The facility was last upgraded over 20 years ago and will undergo a refurbishment over the next 1-3 years. This funding will be used to replace existing conventional, fossil-fuel powered systems with efficient heat pump units which can reduce the system’s carbon footprint by 25%. In addition, modern heat pumps can reduce electricity used for heating by approximately 50% compared to electric resistance heating. An energy efficient system will help keep wastewater rates low for rate payers, reduce the plant's carbon footprint, and support a clean energy future.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T01:08:28Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=577,"Vermont Delegation, Governor Scott Celebrate New Funding for Northern Border Regional Commission Awards",2025-06-24,2025,2025-06,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, the Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-At Large), along with Governor Phil Scott and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC)announced NBRC’s Spring 2025 Catalyst Program awardees. Eleven projects in Vermont will receive a cumulative $13.7 million in funding to support initiatives that will increase market access for Vermont food producers, renovate historic and community gathering sites, and upgrade aging infrastructure and municipal drinking water systems.

Established in 2008, the NBRC is a Federal-State partnership in northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire collaboration to improve rural economic vitality across the four-state NBRC region.

“The Northern Border Regional Commission plays a crucial role in supporting rural economies and communities in Vermont. These funds will be a catalyst for economic growth in rural communities across our state–from renewing vital drinking water infrastructure to renovating historic buildings and community gathering spaces,” said the Vermont Congressional Delegation. “We’re pleased to see these projects receive funding to help communities in every corner of the Green Mountain State grow and thrive.”

“Investing in our communities and fixing aging infrastructure, is key to addressing many of the housing and affordability challenges we’re facing in the state,” said Governor Scott. “I want to thank the congressional delegation for their advocacy for this funding as well as the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and NBRC for their work to support these important projects.”

“The slate of awards approved by the Commission represent a generational investment in local economies across Northern New England and New York. This public investment in infrastructure will directly lead to the creation of new jobs and businesses, housing construction and improved economic opportunity and vitality in rural communities,” said NBRC Federal Co-Chair Chris Saunders.

“This grant will have a huge impact on our community, and we are so grateful that this resource exists to make these improvements possible. With these funds, the Bolton Valley community will be able to move forward with a much-needed wastewater plant upgrade and set the stage for new residential development. These funds will move the needle on these projects. We truly cannot overstate the impact,” said Lindsay Deslauriers, President, CEO of Bolton Valley Water and Community Development Co.

When evaluating potential projects, the Catalyst Program considers project readiness, economic impacts, impacts on Vermont’s skilled workforce, project location, regional input and priorities, and the project’s transformational nature. Awarded projects in the 2025 Catalyst Spring Competition will support essential transportation and water and wastewater infrastructure, expand access to child care, and restore vital economic and social hubs for the rural communities, and more.

The 2025 Catalyst Spring Competition Awardees include:

· Bennington County Industrial Corporation (Bennington County) – $3,000,000:

· Develop essential transportation and water/wastewater infrastructure, supporting long-term economic revitalization in the Putnam Block of downtown Bennington.

· Bolton Valley Water and Community Development Co. (Chittenden County) – $3,000,000:

· Upgrade the community wastewater plant and construct a new road to support housing and economic growth.

· Rutland City (Rutland County) – $3,000,000:

· Modernize Downtown Rutland’s infrastructure, enhancing economic growth and resilience.

· Town of Highgate (Franklin County) – $1,000,000:

· Construct a community wastewater system, enhancing infrastructure for residents, businesses, and public spaces in Highgate Center.

· Town of Rochester (Windsor County) – $1,000,000:

· Re-purpose the former Rochester High School into a multi-use community hub.

· Town of Woodstock (Windsor County) – $868,858.52:

· Upgrade its municipal drinking water system, increasing pressure and capacity to support new housing and business development.

· Benson Village Trust, Inc. (Rutland County) – $500,000:

· Rebuild the Benson Village Store, restoring a vital economic and social hub for the rural community of Benson, Vermont.

· Food Connects (Windham County) – $499,385.50:

· Expand its storage and distribution infrastructure, increasing market access for Vermont food producers and supporting rural economic development.

· Canaan Naturally Connected, Inc. (Essex County) – $449,044.00:

· Renovate a historic Episcopal Church into the Canaan Community Center, a vital hub for economic and social engagement in rural Essex County, Vermont.

· Southeast Vermont Transit, Inc. (Windham County) – $282,078.00:

· Convert Springfield, Vermont’s fixed-route bus system, into a free, on-demand micro transit service.

· Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary (Orange County) – $100,000:

· Conduct a feasibility study for expanding childcare facilities and outdoor recreation infrastructure, addressing critical service gaps in rural Vermont.

Read more from NBRC here. The NBRC’s grants management system will open for Fall Round pre-applications in August 2025. Learn more about how to apply here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T01:08:28Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=575,Rep. Becca Balint on Supreme Court Anti-Trans Ruling,2025-06-18,2025,2025-06,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Rep. Becca Balint released the below statement following the Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Skrmetti. Three transgender adolescents, their families, and a medical provider challenged a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming hormone therapies for transgender people under 18. The Court’s decision allows the Tennessee law to remain in effect.

“Every parent wants to keep their child healthy. Parents and trans young people have the right to make private health care decisions with their doctors. Today’s ruling allowing Tennessee politicians to interfere in private health care decisions is not only draconian, it's dangerous and hateful,” said Rep. Becca Balint. “I want families who are feeling scared today about the consequences of this decision to know that I’m with you. I’m fighting for you in Congress every single day, and I will not back down.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T01:08:28Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=550,Rep. Becca Balint Calls Out DHS Lack of Accountability for Mahdawi Kidnapping,2025-06-03,2025,2025-06,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"“We need answers and accountability for the illegal kidnappings, disappearances and intimidation carried out by Noem and the Trump administration. While not surprising, I’m deeply disturbed that Secretary Noem not only takes no responsibility for these illegal kidnappings, she continues to take pride in them.”

Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) reacts to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) response to her inquiry on Mohsen Mahdawi’s arrest and detention. Last Friday, Rep. Balint’s office received the following response from Secretary Noem:

“Thank you for your April 16, 2025, letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“The information requested in your letter is currently the subject of active litigation. Accordingly, DHS declines to comment on such matters.”

In April, in response to Mr. Mahdawi’s arrest, Rep. Balint and 67 other House Democrats demanded the Administration’s alleged reason for his arrest from Secretaries Rubio and Noem and received no response. On April 30th, Mr. Mahdawi was released on bail following a decision from Judge Geoffrey Crawford.

“We need answers and accountability for the illegal kidnappings, disappearances and intimidation carried out by Noem and the Trump administration,” said Rep. Becca Balint. “While not surprising, I’m deeply disturbed that Secretary Noem not only takes no responsibility for these illegal kidnappings, she continues to take pride in them. The fear of being ripped off the streets by masked agents when you show up to work or a citizenship appointment does not make our communities safer. I’m relieved that Mr. Mahdawi has been released and was able to graduate college, but his arrest should terrify us all. Under Trump, ICE and DHS have become a means to carry out political arrests and silence those who disagree with his authoritarian agenda. I’ll continue to demand accountability and justice for everyone in this country, including Mahmoud Khalil and others still being held unjustly.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T01:08:28Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=549,Becca Balint Statement on 10 Construction Workers Detained by ICE in Vermont,2025-05-30,2025,2025-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Rep. Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement in response to the detention of ten construction workers at an affordable housing construction site in Newport on Thursday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Today we learned that ten construction workers were detained by ICE at an affordable housing site Newport, Vermont. My office is closely monitoring the situation to ensure every person in this country is given the due process they deserve.

“The fear of being snatched up by ICE just for showing up to work does not make our communities safer. It takes away parents and family members from their homes and creates a looming sense of distrust among neighbors. This marks the second mass immigration raid in our state since Trump took office. This is an administration that governs by fear, chaos, and division. This violates our nation’s deeply held values of due process for all and the rule of law.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:49:36Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=532,Rep. Becca Balint Slams House Passage of Republican Budget,2025-05-22,2025,2025-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Early this morning, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL), member of the House Budget Committee, released the below statement after the passage of the Republican budget that guts Medicaid, food assistance and other critical programs that Americans rely on.

The Republican plan includes over $800 billion in cuts that would decimate Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. These cuts will put rural hospitals at risk of immediate closure. It would kick nearly 14 million Americans off their health insurance and throw at least 3 million people off food assistance, all to bankroll tax breaks for billionaires and massive corporations. The bill passed the House with all Democrats voting no.

“A budget is a reflection of our values: what we view as the most important and who we view as the most important. And it’s not you and your family or me and mine. It’s about propping up billionaires and kicking the rest of us in the teeth while they do it,” said Rep. Balint. “This bill comes after the poorest among us to give to the richest. Americans are already struggling to put food on the table, afford for medications, and pay rent in an economy rigged against working people. This bill stands to make that reality much more painful.”

“And this massive wealth transfer, passed in the middle of the night, will only exacerbate the already obscene wealth inequality in this country. I was sent to Congress to fight for the needs of working people, to stand up for the rights of every Vermonter and every American. I voted ‘hell no’ on this devastating budget because lives are on the line. Americans deserve so much better than this awful bill. I promise to keep fighting. It’s not over yet.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:49:36Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=531,Reps. Becca Balint and Dave Min Lead Colleagues in Calling Out RFK Jr. Dangerous Autism Comments,2025-05-21,2025,2025-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) is joined by Rep. Dave Min (CA-47) and 24 colleagues to condemn recent comments from Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy where he suggested individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cannot lead fulfilling lives and oppose HHS proposals to track autistic individuals via private health data.

The Members point out serious concerns about cutting funding, dismantling education programs, and the sidelining of expert advisory committees like the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). Members write to the HHS Secretary as they promote the “Make America Healthy Again,” (MAHA) slogan but recent cuts to programs across federal agencies will have the opposite effect.

In a letter to the Secretary the members urge him to retract his statements and call for a renewed commitment to evidence-based ASD research, support for caregivers, funding for IDEA programs, and full implementation of the Autism CARES Act of 2024.

“We are deeply concerned and outraged about your recent comments and proposed actions related to autism spectrum disorder,”wrote the Members in the letter. “We write today as Members of Congress, but also as parents, family members, and Representatives of loved ones with ASD to demand that you retract your comments and make clear to the nation that individuals with autism play a constructive and valuable role in American society.”

“Instead of vilifying and tracking Americans with ASD, MAHA should help the ASD community by implementing key programs, including: evidence-based research that focuses on improving quality of life, support for caregivers of individuals with ASD, increased access to early childhood screening and interventions, care for adults with ASD and co-occurring psychiatric conditions, and continued access to public health information relating to ASD. It is essential to develop the workforce of the next generation of behavioral pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, speech-language pathologists, special educators, and other related health professions,” continued the Members.

“This should go without saying but Americans with autism are valuable and constructive members of our communities who lead meaningful and joyful lives,” said Rep. Balint. “I was appalled but not surprised to hear the Secretary continue to spread baseless lies about autism spectrum disorder under the guise of making Americans healthier. I’m standing with colleagues to implore the Secretary to listen and learn more from people with autism and immediately retract these harmful comments. Misinformation coming from someone who should be fighting for the health and safety of our country is not only disgusting but poses real risks to public health.”

""Secretary Kennedy is peddling lies that are devastating to individuals with autism spectrum disorder,"" said Rep. Min. ""Conspiracy theories like those that Secretary Kennedy has pushed forward cause major harm to public health and should have no place in the Health and Human Services Department. He must take back and apologize for these hateful comments.""

""The Autism Society of America is deeply concerned by ongoing threats to critical services and the misalignment in research priorities under the current Administration. The proposed cuts to Medicaid, and disruption of Autism-related programs, risk dismantling the essential infrastructure that millions of Autistic individuals and their families depend on,” said Tracey Staley, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of America. “We appreciate the vital role that Congress plays in overseeing these matters and ensuring accountability and transparency in policies that impact the disability community.”

“As a non-partisan organization, the Autism Society of America remains committed to working with HHS to ensure that policy and research reflect the diverse needs of the Autism community and uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals on the spectrum,”Staley continued.

The letter was signed by Reps. Bonamici, Cleaver, Correa, Craig, Elfreth, Garcia (CA), Goodlander, Huffman, Johnson (GA), Kaptur, Krishnamoorthi, McCollum, Norton, Quigley, Ramirez, Raskin, Sherman, Takano, Tlaib, Tonko, Torres (NY), Velázquez, Vindman, and Watson Coleman.

Find the full text of the letter here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:49:36Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=529,Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Republican’s Late Night Devastating Budget Cuts,2025-05-18,2025,2025-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C– Tonight, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement after the passage of the Republican budget out of the House Budget Committee late this evening:

“In an economy already rigged against working people, Republicans are moving forward with sweeping cuts to the programs that millions of families afloat. Americans just want to be able to pay their rent, afford groceries and health care, get their kids a good education and build a better life. But this budget makes that so much further out of reach.

“Republicans have had hundreds of opportunities to stand up for Medicaid, food assistance and our public schools. But tonight, they are again deciding to turn their backs on working people to give tax cuts to their billionaire donors and help corporations rake in even more money. And to do that they are ripping away healthcare from nearly 14 million Americans. This means rural communities will have even less access to care, and our kids and veterans won’t get the medication they need. Their rushed budget will inflict pain on Americans in ways we are yet to even understand.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:49:36Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=528,Rep. Becca Balint Joins Democrats in Taking Down Cruel Republican Budget,2025-05-16,2025,2025-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Budget Democrats successfully blocked the Republican Budget that would have slashed Medicaid, food assistance and other critical programs that Americans rely on. The Republican plan cuts over $880 billion in cuts that would decimate Medicaid, risking the health care coverage for over 13.7 million Americans to bankroll tax breaks for billionaires and massive corporations. These cuts would put rural hospitals at risk of immediate closure due to these cuts, including many of Vermont’s hospitals.

“Budget Committee Republicans voted down their own bill because it wasn’t extreme enough to deny health care to 13.7 million Americans, they want to take it even further,” said Rep. Balint. “This failure means another opportunity to fight for what Americans need and want: affordable health care and an economy that works for all of us.”

The Republican Budget included:

$7 trillion in deficit-financed tax cuts: $5.5 trillion that Republicans fraudulently claim are free, plus another $1.5 trillion in additional revenue losses

$880 billion in cuts that will decimate Medicaid

$230 billion in cuts that threaten food assistance

$5 trillion debt limit increase (Senate instruction)

More than $14 trillion in new debt over the decade

The Treasury Department found that the extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts would give an average annual tax cut of $32,118 for those in the top 1 percent (family income over approximately $750,000 a year) and an average annual tax cut of $314,266 for those in the top 0.1 percent (making more than $3.5 million a year). Meanwhile, working families will only get a few hundred dollars in tax cuts a year.

Read her opening remarks here:

“A budget is a reflection of our values, our priorities. What we view as the most important; and who we view as the most important. This Republican reconciliation package is cruel. It makes steep cuts to Medicaid. Millions and millions of people will lose their healthcare because of these cuts. Rural hospitals across this country will close because they won’t be able to make their margins to stay open. Medicaid is that margin.

“My Republican colleagues twice voted on the previous budget framework that made steep cuts to Medicaid. And they said over and over that there were not going to be cuts to Medicaid.

“And yet here we are. My Republican colleagues are making cuts to Medicaid. And millions and millions of people will lose their healthcare.

“But it’s not just a cruel budget. It’s also a cynical one.

“Why? Why do I use the word cynical? Because these cuts to Medicaid AND the billions of dollars in cuts to food programs are being made to help pay for a massive tax break for the wealthiest in this country. Food and healthcare versus even more money for people who don’t need Medicaid or food assistance. So, yes, I think it’s cruel and I think it’s cynical.

“And get this–despite being lectured repeatedly by Republicans about our country’s deficit, this bill actually adds trillions of dollars to the deficit. I’m serious. Trillions of dollars.

“So people will lose healthcare. Kids and veterans will go hungry. Rural hospitals face closures. And the very rich will get even richer at the expense of our children and grandchildren who will shoulder the burden of the additional debt.

“Americans overwhelmingly do not want cuts to Medicaid or to food programs. 81% And when we see the full impact—when folks realize what’s being done in their name—they will be outraged. Because it’s a betrayal.

“Americans can’t pay their rent right now. Grocery prices are too high. Prescription drug prices are too high. And costs will get higher because of Trump’s stupid tariff regime. And small businesses are really struggling. This is Trump’s economy and it’s rigged against working people.

“This budget is not for working people or the middle class. It’s not for folks living paycheck to paycheck. It’s not for rural communities where health outcomes are the worst.

“Our constituents are struggling. They feel that despite how hard they work, they can’t get ahead. They’re angry. They want fairness. They want a decent life for themselves and their families. We need to be their voices in this committee.

“Let’s not add to the struggles of our people back home. They deserve so much better than this. And Americans are fed up with the way that they are being treated.”

Watch her full remarks here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:49:36Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=509,Rep. Becca Balint Announces 2025 Congressional Art Competition Winner,2025-05-13,2025,2025-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Randolph, VT – On Friday, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. This year, 100 high school students from 12 counties and 28 schools across Vermont sent in artwork for submission to the annual competition. This year’s art show marks the 44th anniversary of the competition that Vermont’s then-Congressman James Jeffords began in 1982.

This year’s winner from Vermont is Xinyi Cassy Pan, a sophomore at Lyndon Institute in Lyndon Center, Vermont. Xinyi’s teacher is Elly Barksdale. Her art will be on display with other 2025 Congressional Art Competition winners in the US Capitol.

“The Congressional Art Competition provides a unique opportunity to bring together young artists to share their work and showcase the talent across our state’s high schools,” said Rep. Balint. “I’m so thankful to represent a state that values and celebrates contributions to the arts and arts education. As a former teacher, as a mom, as a writer, I know how important it is to foster creativity, a love of the arts in our students, and to make it a continued priority in schools.”

“I want to congratulate Xinyi for receiving the Grand Prize for her piece ‘Awakening Through New Eyes’ in this year's Congressional Art Competition. I’m so impressed by her work, and I look forward to seeing a piece of Vermont every day in the US Capitol,” continued Rep. Balint.

In addition to the Grand Prize Winner, awards were given to the following students:

County Winners:

· Addison County - Lola Rollins “.5”, Vergennes Union High School – Teacher: Anna Macijski

· Bennington County – Willa Seo “Host Father”, Burr and Burton Academy – Teacher: Anharad Llewelyn

· Caledonia County – Jenna Thomas “Papa’s Garden”, Lyndon Institute – Teacher: Elly Barksdale

· Chittenden County – Jacklyn Whittier “Hideaway”, Champlain Valley Union High School – Teacher: Jason Fearon

· Franklin County – Ryah Whitehead “A Moment of Joy”, Enosburg Falls High School – Teacher: Sabrina Bolduc

· Lamoille County – Adam Lewis “Hat Day”, Stowe High School – Teacher: Carleen Zimbalatti

· Orange County – Caroline Watts “Sick Day”, Thetford Academy – Teacher: Karyn Neubauer

· Orleans County – Morgan Breitenbach “Flower Garden”, Lake Region Union High School – Teacher: Stephanie Harper

· Rutland County: Carmen Decato “Fighting for Survival”, Stafford Technical Center – Teacher: Karen Kysar

· Washington County: Knives Dryfoos “Just Dance”, U-32 High School – Teacher: Kristine Chartrand

· Windham County: Jada Wood “Cards”, Leland and Gray Union High School – Teacher: Emily Mulcrone

· Windsor County: Jonah Libens-Mavodones “Lost in Those Deceptively Small Keys”, Hartford High School – Teacher: Patrick Kelly

Thematic Winner:

· Eva Fewell “Little Moments”, Champlain Valley Union High School – Teacher: Jason Fearon

People’s Choice Winner:

· Clark Clark “A Spot at the Table”, Champlain Valley Union High School – Teacher: Emily McLean

Judge’s Choice Winners:

· Nikolai Stonorov “Raw Hemmed”, Montpelier High School – Teacher: Colleen Flanagan

· Sage Wyndorf “I Spotted-Touch-Me-Not!”, Burlington Technical Center – Teacher: Ashley Stagner

· Clark Clark “A Spot at the Table”, Champlain Valley Union High School – Teacher: Emily McLean

To see a gallery of the student artwork, please visit: https://balint.house.gov/services/submit-artwork.htm

Photos attached of Xinyi Cassy Pan and Congresswoman Balint and of her artwork. Courtesy of the Office of Rep. Becca Balint.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:49:36Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=508,Vermont Delegation Introduces the Nulhegan River and Paul Stream Wild and Scenic River Study Act to Protect Vermont Waterways,2025-05-01,2025,2025-05,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-At Large) this week reintroduced the bicameral Nulhegan River and Paul Stream Wild and Scenic River Study Act. This bill would protect the ecological, recreational, and economic value of Northern Vermont waterways by commissioning a study to determine whether the Nulhegan River and Paul Stream could be included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

“Keeping Vermont's rivers healthy is crucial to the success of our outdoor recreation and tourism industries. We’re proud to once again introduce this legislation as a Delegation help protect our State's natural beauty and boost our economy,” said the Vermont Congressional Delegation. “This bill is an important step forward in preserving and protecting the Nulhegan River and Paul Stream for future generations of Vermonters to enjoy.”

The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System protects free-flowing rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, or recreational value. Since its creation in 1968, the system has grown to encompass more than 13,400 miles of rivers across the country, including segments of the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers in Vermont. Depending on their characteristics, rivers may be classified as wild, scenic, or recreational. Wild and Scenic rivers are managed to maintain their free-flowing condition, high water quality, and outstanding recreational opportunities, from rafting to fishing.

The Nulhegan River and Paul Stream Wild and Scenic River Study Act is supported by a broad coalition of local municipalities, cultural and regional organizations, and environmental conservation groups, including American Rivers, the Connecticut River Joint Commission, Connecticut River Conservancy, Essex County Conservation District, Nature Conservancy, Northeastern Vermont Development Association, Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk – Abenaki Nation, Trout Unlimited (including the David and Francis Smith Northeast Kingdom Chapter), Vermont Chapter of the Native Fish Coalition, and the Vermont River Conservancy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:49:36Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=502,Statement on Mohsen Mahdawi’s Release,2025-04-30,2025,2025-04,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington , D.C.— The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT-At Large) today issued the following statement in reaction to Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordering the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, who was illegally detained by the Trump Administration:

“We are relieved that Mohsen Mahdawi was released on bail from ICE detention in Vermont, and that the constitutional right to due process has prevailed. Mohsen Mahdawi is here in the United States legally and acted legally. He should never have experienced this grave injustice,” said Sanders, Welch, and Balint. “The Trump Administration’s actions in this case—and in so many other cases of wrongfully detained, deported, and disappeared people—are shameful and immoral. This is an important first step. We will continue the fight against President Trump’s assault on the rule of law.”

Last night, Rep. Becca Balint led a rally at the State Department to demand Mohsen’s release and highlight the unjust abductions across the country. Rep. Balint was joined by Senators Sanders and Welch and others demanding due process for all, ahead of Mohsen’s Wednesday scheduled hearing. Earlier this month, in response to his arrest, Rep. Balint and 67 other House Democrats demanded to know the Administration’s alleged reason for his arrest from Secretaries Rubio and Noem and received no response.

Rep. Balint continued, releasing the following statement in reaction to Mahdawi’s release on bail:

“Today’s news shows us what we can do when we fight for justice, when we come together and use our voices. Mohsen should have never been detained in the first place. And we won’t let the Trump Administration continue to detain and kidnap people off our streets in our name. The fight doesn’t end here. I want Americans to understand that if the Trump Administration can come for one of us, they will come for all of us,” said Rep. Balint.

Link to the livestream of the event here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:33:40Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=507,Rep. Becca Balint Calls out Republican Unjust and Illegal Immigration Policies in House Judiciary Markup,2025-04-30,2025,2025-04,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) called out the Republican plan to inflate the ICE budget amidst wrongful deportations, illegal abductions of permanent residents and other unjust immigration enforcement practices across the country for the last 100 days. Read her remarks below:

“Mr. Chair, on the morning of Thursday, April 24th, about 20 armed federal agents broke into a home occupied by a family of U.S. citizens in Oklahoma City who had just moved there two weeks prior from Maryland. ICE agents, mistaking the current occupants for the former. Broke down the door. Terrorized the family. They repeatedly said, ‘we are citizens.’ ‘You have the wrong people.’ ‘We are citizens.’ It happened in the middle of the night. Three children, at gunpoint, were forced outside to stand in the rain in their underwear while their mother pleaded with these agents to tell them what was going on. They ignored the pleas. They ripped apart the entire house. They seized cash, documents, electronics, their computers as evidence. When the family asked when they would get their stuff back, the agents responded, well, it could be days or it could be months.

“This was all a colossal mistake. The names on the warrant did not match the people who lived in the house. This is what we have created here. This is Trump's America. These were citizens who were treated like this. This is what we want you to open your eyes to. If it can happen, as we've said time and time again, if it can happen to folks with greencards, it can happen to citizens. And in Oklahoma City, we see a perfect example of that. This is what we're talking about. It's not other people. It's us. It's our neighbors, it's our friends. It's people who just moved from Maryland to Oklahoma for a better life and have their house destroyed, and they can't get answers. If we watch the rest of the news clip there, they're asking ICE who's responsible for that? And then they're sending them to another agency, and they're sending them to another agency, and nobody is accountable for what happened to them.

“This is what my colleagues are trying to fund with this bill. Armed federal agents breaking into homes, even of US citizens, traumatizing them, taking their possessions. This is Trump's America. That's why we continue to talk about due process. It's not some pie in the sky idea. It's what literally holds our country together. Without due process, without the belief in the Constitution, we are not Americans. That's what gives us the ability to say we are an exceptional country in the world, that everyone who lives here gets due process. And we're going to keep saying this over and over and over again. For everyone who lives here.

“What happened to that family, once again, of American citizens in Oklahoma City should scare the hell out of all of us. And we should not be using this committee to find more money to pump into ICE so that these things can happen. This family is all of us. That's what we're trying to say today. This family is all of us. And I can't believe that in our name, on our watch, this is happening to people who live in this country. Open your eyes. Wake the hell up. I yield back.”

View her full remarks here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:33:40Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=501,Becca Balint Statement on Border Patrol Raid at Vermont Farm,2025-04-22,2025,2025-04,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Brattleboro, VT – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement in response to the eight workers at a Vermont dairy farm detained on Monday.

“Today we learned, eight workers at Pleasant Valley Farm in Vermont were arrested. Border patrol gave no reason for the arrest. My office is closely monitoring the situation to ensure every person in this country is given the due process they deserve.

“Vermonters know these family farms are the lifeblood of our communities. When farm workers are living in fear that they will be snatched up, it doesn’t make us safer. It leaves us without food on our tables and real families without parents or siblings at home. The Trump administration is yet again intent on not only ripping apart families but taking our agriculture industry down with it.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:33:40Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=500,Rep. Becca Balint Leads 67 House Colleagues in Demanding Answers on Mohsen Mahdawi’s Arrest,2025-04-16,2025,2025-04,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) wrote to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State secretaries to demand answers on the illegal abduction and arrest of Mohsen Mahdawi. On Monday, April 14th, masked, hooded men in plain clothes removed Mr. Mahdawi, who was then handcuffed and taken into an unmarked van from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Colchester, Vermont. Rep. Balint is joined by 67 colleagues in demanding answers on Mr. Mahdawi’s arrest and for his immediate release.

Mr. Mahdawi is the latest student the Trump administration has targeted involved in pro-Palestinian organizing on U.S. college campuses. Mr. Mahdawi has not been accused of a crime. According to his lawyers, the Trump administration appears to be seeking his removal from the country under the same legal provision that it is using to detain Mr. Mahmoud Khalil, who was removed from his apartment building for his participation in pro-Palestinian groups at Columbia University, earlier this year.

Members are demanding answers from Secretary Rubio if this arrest was made under his own personal determination that Mr. Mahdawi’s speech compromises a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest and on what grounds. If that is the case, Members demand to know if the secretary intends to provide certification to the relevant Congressional committees. Members and many constituents are deeply disturbed that DHS could be hijacking citizenship interviews to engage in immigration enforcement activity.

“Americans may disagree on immigration policy, but we have always agreed that the Constitution guarantees people within our borders the most basic of rights including due process and free speech. This administration has ignored those fundamental rights in its horrific imprisonment of Mohsen K. Mahdawi,” members wrote to DHS and the State Department. “If Mr. Mahdawi can be tricked into coming to a government office and then arrested for simply making statements that the Trump Administration does not agree with, every American is at risk. We write to express our profound outrage with this Administration’s continued disappearance of lawful residents of the United States and to demand questions about Mr. Mahdawi’s case.”

“It is Mr. Mahdawi’s right as a legal resident of the United States to argue for what he believes in. This most fundamental of American rights is crucial to the fabric of our country, and one that America was built upon. In fact, President Trump stated at his joint address to Congress in March, ‘I’ve stopped all government censorship and brought back free speech in America.’ If the President was serious about protecting free speech in the United States, he would protect it for everyone, including those with whom he disagrees. Mr. Mahdawi’s arrest is immoral, inhumane, and illegal. With Mr. Mahdawi’s abduction, the Trump Administration continues to degrade America’s image on the global stage and descend the country further and further into authoritarianism. We profoundly oppose unlawful abductions and expect a prompt response to our questions,” continued the members.

“Without due process and the right to free speech, this is not the America we thought we lived in. And it should terrify us all. It’s critical we stand up loudly for the US Constitution in the face of the authoritarian rule from the White House. I’m proud to lead over 60 Democrats in the fight for Mr. Mahdawi’s rights and the basic liberties enshrined into our constitution. Vermonters and Americans everywhere are horrified to learn of these growing illegal arrests and we will not stand by idly,” said Rep. Balint.

67 House Democrats signed the letter including Reps. Amo, Ansari, Barragán, Beyer, Bonamici, Carson, Carter, Casar, Casten, Castro, Chu, Cleaver, Cohen, Correa, Davis (IL), Dean, DeGette, DeSaulnier, Dexter, Doggett, Escobar, Evans, Frost, García (IL), Garcia (CA), Garcia (TX) Goodlander, Green (TX), Hoyle, Huffman, Jackson (IL), Jayapal, Johnson (GA), Kamlager-Dove, Keating, Larson, Lee (PA), McBride, McClellan, McCollum, McGovern, McIver, Moore, Moulton, Mullin, Nadler, Norton, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pingree, Pocan, Pressley, Quigley, Ramirez, Sánchez, Scanlon, Schakowsky, Simon, Thompson (MS), Tlaib, Tokuda, Tonko, Trahan, Velázquez, Waters, Watson Coleman, Williams (GA)",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:33:40Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=489,"Sanders, Welch, Balint Statement on Trump Detaining Mohsen Mahdawi",2025-04-14,2025,2025-04,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Burlington, VT – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (Vt.-AL) today released the following statement on the illegal detention of Mohsen Mahdawi by the Trump Administration:

Earlier today, Mohsen Mahdawi of White River Junction, Vermont, walked into an immigration office for what was supposed to be the final step in his citizenship process. Instead, he was arrested and removed in handcuffs by plainclothes, armed, individuals with their faces covered. These individuals refused to provide any information as to where he was being taken or what would happen to him. This is immoral, inhumane, and illegal. Mr. Mahdawi, a legal resident of the United States, must be afforded due process under the law and immediately released from detention.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:33:40Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=488,Rep. Becca Balint Votes No on Budget with Hundreds of Billions in Cuts to Medicaid and Food Assistance,2025-04-10,2025,2025-04,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) voted no on the Republican Budget. The Republican budget provides trillions in tax cuts for the rich but does nothing to lower costs for American families. It increases the deficit while inflicting pain on the most vulnerable, while raising the debt limit by $5 trillion.

This budget slashes at least $230 billion from food assistance programs at a time when grocery prices remain high. It cuts at least $880 billion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), threatening coverage for nearly 20 million Americans who rely on the ACA and more than 72 million people who depend on Medicaid—including children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. These kinds of cuts risk the stability of rural hospitals who depend on Medicaid reimbursements to keep their doors open. 157,471 Vermonters enrolled in Medicaid and Chips in 2024, putting nearly a quarter of the state at risk of losing their health care.

“This Republican budget is yet another giveaway to billionaires at the expense of working Americans. They control the House, the Senate and the White House and they could be passing legislation to make your life more affordable,” said Rep. Becca Balint. “But they’d rather kiss up to the billionaire class while shutting down vital programs that Vermonters rely on. All while driving up the deficit by trillions.”

“House Republicans had opportunities to take things like social security and Medicaid cuts off the table. But they can’t help themselves. They are intent on making deep cuts that risk the healthcare of millions. It’s truly sickening, and I won’t stand for it,” concluded Rep. Balint who spoke in opposition to the Republican budget during floor debate last night.

Rep. Becca Balint is a member of the House Budget Committee. Throughout the budget resolution consideration, Rep. Balint has offered amendments to protect Social Security and reduce health insurance costs. This week, her amendment to prevent the House of Representatives from considering legislation that would cut Social Security benefits, increase the retirement age, or privatize Social Security was rejected by Republicans in the Rules Committee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:33:40Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=487,Rep. Becca Balint Launches Monopoly Busters Caucus as Founding Member,2025-04-09,2025,2025-04,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) joined her Democratic colleagues to launch the Monopoly Busters Caucus. The Monopoly Busters Caucus will help promote a pro consumer, pro worker, and pro small business economic agenda, ensuring members have support to better communicate Democratic work to combat corporate consolidation. The caucus will work on policy like lowering prices and tackling corporate greed from corporate grocery stores, big agriculture, healthcare consolidation and more.

During the 2024 election cycle, over 65 percent of voters polled in seven battleground states and Ohio said they supported the government suing to break up monopolies and economically powerful companies. Another poll of voters in these states showed that 67 percent of voters think corporate power and a lack of government pushback is one of the biggest problems facing the country; 58 percent had a favorable opinion of government enforcement of antitrust laws.

“I’m fired up to be launching the Monopoly Busters caucus because this is an issue that impacts every one of us even though it can feel abstract or distant. So, let’s boil it down: it’s about fairness and about protecting working people from the power and greed of giant corporations,” said Rep. Balint “Because we know when fair competition is stifled, we all pay the price. Rural people feel the squeeze as they see their hourly wage unable to carry them through to the next paycheck. These corporations must be held accountable. It’s obscene. ”

The caucus will be chaired by Reps. Jayapal, Deluzio, Ryan and Craig. Rep. Balint will serve as a founding member and is a member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust.

The full livestreamed launch event can be seen here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:33:40Z
https://balint.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=486,ICYMI: Rep. Becca Balint Joins Bicameral Spotlight Hearing to Hold Trump Accountable,2025-04-08,2025,2025-04,Democrat,House,VT,Becca Balint,B001318,balint.house.gov,balint,https://balint.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – On Monday, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, joined Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, for a bicameral spotlight hearing to demand answers on the Trump Administration’s attacks on the rule of law. Rep. Balint questioned the witnesses on Trump’s attacks on the American legal system, the importance of judicial independence and the dangers of Trump’s authoritarian actions.

“It’s important to understand that Trump’s actions – while based on his personal grievances – are not only petty, they are designed to remove the checks on unlimited power, the guardrails that protect our democracy,” said Rep. Becca Balint.

“Trump and all his enablers in Congress seem to think laws do not apply to them. They don’t care about the Constitution, they don’t care about the rule of law, and they certainly don’t care about our rights. We need more courage like yours in order to stand up to this,” Rep. Balint concluded in her statement to the witnesses.

“ While my GOP colleagues passively watch Trump punish his critics and take a jack hammer to the work of anti-corruption fighters at the Department of Justice, Democrats are lifting up the tough Americans who are standing strong against the corruption and lawlessness of Trump,” said Ranking Member Raskin.

Witnesses included:

Ryan Crosswell, Former Trial Attorney, Public Integrity Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice

Liz Oyer, Former Pardon Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice

Rachel Cohen, Former Senior Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Stacey Young, Former Senior Trial Attorney, DOJ Civil Rights Division, and Founder and Executive Director, Justice Connection

Watch Rep. Becca Balint’s full remarks here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T00:33:40Z