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://ross.house.gov/2021/12/congresswoman-ross-and-22-house-colleagues-urge-fix-work-authorization-backlog,Congresswoman Ross and 22 House Colleagues Urge Fix for Work Authorization Backlog for Immigrant Spouses,2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) led a letter with 22 House colleagues urging Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Jaddou to reduce processing delays for spousal work authorizations. As a result of this backlog, tens of thousands of immigrant spouses across the country – many of them highly educated women in the STEM fields – have been unable to work and provide for their families over the past year, causing unnecessary financial hardship for themselves and their loved ones. The letter requests that DHS work expeditiously to implement the recent Shergill v. Mayorkas settlement; eliminate additional causes of delays by reinstating joint adjudication or primary and dependent visas and work authorizations; and expand the premium processing to additional visa categories, including H-4 and L-2 EADs. Eligible H-4 visa holders are dependents of H-1B workers who have been approved for an employment-based green card. These spouses have been allowed to obtain work permits since 2015. L-2 visas are held by the spouses of executives, managers or ""specialized knowledge staff.” These spouses have been allowed to work in the U.S. since 2002. The letter says in part, “Due to the Trump administration’s changes to visa processing, H-4 and L-2 visa applicants have recently had to wait 11 months to two years to have their documents renewed—even though it only takes USCIS 12 minutes to process Form I-765 and 24 minutes to process Form I-539. “The vast majority of H-4 and L-2 workers are highly educated women, many of whom are employed in STEM fields in the United States. Processing delays have left their families without a second income, forcing them to dip into their savings, sell their homes, and take other drastic measures to stay on their feet. These delays also threaten the over $7.5 billion that these workers contribute to the U.S. economy. “In order to address this issue more holistically, we request that joint adjudication of primary and dependent visas and work authorizations be reinstated… We also urge USCIS to quickly expand premium processing to additional visa categories, including H-4 and L-2 visas and EADs.” Full text of the letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-releases-statement-manchin-decision-oppose-build-back-better-act,Adams Releases Statement on Manchin Decision to Oppose Build Back Better Act,2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) released the following statement on Senator Joe Manchin's decision to oppose the Build Back Better Act, which includes an extension of the enhanced Child Tax Credit tax cut. In 2021, the Child Tax Credit (CTC) cut taxes by over $250 million for over 100,000 families in North Carolina's 12th Congressional District. The enhanced CTC is scheduled to expire on December 31st. More information on the CTC is available here. ""The legislative process is messy and often disappointing, but the worst thing we can do is lose our will to work for the American people,"" said Congresswoman Adams. ""We can't let the Grinch steal Christmas. The House of Representatives should return to Washington to pass a ‘clean' extension of the enhanced Child Tax Credit tax cut that is set to expire at the end of the month, and the Senate should return to take up this legislation before the end of the year. Over 100,000 families in my district, as well as millions of families across the country, are counting on us to act. If Republicans truly oppose the Child Tax Credit tax cut, let's put them on record against tax relief and show American families who they really are.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/12/congresswoman-ross-announces-rdu-receive-more-14-million-bipartisan,Congresswoman Ross Announces RDU to Receive More Than $14 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,2021-12-17,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) announced that Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) will receive $ 14,698,288 in new federal funding under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This funding can be used to improve runways and taxiways, for terminal development, and for noise prevention programs. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering the investments our communities need while creating good-paying jobs across North Carolina,” said Congresswoman Ross. “As one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, it is imperative that the Research Triangle has a modern airport that safely connects our community to the rest of the country and the world. I’ve recently heard directly from RDU staff about how crucial this funding is for airside and landside improvement projects. I fought hard to make sure that the infrastructure bill would truly address North Carolina’s needs, and I’m proud to say that this investment in RDU will mean more jobs for people in the Triangle and a better, safer experience for travelers.” RDU will receive a similar tranche of funding from the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law each year for the next five years as part of a program for airport development. The tranche could vary from year to year, as the funding reflects annual enplanement totals. In addition to these guaranteed funds, RDU can compete with other airports across the country for grants from an additional $5 billion nationally for terminal and landside improvements. On November 15th, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included $15 billion in formula funding to help redevelop airports across the country. The law also includes an additional $5 billion nationally for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) towers and facilities funding, which the FAA will distribute among airports in need. Prior to the announcement of this funding, Congresswoman Ross toured RDU and highlighted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. For more photos of Rep. Ross’ tour, click here. In October, Congresswoman Ross joined a bipartisan, bicameral North Carolina delegation letter to the FAA expressing support for RDU’s ongoing efforts to undertake improvements to the airfield, terminals, ground transportation, and general aviation at the airport. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-adams-announces-charlotte-douglas-international-airport,Congresswoman Adams Announces Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Receive over $43 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) announced that $43,247,316 in new federal funding under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is headed to Charlotte to improve Charlotte Douglas International Airport. As one of the top 10 busiest airports in the world, CLT is a key economic driver for the Carolinas. The airport is currently in the process of realizing the Destination CLT capital investment plan, a multi-billion dollar effort to accommodate passenger growth through 2035. ""I was proud to vote for the bipartisan Infrastructure law, which provides a $43 million grant for Charlotte Douglas International Airport. With this grant, we will deliver new good-paying jobs in the Carolinas while continuing to improve our airport with approximately $215 million in grants over five years,"" said Congresswoman Adams. ""When I fly in and out of CLT to go to work in Washington, I see the impressive work Charlotte has already started to update and modernize the airport. By helping to continue renovations like the terminal lobby expansion as well as expanding the number of gates at the airport, we will ensure that all travelers flying to or from Charlotte have an easier and safer journey. Together, we're building an airport fit for the Queen City."" Charlotte Douglas International Airport will receive a similar tranche of funding from the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law each year for the next five years, as part of a program for airport development. The tranche could vary from year to year, as the funding reflects annual enplanement totals. In addition to these guaranteed funds, CLT can compete with other airports across the country for grants from an additional $5 billion nationally for terminal and landside improvements. On November 15th, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included $15 billion in formula funding to help redevelop airports across the country. Projects that qualify for funding include: improvements to runways and taxiways, terminal development and noise prevention. The law also includes an additional $5 billion nationally for FAA towers and facilities funding, which the FAA will distribute among airports in need. Rep. Adams recently hosted Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in Charlotte to talk about how the law will help Charlotte achieve its transportation priorities. ""Under the leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and House Democrats, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a tremendous victory for North Carolina,"" continued Adams. ""I was proud to support this historic legislation in the House, and I will keep fighting to ensure every family can benefit from these investments as we rebuild and reimagine Charlotte and Mecklenburg County's infrastructure.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/12/congresswoman-ross-urges-postal-service-update-name-oberlin-village-post-0,Congresswoman Ross Urges Postal Service to Update the Name of Oberlin Village Post Office,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) sent a letter urging the local postmaster of the U.S. Post Office located at 806 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27605 to change the name of the post office to the “Oberlin Village Post Office.” Still referred to as the “Cameron Village” Post Office by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), the new name would recognize the post office’s location in the Oberlin Baptist Church as well as the rich history and contributions of the Oberlin community. This post office was previously located adjacent to a shopping center which until recently was known as Cameron Village. Named after the owner of the Cameron Plantation, where hundreds of enslaved people were once confined, the name of the post office is an archaic tribute to a horrific past that does not fit the inclusive community that now calls the area home. While the shopping center was recently renamed the “Village District,” the post office still bears the name “Cameron Village”—despite the name’s troubling history and its new location farther away from the shopping center. The letter read in part: “The current location of this Post Office, on a property owned by the Oberlin Baptist Church, lies within the geographic boundary of Oberlin Village, one of the last surviving antebellum settlements founded by a free Black person in the State of North Carolina…My constituents and members of my community continue to be frustrated that the current Post Office name does not bear the name of the community in which it is located, and that it continues to commemorate the troubling, racist past of Cameron Village.” Congresswoman Ross previously sent a letter to USPS urging that it update the name of the Oberlin Village Post Office. In accordance with their guidance, Rep. Ross’ letter is requesting that the local postmaster initiate the request to change the name. The below map from the from the Raleigh Historic Development Commission highlights that the post office (#806) is located in the Oberlin Village District. Full text of the letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/education-leaders-laud-adams-reeds-educators-america-act,Education Leaders Laud Adams & Reed's Educators for America Act,2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Educators for America Act, led by Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) in the House and U.S.Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) in the Senate, has won approval from numerous education leaders and advocacy groups. The legislation addresses teacher shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and will invest in states and educators to improve the teacher pipeline and graduate more career-ready teachers and school support staff. Bill Resources: EDUCATORS for America Act Description & Supporters EDUCATORS Act Bill Summary Educators Act Endorsement Quotes Alma Adams Video Introducing the EDUCATORS Act ""Educators across the country are burnt out, overwhelmed, and under-resourced, resulting in a massive teacher shortage that leaves students without permanent teachers in their classrooms and parents, caregivers and other school staff struggling to fill in the gaps. In order to adequately meet the needs of our kids, the educator workforce needs massive investment, from expanding teacher training and pipelines, recruiting diverse educators, and improving pay and benefits like loan forgiveness that help make teaching a more sustainable profession. The Educators for America bill takes a comprehensive approach to teacher prep and helps ensure educators and school staff get the time, tools, training and resources they need to support students,"" said Randi Weingarten, AFT President. ""AACTE enthusiastically supports the Educators for America Act and thanks Senator Reed and Representative Adams for their unwavering leadership in support of educator preparation. This comprehensive bill will make robust investments in teacher and other educator preparation programs while alleviating our nation's educator shortage, diversifying the profession, and providing critical support to our member institutions and their community partners,"" said Dr. Lynn M. Gangone, President and CEO, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Read the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education's (AACTE) Action Alert and Endorsement ""I applaud Senator Reed and Representative Adams for crafting a bill that will shore up the educator profession by attracting, preparing, and retaining educators, and specifically, for supporting new educators of color and educators with disabilities. This legislation offers a thoughtful and comprehensive solution to the current educator shortage crisis, including in high-needs areas such as special education,""said Dennis Cavitt, Ed.D, President, Council for Exceptional Children. Read the Council for Exceptional Children's Endorsement University of Northern Iowa President Mark A. Nook stated, ""EDUCATORS for America represents a monumental step forward in the effort to grow, retain, and diversify our nation's educator workforce. With our roots in educator preparation, UNI appreciates the opportunity to help advance national policy to invest in our nation's educators and through them the quality of education our children receive."" Read about the University of Northern Iowa's support for the legislation ""The teaching workforce is experiencing challenges and headed for a transformation— hopefully one that works to address the profession's diversity issues, equity deficiencies, and shortages—particularly in a subject like mathematics, as well as insufficient professional support for educators. The Educators for America Act will make important changes to improve the federal policies that support teachers, and NCTM looks forward to working with its sponsors to secure its enactment,"" said Trena Wilkerson, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics President. Read more about the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (NCTM) support for the legislation ""School educators and principals are critical to ensuring all our nation's children have the high-quality opportunities necessary to thrive and succeed,""said National Association of Secondary School Principals CEO Ronn Nozoe.""Congress must pass the Educators for America Act to strengthen the school leader pipeline so state and local school communities can continue to support student development and academic achievement."" Social Media from the National Association of Secondary School Principals: Tweet OneTweet Two ""Education is facing the largest crisis in a generation with regards to staffing schools with not only qualified teachers, but all school personnel. It is more important than ever to support initiatives and strategies that will help build the pipeline for the future; AASPA thanks Senator Reed and Representative Adams for their leadership on this,"" said Kelly Coash-Johnson, Executive Director of the American Association of School Personnel Administrators American Association of School Personnel Administrators Tweet in support of the EDUCATORS Act More Social Media: Social Media Assets for the EDUCATORS Act ACTFL Tweet in support of the EDUCATORS Act National Center for Learning Disabilities Tweet AASCU Tweet Organizations endorsing the EDUCATORS for America Act include the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; American Association of State Colleges and Universities; American Association of School Personnel Administrators; American Federation of School Administrators; American Federation of Teachers; American Occupational Therapy Association; American Psychological Association; American Society for Engineering Education; Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD); ASCD; ACTFL; Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL); Committee for Children; Council of Administrators of Special Education; Council for Exceptional Children; EDGE Consulting Partners; Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities; Higher Education Consortium for Special Education (HECSE); Learning Forward; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Association of School Psychologists; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE); National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; National Center for Learning Disabilities; National Center for Teacher Residencies; National Council of Teachers of English; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; National Education Association; National Indian Impacted Schools Association; National Institute for Excellence in Teaching; PDK International; Public Advocates; Public Advocacy for Kids; School Social Work Association of America; State Higher Education Executive Officers Association; STEM Education Coalition; Teach Plus; Teacher Education Council Of State Colleges And Universities; Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children; The Arc of the United States; The California State University; Thurgood Marshall College Fund; UNCF (United Negro College Fund); University of Northern Iowa; and Vernier Software & Technology. ""As an educator for forty years, I always hoped some of the bright young minds I taught would go on to become educators themselves. Unfortunately, aspiring educators are often discouraged by high student debt, low salaries, and the lack of institutional support,"" said Congresswoman Adams. ""Educators are struggling, particularly as they continue to grapple with the pandemic. Schools are facing pervasive staffing shortages, and we can no longer afford to neglect the educator pipeline. It's time for a comprehensive national investment in our educators."" ""The EDUCATORS for America Act will mobilize and support states and local communities in improving the educator pipeline so that all schools have the diverse educators they should have, to support student development and academic achievement. It will support educator preparation programs and partnerships and remove financial barriers to entering the education profession. After the disruption and devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked on our education system, we can't wait for the next generation of teachers to appear; we must act intentionally to urgently recruit hard-working teachers in the classroom, and importantly, provide them the support to retain them in the classrooms. That's why I'm proud to introduce the EDUCATORS for America Act with my House colleagues and Senate partners,"" concluded Adams. ""Our nation's outlook for the future is tied to the strength of the education profession and today the profession is in crisis,"" said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, and a long-time champion for educator preparation and professional development. ""The EDUCATORS for America Act provides a comprehensive plan for uplifting the profession based on input from stakeholders across the education field about what is needed to recruit, prepare, and support educators."" Senate co-leads include Reed and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). House co-leads include Representatives Cindy Axne (IA-03), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), and Ruben Gallego (AZ-07). Original Cosponsors in the House include Representatives Scanlon, Sewell, Lamb, Sires, Leger Fernandez, and Michael F.Q. San Nicolas. About the EDUCATORS for America Act The EDUCATORS for America Act reflects the input from stakeholders across the education field about what is needed to recruit, prepare, and support educators. It addresses early outreach and career exploration, clinical preparation for teachers, principals and other educators, financial assistance, faculty development, and capacity building at the state and local levels with a focus on ensuring equity and diversity. Specifically, the EDUCATORS for America Act calls for: Authorizing $500 million annually for grants to support states in developing and implementing a statewide strategy for meeting their educator workforce needs, including ensuring an inclusive and equitable workforce that supports the recruitment, preparation, and retention of populations that are underrepresented in the field of education, including teachers of color, first-generation college students, and teachers with disabilities. Authorizing $500 million annually to support educator preparation programs and partnerships including: Updating and expanding the Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program to focus on residency programs, strengthen the principal and school leader preparation programs, and enable partnerships to address the need for early childhood educators, school librarians, counselors, and other specialized support personnel. Reauthorizing the Honorable Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-serving institutions in expanding and strengthening their educator preparation programs. Providing recruitment and completion grants to educator preparation programs to ensure that students have the wrap- around supports they need to graduate. Establishing an education careers opportunity program to expose middle and high school students to the education profession. Increasing the capacity of educator preparation programs to meet the needs of the field, including supporting school leader development, faculty professional development and training, offering doctoral fellowships, and promoting innovation and resiliency. Streamlining the data and reporting requirements for teacher preparation programs to focus on key measures related to program quality and addressing identified workforce needs Removing financial barriers to entering the education profession by: Doubling the TEACH grants to $8,000 per year and providing additional protections and options to prevent the conversion of grants to loans. Including the costs of clinical experiences in the cost of attendance for awarding financial aid Providing educators and teachers in high-needs fields credit towards loan repayment as they serve rather than waiting 5 to 10 years to earn forgiveness. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County). She serves on the House Committee on Education and Labor, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Financial Services Committee in the 117th Congress. Before being elected to Congress, she served as a professor at Bennett College in Greensboro for four decades.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/12/congresswoman-ross-tours-little-hands-n-feet-highlights-need-build-back-better,"Congresswoman Ross Tours Little Hands N Feet, Highlights Need for Build Back Better Legislation",2021-12-13,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC . – Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) held an early childhood education tour at Little Hands N Feet in Raleigh. Rep. Ross was joined by Gayle Headen, Executive Director of Wake County Smart Start, Ronetta Pearsall, owner of Little Hands N Feet, Amy Cubbage, President of the North Carolina Partnership for Children, and others. Following the tour, Rep. Ross read a book to the NC Pre-K class and held a roundtable discussion with faculty, staff, teachers, and a parent on President Biden’s Build Back Better Act, which will make historic investments in child care. “For too long, the high cost of quality child care has been an expensive burden on North Carolina families,” said Congresswoman Ross. “With President Biden’s Build Back Better Act, we will make once-in-a-lifetime investments in children and families – ensuring that child care is affordable and accessible for every family and extending universal pre-K to every single 3- and 4-year-old in America. “It was a pleasure visiting Little Hands N Feet today and hearing from faculty, staff, teachers, and a parent about the challenges they face. I will keep fighting to get this historic legislation to President Biden’s desk for them and for all North Carolina families. I thank Wake County Smart Start, the North Carolina Partnership for Children, and Little Hands N Feet for the essential work they are doing for the children of Wake County and for graciously opening their classroom to me today.” Amy Cubbage, president of NCPC said, “Access to high quality, affordable child care is critical to getting North Carolinians back to work and giving our children the best start. Across the state, child care providers – and early care and education professionals – are struggling. The stabilization grants are a life preserver, but we also need sustainable investments that strengthen and elevate child care for the long haul.” Gayle E. Headen, Executive Director, Wake County Smart Start said, “Making high quality early education accessible to all families of three- and four-year-olds in Wake is a two generational win. For families, it bolsters financial well-being and removes the obstacles to affordable care, mobilizing career development. For children, it means investing in every child’s potential and ensuring their success. We already have a successful collaborative with Wake Pre-K to build upon and embrace the opportunity for expansion.” To download more photos from Rep. Ross’ visit to Little Hands N Feet, click here. In November, Rep. Ross voted to pass the historic Build Back Better Act, legislation that will make transformational investments to help North Carolina families, workers, and the next generation. Background: Congresswoman Ross highlighted the historic investments this legislation will make in North Carolina here. The Build Back Better Act includes the following investments in North Carolinians: Child care: the average annual cost of a child care center for a toddler in North Carolina is $8,746. The Build Back Better Act will expand access for about 600,000 young children from ages 0-5 and ensure that no North Carolina working family pays more than seven percent of their income on child care. Early education: only 30 percent of three- and four-year-olds in North Carolina have access to publicly funded pre-K, while the average cost of private pre-K in the state is $8,600. The Build Back Better Act will expand access to free, high-quality pre-K to more than 154,103 young North Carolinians – setting these children up for lifelong success and saving their parents thousands of dollars. Child Tax Credit: before Democrats secured the expanded Biden Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan, 15 percent of North Carolina children lived in poverty. The Build Back Better Act extends this life-changing tax cut and continues our historic progress toward reducing child poverty.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-delivers-floor-speech-protecting-our-democracy-act,Adams Delivers Floor Speech on Protecting Our Democracy Act,2021-12-10,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today,Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) delivered remarks on the floor of the US House of Representatives on her amendment to Congressman Adam B. Schiff's (CA-28)Protecting Our Democracy Act. The Adams amendment requires transparency in income tax return filings by candidates for President and Vice President. Video of the speech is available for download and on YouTube. Remarks as prepared for delivery: I rise today in support of my amendment to ensure transparency in our elections. The American people have a right to know whether a candidate for President or Vice President has unethical foreign entanglements or compromising debts that can be leveraged against their administration, or worse. My amendment requires the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to make an income tax return publicly available within 48 hoursafter receipt of return. In cases where a return requires extensive redactions, the FEC may make the return available after 48 hours but no later than 30 days after receipt of return. Only a full release of tax returns can ensure that our President and Vice President are working for us –the American people– not anybody else. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this amendment and yes on the H.R. 5314.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-reed-casey-axne-gallego-hayes-introduce-educators-america-act,"Adams, Reed, Casey, Axne, Gallego, & Hayes Introduce EDUCATORS for America Act",2021-12-10,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) and Representatives Cindy Axne (IA-03), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), and Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) in the House, as well as U.S.Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Bob Casey (D-PA) in the Senate introduced the EDUCATORS for America Act, urgently-needed legislation to address teacher shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The EDUCATORS Act will invest in states and educators to improve the teacher pipeline and create more career-ready teachers and school support staff. ""As an educator for forty years, I always hoped some of the bright young minds I taught would go on to become educators themselves. Unfortunately, aspiring educators are often discouraged by high student debt, low salaries, and the lack of institutional support,"" said Congresswoman Adams. ""Educators are struggling, particularly as they continue to grapple with the pandemic. Schools are facing pervasive staffing shortages, and we can no longer afford to neglect the educator pipeline. It's time for a comprehensive national investment in our educators."" ""The EDUCATORS for America Act will mobilize and support states and local communities in improving the educator pipeline so that all schools have the diverse educators they should have, to support student development and academic achievement. It will support educator preparation programs and partnerships and remove financial barriers to entering the education profession. After the disruption and devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked on our education system, we can't wait for the next generation of teachers to appear; we must act intentionally to urgently recruit hard-working teachers in the classroom, and importantly, provide them the support to retain them in the classrooms. That's why I'm proud to introduce the EDUCATORS for America Act with my House colleagues and Senate partners,"" concluded Adams. ""Our nation's outlook for the future is tied to the strength of the education profession and today the profession is in crisis,"" said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, and a long-time champion for educator preparation and professional development. ""The EDUCATORS for America Act provides a comprehensive plan for uplifting the profession based on input from stakeholders across the education field about what is needed to recruit, prepare, and support educators."" ""As a proud mom of two Iowa public school students, I've seen firsthand the difference that a quality education from good educators can make in a child's life. And in the face of the most difficult school years in recent memory, we need to make sure we have the educators in place to continue supporting our students,"" said Rep. Axne. ""We know that we need more educators, and that we need to do more to ensure our educators are supported once they're on the job. With this legislation, we invest in Iowa's educators —and by doing so, Iowa and our whole nation will see a monumental return on our investment."" ""Our educators are the bedrock of our country's future, and they show up each and every day–pandemic or otherwise–to make sure our children get the education they deserve,"" said Rep. Gallego. ""That is why it is imperative we recruit and cultivate a diverse, qualified educator workforce that touches all corners of our country. That's especially true in Arizona, where we have one of the worst teacher shortages in the country, affecting more than 1 in 4 classrooms. We are better off if we have more teachers, not less, and that is why I am proud to co-lead the comprehensive EDUCATORS for America Act so that states and communities have the tools they need to build a pipeline of diverse, highly-trained, and well-supported educators."" Rep. Hayes stated, ""I joined my colleagues in support of the EDUCATORS for America Act because it addresses the multitude of concerns classroom teachers face every day. We need to recruit, prepare, and support current and future educators, with financial assistance, faculty development and capacity building, while ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion. As a teacher, I understand the impact this bill will have on educators, students and the community."" Original Cosponsors in the House include Representatives Scanlon, Sewell, Lamb, Sires, Leger Fernandez, and Michael F.Q. San Nicolas. Organizations endorsing the bill include the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; American Association of State Colleges and Universities; American Association of School Personnel Administrators; American Federation of School Administrators; American Federation of Teachers; American Occupational Therapy Association; American Psychological Association; American Society for Engineering Education; Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD); ASCD; ACTFL; Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL); Committee for Children; Council of Administrators of Special Education; Council for Exceptional Children; EDGE Consulting Partners; Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities; Higher Education Consortium for Special Education (HECSE); Learning Forward; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Association of School Psychologists; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE); National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; National Center for Learning Disabilities; National Center for Teacher Residencies; National Council of Teachers of English; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; National Education Association; National Indian Impacted Schools Association; National Institute for Excellence in Teaching; PDK International; Public Advocates; Public Advocacy for Kids; School Social Work Association of America; State Higher Education Executive Officers Association; STEM Education Coalition; Teach Plus; Teacher Education Council Of State Colleges And Universities; Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children; The Arc of the United States; The California State University; Thurgood Marshall College Fund; UNCF (United Negro College Fund); University of Northern Iowa; and Vernier Software & Technology. ""AACTE enthusiastically supports the Educators for America Act and thanks Senator Reed and Representative Adams for their unwavering leadership in support of educator preparation. This comprehensive bill will make robust investments in teacher and other educator preparation programs while alleviating our nation's educator shortage, diversifying the profession, and providing critical support to our member institutions and their community partners."" said Dr. Lynn M. Gangone, President and CEO, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. ""Educators across the country are burnt out, overwhelmed, and under-resourced, resulting in a massive teacher shortage that leaves students without permanent teachers in their classrooms and parents, caregivers and other school staff struggling to fill in the gaps. In order to adequately meet the needs of our kids, the educator workforce needs massive investment, from expanding teacher training and pipelines, recruiting diverse educators, and improving pay and benefits like loan forgiveness that help make teaching a more sustainable profession. The Educators for America bill takes a comprehensive approach to teacher prep and helps ensure educators and school staff get the time, tools, training and resources they need to support students,"" said Randi Weingarten, AFT President. University of Northern Iowa President Mark A. Nook stated, ""EDUCATORS for America represents a monumental step forward in the effort to grow, retain, and diversify our nation's educator workforce. With our roots in educator preparation, UNI appreciates the opportunity to help advance national policy to invest in our nation's educators and through them the quality of education our children receive."" ""The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) enthusiastically supports the EDUCATORS for America Act and its goals to strengthen teacher preparation programs, like those offered at regional comprehensive institutions, as well as grow and diversify the nation's teaching corps. AASCU, and it's close to 400 members who prepare the majority of teachers for our nation's schools, understands the value and importance of well-prepared educators in shaping the lives of our children and in the development of our communities,"" said American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) President and CEO, Mildred García, Ed.D. ""School educators and principals are critical to ensuring all our nation's children have the high-quality opportunities necessary to thrive and succeed,"" said National Association of Secondary School Principals CEO Ronn Nozoe. ""Congress must pass the Educators for America Act to strengthen the school leader pipeline so state and local school communities can continue to support student development and academic achievement."" ""I applaud Senator Reed and Representative Adams for crafting a bill that will shore up the educator profession by attracting, preparing, and retaining educators, and specifically, for supporting new educators of color and educators with disabilities. This legislation offers a thoughtful and comprehensive solution to the current educator shortage crisis, including in high-needs areas such as special education,"" said Dennis Cavitt, Ed.D, President, Council for Exceptional Children. ""Great teaching matters. This legislation will help ensure that we educate and prepare more outstanding educators in the critical science, technology, engineering, and math subjects that our students need to compete in the global economy today and tomorrow,"" said James Brown, Executive Director, STEM Education Coalition. ""Without a robust and well-prepared educator workforce, including school psychologists, schools cannot truly meet the academic, social-emotional, and mental and behavioral needs of our students. NASP is proud to endorse the Educators for America Act, which would help states address issues in their educator workforce pipeline and ensure no students go without the education professionals that can help them thrive in school, at home, and in life,"" said President of National Association of School Psychologists, Laurie Klose. Additional quotes from endorsing organizations are available here. The EDUCATORS for America Act reflects the input from stakeholders across the education field about what is needed to recruit, prepare, and support educators. It addresses early outreach and career exploration, clinical preparation for teachers, principals and other educators, financial assistance, faculty development, and capacity building at the state and local levels with a focus on ensuring equity and diversity. Specifically, the EDUCATORS for America Act calls for: Authorizing $500 million annually for grants to support states in developing and implementing a statewide strategy for meeting their educator workforce needs, including ensuring an inclusive and equitable workforce that supports the recruitment, preparation, and retention of populations that are underrepresented in the field of education, including teachers of color, first-generation college students, and teachers with disabilities. Authorizing $500 million annually to support educator preparation programs and partnerships including: Updating and expanding the Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program to focus on residency programs, strengthen the principal and school leader preparation programs, and enable partnerships to address the need for early childhood educators, school librarians, counselors, and other specialized support personnel. Reauthorizing the Honorable Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-serving institutions in expanding and strengthening their educator preparation programs. Providing recruitment and completion grants to educator preparation programs to ensure that students have the wrap- around supports they need to graduate. Establishing an education careers opportunity program to expose middle and high school students to the education profession. Increasing the capacity of educator preparation programs to meet the needs of the field, including supporting school leader development, faculty professional development and training, offering doctoral fellowships, and promoting innovation and resiliency. Streamlining the data and reporting requirements for teacher preparation programs to focus on key measures related to program quality and addressing identified workforce needs Removing financial barriers to entering the education profession by: Doubling the TEACH grants to $8,000 per year and providing additional protections and options to prevent the conversion of grants to loans. Including the costs of clinical experiences in the cost of attendance for awarding financial aid Providing educators and teachers in high-needs fields credit towards loan repayment as they serve rather than waiting 5 to 10 years to earn forgiveness.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/12/congresswoman-ross-amendments-strengthen-protections-poll-workers-and-prohibit,Congresswoman Ross Amendments to Strengthen Protections for Poll Workers and Prohibit Illegitimate NDAs Pass House,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross’ (NC-02) amendments to protect poll workers and end overreaching White House Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the Protecting Our Democracy Act (PODA). PODA is a comprehensive package of reforms to prevent presidential abuses and to restore the Constitutional system of checks and balances. “The prior administration eroded this country’s well-established constitutional order when it shattered democratic norms, abused executive powers, and disregarded Congress’ critical oversight role,” said Congresswoman Ross. “The Protecting Our Democracy Act will enact critical guard rails to prevent any President, regardless of party, from abusing the public’s trust. Following violent threats against poll workers and their families in the 2020 elections, many states, including North Carolina, faced challenging shortages of poll workers. These unacceptable intimidation tactics cannot deter our work to ensure every American can access the ballot box. I’m glad the House passed my amendments that will help us protect the integrity of our elections and democracy.” Congresswoman Ross’ amendment establishes a taskforce within the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute threats to election officials in collaboration with state and local governments. In the wake of the 2020 election, poll workers and their families have been subjected to unprecedented levels of harassment, violent threats, and intimidation. This amendment will protect the poll workers and election officials who work tirelessly to ensure the free and fair administration of our elections. The House also passed Rep. Ross’ amendment to prohibit warrantless NDAs that have no legitimate purpose and obstruct the public’s interest in executive branch operations. In the Trump White House, staffers were required to sign NDAs that far exceeded the bounds of lawful public employee speech restrictions. These NDAs infringed on the First Amendment rights of both government employees and the press that reports on matters of public interest. Congresswoman Ross spoke on the House floor in support of this legislation and her amendments.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/north-carolina-democratic-delegation-statement-supporting-nc-supreme,North Carolina Democratic Delegation Statement Supporting NC Supreme Court Decision to Delay 2022 Primary Election,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 8, 2021 Contacts: Sam Spencer – 202-225-1510 (Adams) Katelynn Vogt – 202-225-1784 (Price) De'Marcus Finnell – 202-225-3101 (Butterfield) Maddie Carlos – 202-225-3032 (Ross) Hailey Barringer – 202-225-3065 (Manning) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), David E. Price (NC-04), G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Deborah Ross (NC-02), and Kathy Manning (NC-06), the Democratic members of North Carolina's congressional delegation, issued a joint statement supporting the Supreme Court of the State of North Carolina's decision to delay the 2022 Primary Election to May 17 and stay candidate filing to a later date: ""North Carolinians deserve fair maps and fair elections, so we strongly support the decision of the state Supreme Court to delay the 2022 Primary Election. The right to vote is the most fundamental right in a democracy, but this sacred right requires fair, free and just elections. Today's decision is another step on the path to justice.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/12/congresswoman-ross-condemns-ongoing-threats-poll-workers,Congresswoman Ross Condemns Ongoing Threats to Poll Workers,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – In a House Rules Committee hearing yesterday, Congresswoman Ross condemned ongoing threats to poll workers which have contributed to understaffing at polling locations in North Carolina and across the country. Ross filed two amendments to the Protecting Our Democracy Act (PODA), including one intended to help protect election officials by establishing a new taskforce at the Department of Justice. Congresswoman Ross said in her remarks: “In the wake of the 2020 election, poll workers and their families have been subjected to unprecedented levels of harassment, violent threats, and intimidation – all spurred by baseless conspiracies like ‘Stop the Steal.’ As a result, my home state of North Carolina and countless others have suffered critical shortages of poll workers. Ahead of the 2020 election, over one quarter of counties in North Carolina had understaffed polling sites. “This is simply unacceptable. A lack of poll workers threatens the right at the very core of our democracy – the right to vote. It creates a litany of barriers to the ballot box – from longer lines to fewer polling sites – that disproportionately cuts vulnerable North Carolinians and people of color out of the political process. “My amendment would establish a taskforce within the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute threats to election officials in collaboration with state and local governments. Threats to election officials are threats to our democracy and must be stopped.” Congresswoman Ross’ amendment will protect the poll workers and election officials who work tirelessly to ensure the free and fair administration of our elections. Ending Illegitimate White House Non-Disclosure Agreements: Rep. Ross also filed an amendment to prohibit warrantless Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) that have no legitimate purpose and obstruct the public’s interest in executive branch operations. In the Trump White House, staffers were required to sign NDAs that far exceeded the bounds of lawful public employee speech restrictions. These NDAs infringed on the First Amendment rights of both government employees and the press that reports on matters of public interest. Her full remarks are available here. The Protecting Our Democracy, including Congresswoman Ross’ amendments, will be considered on the House floor this week. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-joins-vp-harris-white-house-maternal-health-day-action-summit,"Adams Joins VP Harris, White House for Maternal Health Day of Action Summit",2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) will participate in a Maternal Health Day of Action Summit hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House. During the summit, Adams and other stakeholders will call for passage of the Build Back Better Act, which includes a historic investment in maternal health. The summit will be broadcast live here. ""As co-chair and co-founder of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, as well as co-lead of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, maternal health is extremely important to me,"" said Congresswoman Adams. ""Over 700 women die each year because of complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Sadly, approximately 66% of these deaths are preventable. In fact, our nation is one of only 13 countries in the world where the rate of maternal mortality is worse than it was 25 years ago. Tragically, Black women, regardless of socioeconomic status, are dying from preventable pregnancy-related complications at three to four times the rate of non-Hispanic, white women."" ""That's why today's day of action is so important, and why I'm so thankful to Vice President Harris for hosting this summit. The Build Back Better Act will save lives and improve outcomes because of the Black maternal health provisions we worked so hard to include. It's time for the Senate to act on behalf of every American mother. It's time to pass the Build Back Better Act."" Joining Rep. Adams at the summit are Black Maternal Health Caucus co-founder and Co-Chair Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Chairwoman Patty Murray, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, and many constituents and stakeholders, including Dr. Ann Newman of North Carolina. A clinical specialist in psychiatric nursing, Newman received a diploma in nursing from the University of Virginia, Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UNC Charlotte, a master's in nursing from UNC Chapel Hill and a doctorate in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She served as an associate professor at UNC Charlotte for 30 years, teaching courses on psychiatric-mental health nursing and health policy. She also developed the university's online graduate program in nursing education. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D.is serving her fourth full term in Congress. She represents the 12th District of North Carolina, which includes parts of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. In 2018, she introduced the first Black Maternal Health Week resolution with then-Senator Kamala Harris. In 2019, she co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14). In March 2020, Adams, along with Harris and Underwood, introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act for the first time, and in February 2021 reintroduced an expanded version of the package with Senator Cory Booker. Adams is a mother of two and a grandmother of four.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-op-ed-highlights-white-house-maternal-health-day-action,Adams Op-Ed Highlights White House Maternal Health Day of Action,2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, QCity Metro published an editorial by Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) that highlights the issues addressed by the White House's Maternal Health Day of Action Summit. In the editorial, Rep. Adams outlines how the Black Maternal Health Momnibus provisions included in the Build Back Better Act will save lives and improve outcomes across the country, as well as the role Vice President Kamala Harris and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood played in making the inclusion of the Momnibus a reality. ""Thanks in large part to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Build Back Better Act [includes] all eligible provisions of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act to address our country's maternal health crisis,"" wrote Congresswoman Adams. ""Black women in America die in childbirth at three times the rate of white women. Even though 60% of maternal deaths are preventable, our nation is one of only 13 countries in the world where the rate of maternal mortality is worse than it was 25 years ago. Tens of thousands more women experience ‘near misses,' or pregnancy-related complications that are traumatizing and endanger the life of the mother and/or child."" The full editorial is available here, and below: Why we need to pass the Build Back Better Act Among the bill's many features is a provision to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, an issue which disproportionately affects Black women. The Build Back Better Act passed by the House is many things: a jobs bill; an expansion of the social safety net; a down payment on a long-overdue investment in the fight against climate change. It will also save lives. While the bill's investments in job creation, affordable housing, and lowering the cost of childcare are well-known, investments in Medicaid, reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, and pandemic preparedness haven't gained as much attention. In states that haven't expanded Medicaid, the bill will close the Medicaid coverage gap and cover as many as 4 million uninsured Americans. According to the Center for American Progress, closing the Medicaid gap could save up to 7,000 additional lives every year, while reducing medical debt by $2 billion and preventing almost 50,000 evictions per year. It also provides a year of continuous eligibility to children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP and expands access to behavioral health services. Thanks in large part to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Build Back Better Act also includes all eligible provisions of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act to address our country's maternal health crisis. Black women in America die in childbirth at three times the rate of white women. Even though 60% of maternal deaths are preventable, our nation is one of only 13 countries in the world where the rate of maternal mortality is worse than it was 25 years ago. Tens of thousands more women experience ""near misses,"" or pregnancy-related complications that are traumatizing and endanger the life of the mother and/or child. My daughter was one of those near misses, and you might be surprised to learn that both Beyoncé and Serena Williams both faced major complications in childbirth as well. I've spoken with countless women who know either a survivor or a victim of the maternal health crisis or survived it themselves. It transcends education levels, wealth, and insurance status; it can happen to anyone. To address this crisis, the Build Back Better Act takes the proven, life-saving step of expanding Medicaid for 12 months for post-partum individuals. Additionally, the Momnibus provisions in Build Back Better invest in addressing social determinants of health that influence maternal health outcomes; invest in Historically Black Colleges and Universities to train culturally competent health professionals; and address the effects of COVID-19 and climate change on mothers. Last week, I was proud to join Vice President Harris and Rep. Lauren Underwood at the White House as President Biden signed the first Momnibus bill, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act, into law. However, we can't stop there: Black mamas, children, and parents experiencing the maternal health crisis don't have time to wait for us to pass the Build Back Better Act. That's why I joined the Vice President, Rep. Underwood, and other stakeholders at the White House today to reiterate our call for the passage of the bill. Finally, the Build Back Batter Act addresses the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics by investing $10 billion to improve pandemic preparedness and strengthen our supply chains and the Strategic National Stockpile. We've already lost almost 800,000 Americans to COVID-19; we can't allow the next pandemic to take more loved ones from us. Right before the pandemic shut down the world, the father of my children passed away. Because of the coronavirus I lost so many opportunities to share time with my family and grieve with them in the way I would have wanted to. As the pandemic progressed, numerous friends and mentors of mine passed due to the pandemic and other ailments, and I missed the opportunity to mourn them and share how their memories continue to bless my life. All of us felt that pain as we lost hundreds of thousands of our neighbors to COVID-19 and lost the opportunity to celebrate the deceased. That is all to say that we should honor the dead by investing in the living. On Thursday, I joined Vice President Harris and Secretary Pete Buttigieg to voice our support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and I am proud to have voted for a bill that will create jobs, solve critical supply chain issues, and build the physical infrastructure that will take the United States into the 21st Century. However, we need to pass the Build Back Better Act so that those good jobs are part of a long, fulfilling life. Expanding Medicaid, addressing maternal mortality head-on, investing in preparedness to fight future pandemics, ending child hunger and funding children's health programs, mitigating the worst effects of climate change: these measures will improve quality of life and save lives for decades to come. Scripture tells us not to love in word or talk but in deeds and in truth. The Build Back Better Act will save lives and improve livelihoods. American families can't wait. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D.is serving her fourth full term in Congress. She represents the 12th District of North Carolina, which includes parts of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. In 2018, she introduced the first Black Maternal Health Week resolution with then-Senator Kamala Harris. In 2019, she co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14). In March 2020, Adams, along with Harris and Underwood, introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act for the first time, and in February 2021 reintroduced an expanded version of the package with Senator Cory Booker. Adams is a mother of two and a grandmother of four.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/north-carolina-democratic-delegation-statement-supporting-court-appeals,North Carolina Democratic Delegation Statement Supporting the Court of Appeals’ Decision to Delay Candidate Filing for Congressional Maps,2021-12-06,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Deborah Ross (NC-02), David E. Price (NC-04), and Kathy Manning (NC-06), the Democratic members of North Carolina's congressional delegation, issued a joint statement supporting the North Carolina Court of Appeals' decision to delay the candidate filing period to a later date: ""The Court of Appeals has grasped the enormous constitutional challenge that has been presented by this clearly gerrymandered congressional map. The effect of the decision is to simply delay the filing period and not the general election. This will allow the case to be decided based on the facts and the law.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/12/north-carolina-democratic-delegation-statement-supporting-court-appeals,North Carolina Democratic Delegation Statement Supporting the Court of Appeals’ Decision to Delay Candidate Filing for Congressional Maps,2021-12-06,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Deborah Ross (NC-02), David E. Price (NC-04), Kathy Manning (NC-06), and Alma Adams (NC-12), the Democratic members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, issued a joint statement supporting the North Carolina Court of Appeals’ decision to delay the candidate filing period to a later date: “The Court of Appeals has grasped the enormous constitutional challenge that has been presented by this clearly gerrymandered congressional map. The effect of the decision is to simply delay the filing period and not the general election. This will allow the case to be decided based on the facts and the law.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/icymi-vice-president-harris-rep-adams-and-sec-buttigieg-visited,"ICYMI: Vice President Harris, Rep. Adams and Sec. Buttigieg Visited Charlotte and Laid Out How The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Will Benefit North Carolinians",2021-12-03,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE - Yesterday, Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina to discuss how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will benefit North Carolinians. This visit was a part of her continued efforts to advocate for the Administration's policies that invest in our nation's infrastructure, take climate action, and advance environmental justice. Vice President Harris was joined by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12). ""This is a critical moment for transportation and mobility in our growing region. That's the reason Vice President Harris and Secretary Buttigieg visited Charlotte: mobility,"" said Congresswoman Adams ""Not only in terms of roads, bridges, buses, and rail; but also in terms of social and economic mobility. A strong network of roads, rail, and pedestrian options can help move people not only to jobs, church, school, and the doctor but also into new opportunities and eventually the middle class."" ""That's why the Biden Harris Administration's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is so important. I was proud to vote for this bipartisan legislation because this law will keep Charlotte and Mecklenburg County moving. Now, I'm continuing to work with President Biden and Vice President Harris to create 2 million new jobs by supporting these critical investments and passing the Build Back Better Act."" Click here for pictures from the visit. Photos are available for media use by crediting the Office of Congresswoman Alma Adams. Congresswoman Adams, NC Governor Roy Cooper, and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles greeted the Vice President and Secretary Buttigieg on the tarmac at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. While in Charlotte, the Vice President received a tour of the public transit facility at the Charlotte Area Transit System's Bus Garage, met with transit workers, and delivered remarks about how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will upgrade North Carolina's infrastructure. Congresswoman Adams delivered remarks at the infrastructure event, available as prepared for delivery below: Welcome! I'm Congresswoman Alma Adams, and I am proud to represent the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in Congress; and I am absolutely honored to welcome my Sister, my Soror, my fellow HBCU grad, Vice President Kamala Harris to Charlotte, North Carolina. I'm proud to be joined by my State and City partners Mayor Lyles and Governor Cooper, and I am so happy we're joined today by Secretary Pete Buttigieg today. We're going to need your help to get Mecklenburg Moving! That's the reason we're here today: mobility. Not only our mobility network, but also social and economic mobility. As we've been talking about for some time now in Charlotte, we were shocked when the Chetty study showed that we came in dead last – 50th out of 50 – in economic mobility. But good public transportation and connections to opportunity can help move people not only to jobs, and church, and the doctor but also into the middle class. That's why the Biden Harris Administration's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is so important. The funding in this law will keep Charlotte and Mecklenburg County moving. North Carolina will receive approximately nine hundred million dollars over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve public transportation options across the state. That's money we can use to build projects like the Silver Line Light Rail. There's billions of dollars for highway construction, so highways like I-77 and I-85 will be well-lit and well-paved! And there's millions more for finalizing needed construction projects like our multimodal transportation station, our new AMTRAK terminal, and for purchasing new, zero-emission buses. This law will also help make sure that our entire County isn't under a ""Boil Water"" advisory because another aging water main bursts. That's why I was proud to vote for this bill to help Charlotte and Mecklenburg County build back better. There's an old saying: communities only grow great when old men and old women plant trees whose shade they will never sit under. With the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary Buttigieg, we are growing not only great jobs and a great transportation system, we are also growing a great community where social and economic mobility are core values. Thank you and God Bless!",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/12/congresswoman-ross-leads-letter-requesting-housing-assistance-servicemembers,Congresswoman Ross Leads Letter Requesting Housing Assistance for Servicemembers and their Families,2021-12-02,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-08) led a letter with 18 colleagues requesting that the Department of Defense (DOD) authorize an extension of the temporary increase in the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for all military branches to support servicemembers and their families amid the economic challenges of the pandemic. The letter reads in part: “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has left the rental market with shortages and rising costs. This challenge, combined with the rising cost of housing and utilities across the United States, has led servicemembers and their families to experience higher-than-normal financial strain, threatening their livelihoods and housing security.” In September, DOD approved a temporary increase in the BAH in 56 locations, including four locations in North Carolina. However, this temporary increase is set to expire on December 31st. Last month, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also authorized a temporary increase of the BAH in areas that have seen a 10% increase in rental costs this year. Given the impending December 31 deadline, failure to extend this increased support beyond 2021 could leave military families facing the same challenges that initially prompted the BAH increases. Full text of the letter is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/12/congresswoman-ross-statement-supreme-court-oral-arguments-dobbs-v-jackson,Congresswoman Ross Statement on Supreme Court Oral Arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization,2021-12-01,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court hearing arguments in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, challenging Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban: “Overturning Roe v. Wade would be a blatant attack on reproductive freedom and violate nearly 50 years of legal precedent,” said Congresswoman Ross. “The vast majority of Americans agree that women should be able to make their own decisions about their health and get the care they need. If the Supreme Court overturns Roe, many more states in the U.S., including North Carolina, could be emboldened to enact abortion bans, disproportionally hurting women with disabilities, minorities, and those in low-income and rural areas. I will continue to fight to ensure millions of women across the U.S. have access to safe, legal abortions. “As the Supreme Court takes up this case that could determine the fate of women’s access to reproductive health care for years to come, we are reminded that we cannot rely solely on our courts to protect this right. Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed the Women’s Health Protection Act to ensure that all people have access to the reproductive freedoms they are guaranteed by law. I will not stop fighting until this bill is enacted.” Congresswoman Ross joined a bicameral amicus brief in the case in September. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/12/ross-issa-bipartisan-legislation-enhance-judicial-disclosure-and-transparency,"Ross, Issa Bipartisan Legislation to Enhance Judicial Disclosure and Transparency Requirement Passes House",2021-12-01,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross’ (NC-02) legislation, the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Introduced by Representatives Ross, Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), the legislation will require online publication of financial disclosure reports for federal judges and mandate that federal judges submit periodic transaction reports for certain securities transactions. Following reporting in the Wall Street Journal that more than 130 federal judges heard cases in which they or their families held stock in a company involved in the case, this legislation will strengthen judicial ethics and transparency and restore trust in the nation’s courts. “Every American needs to have faith that our courts will carry out fair, impartial justice,” said Congresswoman Ross. “The Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act will increase transparency, accountability, and trust in the American promise of blind justice. Recent reporting has exposed deep flaws in our judicial ethics and recusal laws that we have a duty to remedy. This bill will ensure that federal judges face the same financial transaction disclosure requirements as members of the legislative and executive branches of government, eliminating an unwarranted double standard. I’m glad we accomplished this in a bipartisan way and look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to ensure this legislation is enacted.” “No part of our foundation of law and order can succeed without the considered, continuous and constant work of judges – and that’s why an impartial and evenhanded judiciary is imperative,” said Rep. Issa. “Under the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act, we will equalize the accountability of our third branch of government to the same standard of elected officials – and to the benefit of our system of justice.” “Transparency and ethics are vital to the integrity of the judiciary and maintaining the public’s trust in our courts; however, recent reporting has shown that our federal judiciary has operated with much secrecy and minimal accountability for far too long,” said Chairman Nadler. “I am very proud that the House came together to address this issue by passing the bipartisan Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act, which makes incremental but necessary progress toward accountability by building on federal statutes that prohibit judges from deciding cases in which they have a personal financial stake in the outcome. The simple, long-overdue solutions included in this bill will bring necessary transparency to our nation's courts, and will help ensure judges remain impartial and cases are decided fairly. I thank Representative Deborah Ross for her leadership on this important issue and for her work in bringing this legislation one step closer to becoming law.” “Thanks to thorough reporting by The Wall Street Journal and the quick work of our Courts Subcommittee, we know that several federal judges have fallen short of their conflict-of-interest obligations,” said Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet. “They’ve broken the public’s trust. By passing our bipartisan, bicameral bill, we can give the judiciary the tools it clearly needs to enhance accountability and transparency and to begin to restore the public’s faith in the integrity of our courts.” “Trust in our judicial system demands clear impartiality of the judges,” said Congressman Roy. “The Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act is a great step in providing parity to the Judiciary and putting Judges on par with the Executive and Legislative branch’s public financial disclosure rules. I’m proud to have worked with a bipartisan group of Senators and House Members on this legislation and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.” Congresswoman Ross spoke on the House floor in support of her legislation here. Senate companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Kennedy (R-La.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), along with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). Background: The Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act would require that federal judges’ financial disclosure reports be made publicly available online, and require federal judges to submit periodic transaction reports of securities transactions in line with other federal officials under the STOCK Act. The bill would amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to: Require the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to create a searchable online database of judicial financial disclosure forms and post those forms within 90 days of being filed, and Subject federal judges to the STOCK Act’s requirement of filing periodic transaction reports within 45 days of securities transactions over $1,000. Importantly, the bill also preserves the existing ability of judges to request redactions of personal information on financial disclosure reports due to a security concern. Under current ethics guidelines and federal law, federal judges are prohibited from hearing cases that involve a party in which they, their spouse, or their minor children have a financial interest. Federal judges are instead required to disqualify themselves in any proceeding in which their impartiality may be questioned. Despite this, a Wall Street Journal investigation found that between 2010 and 2018, more than 130 federal judges failed to recuse themselves in nearly 700 cases in which they or an immediate family member held stock in a company involved in the case. While federal judges are required to submit financial disclosure reports, current law does not provide sufficient transparency for litigants to research whether a judge has a conflict of interest. The current process for obtaining judicial financial disclosure forms can be cumbersome and take months or even years. By contrast, financial disclosure reports for the President, Members of Congress, and Presidential-appointed and Senate-confirmed officials are readily-available and searchable online. By providing litigants with real-time access to judges’ financial disclosures and securities transactions, the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act would help preserve the integrity of judicial proceedings, ensure judges recuse themselves when there’s a potential conflict of interest, and provide litigants and the public with greater confidence in the judicial system. Bill text can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-joins-president-biden-white-house-signing-momnibus-bill,Adams Joins President Biden at the White House for Signing of Momnibus Bill,2021-11-30,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), co-founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, joined President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House today for the signing of of S. 796, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021. The legislation is the first bill from the Black Maternal Health Momnibus to pass both houses of Congress and head to President Biden's desk. The White House live stream of the event is available here. About the Momnibus The Momnibus, which includes the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021(H.R. 959/S. 346), is a 12 bill package that was reintroduced in February 2021 by Adams, Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). The Momnibus builds on existing maternal health legislation with 12 bills to comprehensively address the clinical and non-clinical drivers of the maternal health crisis in the United States. The Momnibus makes critical investments in addressing social determinants of health, funding community-based organizations, growing and diversifying the perinatal workforce, and improving data collection processes. The Momnibus also includes new legislation to address the impacts of COVID-19 and climate change on maternal and infant health outcomes. Many critical pieces of the Momnibus bill package were included in the Build Back Better Act under consideration in the House. Congresswoman Adams' Remarks on the Protecting Moms Who Served Act as Submitted to the Congressional Record Madam Speaker - I rise today to speak in strong support of the bipartisan legislation, Protecting Moms Who Served Act. But before I do, I want to thank Congresswoman Lauren Underwood for her leadership on this bill. I would also like to thank Senator Duckworth and Representatives Julia Brownley, Gus Bilirakis, and Brian Fitzpatrick for their co-leadership. Together, Congresswoman Underwood and I are the co-founders and co-chairs of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, as well as lead sponsors of the Momnibus – comprehensive legislation that addresses every dimension of the maternal health crisis in the United States. And it gives me great joy to say that the Protecting Moms Who Served Act will be the first bill of the Momnibus to pass in Congress. The United States continues to have the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world. Women and birthing people of color die during or after pregnancy at 3 to 4 times the rates of their white counterparts. For the nearly 2 million women veterans, maternal health outcomes are not any better. Pregnant and postpartum women who served face unique maternal health risks that deserve our attention. For example, the risk of pregnancy complications may be higher for women veterans receiving maternity care through Veteran's Affairs, since these women frequently have multiple medical conditions that can increase pregnancy complications. Furthermore, it is suggested that military deployment may increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. A post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis can increase the risk of spontaneous pre-term birth, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes. Women Veterans with more symptoms of PTSD or moral injury like shame, guilt, or demoralization, are also at greater risk for postpartum depression in the three years following the end of their military service. More specifically a study on the impacts of PTSD or moral injury, found that one in two women veterans who became pregnant during the study, had a negative pregnancy outcome. These outcomes include postpartum depression or anxiety, miscarriage, obstetrical medical conditions, emergency c-sections, the baby's need for intensive care post-delivery, preterm birth, stillbirth, and ectopic or tubal pregnancy. Our women veterans have upheld their duty to serve and protect and, we as Members of Congress must do the same. The Protecting Moms Who Served Act bill will codify and strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs maternity care coordination programs to ensure veterans receive the high-quality maternal health care and support they have earned. This is a noteworthy advancement since maternity care coordination programs are associated with improved maternal and birth outcomes, increased use of beneficial health services, and decreased costs, especially among women with chronic or pregnancy-related physical or mental health conditions, or social vulnerabilities. Additionally, this bill will commission the first-ever comprehensive study of America's maternal health crisis among women veterans, with a particular emphasis on racial and ethnic disparities. This study is needed to provide further understanding of the maternal health challenges experienced among women who served. On May 12th, this legislation passed the house with unanimous bipartisan support. Today, we are here to vote once more and finally send this bill to the President's desk, changing the lives of millions of women veterans and their children. Let's remember that strong and supportive healthcare for birthing people supports the future of our nation by investing in the well-being of children and families. And today's vote ensures a healthcare system for women veterans that will offer the best maternal care available. I am proud to see our progress towards ending maternal mortality and disparities among our moms who served. I look forward to continuing to address these issues in Congress as we examine and discuss the maternal mortality and morbidity issues that threaten our nation. To all my colleagues - lets pass the Protecting Moms Who Served Act for our women veterans, their children, and their families. What we do here today will live beyond our time in Congress and impact generations of women who serve. It is time we make sure that veterans, who have done so much for our country, receive the support and resources they need. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. is serving her fourth full term in Congress. She represents the 12th District of North Carolina, which includes parts of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. In 2018, she introduced the first Black Maternal Health Week resolution with then-Senator Kamala Harris. In 2019, she co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14). In March 2020, Adams, along with Harris and Underwood, introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act for the first time, and in February 2021 reintroduced an expanded version of the package with Senator Cory Booker. Adams is a mother of two and a grandmother of four.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/11/ross-padilla-lead-49-colleagues-urging-dhs-expand-daca-eligibility-documented,"Ross, Padilla Lead 49 Colleagues in Urging DHS to Expand DACA Eligibility to Documented Dreamers",2021-11-30,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) led 49 House and Senate Members in submitting a bicameral comment letter requesting that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expand the DACA threshold criteria to include Documented Dreamers. As the children of long-term visa holders, Documented Dreamers grow up with legal status in the United States, but age out of the system at 21 when their dependent visas expire if they have not been granted a green card by that time. The lawmakers are urging DHS to extend eligibility to the 200,000 Documented Dreamers who are not currently eligible for protection from deportation under DACA. The letter read in part: “If DACA were updated as we have suggested, Documented Dreamers who were present in the United States on June 15, 2012 could be given the chance to remain and continue to contribute to our nation after they reach age 21. DACA was designed to protect children and young adults who have grown up in the United States from being forced to return to countries they hardly know. We urge you to fulfill the promise of this policy by extending DACA eligibility to Documented Dreamers.” DACA threshold criteria currently limits applicants to those who “had no lawful immigration status on June 15, 2012.” The Members’ proposed change would remove this criteria and allow individuals who had lawful status in the U.S. on June 15, 2012, but subsequently lost such status by the time of their request, to qualify for DACA. The letter also encourages two additional changes to DACA eligibility: removing the threshold criteria that require requestors to have continuously resided in the U.S. from June 15, 2007 to the time of filing the request and adjusting the dates in the threshold criteria to provide relief for individuals who arrived in the U.S. after 2007. In June, Representatives Ross, Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and Young Kim (CA-39) introduced America’s CHILDREN Act, bipartisan legislation to protect Documented Dreamers from aging out of the system when they turn 21, forcing them to self-deport. Senator Padilla and Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) led the bipartisan bill in the Senate. Congresswoman Ross also led 22 of her House colleagues in urging Congressional leadership to include a permanent path to residency for Documented Dreamers in the Build Back Better Act. Full text of the letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/advisory-adams-hosts-childhood-vaccination-clinic,Advisory: Adams Hosts Childhood Vaccination Clinic,2021-11-29,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – On Saturday, December 4 at 8:00 AM ET, the Office of Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) will host a childhood vaccination event at Winterfield Elementary School in Charlotte. Novant Health will hold a vaccination clinic on campus during this time that is open to the public. Children age 5 to 11 should sign up here. Individuals age 12 and up should sign up here. WHO: Unvaccinated Children Age 5 & Up and Unvaccinated Parents WHAT: This Is Our Shot! A Children's Vaccination Event WHERE: Winterfield Elementary School, 3100 Winterfield Place, Charlotte, NC 28205 WHEN: Saturday, December 4, 8:00 AM to 12:00 NOON ET Additionally, at 11 AM, Congresswoman Adams is expected to visit the clinic. Members of the media can RSVP to Sam.Spencer@mail.house.gov and are encouraged to advertise the event in advance to the public. Members of the public needing more information can contact the Office of Congresswoman Alma Adams at 704.344.9950.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-alma-adams-votes-build-back-better-act,Congresswoman Alma Adams Votes for the Build Back Better Act,2021-11-19,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) cast a vote for the Build Back Better Act and sent President Biden's landmark legislation to the United States Senate. The Build Back Better Act includes victories for higher education and maternal health secured by Adams and based on her legislation. A fact sheet on the Build Back Better Act's $10 billion investment in HBCUs and MSIs is available here. More information about the Momnibusprovisions in the Build Back Better Actis available here. Adams released the following statement on the legislation: ""The Build Back Better Act is about creating jobs, strengthening families, and saving lives. It lowers the cost of childcare and guarantees universal Pre-K, which will help parents reenter the workforce. It lessens the burden of elder care so children can honor their parents while pursuing a career. It reduces childhood hunger, extends the Child Tax Credit tax cut, and builds affordable housing across the country so our children are safe and ready to learn in school. Build Back Better also secures a future for our children and grandchildren by making a historic investment in the fight against climate change – an investment that will save lives and create jobs. In my home state of North Carolina and states that haven't expanded Medicaid, the bill will close the Medicaid gap, expanding health insurance access to the people who need it most. ""I'm especially proud to have secured a transformative $10 billion investment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) in the package— the largest such investment in American history. This includes an unprecedented infrastructure grant program that will allow HBCUs and MSIs to make substantial investments in their research infrastructure as they prepare the next generation of STEM graduates. Additionally, these funds will lower the cost of college and give more minority students access to high-tech, high-paying jobs. Thank you to Education & Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott for his leadership on these critical provisions, and to Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty for her tireless work for HBCUs, Black Maternal Health, and countless other equity measures in the Build Back Better Act."" ""Finally, as the co-founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I'm proud to say the Build Back Better Act includes all eligible provisions of our Momnibus legislation and permanently expands yearlong postpartum Medicaid and CHIP coverage in every state. The maternal mortality and morbidity crisis in this country is unacceptable, but the Build Back Better Act gets us closer to a world where every parent who enters the maternity ward and every child born in America makes it home safe. I especially want to thank my co-chair, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, our co-lead on the Momnibus, Senator Cory Booker, and our original co-lead on the Momnibus, Vice President Kamala Harris, for their tireless leadership for mothers everywhere. ""With the inclusion of the Momnibus and multiple measures to expand Medicaid and health insurance coverage, the Build Back Better Act will save lives. With the inclusion of historic investments in HBCUs and MSIs, Build Back Better will lower the cost of college and create good jobs. I am proud to support this landmark legislation."" The Build Back Better Act: Lowers Health Care Costs: Empowers Medicare to negotiate lower drug costs for seniors and halts Big Pharma's outrageous price hikes above inflation for all Americans. Ensures Americans with diabetes don't pay more than $35 per month for their insulin. Creates a new, out-of-pocket cap of $2,000 on what seniors pay for their drugs in Medicare Part D. Lowers premiums dramatically for those who buy insurance on their own through the Affordable Care Act. Extends affordable coverage through the Affordable Care Act to millions of Americans in states that have refused to expand Medicaid. Expands Medicare to make hearing care more affordable for seniors. Lowers Child Care & Family Care Costs: Saves most families more than half their current spending on child care, ensuring the vast majority of families will have to pay no more than 7 percent of their income for child care. Expands the basic promise of free schooling in America for the first time in 100 years with universal pre-school for all 3- and 4-year olds. Establishes a universal and permanent paid family and medical leave program, providing four weeks of paid parental, family caregiving, and medical leave. Gives more than 35 million families a major tax cut by extending the Biden Child Tax Credit. Expands access to high-quality home care for older adults and people with disabilities. Cuts the cost of postsecondary education, with such steps as increasing the maximum Pell Grant. Reduces families' housing costs and expands housing options. Makes the most consequential investment to combat the climate crisis in U.S. history: Invests $555 billion over 10 years in historic clean energy and climate investments. Creates green tax credits that will save the average American family hundreds of dollars per year in energy costs. Ensures clean energy technology will be built in the United States, creating hundreds of thousands of good jobs here at home. Importantly, this legislation is fully paid-for, which will both grow the economy and fight inflation. As seventeen Nobel Prize-winning economists recently wrote in support of this legislation: ""Because this agenda invests in long-term economic capacity and will enhance the ability of more Americans to participate productively in the economy, it will ease longer-term inflationary pressures."" In fact, according to the estimates of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and the U.S. Treasury, Build Back Better even reduces the deficit by more than $100 billion over the first ten years. ""The Build Back Better Act is poised to make critical investments in agriculture and forestry across our nation. The provisions included will allow American farmers, ranchers and foresters the opportunity to increase profitability while engaging in climate-smart practices,"" addedRep. Adams, who serves as Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Committee. ""The bill makes a historic investment of $1 billion for 1890 Land-Grant Universities, some of our largest and most impactful HBCUs, and other Minority Serving Institutions to ensure that they have equitable resources for competitive research facilities. These investments will help to keep American agriculture competitive in global markets and will ensure that American farmers and ranchers continue to lead the way for generations to come. The Build Back Better Act is vital to cementing American agriculture as the world leader and I am proud to support its passage,"" Rep. Adams concluded. You can find the agriculture and forestry provisions included in the Build Back Better Act here. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. is serving her fourth full term in Congress. She represents the 12th District of North Carolina, which includes parts of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, and serves as Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Committee. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. In 2015, Rep. Adams co-founded the first Bipartisan HBCU Caucus in Congress. She is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, one of the 1890s institutions. In 2018, Adams introduced the first Black Maternal Health Week resolution with then-Senator Kamala Harris. In 2019, she co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14). In March 2020, Adams, along with Harris and Underwood, introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act for the first time, and in February 2021 reintroduced an expanded version of the package with Senator Cory Booker. Adams is a mother of two and a grandmother of four.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/11/congresswoman-ross-statement-house-passage-historic-build-back-better-act,Congresswoman Ross Statement on House Passage of the Historic Build Back Better Act,2021-11-19,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) voted to pass the historic Build Back Better Act, legislation that will make transformational investments to help North Carolina families, workers, and the next generation. To meet the needs of North Carolinians in the wake of the pandemic, this legislation will deliver affordable health care, child care, and home care; expand affordable housing and education; and launch the most significant effort to combat the climate crisis in American history. “I have heard from countless constituents in Wake County about the daily challenges they face to make ends meet and about how our economy is no longer working for them,” said Congresswoman Ross. “I have heard from moms juggling child care and work; older Americans who need accessible home care; families struggling to afford quality health care; and young people who are worried about the climate crisis. With this legislation, we are making long overdue investments in our people for generations to come – investments in our children, parents, and grandparents. “We are closing the Medicaid coverage gap for thousands of North Carolinians who have been living without health care. We are making child care more affordable and accessible. We are investing in clean energy and creating good paying jobs in North Carolina. Today’s vote represents extraordinary progress towards a future in which every person in this country can achieve the American Dream. I will keep fighting to get this once-in-a-generation legislation to President Biden’s desk.” Congresswoman Ross highlighted the historic investments this legislation will make in North Carolina here. The Build Back Better Act includes the following investments in North Carolinians: Child care: the average annual cost of a child care center for a toddler in North Carolina is $8,746. The Build Back Better Act will expand access for about 600,000 young children from ages 0-5 and ensure that no North Carolina working family pays more than seven percent of their income on child care. Early education: only 30 percent of three- and four-year-olds in North Carolina have access to publicly funded pre-K, while the average cost of private pre-K in the state is $8,600. The Build Back Better Act will expand access to free, high-quality pre-K to more than 154,103 young North Carolinians -- setting these children up for lifelong success and saving their parents thousands of dollars. Health care: by closing the Medicaid gap, expanding Medicare to include hearing care, and extending relief for insurance purchased through the ACA, the Build Back Better Act will help 388,000 North Carolinians gain coverage, including 212,000 people who fell into the Medicaid coverage gap – while also making home health care for elderly parents or loved ones with disabilities more affordable and accessible. Child Tax Credit: before Democrats secured the expanded Biden Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan, 15 percent of North Carolina children lived in poverty. The Build Back Better Act extends this life-changing tax cut and continues our historic progress toward reducing child poverty. Climate change: North Carolina has experienced 42 extreme weather events over the last decade, which have cost North Carolinians up to $50 billion. By reducing carbon pollution, bolstering community resilience, and strengthening the American clean energy economy, the Build Back Better Act will create good-paying jobs, advance environmental justice, and save North Carolina families the steep costs of recovery. The Build Back Better Act also makes generational investments in higher education, workforce training, affordable housing, nutrition assistance, and more. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-statement-butterfield-retirement,Adams Statement on Butterfield Retirement,2021-11-18,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. released the following statement celebrating the career of her friend and former Congressional Black Caucus chair, Rep. G. K. Butterfield (NC-01). ""G. K. has been a friend, mentor, and a tireless representative for our state,"" said Congresswoman Alma Adams.""As a civil rights lawyer, judge, and former member of the North Carolina Supreme Court, G. K. advanced the cause of voting rights in our state. In Congress, he helped write the transformative Affordable Care Act as a member of the Energy & Commerce Committee, and he has always been a staunch supporter of the rights of women, LGBTQ Americans, and minority groups. As a proud NC Central University Eagle, both as an undergraduate and as a Legal Eagle, G. K. has always supported our work to support and invest in Historically Black Colleges and Universities."" ""With this retirement, the Tar Heel State delegation has two big pairs of shoes to fill. I wish G. K. the best in his retirement, and thank him for his decades of service to North Carolina,"" Adams concluded.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/11/icymi-congresswoman-ross-bill-national-adoption-and-integration-electric,ICYMI: Congresswoman Ross Bill on National Adoption and Integration of Electric Vehicles Signed into Law,2021-11-18,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - On Monday, President Biden signed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. Included in this historic package is a bill authored by Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) which directs the Secretaries of Energy and Transportation to establish a working group to make recommendations regarding the development, adoption, and integration of electric vehicles into the transportation and energy systems of the United States. The working group would include both federal and non-federal stakeholders, including representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency, electric vehicle manufacturers, regional transportation agencies, public utilities, labor organizations, the trucking industry, and more. “I am delighted that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included my legislation to ensure the Departments of Energy and Transportation work with stakeholders from different sectors and diverse backgrounds to develop a national framework for our clean transportation future,” said Congresswoman Ross. “As an innovation hub and one of the fastest growing areas in the country, the Research Triangle is uniquely positioned to be a leader in the EV space. However, we must ensure that local, state, and private sector EV needs align with federal policy. It is important not only to ensure that the U.S. remains competitive in the global EV marketplace, but also to meet the needs of all of our workers, industries, and consumers—including low-income consumers—as we make the transition to an electric fleet. “I would like to thank Senator Cortez Masto for her leadership on this important issue.” Congresswoman Ross worked to ensure an earlier version of this bill passed the House in July as an amendment to the INVEST in America Act. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $7.5 billion to build out a national network of EV charges. Of that $7.5 million, North Carolina is projected to receive $109 million over five years to support a network of EV chargers in the state.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/11/ross-statement-retirement-announcement-congressman-g-k-butterfield,Ross Statement on the Retirement Announcement of Congressman G. K. Butterfield,2021-11-18,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C – Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on Congressman G. K. Butterfield’s (NC-01) retirement: “Congressman Butterfield is an outstanding Member of Congress and an extraordinary leader for the people of North Carolina,” said Congresswoman Ross. “From his service as a Superior Court judge and a justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court, to his chairmanship of the Congressional Black Caucus, to his numerous legislative accomplishments over two decades in the House, Congressman Butterfield retires with a formidable legacy of achievement. I am deeply honored to call him a colleague, a friend and a mentor. “Congressman Butterfield has always cared deeply about the people of Eastern North Carolina. Even as he rose through the ranks in Congress, G. K. was unrelenting in this determination to improve the lives of the constituents he was so proud to represent. “From the very beginning of his career in public service, starting as a young man organizing voter registration marches in North Carolina, Congressman Butterfield has always been a bold champion for voting rights and civil rights. At this critical moment for our democracy, our state and our nation will miss his powerful moral leadership. “G. K. has been a dear friend for decades. Like so many others in North Carolina, I have long looked to his example to guide my own public service. I look forward to continuing to learn from his leadership for the remainder of this term. I wish G. K., his wife Sylvia, and his entire family great happiness as they embark on this new chapter.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/workforce-protections-chair-adams-condemns-gosars-inappropriate,Workforce Protections Chair Adams Condemns Gosar’s Inappropriate Workplace Conduct,2021-11-17,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), Chair of the House Education & Labor Committee Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, voted to censure Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) for producing an animated video depicting the assassination of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Gosar's violent, disrespectful tweet would be considered grounds for termination at workplaces across the United States. ""The United States Congress is a workplace, and we are sent here to do the people's work,"" said Congresswoman Adams. ""Mr. Gosar's actions would get him reprimanded and possibly terminated at any Fortune 500 company, so why should Congress be any different? No one should experience harassment or threats in their workplace, so it would be hypocritical for the House to condone harassments and threats from one member to another. After the attacks on January 6, which terrorized our Capitol Police, Congressional staff, and us Members as well, Mr. Gosar's actions are even more unconscionable. My subcommittee can't ensure a safe work environment for all Americans if we don't address workplace harassment in our own House."" ""Finally, I want to extend my deepest admiration and appreciation to my colleague, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez. She's been harassed and threatened by her coworkers: other Members of Congress. Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez has demonstrated admirable resolve and composure in the face of childish antics from her peers, but she shouldn't have to. If you harass or abuse a fellow legislator, you don't belong in the people's House. Period,"" concluded Adams. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, as well as the Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus and the Black Maternal Health Caucus. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-celebrates-passage-protecting-moms-who-served-act,Adams Celebrates Passage of the Protecting Moms Who Served Act,2021-11-16,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), co-founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, celebrated the House passage of S. 796, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021, by submitting remarks in support of the bill to the Congressional Record. The legislation is the first bill from the Black Maternal Health Momnibus to pass both houses of Congress and head to President Biden's desk. About the Momnibus The Momnibus, which includes the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021(H.R. 959/S. 346), is a 12 bill package that was reintroduced in February 2021 by Underwood, Adams, and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). The Momnibus builds on existing maternal health legislation with 12 bills to comprehensively address the clinical and non-clinical drivers of the maternal health crisis in the United States. The Momnibus makes critical investments in addressing social determinants of health, funding community-based organizations, growing and diversifying the perinatal workforce, and improving data collection processes. The Momnibus also includes new legislation to address the impacts of COVID-19 and climate change on maternal and infant health outcomes. Many critical pieces of the Momnibus bill package were included in the Build Back Better Act under consideration in the House. Congresswoman Adams' Remarks as Submitted to the Congressional Record Madam Speaker - I rise today to speak in strong support of the bipartisan legislation, Protecting Moms Who Served Act. But before I do, I want to thank Congresswoman Lauren Underwood for her leadership on this bill. I would also like to thank Senator Duckworth and Representatives Julia Brownley, Gus Bilirakis, and Brian Fitzpatrick for their co-leadership. Together, Congresswoman Underwood and I are the co-founders and co-chairs of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, as well as lead sponsors of the Momnibus – comprehensive legislation that addresses every dimension of the maternal health crisis in the United States. And it gives me great joy to say that the Protecting Moms Who Served Act will be the first bill of the Momnibus to pass in Congress. The United States continues to have the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world. Women and birthing people of color die during or after pregnancy at 3 to 4 times the rates of their white counterparts. For the nearly 2 million women Veterans, maternal health outcomes are not any better. Pregnant and postpartum women who served face unique maternal health risks that deserve our attention. For example, the risk of pregnancy complications may be higher for women Veterans receiving maternity care through Veterans Affairs, since these women frequently have multiple medical conditions that can increase pregnancy complications. Furthermore, it is suggested that military deployment may increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. A post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis can increase the risk of spontaneous pre-term birth, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes. Women Veterans with more symptoms of PTSD or moral injury like shame, guilt, or demoralization, are also at greater risk for postpartum depression in the three years following the end of their military service. More specifically a study on the impacts of PTSD or moral injury, found that one in two women Veterans who became pregnant during the study, had a negative pregnancy outcome. These outcomes include postpartum depression or anxiety, miscarriage, obstetrical medical conditions, emergency c-sections, the baby's need for intensive care post-delivery, preterm birth, stillbirth, and ectopic or tubal pregnancy. Our women Veterans have upheld their duty to serve and protect and, we as Members of Congress must do the same. The Protecting Moms Who Served Act bill will codify and strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs maternity care coordination programs to ensure Veterans receive the high-quality maternal health care and support they have earned. This is a noteworthy advancement since maternity care coordination programs are associated with improved maternal and birth outcomes, increased use of beneficial health services, and decreased costs, especially among women with chronic or pregnancy-related physical or mental health conditions, or social vulnerabilities. Additionally, this bill will commission the first-ever comprehensive study of America's maternal health crisis among women Veterans, with a particular emphasis on racial and ethnic disparities. This study is needed to provide further understanding of the maternal health challenges experienced among women who served. On May 12th, this legislation passed the house with unanimous bipartisan support. Today, we are here to vote once more and finally send this bill to the President's desk, changing the lives of millions of women Veterans and their children. Let's remember that strong and supportive healthcare for birthing people supports the future of our nation by investing in the well-being of children and families. And today's vote ensures a healthcare system for women veterans that will offer the best maternal care available. I am proud to see our progress towards ending maternal mortality and disparities among our moms who served. I look forward to continuing to address these issues in Congress as we examine and discuss the maternal mortality and morbidity issues that threaten our nation. To all my colleagues - lets pass the Protecting Moms Who Served Act for our women Veterans, their children, and their families. What we do here today will live beyond our time in Congress and impact generations of women who serve. It is time we make sure that veterans, who have done so much for our country, receive the support and resources they need. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. is serving her fourth full term in Congress. She represents the 12th District of North Carolina, which includes parts of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. In 2018, she introduced the first Black Maternal Health Week resolution with then-Senator Kamala Harris. In 2019, she co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14). In March 2020, Adams, along with Harris and Underwood, introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act for the first time, and in February 2021 reintroduced an expanded version of the package with Senator Cory Booker. Adams is a mother of two and a grandmother of four.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/11/representatives-ross-mace-introduce-legislation-improve-epas-pfas-reporting,"Representatives Ross, Mace Introduce Legislation to Improve EPA’s PFAS Reporting Rule",2021-11-16,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.—Today, Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Nancy Mace (SC-01) introduced the PFAS Definition Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation that would amend existing law to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses a definition of PFAS that is as broad and protective as others that are already in use. “North Carolina has some of the most PFAS-contaminated water in the country,” said Congresswoman Ross. “This contamination can cause adverse health effects including cancer, thyroid disease, and increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. That is why this legislation to broaden the definition of PFAS and better align it with current science is so critically important. To tackle the PFAS contamination in our communities, we must have as robust and complete data from the EPA as possible. I would like to thank Congresswoman Mace for her collaboration on this important issue.” “Protecting the natural beauty and splendor of our Lowcountry is a priority. PFAS directly impacts Parris Island and Joint Base Charleston,” said Congresswoman Mace. “This legislation will help our military installations better deal with PFAS contamination.” Geoff Gisler, Senior Attorney and Leader of SELC's Clean Water Program said, “New protections from PFAS only work if the term is properly defined. We’re grateful to Representatives Ross and Mace for their leadership in defining PFAS broadly so that more communities will be protected.” Kathryn Alcántar, Interim Policy Director, Center for Environmental Health said, ""EPA is currently using a narrow definition of PFAS that excludes hundreds of toxic PFAS chemicals that are contributing to widespread pollution of the environment resulting in exposure and harm to human health. This bill will require EPA to use the widely accepted definition of PFAS used by the scientific community, state governments, EU countries, and scientific and regulatory policy bodies including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).” PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are dangerous, man-made chemicals that do not break down easily and have contaminated the nation’s water, soil, and air for decades. In North Carolina, chemical companies have polluted the Cape Fear River with PFAS for years, resulting in serious health consequences for local residents. The current EPA definition of PFAS requires at least two fully fluorinated carbon atoms, and they must be adjacent. However, numerous states and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) use definitions of PFAS that require only one fully fluorinated carbon atom. As a result, EPA’s narrower definition will produce a rule that fails to capture many PFAS that are already included in other policies. Congresswoman Ross serves on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee where she has consistently advocated for supporting research institutions and leveraging federal resources to eradicate PFAS contamination. In June, Congresswoman Ross led a letter with six other members of the North Carolina delegation to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Michael Regan urging the EPA to reconsider a Trump administration decision to deny a citizens’ petition filed by a group of NC-based environmental health and justice groups in 2020. The petition, filed under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), requested that EPA exercise its authority under TSCA to require Chemours to fund robust health and environmental testing for 54 PFAS manufactured by Chemours at its Fayetteville facility. Congresswoman Ross also voted to pass the PFAS Action Act, legislation that would require comprehensive regulation of PFAS by establishing standards to protect drinking water from contamination and authorizing grants to drinking water utilities treating PFAS contamination. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/video-adams-hosts-successful-virtual-coffee-infrastructure-and-build,Video: Adams Hosts Successful Virtual Coffee on Infrastructure and the Build Back Better Agenda,2021-11-10,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – Earlier today, at 11:00 AM ET, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) hosted a Virtual Coffee on Zoom to speak with the public about her votes to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and advance the Build Back Better Act. Participants included Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt, Mecklenburg County Commissioner Mark Jerrell and Carlton Waterhouse, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Land and Emergency Management at the Environmental Protection Agency. Hundreds of constituents were in attendance on Zoom and on Twitter Spaces. Raw video of the event is available here. A YouTube video of the event is available here. ""Today I hosted our Virtual Coffee about President Biden's Build Back Better Agenda and Congress's recent passage of a key part of that agenda: the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,"" said Congresswoman Adams. ""On Friday, I voted to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This legislation will invest in infrastructure and create jobs right here in Charlotte. It is a $1.2 trillion dollar package that will have enormous benefits for the country and for North Carolina. This bill will strengthen our economy, secure cleaner air and water, and make our communities a better place to live and work by bringing our infrastructure into the 21st century."" ""Finally, thank you to thank Carlton Waterhouse, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Land and Emergency Management at the Environmental Protection Agency from the Biden Administration, Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt, who also serves as chair of the Transportation, Planning, and Environment Committee and Mecklenburg County Commissioner Mark Jerrell for joining us today to talk about the importance of this legislation,"" concluded Adams.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/11/representatives-ross-meijer-introduce-resolution-designate-november-10th,"Representatives Ross, Meijer Introduce Resolution to Designate November 10th as “National Science Day”",2021-11-10,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. – Yesterday, Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Peter Meijer (MI-03) introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate November 10th as “National Science Day.” This national observance would provide an opportunity to recognize and celebrate American scientific achievements and inspire the next generation to continue this honorable and vital tradition. “It is past time for us to properly celebrate the work of American scientists. Scientific research leads to knowledge, products, and processes that continually improve our daily lives and keep us safe and secure,” said Congresswoman Ross. “I am proud to represent a district that includes much of the Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the United States and a premier global science and innovation center. RTP houses hundreds of companies, including science and technology firms, government agencies, academic institutions, startups, and nonprofits. “The academic institutions in my district not only serve to educate undergraduate and graduate students in scientific fields and provide them with the opportunity to engage in research while at school, but also feed a critical pipeline of talent that goes on to work on cutting edge scientific research nationwide. I’m grateful for Congressman Meijer’s partnership on this resolution.” ""The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored how incredibly vital American scientific research is, and I am proud to partner with Rep. Ross to formally recognize and celebrate our scientific achievements,” said Congressman Meijer. “I hope this measure will further inspire the next generation to continue our country's innovation in science."" Ross serves as a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, where she has co-led legislation to establish a national science and technology strategy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-host-virtual-coffee-her-votes-create-millions-new-jobs-build-back,Adams to Host Virtual Coffee on Her Votes to Create Millions of New Jobs with the Build Back Better Agenda,2021-11-08,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – On Wednesday, November 10 at 11:00 AM ET, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) will host a virtual coffee on Zoom to speak with the public about her votes to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and advance the Build Back Better Act. The event is open press. WHO: Congresswoman Adams & Staff, Constituents WHAT: Virtual Coffee with Congresswoman Alma Adams on the Build Back Better Agenda WHERE: Zoom, registration link here WHEN: Wednesday November 10, 11:00 AM ET Please RSVP using this link. Late Friday night, Congresswoman Adams voted to create millions of good-paying jobs with a once-in-a-century investment in rebuilding infrastructure in North Carolina, including roads and bridges; transit; rail; clean drinking water and wastewater systems; and high-speed broadband networks. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will repair and modernize crumbling and outdated infrastructure across the nation, ensuring all American communities have the infrastructure to succeed in the 21st Century economy and ending bottlenecks that add needless delays and costs for businesses bringing products to market and families traveling to school or work. ""This past weekend, I voted to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and advance the Build Back Better Act. These votes will create jobs, improve our infrastructure, and set the stage for Democrats to make a solid investment in the future of our families and our recovery from COVID-19,"" said Rep. Adams. ""The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will invest in infrastructure and create jobs. These investments include improving and expanding the Charlotte Area Transportation System and Lynx Light Rail, and providing all CMS students with the broadband connection they need to succeed."" ""From paid family leave and Universal Pre-K to investments in maternal health and higher education, the Build Back Better Act is an investment in our families. Parents will save thousands of dollars per year on child care and receive an extension of the Child Tax Credit tax cut. I look forward to voting for final passage of the Build Back Better Act, which will make robust investments in HBCUs and MSIs, expand the safety net for working families, and make a historic investment in fighting climate change. The American people are counting on us to act now,"" concluded Adams. Together, the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better Act are estimated to create an average of 2 million jobs each year over the next decade. In the wake of the pandemic, poor infrastructure has struggled to keep up with a sharp increase in consumer demand – resulting in added costs for businesses and delays for consumers. The United States ranks 13th globally in terms of the quality of our infrastructure, and the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the condition of our infrastructure a C-. As the economy continues its strong recovery, President Biden and the Congress are seizing this historic moment to Build Back Better: improving infrastructure in every state in the union, growing the economy and helping Americans get back to work, while advancing justice and opportunity for all. This Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill will: Rebuild roads and bridges nationwide, including the largest bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system seven decades ago; Deliver clean drinking water to ten million families and more than 400,000 schools and child care facilities nationwide with the largest-ever investment in American water infrastructure to replace lead pipes and service lines across the nation; Help clean up legacy pollution, which is an important step in advancing environmental justice; Expand access to reliable high-speed internet to help more families get online to work and learn; Make historic improvements to public transit, with the largest federal investment in American history and the largest federal investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak; and Support action to address the climate crisis, making down-payments on clean energy transmission, a clean and resilient electric grid, electric vehicle infrastructure and more. In North Carolina, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will: Repair and rebuild our roads and bridges with a focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, equity, and safety for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians. In North Carolina there are 1,460 bridges and over 3,116 miles of highway in poor condition. Since 2011, commute times have increased by 10.7% in North Carolina, and on average, each driver pays $500 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system. Based on formula funding alone, North Carolina would expect to receive $7.2 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $457 million for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over five years. North Carolina can also compete for the $12.5 billion Bridge Investment Program for economically significant bridges and nearly $16 billion of national funding in the bill dedicated for major projects that will deliver substantial economic benefits to communities. Improve healthy, sustainable transportation options for millions of Americans. North Carolinians who take public transportation spend an extra 59.9% of their time commuting and non-White households are 3.4 times more likely to commute via public transportation. 15% of transit vehicles in the state are past useful life. Based on formula funding alone, North Carolina would expect to receive $911 million over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Actto improve public transportation options across the state. Build a network of EV chargers to facilitate long-distance travel and provide convenient charging options. The U.S. market share of plug-in electric vehicle (EV) sales is only one-third the size of the Chinese EV market. The President believes that must change. The bill invests $7.5 billion to build out the first-ever national network of EV charging stations. ""Our nation's crumbling and outdated infrastructure weakens our economy, hurts families, and causes added costs and delays for American businesses bringing their goods to market,"" said Rep. Adams. ""Democrats are delivering a transformational and bipartisan infrastructure bill that will create good-paying jobs here in North Carolina, strengthen our economy, secure cleaner air and water, and make our communities a better place to live and work by bringing our infrastructure into the 21st century."" The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act now goes to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/11/congresswoman-ross-applauds-passage-bipartisan-infrastructure-package,Congresswoman Ross Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Package,2021-11-05,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. - Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) voted to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, transformational legislation that will upgrade the nation’s aging infrastructure and create good-paying jobs in North Carolina. This bill will help to fuel our economic recovery by making unprecedented investments in America’s roads, bridges, water infrastructure, high-speed internet, and electric vehicles. “The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a once-in-a-lifetime investment in America’s future,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Democrats and Republicans set partisanship aside to pass a bill that will replace our crumbling infrastructure, meet our urgent transportation needs, and create new economic opportunities for all our workers. “This package will spur economic growth in North Carolina by creating good jobs that cannot be outsourced, including opportunities in the clean energy manufacturing sector where our state is positioned to lead the nation. It will also support upgrades to our roads and bridges, invest in clean drinking water infrastructure, modernize our outdated electric grid, and expand broadband connectivity to our state’s harder-to-reach communities. “Wake County is one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S., but our infrastructure has not grown with our community. This historic legislation will fund transportation improvements so that our people can get to work and products from our innovative companies can get to markets around the world. From the folks who pave our roads to engineers designing the cutting-edge infrastructure of tomorrow, this package delivers for the people of our state and our nation. I was honored to vote in favor of the bill and look forward to President Biden signing it into law.” The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides investments in key areas outlined below: Roads, bridges, and major projects: invests $110 billion in new funds for roads, bridges, and major projects. In North Carolina, 1,460, or 7.8 percent, of the 18,749 bridges are classified as structurally deficient. Airports, ports, and waterways: invests $17 billion in port infrastructure and $25 billion in airports to address repair and maintenance backlogs and reduce congestion and emissions near ports and airports. Clean drinking water: invests $55 billion, representing the largest investment in clean drinking water in American history, including dedicated funding to replace lead service lines and address harmful PFAS contamination. This bill will replace lead pipes and service lines. In North Carolina, chemical companies have polluted the Cape Fear River with PFAS chemicals for years, resulting in serious health consequences for residents. Congresswoman Ross has been a strong advocate for combatting PFAS contamination. EV infrastructure: invests $7.5 billion to build out the first-ever national network of electric vehicle chargers in the United States. High-speed internet: invests $65 billion in high-speed internet to ensure our rural communities have access to broadband.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/11/congresswoman-ross-statement-october-jobs-report,Congresswoman Ross Statement on October Jobs Report,2021-11-05,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor reported the U.S. economy added 531,000 jobs in October and unemployment fell to 4.6%. “The October jobs report is further proof that President Biden’s economic plan is working. The decisive action Democrats took to pass the American Rescue Plan and get Americans vaccinated helped our economy rebound at a rate unsurpassed in recent history,” said Congresswoman Ross. “We must now build on this success by passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Build Back Better Act—two pieces of transformational legislation that will spur economic growth, rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, invest in working families, and create jobs in Wake County – jobs that cannot be outsourced.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chair-adams-lauds-biden-administrations-emergency-workforce-safety,Chair Adams Lauds Biden Administration’s Emergency Workforce Safety Standard on COVID-19,2021-11-04,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"November 4, 2021 Safety standard comes after months of work from Chair Adams & Chairman Scott WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), Chair of the House Education & Labor Committee's Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, lauded today's move by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an emergency workplace safety standard requiring employers with 100 or more employees to ensure all their workers are vaccinated or produce a negative test on a weekly basis. ""Today's new rules will save lives,"" said Chair Adams. ""OSHA's emergency workplace safety standard is welcome relief from our current pandemic of the unvaccinated. Under the leadership of President Biden, OSHA has proactively addressed the COVID-19 crisis to help the United States get back to work. Workplace vaccination requirements are no different than the vaccination requirements for every kindergartener who enters elementary school: they exist so our families and children can be safe. I applaud today's decision by OSHA, and as Workforce Protections Chair I will continue to fight for workplaces and schools that are safe from COVID-19."" Chair Adams has led the fight against the pandemic in the workplace since January 2020: In January 2020, Adams joined House Education & Labor CommitteeChairman Bobby Scott in calling on the Trump Administration to put the infectious disease standard back on the active agenda. In that letter, they also urged OSHA to issue a compliance directive for the health care sector, and to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard if the situation deteriorated. At the time of their request, there were only 5 confirmed COVID-19 infections in the United States. Hearing nothing back, on March 5th, they wrote OSHA again describing how hundreds of health care workers had been exposed and stated the obvious: that OSHA urgently needed to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). In mid- March, OSHA rejected the issuance of an ETS on the grounds that ""the health care industry fully understands the gravity of the situation and is taking the appropriate steps to protect its workers."" In April, with more than 720,000 infections nationwide, OSHA finally issued enforcement guidance, but only covering the health care sector. On April 21, Chair Adams introduced the COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act. If passed, the Act would have required the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard that establishes a legal obligation for all workplaces to implement infectious disease exposure control plans to keep workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adams remarked, ""Essential workers on the front lines of this pandemic – and future pandemics – shouldn't be made to feel like they're expendable. When these workers go home, they go home to families, pets, and children who are all vulnerable if the Department of Labor does not take action. That increases the spread of the disease and makes all of us more vulnerable. The COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act would change that by strengthening protections for frontline workers and requiring employers to treat the essential workers who serve us every day with humanity and dignity. On May 14, Chair Adams held a briefing to examine the worker safety crisis caused by COVID-19, continuing to push for an ETS to protect workers and workplaces. In mid-May 2020, as workers continued to face risk of infection, illness, and death, the Trump Administration still refused to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard to protect workers from exposure to the coronavirus. In response, Chair Adams convened a meeting of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, one of the first virtual Committee meetings of the pandemic. In her opening statement, Adams asked ""why is OSHA missing in action?"" In the most shocking moment of the hearing, a Trump Administration official, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Loren Sweatt, revealed OSHA is not tracking workplace cases of coronavirus or enforcing laws meant to keep workers safe. In response, Adams remarked, ""Today, we found out that the dereliction of duty at OSHA goes beyond not issuing an emergency standard. It even goes beyond not proactively preventing infections. Our subcommittee found out OSHA is not even tracking workplace cases of coronavirus, nor is this enforcement agency enforcing the law. OSHA's representative was evasive and had plenty of excuses, but had no answers for the millions of Americans who have no idea whether or not their workplace is safe. They just don't seem to care."" After the meeting, Adams continued to push the Trump Administration for an ETS. During its final months in office, the Trump Administration never issued an ETS on COVID-19. It did, however, issue policy change that would result in sharply reduced reporting of COVID-related workplace hospitalizations and fatalities and undermine efforts to protect the safety of workers. Chair Adams and Chairman Scott responded to the change, noting, ""This guidance will eliminate, for all practical purposes, reporting of a work-related COVID-19 (COVID) illness."" After taking office, the Biden Administration immediately issued an executive order on workforce safety, almost a year after Chair Adams and Chairman Scott's original request. On February 22, 2021, Adams reintroduced a bill to address the rising rates of workplace violence due to the pandemic. On March 11, 2021, Chair Adams held a hearing on Science-based strategies to protect workers from COVID-19 infections. On October 26, 2021, Chair Adams pushed for an ETS on vaccine requirements. Adams noted, ""Workplace COVID-19 outbreaks are continuing to endanger workers and their families. And many of these outbreaks have been linked to unvaccinated workers. Thankfully, we've seen responsible employers take the initiative to implement workplace safety policies, including vaccination requirements, to keep their employees safe. Some of the largest employers in the country, including Bank of America in my district, already have vaccination requirements. And more companies are stepping up to require vaccinations each week. After months of the vaccine being free and available, it is clear that the most effective way to boost vaccination rates is through workplace vaccination requirements."" Background: The importance of vaccination requirements: The spread of COVID-19 has caused the worst worker safety crisis. Hundreds of thousands frontline and essential workers have contracted COVID-19, and many died as result. COVID-19 has caused more deaths among workers in a shorter period of time than any other health emergency since the establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 50 years ago. Throughout the pandemic, major outbreaks across the country have been associated with workplace transmission of the virus. Many essential workers at the greatest risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19 are people of color. Vaccines are the most powerful tool we have to save lives, end the pandemic, and get back to normal. According to recent CDC research, people who are fully vaccinated are roughly one-tenth as likely to be hospitalized and even less likely to die from COVID-19 than those who are unvaccinated. Despite robust vaccination campaigns and efforts, over 80 million adults are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Unvaccinated workers have been linked to workplace COVID-19 outbreaks – putting seniors, people with disabilities, patients recovering from COVID-19, and others in danger Low vaccination rates have consequences for both vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans. The latest surge of COVID-related hospitalizations have overwhelmed hospitals that were already facing staffing shortages and limited capacity to treat non-COVID illnesses. The private sector has demonstrated that vaccine requirements have overwhelmingly positive outcomes, including increasing vaccination rates and protecting vulnerable workers. Workplace COVID-19 vaccine requirements have significantly increased vaccine uptake among essential workers in recent months, pushing vaccination rates closer to 90 percent in a short period of time. Some of the largest employers in the country, including Bank of America in Rep. Adams' district, already have vaccination requirements. Although several surveys of unvaccinated workers predicted workers would choose to resign if their employers required COVID-19 vaccinations, recent data suggests that a vast majority of unvaccinated workers choose to get vaccinated in response to employer policies. The majority of Americans support mask policies and vaccine requirements. Moreover, the country has always had vaccine requirements – including for polio and smallpox. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-commends-house-leadership-inclusion-paid-family-and-medical-leave,Adams Commends House Leadership for Inclusion of Paid Family and Medical Leave,2021-11-03,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 3, 2021) – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) commended the efforts of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House leadership to include paid family and medical leave in the Build Back Better Act, also known as the reconciliation bill. ""Paid family and medical leave, including maternity leave, is a lifeline for parents in the workforce,"" said Congresswoman Alma Adams, Chair of the House Education & Labor Committee's Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. ""The United States is the only country in the world with more than 10 million people to provide no paid leave for new mothers. A pregnancy or medical emergency should never be the reason someone loses their paycheck or their job. Thank you to Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Richard Neal, and Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro for working to make sure we build back better with paid leave for working families."" Adams is also the co-founder and co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14). She is also co-lead of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act with Underwood. Thanks to the Momnibus provisions included in the Build Back Better Act, the reconciliation bill would permanently expand yearlong postpartum Medicaid and CHIP coverage in every state. Anissa Caldwell Washington, a member of Adams' Congressional staff, recently returned to work from her maternity leave. She noted how important paid leave was during her post-partum months. ""I can't imagine what the early days of motherhood would have been like without family and medical leave,"" said Caldwell Washington. ""Due to my paid maternity leave benefit, I was able to recover from the injuries and bodily changes caused by childbirth. I was able to become comfortable nursing my daughter. During this time, my husband and I were able to fully dedicate ourselves to nurturing our daughter and adjusting to our new family dynamic. Our daughter is better for it, and I am a stronger parent because I was able to take time off without losing my paycheck or my health insurance."" More information on today's announcement is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/11/congresswoman-ross-applauds-nwsls-commitment-meet-players-demands-after-sexual,Congresswoman Ross Applauds NWSL’s Commitment to Meet Players’ Demands After Sexual Abuse Allegations,2021-11-03,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement after the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA) announced that the NWSL has agreed to meet all the union’s demands for cultural changes and transparency following instances of verbal abuse and sexual coercion of players reported last month: “I am glad the NWSL has agreed to meet the demands of the players’ union and will soon introduce protocols to create a safer environment for players and staff,” said Congresswoman Ross. “This news is an important first step by the NWSL leadership to show they are truly committed to protecting the health and well-being of their players. However, it is just that—one step. I pledge to continue working with my colleagues in Congress and the NWSLPA to ensure these changes are fully implemented and the root causes of this toxic environment are addressed.” On October 20th, Congresswoman Ross led a letter with 41 House colleagues urging the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and U.S. Soccer Federation to conduct a thorough investigation into harassment and abuse claims made by NWSL players. Egregious reports of consistent abuse directed at women soccer players, including by former North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley, revealed a clear pattern of systemic harassment that raised serious safety concerns for players in the league. After former players bravely recounted the abuse and harassment they endured during Paul Riley’s tenure, he was fired from his position as the head coach of the North Carolina Courage, a NWSL soccer team based in Congresswoman Ross’ district. In addition to Paul Riley, three other NWSL coaches have been fired in recent months for inappropriate comments, creating a toxic environment, and verbal and emotional abuse. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-applauds-complaint-against-colonial-pipeline,Adams Applauds Complaint Against Colonial Pipeline,2021-11-02,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) applauded today's move by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to file a Complaint and Motion for Injunctive Relief in Mecklenburg County Superior Court to force Colonial Pipeline to meet their obligations as the responsible party in the state's largest gasoline spill. ""I applaud Governor Cooper and the Department of Environmental Quality's actions today to hold Colonial Pipeline accountable for their spill in Huntersville, the largest gasoline spill in North Carolina history,"" said Congresswoman Adams. ""Colonial has not provided an estimate of the spill since February, and at that time the estimated volume of the spill was well over 1 million gallons. The people of Huntersville and Mecklenburg County deserve answers, and new measures – including monthly surface water testing and a new estimate of the volume of the spill – will help us get those answers."" Per NC DEQ, The complaint seeks a judicial action requiring Colonial Pipeline to take the following actions: Remove, treat or control any source of petroleum, PFAS or other contaminants that have the potential to contaminate groundwater; Provide DEQ with a current, revised estimate of the volume of petroleum released; Submit a comprehensive conceptual site model for both the petroleum release and the PFAS contamination; Complete site assessment activities, and submit and receive DEQ approval for a corrective action plan and proposed schedule for implementation; Conduct monthly sampling of nearby surface water for petroleum, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, Volatile Organic Compounds, total lead and PFAS at locations determined by DEQ; and Provide evaluations of Colonial's leak detection system statewide, provide locations of all pipeline Type-A collar repairs within North Carolina and remove or replace them with approved alternatives if necessary. Colonial has cited corrosion related to a Type-A sleeve repair as the cause of the Huntersville release.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-delivers-floor-speech-build-back-better-framework,Adams Delivers Floor Speech on Build Back Better Framework,2021-11-02,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) delivered remarks on the floor of the US House of Representatives on President Biden's Build Back Better agenda during a special order hour hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus. Video of the speech is available for download and on YouTube. Marty Johnson, writing for The Hill, reported, ""The $1.75 trillion framework agreement for President Biden's ‘Build Back Better' plan represents a significant victory for Black lawmakers, who have been adamant that promises made to Black communities be kept by the White House."" Remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. Speaker – I rise this evening to speak about the importance of passing the Build Back Better Act. This legislation will be nothing short of transformational for Black America. It extends the Child Tax Credit for a year, cutting child poverty in half. In North Carolina, that's a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of children who go to bed hungry every night. It puts $150 billion dollars towards affordable housing, which has been described as the ""single largest and most comprehensive investment in affordable housing in history."" In Charlotte and so many other communities across the country, that means real progress on our affordable housing crisis, and real relief for over half a million Americans who don't have a roof over their heads. As the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, I am proud to say this package provides approximately $10 billion specifically for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions, including $3 billion for research and development grants at these institutions, and $6 billion for increased Pell Grants and institutional support to lower the cost of college; and Universal Child Care and Pre-K will prepare children to receive the education they need to succeed in school and be admitted to college. As the co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I'm also proud to say the Build Back Better Act includes all eligible provisions ofour Momnibus legislation and permanently expands yearlong postpartum Medicaid and CHIP coverage in every state. The maternal health and morbidity crisis in this country is unacceptable, but the Build Back Better Act gets us closer where every parent who enters the maternity ward and every child born in America makes it home safe. Finally, I would like to take a point of personal privilege to recognize the hard work of our Congressional Black Caucus Chair, Joyce Beatty, and all our members and committee chairs on this legislation. I believe that promises made must be promises kept, and this package keeps our promise to all Americans. I implore my colleagues – let's pass the Build Back Better Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework together. Thank you, and I yield back.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/11/congresswoman-ross-announces-19m-department-justice-grant-fight-opioid,Congresswoman Ross Announces $1.9M Department of Justice Grant to Fight Opioid Epidemic in North Carolina,2021-11-02,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement after the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) announced a $1.9 million-dollar grant to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety to combat the opioid epidemic: “Nearly every person in North Carolina has been touched in some way by opioid addiction,” said Congresswoman Ross. “This epidemic is devastating communities throughout the state, straining prevention and treatment efforts, and overwhelming medical providers. That is why I am pleased the Department of Justice awarded this much-needed funding to bolster North Carolina law enforcement’s ability to identify and destroy criminal opioid distribution networks. I will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners to end the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities.” Through the Anti-Heroin Task Force Program (AHTF), the COPS Office is awarding more than $31.1 million in grant funding to 13 state law enforcement agencies with multijurisdictional reach and interdisciplinary team (e.g., task force) structures. AHTF provides funding directly to state law enforcement agencies in states with high per capita rates of primary treatment admissions for heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and other opioids. This funding will support the location or investigation of illicit activities through statewide collaboration related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil or the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-applauds-inclusion-jcsu-equity-clt-plan,Adams Applauds Inclusion of JCSU in Equity CLT Plan,2021-11-01,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) applauded the inclusion of Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte's only Historically Black College or University (HBCU), in Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles' $250 million Racial Equity Initiative. ""For over 150 years, Johnson C. Smith University has been an engine of equity for the Charlotte region,"" said Congresswoman Alma Adams, founder and co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. ""Today's gifts from the Duke Endowment, Bank of America, and many other partners will ensure JCSU continues its legacy of producing compassionate and forward-thinking leaders. These are exactly the kind of partnerships we are working to replicate with the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act. Thank you to Mayor Lyles and all of the public and private donors who are leading this equity effort while empowering a new generation of Smithites to succeed in the workforce and beyond."" Per a press release, ""The newly announced Mayor's Racial Equity Initiative looks to invest $250 million to address inequities and remove barriers to opportunity through four key workstreams: bridging the digital divide and establishing a Center for Digital Equity; investing in Charlotte's six ""Corridors of Opportunity"" neighborhoods; transforming JCSU into a top-tier, career-focused HBCU; and ensuring organizations commit to racial equity through advancing more Black and Brown leaders within their individual corporations. A lead private-sector gift of $40 million from The Duke Endowment will be directed to the Johnson C. Smith University workstream.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/11/congresswoman-ross-statement-scotus-oral-arguments-texas-abortion-ban,Congresswoman Ross Statement on SCOTUS Oral Arguments on Texas Abortion Ban,2021-11-01,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. - Today Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments in two different challenges to Texas’s six week abortion ban, S.B. 8: “The Texas abortion ban is a shameful attempt to exercise control over women and their health care,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Every day that this law remains in effect is another day that women are unable to access vital reproductive health services. I am disappointed that the conservative majority on the Court has previously shown that it is unwilling to protect women from the whims of state legislatures bent on restricting our constitutional rights. The Supreme Court should see this law for what it is – a clear and provocative violation of the Constitution that puts women’s rights and access to reproductive care in jeopardy.” The Supreme Court allowed the Texas abortion ban to remain in effect while it hears oral arguments. Congresswoman Ross denounced the law when it went into effect and joined her House Judiciary colleagues in urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to use the full force of the Department of Justice to combat it. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-applauds-major-victories-maternal-health,Adams Applauds Major Victories for Maternal Health,2021-10-28,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), co-founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, applauded today's announcement from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that an estimated 8,700 postpartum New Jerseyans will be guaranteed to maintain their Medicaid coverage for 12 months after the end of the pregnancy. This important step will help New Jersey to provide pregnancy-related care with the goal of preventing unnecessary postpartum-related illness and death. Today's announcement is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to address the nation's crisis in pregnancy-related deaths and to improve the health outcomes among underserved communities through access to critical care. The announcement comes on the heels of two major victories for maternal health: the passage of the state-level California Momnibus Act, which was signed into law earlier this month; and the inclusion of critical investments in maternal healthin today's Build Back Better framework. Both the California Momnibus and the Build Back Better Act's maternal health provisions were inspired by the Black Maternal Health Momnibus, a package of bills introduced by Congresswomen Adams and Lauren Underwood (IL-14). ""I'm overjoyed to hear that more moms will be covered by Medicaid, because we know Medicaid expansion is a critical part of solving our country's maternal health crisis,"" said Rep. Adams, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.""The Biden-Harris Administration is making critical investments in healthcare for moms, babies, and Black parents, including in today's Build Back Better framework. With the inclusion of the vast majority of our landmark Momnibus legislation, today's Build Back Better framework makes historic investments in the health and care of moms. It is nothing short of a game-changer for Black mothers as well as every parent bringing a child into the world. I am so proud to see the Biden-Harris Administration lifting up the voices of Black women and creating a world where maternal justice and equality are a reality."" ""As a Black mother and grandmother, take it from me: Black mamas can't wait!"" Adams concluded. Background: The Momnibus TheBlack Maternal Health Momnibus Act(H.R. 959/S. 346) was reintroduced in February 2021 by Underwood, Adams, and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). The Momnibus builds on existing maternal health legislation with 12 bills to comprehensively address the clinical and non-clinical drivers of the maternal health crisis in the United States. The Momnibus makes critical investments in addressing social determinants of health, funding community-based organizations, growing and diversifying the perinatal workforce, and improving data collection processes. The Momnibus also includes new legislation to address the impacts of COVID-19 and climate change on maternal and infant health outcomes. More information on the Momnibus is available here. Background: New Jersey Decision This amendment to the New Jersey FamilyCare Comprehensive Demonstration aligns with coverage options available under the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Beginning on April 1, 2022, states will have the option to extend coverage for postpartum individuals beyond the required 60-day postpartum period through the end of the month in which a 12-month postpartum period ends. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to addressing the health disparities that underlie our health system. Actions under the Build Back Better agenda will provide significant funding towards improving maternal health and tackling health disparities. On April 12, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recognized Black Maternal Health Week by announcing actions to expand access to continuous health care coverage as well as access to preventive care in rural areas in order to improve maternal health outcomes. The Administration also issued the first ever presidential proclamation on Black Maternal Health Week, calling on all Americans to recognize the importance of addressing the crisis of Black maternal mortality and morbidity in this country. Medicaid covers nearly one in five women of reproductive age and makes pregnancy-related care accessible for more than 40 percent of people giving birth. Currently, a third of maternal deaths occur between one week to a year after childbirth, and Black women suffer three to four times more pregnancy-related deaths than white women. Providing continued Medicaid and CHIP coverage helps ensure access to the ongoing care people need during the postpartum period. The continuity of coverage available through this demonstration can help postpartum people manage chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes, and provide access to behavioral health and other mental health care services. This demonstration amendment will also ensure that the state can receive the enhanced funding for expenditures related to eligible people who remain covered through the demonstration and who would otherwise qualify for the Medicaid expansion adult group. As part of this approval, New Jersey has agreed to undertake monitoring and evaluation of the demonstration for the extension period, in alignment with any applicable CMS-provided technical assistance. For more information on the amendment to the section 1115 New Jersey FamilyCare Comprehensive Demonstration, visit: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/82571. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. is serving her fourth full term in Congress. She represents the 12th District of North Carolina, which includes parts of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. In 2018, she introduced the first Black Maternal Health Week resolution with then-Senator Kamala Harris. In 2019, she co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14). In March 2020, Adams, along with Harris and Underwood, introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act for the first time, and in February 2021 reintroduced an expanded version of the package with Senator Cory Booker. Adams is a mother of two and a grandmother of four.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/congresswoman-ross-applauds-biden-administration-plan-hold-offshore-wind-lease,Congresswoman Ross Applauds Biden Administration Plan to Hold Offshore Wind Lease Sale off the Coast of North Carolina,2021-10-28,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement after the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced it is seeking public input on a proposed lease sale for offshore wind energy development off the coast of North Carolina: “I am thrilled that the Biden administration is moving forward with an offshore wind lease sale in the Wilmington East Wind Energy Area,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Offshore wind energy offers the opportunity to address the climate crisis while meeting our future energy needs and providing good paying jobs. North Carolina is uniquely positioned to be a major player in what is projected to be a $140 billion-dollar industry, but success is dependent on strong cooperation among our federal, state, and local governments. I would like to thank BOEM Director Amanda Lefton and the Biden administration for their commitment to growing the clean energy sector by authorizing this lease sale, and I stand ready to work with them as this process continues.” In April, Congresswoman Ross led bipartisan members of the North Carolina delegation in sending a bipartisan letter to Director Lefton expressing support for the Bureau’s efforts to promptly and responsibly advance lease sales of existing wind energy areas (WEAs) and identify new WEAs off the coast of North Carolina. The proposed lease area consists of approximately 127,865 acres and includes the majority of the Wilmington East Wind Energy Area, which has the potential to unlock more than 1.5 GW of offshore wind energy and power more than 500,000 homes. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/congresswoman-ross-statement-historic-build-back-better-agenda,Congresswoman Ross Statement on the Historic Build Back Better Agenda,2021-10-28,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. - Congresswoman Deborah Ross released the following statement on the Build Back Better agenda and after President Biden met with the Democratic Caucus this morning: “Today’s meeting with the President was promising,” said Congresswoman Ross. “This package represents a historic investment in the next generation and will transform the lives of working Americans. By enacting the President’s Build Back Better agenda, we can bolster America’s families through investments in universal Pre-K, affordable and quality childcare, as well as an extension of the Child Tax Credit. This package will also provide one of the largest investments ever in combatting the climate crisis and help to close the Medicaid gap in states like North Carolina. We must rise to meet this pivotal moment and pass this historic bill for the American people.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-delivers-floor-speech-favor-reauthorizing-family-violence,Adams Delivers Floor Speech in Favor of Reauthorizing the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA),2021-10-27,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 28, 2021) – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) spoke in favor of reauthorizing the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) on the floor of the US House of Representatives. Adams is a cosponsor of H.R.2119, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021, which passed the House with bipartisan support earlier today. ""As a survivor of intimate partner violence, I can tell you that this piece of legislation is so very important,"" said Adams. ""For 37 years, the bipartisan Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) has supported survivors of domestic violence and their children. FVPSA helps local governments and service providers prevent violence, and it protects families and victims in their most vulnerable moments."" Video of Adams' speech is available on YouTube. BACKGROUND Today, the House passed landmark legislation that will strengthen domestic violence prevention programs and improve services for survivors. The Family Violence and Prevention Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) of 2021 – a bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) – increases funding for crisis hotlines, emergency shelters, and other vital programs that have experienced a surge in demand during the pandemic. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, in just one day in 2020, domestic violence programs were unable to meet 11,047 requests from survivors of domestic violence for shelter or supportive services. The legislation upgrades and modernizes the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, which was the first federal law to provide resources for survivors of domestic violence and has been the primary source of federal funding for domestic violence shelters for nearly 40 years. This bill will increase funding for domestic violence prevention and services by an estimated 37 percent for state programs and 45 percent for Tribal communities. The Family Violence and Prevention Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) of 2021: Shifts investments to increase prevention efforts, therefore reducing the rate of intimate partner violence and decreasing the funding needs for support services; Increases dedicated resources for over-represented and underserved populations, including communities of color, Tribal communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities; and Ensures survivors can receive culturally appropriate, accessible services. For a fact sheet on the bill,click here. For a state-by-state estimates on increases in funding for shelter, services and other support,click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/icymi-attorney-general-merrick-garland-confirms-congresswoman-ross-legislation,ICYMI: Attorney General Merrick Garland Confirms that Congresswoman Ross Legislation is Necessary to Confront Ransomware Threats,2021-10-27,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – In a House Judiciary Committee hearing last week, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) discussed the need for her legislation, the Ransom Disclosure Act, with Attorney General Merrick Garland. The bill provides the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with critical data on ransomware payments in order to bolster our understanding of how cybercriminal enterprises operate and develop a fuller picture of the ransomware threat. Congresswoman Ross asked: “And would it also be helpful if you had reporting on what victims had paid in ransomware in a larger registry? I've introduced legislation. There's companion Senate legislation on this.” Attorney General Garland responded: “More information we can find out about who's demanding the ransoms, what victims are paying, how they're paying, what kind of wallets they're paying them into, what kind of cyber or crypto wallets they're being asked to pay them into, all of those things help us understand the ecosystem. So the more information we have, the better.” The full exchange is available here. The Ransom Disclosure Act will: Require ransomware victims (excluding individuals) to disclose information about ransom payments no later than 48 hours after the date of payment, including the amount of ransom demanded and paid, the type of currency used for payment of the ransom, and any known information about the entity demanding the ransom; Require DHS to make public the information disclosed during the previous year, excluding identifying information about the entities that paid ransoms; Require DHS to establish a website through which individuals can voluntarily report payment of ransoms; Direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study on commonalities among ransomware attacks and the extent to which cryptocurrency facilitated these attacks and provide recommendations for protecting information systems and strengthening cybersecurity Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the Senate companion legislation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-urges-biden-administration-congress-include-maternal-health,"Adams Urges Biden Administration, Congress to Include Maternal Health Equity in Final Reconciliation Bill",2021-10-26,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter addressed to President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Congresswomen Alma Adams (NC-12), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Robin Kelly (IL-02), and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty (OH-03), along with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), are pushing to ensure that investments from the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act are included in full in the final Build Back Better Act package. Members are also urging the leaders to build on the critical progress made through the American Rescue Plan Act by investing in the permanent expansion of year-long postpartum Medicaid coverage in every state. ""Permanently expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage and advancing comprehensive investments in the Momnibus will uphold a principle that is fundamental to the Build Back Better Plan: that in America, every family has a right to thrive—a principle that begins with a safe and healthy pregnancy and birth. We must include these critical maternal health equity investments in the final Build Back Better reconciliation package."" the Members wrote. If passed, the Momnibus and postpartum Medicaid provisions in the Build Back Better package would be historic investments to save moms' lives, end racial and ethnic maternal health disparities, and advance birth equity across the United States. The letter echoes previous outreach to Leadership by more than 160 Members of the House and Senate advocating for the inclusion of the Momnibus and yearlong postpartum Medicaid coverage in a reconciliation package. The United States has the highest rate of pregnancy-related mortality among high-income countries, and the only rate that is rising. Maternal mortality rates for Black and Native Americans are 2-4 times higher than rates for white Americans, and Hispanic and AAPI people also experience disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act includes 12 bills to build on postpartum Medicaid coverage expansion and comprehensively address the drivers of the maternal health crisis. The Momnibus makes critical investments in addressing social determinants of health, funding community-based organizations, growing and diversifying the perinatal workforce, and improving data collection processes. Full text of the letter can be found here. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus in 2019 with her co-chair Rep. Lauren Underwood. Adams, Underwood, and then-Senator Kamala Harris led the introduction of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in 2020; Senator Cory Booker joined Adams and Underwood to lead the reintroduction of the Momnibus in 2021. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/ross-issa-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-enhance-judicial,"Ross, Issa, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Enhance Judicial Disclosure and Transparency Requirement",2021-10-26,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) introduced the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act to require online publication of financial disclosure reports for federal judges and to mandate that federal judges submit periodic transaction reports for certain securities transactions. The Senate companion was introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Kennedy (R-La.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), along with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). “Every American is entitled to equal justice under law,"" said Congresswoman Ross. “To live up to that foundational promise, we must ensure that judges conduct themselves ethically and impartially. That is why I introduced this bipartisan legislation to strengthen the judiciary’s integrity and restore trust in our nation’s courts. The Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act will ensure that judges are held to the same disclosure requirements as members of the legislative and executive branches. The bill will also grant public access to these disclosures through an online, searchable database, helping to bring necessary transparency to our nation’s courts.” “No part of our foundation of law and order can proceed without the considered, continuous and constant work of judges – and that’s why an unbiased judiciary is imperative,” said Rep. Issa. “Under the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act, we will equalize the accountability of our third branch of government to the same standard of elected officials.” “As recent reports have confirmed, our federal judiciary has operated with too much secrecy and minimal accountability for far too long,” said Chairman Nadler and Subcommittee Chairman Johnson. “Transparency and ethics are vital to the integrity of the judiciary and maintaining the public’s trust in our courts. We are proud to join Representatives Ross and Issa in introducing bipartisan legislation that will improve disclosure requirements for federal judges, a simple step that will help ensure judges remain impartial and cases are decided fairly.” “Federal Judges are increasingly facing cases that involve corporate and other parties that may impact the financial investments and overall wealth of those judges and create conflicts of interest,” said Rep. Roy. “Trust in our judicial system demands clear impartiality of the judges. In order to improve that trust, judges should be required to disclose their financial interests to the American public, meaning at least adhering to the same standard as currently applied to members of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort with my colleagues from both chambers of Congress.” “A fundamental pillar of our justice system is the right to a fair and impartial trial. Litigants need confidence that they will receive an unbiased hearing free from outside influence and based only on the facts and the law,” said Sen. Coons. “I’m proud to introduce this bill with my colleagues that will strengthen financial disclosure requirements for federal judges and help bolster confidence in the justice system.” “The STOCK Act rightly strengthened disclosure requirements and boosted transparency for elected officials, but federal judges were inexplicably carved out of these tougher rules,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would subject federal judges to the same disclosure requirements of other federal officials so we can be sure litigants are protected from conflicts of interest and cases are decided fairly.” Background: The Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act would require that federal judges’ financial disclosure reports be made publicly available online, and require federal judges to submit periodic transaction reports of securities transactions in line with other federal officials under the STOCK Act. The bill would amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to: Require the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to create a searchable online database of judicial financial disclosure forms and post those forms within 90 days of being filed, and Subject federal judges to the STOCK Act’s requirement of filing periodic transaction reports within 45 days of securities transactions over $1,000. Importantly, the bill also preserves the existing ability of judges to request redactions of personal information on financial disclosure reports due to a security concern. Under current ethics guidelines and federal law, federal judges are prohibited from hearing cases that involve a party in which they, their spouse, or their minor children have a financial interest. Federal judges are instead required to disqualify themselves in any proceeding in which their impartiality may be questioned. Despite this, a recent report from the Wall Street Journal found that between 2010 and 2018, more than 130 federal judges failed to recuse themselves in nearly 700 cases in which they or an immediate family member held stock in a company involved in the case. While federal judges are required to submit financial disclosure reports, current law does not provide sufficient transparency for litigants to research whether a judge has a conflict of interest. The current process for obtaining judicial financial disclosure forms can be cumbersome and take months or even years. By contrast, financial disclosure reports for the President, Members of Congress, and Presidential-appointed and Senate-confirmed officials are readily-available and searchable online. By providing litigants with real-time access to judges’ financial disclosures and securities transactions, the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act would help preserve the integrity of judicial proceedings, ensure judges recuse themselves when there’s a potential conflict of interest, and provide litigants and the public with greater confidence in the judicial system. Bill text can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-maloney-congressional-maternity-care-caucus-black-maternal-0,"Adams, Maloney, Congressional Maternity Care Caucus, & Black Maternal Health Caucus Celebrate House Passage of PUMP For Nursing Mothers Act",2021-10-25,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 25, 2021) — In a bipartisan vote on Friday, the House of Representatives passed theProviding Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney's (NY-12). The bill was introduced earlier this year with the original support of Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) and CongresswomanLauren Underwood (IL-14), co-chairs of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. The bill was also originally supported by Congresswomen Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), co-chairs of the Congressional Maternity Care Caucus. The legislation will ensure that all nursing mothers have protections in the workplace by expanding them to nearly 9 million employees not currently covered by existing law. Additionally, all nursing families in the United States will benefit from the other aspects of this legislation -- enforcement, extending protections to last for two years, and covering workers in the case of adoption, surrogacy, and infant loss. ""In our country, mothers often have to choose between providing for their families or nursing their babies,"" said Rep. Adams. ""The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act ensures that millions of working mothers have the access and protections they need to nurse for as long as they choose to do so. Every major medical authority strongly encourages nursing for at least the first year of life, as it provides significant health and nutritional benefits to both the mother and infant. By closing an unintended loophole, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act provides protection and support to an additional 9 million working mothers who have been forced to choose between nursing and earning a paycheck. Nursing mothers should not be punished for making the best choices for their health, and the health of their children."" ""When I was pregnant with my first child, I was told there was no such thing as maternity leave where I was employed. While we've come a long way since then, new parents still face too many difficulties in the workplace. Those difficulties should not include breastfeeding,"" said Rep. Maloney. ""For the health and safety of mothers and their babies, all working moms who want to breastfeed must have the time and space to pump breastmilk. These employees and their families suffer when these basic rights aren't met. Without these protections, nursing mothers face serious health consequences, including risk of painful illness and infection, diminished milk supply, and the inability to continue breastfeeding. All working moms should be guaranteed the workplace protections to breastfeed if they want to, and no new mother should be forced to choose between breastfeeding and earning a paycheck."" ""As a mom of three young kids, I understand the challenges faced by nursing moms who also hold jobs.,"" said Rep. Herrera Beutler. ""Making sure moms can pump at work promotes healthier families, and it's also important to help businesses recruit and retain the workforces they need. That's why I'm pleased the House approved this business-friendly, bipartisan legislation – endorsed by leading business associations like the U.S. Chamber of Congress and the National Retail Federation – that simply provides moms with reasonable opportunities to pump in their workplace. I'm proud to have worked with businesses, health care stakeholders, and parents in successfully leading this legislation that supports moms in Southwest Washington who are providing for their family's health and financial security."" ""As Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Maternity Caucus, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, a commonsense law to protect breastfeeding mothers in the workplace,"" said Rep. Roybal-Allard. ""Research clearly shows that without protections and access to appropriate and necessary accommodations, breastfeeding employees have increased risk of painful illness and infection, diminished milk supply, and are more likely to stop breastfeeding early. This bill will help ensure that new mothers in certain professions such as teaching, nursing, software engineering and other salaried positions have the same breastfeeding protections guaranteed to other workers by the 2010 Break Time Law. I thank my colleague, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, for her decades of leadership in protecting and promoting breastfeeding rights for working moms nationwide and I hope to see swift passage of this important legislation."" ""Every parent deserves the opportunity to choose to breastfeed, and I'm proud to sponsor legislation that would remove barriers to breastfeeding for parents as they return to workforce,"" said Rep. Underwood.""As a nurse, I know the health benefits of breastfeeding are clear, and all breastfeeding employees should be provided the time and space they need to safely and privately pump at work,"" said Representative Lauren Underwood. ""I urge the Senate to send this bill to the President's desk urgently. It's past time to close this loophole and ensure returning to work is not a barrier to breastfeeding."" ""Through the Break Time for Nursing Mothers Law, we have ten years of data illustrating that early coordination and communication makes it easy for employers to anticipate and accommodate the needs of lactating employees. We are thankful for Congressional champions on both sides of the aisle coming together to move this critical legislation forward. It unequivocally demonstrates that breastfeeding is a bipartisan public health imperative,"" says Nikia Sankofa, Executive Director of the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. ""We just made history together! The lactation field's dedication to identifying and advancing a bipartisan solution that meets the needs of parents, babies, and employers is a testament to what we can accomplish together."" ""Today, the US House of Representatives addressed the critical needs of nursing workers by passing the bipartisan PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (H.R. 3110),"" said Vania Leveille, Senior Legislative Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union. ""Employers in every industry should have policies in place to accommodate the needs of pregnant and breastfeeding employees but, unfortunately, that is not currently the case. Instead, too many workers are penalized, discriminated against, terminated, or left without options when they try to pump breast milk at work. The PUMP Act ensures that millions of employees left unprotected by current law will have a reasonable amount of time and a private place to pump breast milk at their place of work. This measured and long overdue legislation is essential to safeguard the health and economic security of millions of women and families across the country. We applaud the House for taking action and thank Chairman Scott and Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Jaime Herrera Beutler for their leadership. The Senate should act swiftly to pass this bill."" ""With the House passage of the PUMP Act, Congress just took a critical step forward to combat lactation discrimination in the workplace."" said Dina Bakst, Co-Founder and Co-President of A Better Balance. ""As we hear all too often, nursing mothers returning to the workplace face unfair treatment because their employers refuse to provide them with time and space to express breast milk. This can lead to devastating health and economic consequences for parents and their children. These challenges face many new nursing workers, but disproportionately low-wage working mothers of color. The PUMP Act will close gaps in our nation's labor laws that have excluded millions of workers and finally guarantee them fair treatment We thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Scott, and Congresswomen Maloney and Herrera-Beutler for their leadership on this critical legislation and urge the Senate to pass the bill without delay."" ""Today's House vote to pass the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act represents an important step in fixing broken policies that force women to choose between their jobs and their family's well-being,"" said Liz Morris, Deputy Director of the Center for WorkLife Law. ""As detailed in our report, Exposed: Discrimination Against Breastfeeding Workers, nearly 2/3 of breastfeeding discrimination cases end in job loss; something we simply cannot afford during the pandemic as millions of women have been forced to leave the workforce because of their caregiving responsibilities. The PUMP Act is bipartisan legislation that would ensure lactating workers no longer lose their jobs or face serious health consequences because they lack basic legal rights."" ""Common-sense reforms can ensure that millions of nursing mothers are supported in the workplace, addressing one of the most common barriers to sustained breastfeeding. We are grateful for the bipartisan work, led by Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Jaime Herrera Beutler, to craft sensible solutions that will result in real change for working mothers,"" said Rev. Douglas Greenaway, President & CEO of the National WIC Association. ""As the nation's largest breastfeeding promotion program, WIC providers know that more work needs to be done to address barriers that keep mothers from reaching their breastfeeding goals. With longstanding scientific recommendations urging six months of exclusive breastfeeding as the gold standard of infant nutrition, businesses must be equipped to support employees who need reasonable break time and a private space to pump. The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act is an important step in supporting working mothers, and we urge the Senate to follow in advancing this critical legislation."" The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act is endorsed by over 160 organizations, including those quoted above. Background The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act would strengthen and expand the 2010 Break Time law by: Closing the coverage gap. The bill would protect 9 million employees not included in the 2010 Break Time law by extending the law's protections to cover categories of employees currently exempted from protections, such as teachers, nurses, and farmworkers. Providing employers clarity on when pumping time can be unpaid, as is allowed under current law. Ensuring that nursing mothers have access to remedies that are available for other violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The full bill text can be found here and a fact sheet can be found here. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. is serving her fourth full term in Congress. She represents the 12th District of North Carolina, which includes parts of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. In 2018, she introduced the first Black Maternal Health Week resolution with then-Senator Kamala Harris. In 2019, she co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14). In March 2020, Adams, along with Harris and Underwood, introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act for the first time, and in February 2021 reintroduced an expanded version of the package with Senator Cory Booker. Adams is a mother of two and a grandmother of four.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/congresswoman-ross-amendment-support-nursing-mothers-passes-house,Congresswoman Ross Amendment to Support Nursing Mothers Passes House,2021-10-22,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) voted to pass H.R. 3110, the bipartisan, Providing Urgent Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act. This legislation would extend important workplace protections to nursing mothers, clarify employers’ obligations under the law, and ensure lactating workers have access to appropriate remedies. This bill includes an amendment introduced by Congresswoman Ross directing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit a report to Congress within 24 months providing recommendations to improve compliance among covered employers and ensure nursing mothers are made sufficiently aware of their rights under the law. “In many places in this country, including my home state of North Carolina, it is easier to take a smoke break than for a mother to take a pump break,” said Congresswoman Ross. “This is simply unacceptable. That is why I was proud to vote for the PUMP Act so that nursing mothers no longer must choose between earning a paycheck and feeding their child. “I was also pleased that the House passed my amendment directing GAO to study employer compliance as well as nursing mothers’ awareness of their rights under this new law. A law is only as effective as its enforcement, and we have unfortunately witnessed countless instances where businesses have not lived up to their legal obligations and failed to inform workers of their rights. We owe it to nursing workers, their families, and our local communities to be vigilant about overseeing the implementation of this law.” Ross spoke in support of the amendment. Remarks can be found here. The PUMP Act: Extends break time and space protections to workers who are currently excluded from overtime protections, including agricultural workers, transportation workers, airline workers, and teachers; Ensures workers can recover appropriate forms of relief in court for violations, including reinstatement or back pay; Extends break time and space protections to workers up to two years after the employee gives birth or begins nursing a child; Ensures workers are covered by break time and space protections when they begin nursing a child, including an adopted child, or when they give birth, even if the infant is stillborn or the worker does not retain custody of the infant; and Clarifies that if a worker is not completely relieved of duty during breaks, such break time is considered hours worked and thus compensable. Background: Working mothers are not sufficiently protected under current federal break time and space law. Enacted in 2010, the break time for nursing mothers provision under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 require employers to provide (1) reasonable break time to express milk for one year after a child’s birth and (2) a non-bathroom space free from view and intrusion for nursing employees to express breastmilk while at work. Unfortunately, gaps in the law limit the number of workers entitled to these protections and how workers can recover in court when their employers violate the requirements. Current Law Excludes Millions of Workers of Child-Bearing Age. Because the nursing mother provisions were added to the section of the FLSA providing overtime protections, workers who are statutorily excluded from overtime protections, including teachers, agricultural workers, and certain “white-collar” workers, are also excluded. As a result, the Economic Policy Institute estimates 8.65 million workers of childbearing age are excluded from nursing mother protections. Current Law Limits How Workers Can Recover in Court When Employers Fail to Comply. Because recovery under the FLSA is generally for unpaid overtime or minimum wage, employees are only able to hold their employers accountable for lost wages in court when employers do not provide break time and space. But, as the Labor Department has noted, “because employers are not required to compensate employees for break time to express breast milk, in most circumstances there will not be any unpaid minimum wage or overtime compensation associated with the failure to provide such breaks.” Moreover, lost wages are often an inadequate or inappropriate form of relief where the violation resulted in forced resignation, infection, early cessation of breastfeeding, or diminished milk supply.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-adams-and-panetta-urge-congressional-leadership-maintain-775,Reps. Adams and Panetta Urge Congressional Leadership to Maintain $7.75 Billion in Agriculture Research Funding in Build Back Better Agenda,2021-10-21,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) led 30 Members of Congress in a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer requesting their assistance in preserving the $7.75 billion investment in agricultural climate research, agriculture innovation, and agricultural research infrastructure included in the Build Back Better Agenda. This investment is crucial to maintaining President Biden's commitment to building sustainable and resilient agricultural communities, and the undersigned members look forward to working with congressional leadership and the White House on protecting these provisions. The letter can be viewed here. ""We can't build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic without sustainable and equitable investments in the future of agriculture,"" said Rep. Adams. ""To reclaim our global leadership in food and agricultural science and rise to tackle the climate crisis, we must be a leader in research and innovation infrastructure. To make sure we're making the most of every American's talents, we must work diligently to improve equity and access to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's research programs. Furthermore, a substantial portion of the $3.65 billion included for research facilities will support the most important drivers of equity in agriculture: minority-serving institutions and 1890s Land-Grant Institutions. The way to make this a reality is by protecting the $7.75 billion investment in agricultural climate research, agriculture innovation, and agricultural research infrastructure included in the House Agriculture Committee's section of the Build Back Better Act."" ""As American farmers have consistently dealt with numerous challenges from an erratic market and extreme weather events to the existing pandemic, American government funding for agricultural research has remained dismally flat for the past fifty years,"" said Rep. Panetta. ""By increasing federal funding for agriculture research and development, we can play our part by supporting farmers who not only need it but also deserve it. The letter that I wrote and led seeks to reaffirm Congress' commitment to farmers who continue to fight climate-induced production challenges and are willing to be part of the solution."" This funding in the Build Back Better Agenda is crucial to achieving net-zero emissions and removing long-standing barriers to entry for socially disadvantaged producers. The provisions also direct funding towards minority-serving institutions, addressing President Biden's goal of improving equity and access to federal programs. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Country) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Committee. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. In 2015, Rep. Adams co-founded the first Bipartisan HBCU Caucus in Congress. She is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, one of the 1890s institutions.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/congresswoman-ross-leads-41-house-members-calling-thorough-investigation-us,Congresswoman Ross Leads 41 House Members in Calling for a Thorough Investigation of U.S. Soccer Abuse Allegations,2021-10-20,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington. D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) led a letter with 41 House colleagues urging the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and U.S. Soccer Federation to conduct a thorough investigation into harassment and abuse claims made by NWSL players. Egregious reports of consistent abuse directed at women soccer players, including by former North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley, have revealed a clear pattern of systemic harassment that raises serious safety concerns for players in the league. “The abuse and harassment that NWSL players have been subjected to across the league is appalling,” said Congresswoman Ross. “The fact that players courageously brought their concerns to the attention of NWSL leadership and received minimal support represents a shocking institutional failure. This issue is personal for me. As the aunt of a high school soccer player, who hopes to play in college, I find the systemic refusal to protect women from abuse deeply concerning. From unequal pay to harassment and abuse, we need to finally say ‘enough is enough’ – women athletes shouldn’t be forced to endure mistreatment to compete in the sports they love. The NWSL, U.S. Soccer Federation, and the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA) must work together to conduct a robust investigation into this widespread abuse of power.” The letter highlights the demands of the NWSLPA, including that every coach, general manager, owner, and representative of the NWSL board of governors submit to the investigation into abusive conduct and that the scope of the investigation be expanded to include all 12 NWSL clubs represented on the Board of Governors, including the investigation of the potential NWSL neglect with regard to concerns of abuse raised by players or other staff. After former players bravely recounted the abuse and harassment they endured during Paul Riley’s tenure, he was fired from his position as the head coach of the North Carolina Courage, a NWSL soccer team based in Congresswoman Ross’ district. In addition to Paul Riley, three other NWSL coaches have been fired in the past three months for inappropriate comments, creating a toxic environment, and verbal and emotional abuse. Full text of the letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/congresswoman-ross-statement-senate-republicans-filibuster-freedom-vote-act,Congresswoman Ross Statement on Senate Republicans’ Filibuster of the Freedom to Vote Act,2021-10-20,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement after Senate Republicans filibustered the Freedom to Vote Act: “Americans across the country—including in North Carolina—continue to have their voting rights eviscerated by state legislatures,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Democrats responded by introducing the Freedom to Vote Act, legislation that would stop voter suppression and end partisan gerrymandering. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans proved today that not only will they refuse to support this legislation—they won’t even allow debate on it. “The right to vote is a cornerstone of American democracy. It should not be a partisan battle. By filibustering the Freedom to Vote Act today, Senate Republicans voted to shield the work of GOP legislatures intent on gutting voting rights. While today’s result is disappointing, I remain committed to passing legislation to protect the fundamental rights of our most vulnerable communities.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/congresswoman-ross-votes-advance-resolution-hold-steve-bannon-contempt,Congresswoman Ross Votes to Advance Resolution to Hold Steve Bannon in Contempt of Congress,2021-10-20,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) voted in a Rules Committee hearing in favor of advancing a resolution recommending the House find Stephen K. Bannon in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena duly issued by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol: Ross said in her remarks to Select Committee Chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY), “This meeting is about holding people accountable to our nation's laws and to our Constitution. Former White House Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon, as we know, has refused to comply with your duly issued subpoena. He refused to come voluntarily. His claim of executive privilege now, as we know, is flimsy at best. “He has been a private citizen since mid-2017, having served his last executive branch duties in the immediate wake of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. His communications with former President Trump in the lead up to the January 6th attack on our democracy can hardly be considered part of any presidential official duties. Everyone must play by the rules. And Bannon has already made his fair share of trips to the well. He's already been pardoned for a series of crimes defrauding the people of the United States of America. Not this time.” Full video of her remarks can be found here. Reports indicate that Bannon – a former Trump Administration official who left his role in the White House in August 2017 – has information relevant to the Select Committee’s investigation. Bannon, through letters from his attorney, indicated that he would not comply with the Select Committee’s duly issued subpoena. The deadlines to produce documents and to appear for a deposition have passed without Bannon’s compliance. The resolution passed out of the committee and will head to the House floor for consideration.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-statement-price-retirement,Adams Statement on Price Retirement,2021-10-18,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. released the following statement celebrating the career of North Carolina's longest-serving Member of Congress, Rep. David Price (NC-04). ""David Price is not only the dean of North Carolina's congressional delegation, he's also a North Carolina legend. David helped build the modern North Carolina Democratic Party and has been a tireless representative for our state for over three decades in Congress,"" said Congresswoman Alma Adams.""As a fellow college professor, David has always put education at the forefront. I especially appreciate David's work to bring the successes of North Carolina's Teaching Fellows program to all 50 states; his work on student aid reform to cut interest rates and increase the number and size of Pell Grants; and the Price Education Affordability Act, which allows families to deduct the interest on student loans. As an appropriator, Chairman Price has worked to make housing more affordable for North Carolinians while investing in multi-modal transportation across our state, including the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte."" ""The Tar Heel State delegation has big shoes to fill. I wish David the best in his retirement, and thank him for both his friendship and his decades of service to our state,"" Adams concluded.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/congresswoman-ross-statement-congressman-prices-retirement,Congresswoman Ross Statement on Congressman Price's Retirement,2021-10-18,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on Congressman David Price’s (NC-04) retirement: “Congressman Price embodies what it means to be a true public servant – he fights hard every day for the people he represents, and he unfailingly does what’s right even when it’s unpopular,“ said Congressman Ross. “David is a thoughtful leader who for many years has used his position on the powerful House Appropriations Committee to deliver transformative federal investments in North Carolina and to make life better for North Carolina families. Today, we celebrate all that he has accomplished for our state and our community. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve alongside him and learn from him in my first term. We will all miss David dearly in the House and will do our best to build on his formidable legacy by continuing to fight for the causes he championed – from affordable housing to modern infrastructure to democracy reform. Perhaps more importantly, at a time when our politics are often angry and acrimonious, every Member of Congress should also strive to serve with David’s characteristic kindness and personal dignity. I wish David, Lisa, and his entire family the best as they embark on this new chapter.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/congresswoman-ross-statement-epas-roadmap-confront-toxic-forever-chemicals,Congresswoman Ross Statement on EPA’s Roadmap to Confront Toxic “Forever Chemicals”,2021-10-18,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) joined Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan as he unveiled the comprehensive Strategic Roadmap to confront PFAS contamination nationwide at North Carolina State University. “North Carolinians are all too familiar with the costly impact PFAS contamination can have on local communities ,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Chemical companies have polluted the Cape Fear River with PFAS for years and tests of drinking water systems in my district, including in Raleigh and Cary, have detected PFAS. Fortunately, Congress and the Biden Administration have been working to tackle this issue on a bipartisan basis. Today’s announcement of the EPA’s PFAS Roadmap is one of the most significant steps to date that the federal government has taken to prevent and mitigate PFAS contamination. I would like to thank Administrator Regan for his service to North Carolina and our nation and I look forward to working with him to protect vulnerable members of our communities from these so-called ‘forever chemicals.’” “For far too long, families across America – especially those in underserved communities – have suffered from PFAS in their water, their air, or in the land their children play on,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This comprehensive, national PFAS strategy will deliver protections to people who are hurting, by advancing bold and concrete actions that address the full lifecycle of these chemicals. Let there be no doubt that EPA is listening, we have your back, and we are laser focused on protecting people from pollution and holding polluters accountable.” ""This roadmap commits the EPA to quickly setting enforceable drinking water limits for these chemicals as well as giving stronger tools to communities to protect people’s health and the environment,"" said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. ""As we continue partnering with the EPA on this and other important efforts, it is critical that Congress pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and the larger budget resolution that includes billions of dollars to address PFAS contamination."" PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” are dangerous, man-made chemicals that do not break down easily and have contaminated the nation’s water, soil, and air for decades, resulting in serious health consequences. The EPA’s PFAS Roadmap will guide the agency’s current and planned activities in 2021-2024 to research, restrict, and remediate harmful PFAS. The Roadmap includes regulatory and administrative actions and enforcement approaches that EPA intends to take, using existing authorities, to comprehensively address PFAS throughout the environment. Actions include a new national testing strategy to accelerate research and regulatory development, a proposal to designate certain PFAS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and actions to broaden and accelerate the cleanup of PFAS. Congresswoman Ross serves on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee where she has consistently advocated for supporting research institutions and leveraging federal resources to eradicate PFAS contamination. In June, Congresswoman Ross led a letter with six other members of the North Carolina delegation to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Michael Regan urging the EPA to reconsider a Trump administration decision to deny a citizens’ petition filed by a group of NC-based environmental health and justice groups in 2020. The petition, filed under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), requested that EPA exercise its authority under TSCA to require Chemours to fund robust health and environmental testing for 54 PFAS manufactured by Chemours at its Fayetteville facility. Congresswoman Ross also voted to pass the PFAS Action Act, legislation that would require comprehensive regulation of PFAS by establishing standards to protect drinking water from contamination and authorizing grants to drinking water utilities treating PFAS contamination.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-introduces-public-safety-and-wildlife-protection-act,Adams Introduces Public Safety and Wildlife Protection Act,2021-10-15,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during National Wildlife Refuge Week, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) introduced the Public Safety and Wildlife Protection Act. The Public Safety and Wildlife Protection Act would prohibit interstate shipment of steel-jaw leghold and Conibear traps. This legislation will not supersede a state's policies and regulations on trapping; it does, however, ensure that these two dangerous traps do not cross state lines. ""Today, I'm reintroducing the Public Safety and Wildlife Protection Act. We cannot afford to ignore the danger posed by antiquated body-gripping traps,"" said Congresswoman Adams. ""Wildlife, pets, and people are placed in harm's way whenever these violent traps are around. I am proud to reintroduce this important piece of legislation to protect our wildlife and our families."" A 2015 Responsive Management report revealed almost 90 percent of trappers used either steel-jaw leghold or Conibear traps. Although each state regulates the use of steel-jaw leghold or Conibear traps, there are no federal laws preventing trappers from crossing state lines with these traps. According to Angela Grimes, CEO of Born Free USA, ""At its core, trapping is dangerous, indiscriminate, and barbaric. Leghold and Conibear traps—the two most commonly used traps in the U.S.—cause unconscionable suffering not only to targeted wild animals, but also to endangered species, beloved pets, and even children. It is well past time to significantly limit the impact and spread of these traps. We thank Congresswoman Adams not only for introducing this important bill, but introducing it during National Wildlife Refuge week, further shining a light on the fact that these kinds of traps are used on nearly 43% of our refuges – land set aside specifically for the protection of our wild species."" ""As fall trapping season gets underway, the reintroduction of the Public Safety and Wildlife Protection Act could not be more timely,"" said Cathy Liss, president of the Animal Welfare Institute. ""Torturing animals by breaking their bones, crushing tissue and organs, and keeping them pinned in powerful metal jaws is not acceptable, and it's time to evolve beyond such archaic methods of capturing wildlife. We strongly endorse Representative Adams' bill to curtail the use of body-gripping traps."" Rep. Adams has introduced the Public Safety and Wildlife Protection Act in every Congress since her first full term started in 2015. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL) is a cosponsor of this year's bill. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/congresswoman-ross-urges-postal-service-update-name-oberlin-village-post,Congresswoman Ross Urges Postal Service to Update the Name of Oberlin Village Post Office,2021-10-14,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) sent a letter urging the United States Postal Service (USPS) to change the name of the U.S. Post Office located at 806 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27605 to the “Oberlin Village Post Office.” This post office is still referred to as the “Cameron Village” Post Office by USPS. This post office was previously located adjacent to a shopping center which until recently was known as Cameron Village. Named after the owner of the Cameron Plantation, where hundreds of enslaved people were once confined, the name of the post office is an archaic tribute to a horrific past that does not fit the inclusive community that now calls the area home. While the shopping center was recently renamed the “Village District,” the post office still bears the name “Cameron Village”—despite the name’s troubling history and its new location farther away from the shopping center. Sabrina Goode, Executive Director of Friends of Oberlin Village said, “It’s historically significant that the USPS is located in the Oberlin Baptist Church, which was founded by former slave Plummer T. Hall. The church has served the Oberlin community for over 140 years. The renaming of the current Post Office would be an acknowledgement of this beloved community that has contributed in many ways to the City of Raleigh.” The letter read in part: “Its new location, in a property owned by Oberlin Baptist Church, lies within the geographic boundary of Oberlin Village, one of the last surviving antebellum settlements founded by a free Black person in the State of North Carolina. After reconstruction, the community became a welcoming refuge for newly-freed slaves who had just gained their freedom from the nearby Cameron Plantation. “Given these factors, I strongly urge the U.S. Postal Service to consider updating the name of this post office to the “Oberlin Village Post Office,” to better reflect its new geographic location and to end the commemoration of a plantation and its slaveholding owner.” Full text of the letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-announces-service-academy-deadline-class-2026,Adams Announces Service Academy Deadline for Class of 2026,2021-10-12,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) is reminding Charlotte and Mecklenburg County high school students that the deadline to apply to be one of her nominees to the United States' military service academies is Monday, October 25. Adams' office is currently accepting applications from high school students seeking nomination for appointment to the United States Air Force, Naval, Military and Merchant Marine Academies. ""I am honored to nominate our best and brightest students to begin their career in public service. This is a great opportunity to answer the call to serve your country and our community, and I look forward to considering many exceptional students this year,"" said Rep. Adams. Each year Congresswoman Alma Adams nominates High School Seniors from the district for appointment to the U.S. Military (USMA), Naval (USNA), Air Force (USAFA) and Merchant Marine Academies (USMA). The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination. Students seeking a nomination can apply through their U.S. House Representative, U.S. Senators and the Vice President of the United States. Qualifying candidates will have the opportunity to receive a full scholarship to attend one of the nation's five prestigious service academies. After graduating, candidates are expected to complete a five-year military service requirement as commissioned officers. Candidates for Rep. Adams' nomination must be a United States citizen living in the 12th Congressional District of North Carolina; must be at least 17 years old and younger than 23 years old; must be unmarried; and must have no legal obligation to support children or dependents. For more information about this year's nomination process please contact district director Phanalphie Rhue at 704-344-9950 or Phanalphie.Rhue@mail.house.gov. About Rep. Alma Adams Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. has represented North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County) since 2014. She serves on the House Committee on Agriculture as vice chair; on the House Education & Labor Committee as chair of the Workplace Protections Subcommittee; and on the House Financial Services Committee. Since being elected to Congress, Congresswoman Adams has nominated over 70 students from the 12th Congressional District to service academies. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-hill-announce-home-depot-loop-capital-join-hbcu-partnership,"Adams, Hill Announce Home Depot, Loop Capital Join HBCU Partnership Challenge",2021-10-08,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12),and Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02),co-chairsof the bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus, announced The Home Depot and Loop Capital are joining the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Partnership Challenge, bringing the total number of HBCU Partnership Challenge participants to 80. The HBCUPartnershipChallengeis an effort to promote greater engagement and support between private companies and HBCUs. ""The Home Depot has had a long-standing partnership with HBCUs, but we are continuously looking to increase our partnership in impactful ways,"" said Derek Bottoms, Chief Diversity Officer & VP – Associate Relations for Home Depot. ""As such, we are proud to sign this pledge as part of our commitment to advancing education for all and providing educational resources needed to succeed. ""Since 2009, our Retool Your School program has provided campus improvement grants that allow HBCUs to make sustainable improvements to their campuses. In 2021, we increased our support by investing $1 million in campus improvement grants, and we are looking to deepen our HBCU commitment even further as we look ahead to the future."" ""One of my main initiatives when starting Loop was to invoke change and promote diversity within the financial services industry and my community,"" said Jim Reynolds, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Loop Capital. ""As I remain committed to diversity and inclusion for underrepresented communities, this partnership is a natural opportunity to support such a dynamic initiative and impactful institutions. I am excited for Loop Capital to join the HBCU Partnership Challenge."" ""Thank you to Home Depot and Loop Capital for helping Historically Black Colleges and Universities unleash the power of partnerships,"" said Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12), founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. ""Right now, our HBCUs are facing a major capital infrastructure and funding challenges. It's an important moment for private and public partners to come together to support our HBCUs. I applaud all of our private partners for taking the pledge at such a critical time. ""I applaud Home Depot and Loop Capital's commitment to the HBCU community by joining the HBCU Partnership Challenge,"" said Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02), Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. ""The HBCU partnership challenge demonstrates the strength of public-private partnerships and philanthropic support for America's HBCU community. I have seen first-hand how private partnerships with HBCUs can be impactful. This support is a vital part of further bolstering our HBCUs and bringing their needs to the forefront of Congressional priorities."" The Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus' Partnership Challenge is a bipartisan effort to promote greater engagement and support between private companies and HBCUs. Congresswoman Adams created the Challenge in 2017 to strengthen public-private relationships with HBCUs to ensure the schools' future sustainability, increase career prospects for their students, and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within all sectors. The Challenge encourages participating organizations to make greater investments in HBCUs as well. The Caucus hosts numerous events every year including HBCU STEAM Day of Action, HBCU Day, the HBCU Braintrust, the Virtual Partnership Luncheon, and the Diversity in Tech Summit. For more information, please contact Sam Spencer (Sam.Spencer@mail.house.gov). AboutAlmaAdams CongresswomanAlmaS. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. In 2015, she founded the first bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus in Congress.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/congresswoman-ross-announces-help-local-schools-libraries-boost-broadband,"Congresswoman Ross Announces Help for Local Schools, Libraries to Boost Broadband",2021-10-08,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) announced that schools and libraries can apply for additional funding from the American Rescue Plan to increase broadband services now through October 13th. Local schools and libraries can learn more about eligibility and apply HERE. North Carolina already applied for $149 million from the Emergency Connectivity Fund during the first application filing period this summer. The FCC expects to grant up to the full request pending a final review of those applications. Now, due to high interest in the program and additional funding still available, the FCC has opened a second application filing window for North Carolina to request additional funds now through October 13th. Funding for the Emergency Connectivity Fund was made possible by the American Rescue Plan Congresswoman Ross helped pass earlier this year. “The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare how important reliable, high-speed internet access is to everyday life,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Unfortunately, millions of students lack quality broadband in their homes, preventing them from fully participating in remote learning and widening the ‘homework gap’. We simply cannot expect our students to succeed in a 21st century classroom without 21st century tools. That is why I am thrilled the FCC can now deploy this historic $7 billion investment to ensure that students in the Research Triangle and around the country can access dependable, affordable internet. I encourage schools and libraries that were unable to apply for funds during the first filing period to take advantage of the second filing window.” Click here to learn more about the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hundreds-attend-adams-emergency-rental-assistance-event,Hundreds Attend Adams’ Emergency Rental Assistance Event,2021-10-05,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – Hundreds of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County residents were connected to critical help and financial assistance at the seven-hour Emergency Rental Assistance Application Pop-Up hosted by the Office of Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) on Friday, October 1 at the Park Expo and Conference Center in Charlotte. A dozen staff from RAMP CLT and DreamKey Partners were on hand to assist constituents with emergency rental assistance applications, and they were joined by representatives from the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, StarMed, Legal Aid of North Carolina, and Rep. Adams' district office staff. ""While I was proud of my district staff and our local partners for connecting so many families to rental assistance and life-saving vaccines on Friday, I'm saddened and heartbroken that so many of our neighbors still need help,"" said Congresswoman Alma Adams. ""Early on in the pandemic, I made establishing an emergency rental assistance fund a priority because we won't be able to build back better from COVID-19 unless our families and our neighbors have safe, affordable shelter. I'm proud to have voted for billions in Emergency Rental Assistance funding for renters and landlords, including a $21 billion appropriation in President Biden's American Rescue Plan. However, no amount of federal funding can solve a problem unless we are out in the community connecting constituents to these critical resources. That is why we must continue to get the word out at home about the important work we're doing on Capitol Hill. I look forward to hosting more events to connect our constituents with their Congress, and their Congresswoman."" Over 300 people took advantage of the services provided by the pop-up event, in addition to the over 19,000 Mecklenburg County residents who have already submitted a rental assistance application with RAMP CLT. Multiple media organizations, including Fox 46 and WFAE, spoke with attendees at the event who told their stories about how emergency rental assistance would give them a hand up to recover from the pandemic. Pictures from the event are available here, are in the public domain, and can be credited to the Office of Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. Earlier this year, Rep. Adams launched a page on her Congressional website to assist constituents with pandemic housing resources. Background ""Congresswoman Alma Adams, along with the Financial Services Committee, has made establishing an emergency rental assistance fund a priority."" – Spectrum News, April 17, 2020. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Congresswoman Adams has voted to authorize $46 billion in Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) for renters and landlords, including a $21 billion appropriation in the American Rescue Plan advanced by the Biden Administration. However, as of June 30, only 11 percent of that $46 billion had been distributed by states and localities. The local RAMP CLT program has been significantly more successful; through RAMP CLT, Charlotte and Mecklenburg County are among the leaders in distributing ERA funds. As of June 30, RAMP CLT had distributed $14,025,886 of its $24,000,000 ERA allocation for the City of Charlotte, and $6,006,381 of its $6,700,000 ERA allocation for Mecklenburg County. Any Mecklenburg County resident who meets these criteria can apply for RAMP CLT funds. Additionally, landlords can apply on behalf of eligible tenants with the consent of the tenant.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/10/ross-warren-introduce-bill-require-disclosures-ransomware-payments,"Ross, Warren Introduce Bill to Require Disclosures of Ransomware Payments",2021-10-05,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Representative Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today introduced the bicameral Ransom Disclosure Act. The bill provides the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with critical data on ransomware payments in order to bolster our understanding of how cybercriminal enterprises operate and develop a fuller picture of the ransomware threat. “Ransomware attacks are becoming more common every year, threatening our national security, economy, and critical infrastructure,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Unfortunately, because victims are not required to report attacks or payments to federal authorities, we lack the critical data necessary to understand these cybercriminal enterprises and counter these intrusions. I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Warren which will implement important reporting requirements, including the amount of ransom demanded and paid, and the type of currency used. The U.S. cannot continue to fight ransomware attacks with one hand tied behind our back. The data that this legislation provides will ensure both the federal government and private sector are equipped to combat the threats that cybercriminals pose to our nation.” “Ransomware attacks are skyrocketing, yet we lack critical data to go after cybercriminals,” said Senator Warren. “My bill with Congresswoman Ross would set disclosure requirements when ransoms are paid and allow us to learn how much money cybercriminals are siphoning from American entities to finance criminal enterprises -- and help us go after them.” Ransomware attacks pose a significant national security threat, impacting critical infrastructure and military facilities, hospitals and medical centers, small and large businesses, schools and universities, and municipal governments. Between 2019 and 2020, ransomware attacks rose by 62% worldwide and 158% in North America. In 2020, the FBI received nearly 2,500 ransomware complaints, up 20% from 2019, which identified losses of over $29 million. According to one cybersecurity firm, victims worldwide paid nearly $350 million in ransom in 2020 – a more than 300% increase over the previous year – with the average payment increasing by 170% to $312,000. The Ransom Disclosure Act will: Require ransomware victims (excluding individuals) to disclose information about ransom payments no later than 48 hours after the date of payment, including the amount of ransom demanded and paid, the type of currency used for payment of the ransom, and any known information about the entity demanding the ransom; Require DHS to make public the information disclosed during the previous year, excluding identifying information about the entities that paid ransoms; Require DHS to establish a website through which individuals can voluntarily report payment of ransoms; Direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study on commonalities among ransomware attacks and the extent to which cryptocurrency facilitated these attacks and provide recommendations for protecting information systems and strengthening cybersecurity On May 7, 2021, Colonial Pipeline suffered a ransomware attack, which caused the company to halt all pipeline operations. Colonial Pipeline delivers approximately 45% of all fuel consumed on the East Coast, including a significant portion of the transportation fuels consumed in the State of North Carolina. Following the cyber-attack, Ross led the North Carolina democratic delegation in a letter requesting a full investigation. Specifically, the letter called for mandatory cybersecurity standards for our energy systems. With the heightened number of cyber-attacks from cybercriminals, Governor Roy Cooper has also proclaimed October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-celebrates-biden-nomination-king,Adams Celebrates Biden Nomination of King,2021-09-29,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – Today,Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) released the following statement celebrating President Joe Biden's nomination of Dena King to serve as United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, which includes Charlotte and Mecklenburg County: ""I congratulate Dena King on this history-making achievement. If confirmed by the Senate, she will be the first Black woman to serve North Carolina in this role. Ms. King is a superbly qualified attorney, an HBCU graduate, and a dedicated public servant. I urge the Senate to confirm her without delay."" King currently serves as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, a role she previously held in the Eastern District of North Carolina. King is a graduate of North Carolina State University and the North Carolina Central University School of Law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/office-congresswoman-adams-hosts-emergency-rental-assistance,"Office of Congresswoman Adams Hosts Emergency Rental Assistance Application Pop-Up & Vaccination Clinic on Friday, Oct. 1",2021-09-29,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"CHARLOTTE – The Office of Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) will host an ""Emergency Rental Assistance Application Pop-Up & Vaccination Clinic"" event on Friday, October 1 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Park Expo and Conference Center in Charlotte. RAMP CLT staff will be on-site to assist constituents with emergency rental assistance applications. Additionally, from 12:00 Noon until 4:00 PM, constituents will be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Event Details Who:Open to all Mecklenburg County residents What:Emergency Rental Assistance Application Pop-Up & Vaccination Clinic Where:Park Expo and Conference Center, 800 Briar Creek Road, Charlotte, NC 28205 When:11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Why: Assisting constituents with Emergency Rental Assistance applications; providing resources to housing-insecure families; offering vaccinations to eligible residents. Note: The ERA application portion of event is for new applicants only. Applicants with a current application on file with RAMP CLT do not need to attend. Background ""Congresswoman Alma Adams, along with the Financial Services Committee, has made establishing an emergency rental assistance fund a priority."" – Spectrum News, April 17, 2020. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Congresswoman Adams has voted to authorize $46 billion in Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) for renters and landlords, including a $21 billion appropriation in the American Rescue Plan advanced by the Biden Administration. However, as of June 30, only 11 percent of that $46 billion had been distributed by states and localities. The local RAMP CLT program has been significantly more successful; through RAMP CLT, Charlotte and Mecklenburg County are among the leaders in distributing ERA funds. As of June 30, RAMP CLT had distributed $14,025,886 of its $24,000,000 ERA allocation for the City of Charlotte, and $6,006,381 of its $6,700,000 ERA allocation for Mecklenburg County. Any Mecklenburg County resident who meets these criteria can apply for RAMP CLT funds. Additionally, landlords can apply on behalf of eligible tenants with the consent of the tenant.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/congresswoman-ross-leads-second-bipartisan-letter-calling-fix-backlog-veterans,Congresswoman Ross Leads Second Bipartisan Letter Calling for Fix to Backlog of Veterans’ Record Requests,2021-09-28,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), and Congressman Warren Davidson (OH-08) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in requesting that the Biden administration address the growing backlog of veterans’ records requests at the National Personnel Record Center (NPRC). In their letter to President Biden, Office of Personnel Management Director Kiran Ahuja, and Archivist David Ferriero, the lawmakers urged the administration to expeditiously develop a plan to boost capacity at the NPRC and reduce this backlog. The letter read in part, “Veterans are our nation’s heroes. They deserve gold-standard access to care and benefits. We urgently ask that you take any and all actions to address this growing crisis so that our heroes are not left behind in this already difficult time.” The NPRC is operating at a 10 percent capacity, resulting in a backlog of more than half a million records requests – predominantly for DD-214 forms – that have been unfulfilled. In December, Congress appropriated $50 million in emergency funding for the National Archives and Record Administration revolving fund. While the NPRC received $15 million of this funding, staffing levels and processing capacity have dropped. The lawmakers requested clarification on NPRC staffing capacity, projected processing times for DD-214 forms, and how the NPRC is using appropriated funds to address the record backlog. The DD-214 form is a veteran’s primary document used to prove his or her service in the U.S. military and is required to obtain an identification card needed to receive veteran benefits like health and dental care and access to preferential hiring for federal jobs. In April, Congresswoman Ross led a bipartisan letter signed by 185 Members of Congress urging the NPRC to address the backlog of veteran personnel file requests and requesting that the Biden administration prioritize NPRC employees for vaccinations and testing to improve staffing capacity. Full text of the letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-coons-hill-announce-milestone-bipartisan-hbcu-infrastructure,"Adams, Coons, Hill Announce Milestone for Bipartisan HBCU Infrastructure Legislation",2021-09-24,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC), Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), and Representative French Hill (R-AR) announced a significant milestone for the bipartisan IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act. Over 100 members of the United States House of Representatives have endorsed the legislation. ""America is ready to invest in our historically Black colleges and universities,"" said Congresswoman Adams, founder and co-chair of the HBCU Caucus. ""Republicans and Democrats; Senators and Congresswomen; non-profit organizations and Fortune 500 companies; all of them are coming together to show their support for the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act. HBCU supporters know that while our institutions face unique challenges due to decades of underfunding and neglect, these colleges and universities produce some of the best returns on investment in higher education. It is time for the IGNITE Act to receive a vote as either an amendment or a stand-alone bill, and we implore our Congressional leadership to give Democrats and Republicans alike a chance to show our strong support for HBCUs!"" ""HBCUs play a critical role in producing top talent, propelling upward social mobility for graduates, and in strengthening our communities,"" Sen. Coons said. ""Now more than ever, passing this legislation is a powerful investment in the vitality of these institutions, and I'm glad to see more colleagues on both sides of the aisle committing their support."" ""I see the powerful impact that Historically Black Colleges and Universities have on their students, community and local economy directly in Arkansas which is home to four HBCUs,"" said Rep. French Hill. ""Congress has shown that it can come together in a bipartisan and bicameral good faith way to ensure that HBCUs have a bright future ahead of them. It is time for Congress to pass this bipartisan bill."" The bipartisan list of House cosponsors includes Representatives Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., French Hill, Terri Sewell, Michael Turner, Colin Allred, Jake Auchincloss, Karen Bass, Joyce Beatty, Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., Lisa Blunt Rochester, Suzanne Bonamici, Jamaal Bowman, Brendan F. Boyle, Anthony G. Brown, Cori Bush, Cheri Bustos, G. K. Butterfield, Andre' Carson, Troy Carter, David N. Cicilline, Katherine Clark, Yvette D. Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, II, James E. Clyburn, Steve Cohen, Jim Cooper, Joe Courtney, Charlie Crist, Danny K. Davis, Antonio Delgado, Val Demings, Lloyd Doggett, Adriano Espaillat, Dwight Evans, Brian Fitzpatrick, Sylvia R. Garcia, Al Green, Jahana Hayes, Steven Horsford, Chrissy Houlahan, Sheila Jackson Lee, Hakeem Jeffries, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Henry C. ""Hank"" Johnson, Jr., Mondaire Jones, Robin Kelly, Ro Khanna, Andy Kim, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Brenda L. Lawrence, Al Lawson, Barbara Lee, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Carolyn B. Maloney, Sean Patrick Maloney, Kathy Manning, Lucy McBath, Betty McCollum, A. Donald McEachin, Gregory W. Meeks, Kweisi Mfume, Gwen S. Moore, Seth Moulton, Frank Mrvan, Joe Neguse, Donald Norcross, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ilhan Omar, Donald M. Payne, Jr., Stacey E. Plaskett, Ayanna Pressley, David Price, Amata Radewagen, Mike Rogers, Deborah Ross, Bobby L. Rush, Michael F.Q. San Nicolas, Mary Gay Scanlon, David Scott, Adam Smith, Mikie Sherrill, Abigail Spanberger, Haley Stevens, Marilyn Strickland, Eric Swalwell, Mark Takano, Bennie G. Thompson, Rashida Tlaib, Ritchie Torres, David Trone, Lauren Underwood, Marc Veasey, Nydia Velazquez, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Maxine Waters, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, Frederica Wilson, Rob Wittman, and John Yarmuth. The bipartisan list of Senate cosponsors includes Senators Chris Coons, Tim Scott, Raphael Warnock, John Boozman, Chris Van Hollen, Thom Tillis, Cory Booker, Lindsey Graham, Bob Casey, and Cindy Hyde-Smith. Additionally, the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act has many endorsing organizations. Endorsing organizations include the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), IBM, Mastercard, Farm Credit, NC Electric Cooperatives, SAP, Dell, Wells Fargo, Visa, TIAA, Micron Technology, Diageo, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Information Technology Industry Council, Capital One, Adobe, Autodesk, Nielsen, Oracle Corporation, Siemens, Softbank Group, Vanguard, Alaska Airlines, Truist Financial, ACT Inc., and NRCCUA. While only representing roughly 3 percent of all four-year colleges and universities, HBCUs produce upwards of 17 percent of all bachelor's degrees awarded to African Americans. Additionally, HBCUs enroll a disproportionately high percentage of first generation and low-income students, nearly 60 percent, and outperform their peers in supporting and graduating these students. The incredible success of HBCUs has been achieved despite over a century of systemic underfunding at both the state and federal levels. Too often, HBCUs are forced to navigate the effects of chronic underfunding while also lacking access to alternate sources of capital available to other institutions. The IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act invests in infrastructure at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This legislation recognizes the contributions of these institutions in the most important way possible: by affording them the support and investment needed to deepen their transformational work. Specifically, it would authorize funds to: Utilize public and private investments to renovate, repair, modernize, or construct new campus facilities, including instructional, research, and residential spaces; Provide access to campus-wide, reliable high-speed broadband to support digital learning and long-term technological capacity; Develop campus facilities to support community-based partnerships that provide students and community members with academic, health, and social services; Procure equipment and technology needed to facilitate high-quality research and instruction; Preserve buildings with historic significance; and Ensure the resilience, safety, and sustainability of campus facilities.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-floor-remarks-womens-health-protection-act,Adams' Floor Remarks on the Women’s Health Protection Act,2021-09-24,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) gave floor remarks in support of H.R. 3755, the Women's Health Protection Act. Amid a dangerous assault on women's basic health freedoms – from state houses across the country to the U.S. Supreme Court – this landmark legislation enshrines into law the vital protections of Roe v. Wade and secures the right to reproductive care for all women across America. Additionally, she entered the testimony of a Charlotte mother who is an abortion care provider into the Congressional Record. Video of the remarks is available on YouTube. ""A woman who does not have control over her own body is not free,"" said Congresswoman Adams. ""So I want you to close your eyes and imagine being forced to give birth during a global pandemic. There are fewer in-person visits and more telehealth visits. New parents are having children alone without their families, worrying if their baby will catch the virus. If something goes wrong, there may not be space in the ICU. Now let's open our eyes to the truth: no woman should have to yield control over her own choices, and her own body. Let's pass the Women's Health Protection Act."" Rep Adams' Statement for the Congressional Record I want to amplify the voice of Calla Hales, a woman in my district who is both an abortion care provider, and a mother: ""Last year, I made the choice to have a child with my husband. What I didn't choose was prenatal checkups with COVID precautions. I didn't choose the complications I had during my pregnancy. I didn't choose delivering my amazing baby girl without my family because the pandemic limited the visitors in the maternity ward. I didn't choose worrying every day if she would be safe from the coronavirus, despite her pulmonary issues. I am proud of the choice that I made, in spite of everything that's gone wrong over the past two years. But no one should ever be forced to make that choice. No person should be forced to carry a pregnancy to term during a global pandemic, or any other time."" Background For years, radical state legislatures have waged an all-out assault on women's reproductive rights. 2021 is on track to be the worst legislative year for women's health rights ever, with 90 measures restricting reproductive rights enacted since July – more than in any year since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. On May 19th, Texas enacted SB 8, which is now the most extreme abortion law in effect in the United States. This catastrophic legislation outlaws nearly all abortions after six weeks, with no exceptions for rape and incest, while also creating a chilling bounty system that deputizes private citizens to sue health care providers or anyone else they believe has helped a woman get an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. Shamefully, the Supreme Court voted to permit this law to go into effect, despite its flagrant violation of the Constitution, by effectively denying Texas women the ability to exercise their constitutional rights guaranteed by Roe. The Supreme Court could take further action to gut Roe's essential protections when it considers Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization on December 1st. The Women's Health Protections Act codifies the constitutional right to abortion care as found in Roe and reaffirmed in many subsequent decisions for nearly half a century. It establishes the federal statutory right for health care providers to offer abortion care and the federal right for patients to receive that care, free from state restrictions. Enshrining these essential rights is also an issue of racial and economic justice, as restrictions on reproductive care disproportionately harm women of color and women from low-income communities and perpetuate long-standing inequities. About Alma Adams Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. She is the co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/congresswoman-ross-votes-protect-reproductive-freedom-following,Congresswoman Ross Votes to Protect Reproductive Freedom Following Unconstitutional State Abortion Bans,2021-09-24,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) voted to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, legislation to enshrine into law women’s reproductive freedom and access to reproductive health care. Following Texas’ enactment of the nation’s most restrictive abortion ban. This landmark legislation safeguards the right to access to abortion care free from political interference. “Blatantly unconstitutional abortion bans in states like Texas and Mississippi represent a dangerous threat to women’s reproductive freedom everywhere,” said Congressman Ross. “In failing to block Texas’ egregious abortion law from taking effect, the Supreme Court abdicated its responsibility to protect American women from the whims of legislatures bent on restricting our constitutional rights. Today the House sent a clear signal to state legislatures across the country that we will not sit idly by in the face of these dangerous attacks on women’s reproductive care.” The Women’s Health Protection Act would establish the federal statutory right for health care providers to provide abortion care and for patients to receive it, free from unnecessary state bans and restrictions intended to impede or block this access. Congresswoman Ross denounced the Texas abortion ban when it went into effect and joined her House Judiciary colleagues in urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to use the full force of the Department of Justice to combat it.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/house-passes-ndaa-includes-congresswoman-ross-amendment-improve-epas-pfas,"House Passes NDAA, includes Congresswoman Ross’ Amendment to Improve EPA’s PFAS Reporting Rule",2021-09-23,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022. Included in the bill is a bipartisan provision authored by Congresswoman Ross that would amend existing law to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses a definition of PFAS that is as broad and protective as others that are already in use. “North Carolinians know firsthand the threat that PFAS chemicals pose to our communities,” said Congresswoman Ross. “That’s why I’m thrilled my amendment to broaden the definition of PFAS and better align it with current science was included in the NDAA. We have a duty to protect all of our people, including members of the military and their families, from toxic PFAS contamination. I would like to thank my colleague Congresswoman Mace for her collaboration on this important issue. This amendment is crucial in our fight to eradicate PFAS contamination from communities in North Carolina and across the country.” PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” are dangerous, man-made chemicals that do not break down easily and have contaminated the nation’s water, soil, and air for decades. In North Carolina, chemical companies have polluted the Cape Fear River with PFAS for years, resulting in serious health consequences for local residents. The current EPA definition of PFAS requires at least two fully fluorinated carbon atoms, and they must be adjacent. However, numerous states and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) use definitions of PFAS that require only one fully fluorinated carbon atom. As a result, EPA’s narrower definition will produce a rule that fails to capture many PFAS that are already included in other policies. Congresswoman Ross serves on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee where she has consistently advocated for supporting research institutions and leveraging federal resources to eradicate PFAS contamination. In June, Congresswoman Ross led a letter with six other members of the North Carolina delegation to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Michael Regan urging the EPA to reconsider a Trump administration decision to deny a citizens’ petition filed by a group of NC-based environmental health and justice groups in 2020. The petition, filed under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), requested that EPA exercise its authority under TSCA to require Chemours to fund robust health and environmental testing for 54 PFAS manufactured by Chemours at its Fayetteville facility. Congresswoman Ross also voted to pass the PFAS Action Act, legislation that would require comprehensive regulation of PFAS by establishing standards to protect drinking water from contamination and authorizing grants to drinking water utilities treating PFAS contamination.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/ross-amendments-help-women-servicemembers-and-their-families-included-ndaa,Ross Amendments to Help Women Servicemembers and their Families Included in NDAA,2021-09-23,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) voted to pass H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes two of Ross’ amendments that support women servicemembers and their families. The first amendment requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to submit a report on the availability of menstrual hygiene products on military bases and accommodations related to caring for menstrual hygiene available to members of the Armed Forces. The second amendment requests a report on potential TRICARE coverage of preconception and prenatal genetic carrier screening tests for certain medical conditions. In the U.S., women now comprise 14.4 percent (about 200,000) of active-duty forces, and North Carolina has one of the highest active-duty military populations, with 116,114 servicemembers. Anecdotal evidence has shown that female servicemembers often worry about accessing sanitary products on military installations and having time and accommodations to care for their menstrual health. Studies have also found that female cadets report menstrual symptoms and problems with obtaining, changing, and disposing of menstrual materials can interfere with female servicemembers official activities. However, current data on menstrual health and hygiene for women in the Armed Forces is limited. Preconception and prenatal genetic carrier screening tests can determine reproductive risk of spinal muscular atrophy, cystic fibrosis, hemoglobinopathies, Fragile X syndrome, Tay-Sachs disease, and more. While many insurance providers cover these tests, TRICARE does not. “We owe it to the courageous women of our Armed Forces to ensure that their unique needs are met and that they receive outstanding health care while serving in uniform,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Neglecting these needs has far-reaching implications for servicemembers’ health and morale, as well as for the overall recruitment and retention of women in the military. I’m pleased that the House accepted my amendments to promote the well-being of these brave American women who risk their lives for our freedom.” The NDAA provides our men and women in uniform with a 2.7 percent pay increase; makes critical changes to how the military addresses sexual assault; strengthens parental leave for caregiving servicemembers; expands access to childcare; improves financial security of low-income military members and those with families’ members living with disabilities; and strengthens access to health care, including mental health care and reproductive care. Congresswoman Ross spoke in favor of the amendments in the House Rules Committee. Her remarks can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-announces-international-franchise-association-and-member-brands,Adams Announces International Franchise Association and Member Brands Join HBCU Partnership Challenge,2021-09-21,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus, announced the International Franchise Association (IFA), along with member brands Choice Hotels International, Inc., Inspire Brands, Papa John's International, Wendy's, and Williams Chicken, is joining the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Partnership Challenge. IFA members McDonald's and Hilton previously joined the Challenge, bringing the total number of HBCU Partnership Challenge participants to 78.The HBCUPartnershipChallengeis an effort to promote greater engagement and support between private companies and HBCUs. ""Franchises unlock opportunity for tens of thousands of small business owners every year, so I'm excited that the International Franchise Association and many of its members are taking the HBCU Caucus Partnership Challenge. The Partnership Challenge believes that our historically Black colleges and universities are the foundation of any strategy to ensure our workforce is diverse and inclusive. The aim of the Challenge is to unlock opportunity for the 300,000 HBCU students in the US, as well as the institutions they attend, by building partnerships between HBCUs and the private sector. As a two-time HBCU graduate, as well as a professor for 40 years, I know you can't have diversity and equity in the workforce without HBCUs. Thank you to IFA and its members for recognizing the power of partnerships,"" said Congresswoman Alma Adams, founder and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus. Matt Haller, IFA President and Chief Executive Officer stated, ""We are honored to work with Congresswoman Adams and sign-on to the HBCU Partnership Challenge with our participating member companies. The franchise sector has always been a leader in diversity, equity & inclusion, yet we all must strive to do more to continue to break down barriers to advancement. In 2018, more franchises were locally owned by minorities than non-franchised businesses, giving credence to how franchising is a tremendous pathway to entrepreneurship, and we are thrilled to work with Historically Black Colleges and Universities nationwide to engage the talented young leaders emerging from these schools."" Additionally, Adams joined IFA and the U.S. Black Chambers (USBC) for an in-person discussion on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) at the IFA Leadership Summit on September 21. The discussion was moderated by Talisha Bekavac, Vice President of Government and External Affairs at the U.S. Black Chambers. The Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus' Partnership Challenge is a bipartisan effort to promote greater engagement and support between private companies and HBCUs. Congresswoman Adams created the Challenge in 2017 to strengthen public-private relationships with HBCUs to ensure the schools' future sustainability, increase career prospects for their students, and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within all sectors. The Challenge encourages participating organizations to make greater investments in HBCUs as well. The Caucus hosts numerous events every year including HBCU STEAM Day of Action, HBCU Day, the HBCU Braintrust, the Virtual Partnership Luncheon, and the Diversity in Tech Summit. For more information, please contact Sam Spencer (Sam.Spencer@mail.house.gov). AboutAlmaAdams CongresswomanAlmaS. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. In 2015, she founded the first bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus in Congress. The International Franchise Association is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 7.6 million direct jobs, $674.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and 2.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development. The U.S. Black Chambers (USBC) is the voice of Black business owners and a top advocate for resources and policies that impact Black business owners. To learn more visit: usblackchambers.org. Follow our work and connect with us: https://www.facebook.com/usblackchambersand instagram.com/usblackchambers.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/congresswoman-ross-rules-committee-its-hypocritical-claim-be-pro-life-support,"Congresswoman Ross in Rules Committee: “It’s Hypocritical to Claim to Be Pro-Life, to Support the Texas Abortion Ban, while Opposing Medicaid Expansion”",2021-09-20,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today in the House Rules Committee, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) spoke in support of the Women’s Health Protection Act, federal legislation that will protect the right to access abortion care. This legislation is expected to be on the House floor this week. Congresswoman Ross said in her remarks, “I also want to highlight a discrepancy between the rhetoric and policy of opponents of reproductive freedom. These opponents claim to be pro-life, to be working to protect families and babies, but almost always, these are the same people who oppose Medicaid expansion – we see that in Texas and we see that in my state of North Carolina…Prenatal care is one of the many critical forms of health care that Medicaid covers. “Medicaid also provides postpartum care coverage to new mothers, and the American Rescue Plan gave states the option to extend that coverage from 60 days to 12 months… If you want to protect babies, particularly in a state like Texas, it’s simply hypocritical to claim to be pro-life, to support the draconian Texas abortion ban, while simultaneously opposing Medicaid expansion.” To listen to Rep. Ross’ full remarks, click here. Ross has been a vocal opponent of Texas’ unconstitutional abortion ban and previously applauded the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit to block the ban.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/congresswoman-ross-statement-senate-parliamentarians-ruling-legal-path,Congresswoman Ross Statement on Senate Parliamentarian’s Ruling on Legal Path to Residency in Budget Reconciliation,2021-09-20,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, issued the following statement on the Senate Parliamentarian’s ruling regarding the inclusion of a legal path to residency in budget reconciliation: “I am deeply disappointed by the Senate Parliamentarian’s ruling to block immigration reform in the budget reconciliation process,” said Congresswoman Ross. “While this attempt to extend a path to citizenship to Dreamers, TPS and DED recipients, and essential workers was not successful, we have many other avenues to achieve this goal. I remain hopeful that Senate Democrats have alternate proposals to extend protections to these individuals, and I will continue working with my House Judiciary colleagues to get immigration reform across the finish line.” Congresswoman Ross led 22 of her House colleagues in urging Congressional leadership to include a permanent path to residency for Documented Dreamers, dependents of long-term nonimmigrant visa holders (including H-1B, L-1, E-1, and E-2 workers), in the budget reconciliation package. In June, Representatives Ross, Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and Young Kim (CA-39) introduced America’s CHILDREN Act, bipartisan legislation to protect Documented Dreamers from aging out of the system when they turn 21, forcing them to self-deport. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Senate version of America’s CHILDREN Act this month.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-hill-announce-arrival-basf-covanta-cw-network-hilton-netapp-and,"Adams, Hill Announce Arrival, BASF, Covanta, The CW Network, Hilton, NetApp, and Walgreens Join HBCU Partnership Challenge",2021-09-15,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – As part of the HBCU Caucus Virtual Partnership Luncheon, Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12),and Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02),co-chairsof the bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus, announced that Arrival, BASF, Covanta, The CW Network, Hilton, NetApp, and Walgreens are joining the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Partnership Challenge. The HBCU Partnership Challenge is an effort to promote greater engagement and support between private companies and HBCUs. Additionally, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines officially joined the Challenge, bringing the total number of HBCU Partnership Challenge participants to 71. ""I'm proud to welcome nine companies to the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus' HBCU Partnership Challenge,"" said Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12), founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. ""Arrival, BASF, Covanta, The CW, Hilton, NetApp, Walgreens, Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines are all coming together to support our HBCUs. I applaud all our private partners for taking the pledge at such a critical time. Through the power of partnerships, our HBCUs will continue to have an outsized impact in higher education."" ""I applaud Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Hilton, Covanta, Walgreens, BASF, NetApp, Arrival and The CW's commitment to the HBCU community by joining the HBCU Partnership Challenge,"" said Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02), Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. ""The HBCU partnership challenge demonstrates the strength of public-private partnerships and philanthropic support for America's HBCU community. I have seen first-hand how private partnerships with HBCUs can be impactful. This support is a vital part of further bolstering our HBCUs and bringing their needs to the forefront of Congressional priorities."" ""We're excited to join the HBCU Partnership Challenge and tap into the amazing pipeline of talent that comes out of these colleges and universities,"" said Mike Ableson, CEO of Arrival Automotive. ""At Arrival, diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of our culture and our vision to create radical impact. Through an inclusive, diverse workforce and culture, we are able to unlock creativity and bring the best ideas to the table, creating an equitable future by empowering communities and working together to drive true sustainability. From our internal employee diversity groups, to partnering with cities to ensure we reach their most underserved communities, to testing our products with people of all different genders, abilities and backgrounds - we're focused on a sustainable future for all."" ""We at BASF are excited to take this important step in deepening our partnerships in support of HBCUs and their legacy of support for great talent,"" said Patricia Rossman, Chief Diversity + Inclusion Officer. ""Recognizing the role that HBCUs play in bringing strong talent to the workforce, BASF is committed to achieving the HBCU Partnership Challenge, and we look forward to supporting shared success."" ""Covanta is grateful for the opportunity to join the HBCU Partnership Challenge and believes a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace is key to our long-term success, both in business and in helping solve key societal challenges around waste and climate change,"" said Derek Veenhof, COO of Covanta. ""As part of our DE&I program, we set public targets to increase the share of diverse representation across the organization including in training, recruiting, performance evaluations, community outreach and environmental performance. The HBCU partnership gives us a unique channel directly into a tremendous amount of diverse talent. The possibilities are endless with these students and we look forward to recruiting the next generation of Covanta leaders from Historically Black Colleges and Universities."" As members of the HBCU Partnership Challenge, Covanta pledges to recruit at a minimum of five HBCUs strategically located near their facilities in Virginia, Maryland and Alabama. Internships would be for rising juniors and seniors or seniors taking a gap year before graduate school. Interns have the added benefit of being considered for Covanta's Early Career Develop Program upon graduation. Moreover, they also offer a continuous improvement curriculum with faculty to interested HBCUs and will develop an annual $10,000 scholarship for students from these institutions near where Covanta will recruit. ""It is a genuine honor and privilege for The CW to join forces with Congresswoman Adams and the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus and lend our support in the HBCU Partnership Challenge, helping to contribute to the growth and success of the many HBCUs across the country, shining a spotlight on their tremendous work, as well as the work done by their students, alumni and faculty,"" said Mark Pedowitz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The CW Network. ""As one of the most diverse television networks in front of and behind the camera, The CW is extremely proud to offer a platform that showcases the incredible talents of the many HBCU alumni who star in and produce our hit programming, and the timing couldn't be better, as two of our new shows this season will specifically center on HBCUs with our new drama All American: Homecoming and a docuseries celebrating HBCU marching bands. We thank Congresswoman Adams and the Caucus for their dedication and leadership, and we pledge to continue to strengthen our commitment to diversity and inclusion in all areas of our business."" ""We are honored to add our name to the HBCU Partnership Challenge,"" said Laura Fuentes, chief human resources officer, Hilton. ""For over a century, we have been on a journey to build the most inclusive culture for all, and creating that culture begins with building a diverse pipeline of top talent. We have long worked with HBCUs, and we look forward to accelerating these efforts in new and innovative ways as we work to attract, recruit and train the hospitality leaders of tomorrow."" ""NetApp is proud to join the Bipartisan HBCU Partnership Challenge. We have long recognized the powerful contributions of HBCUs and are inspired by the young innovators we mentor and sponsor through our partnerships. We look forward to collaborating with our Congressional leaders as well as fellow corporations to preserve the unique role these institutions play in our society,"" said Gerri Mason Hall, NetApp Global VP DI&B and UNCF Board Member. In addition to joining the HBCU Partnership Challenge, NetApp serves on the board of Advancing Minorities' Interest in Engineering (AMIE), a coalition of corporations, government agencies and the Engineering Schools at the ABET-accredited HBCUs whose primary purpose is to facilitate partnerships between corporations and/or government agencies and HBCU engineering programs, as well as the board of the UNCF which oversees a range of scholarship funds for students attending HBCUs. The company actively recruits at HBCUs and has offered various scholarships and technical challenge programs to support the development of key talent including most recently at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. ""At Walgreens, we recognize the great value that HBCU students and alumni bring to our company to advance innovation and maintain our position as a global leader in pharmacy retail. We are proud to further our commitment to the HBCU community by joining Rep. Alma Adams' HBCU Partnership Challenge,"" said Carlos Cubia, SVP, Global Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance. The Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus' Partnership Challenge encourages participating organizations to make greater investments in HBCUs. In addition to the Virtual Partnership Luncheon, the Caucus hosts numerous events every year including HBCU STEAM Day of Action, HBCU Day, and the Diversity in Tech Summit. For more information, please contact Sam Spencer (Sam.Spencer@mail.house.gov). About Alma Adams Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. In 2015, she founded the first bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus in Congress.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/black-maternal-health-caucus-co-chairs-adams-underwood-celebrate,Black Maternal Health Caucus Co-Chairs Adams & Underwood Celebrate Historic Momnibus Investments Included in Energy & Commerce Committee Build Back Better Markup,2021-09-15,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today, Black Maternal Health Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) applauded the Energy and Commerce Committee for advancing critical investments from the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (H.R. 959/S. 346) in the Committee's markup of the Build Back Better Act. The legislation now goes to the House Committee on Budget before heading to the full House of Representatives. ""I'm overjoyed the Build Back Better Act will include the Kira Johnson Act and the vast majority of our landmark Momnibus legislation,"" said Rep. Adams, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. ""With the inclusion of the Momnibus, the Build Back Better Act makes over $1 billion in historic investments in the health and care of moms. It is nothing short of a game-changer for Black mothers as well as every parent bringing a child into the world. Now more than ever, it is critical that we pass the Build Back Better Act so that we can pass essential parts of the Momnibus as well. As a Black mother and grandmother, take it from me: Black mamas can't wait!"" ""Today's Energy and Commerce Committee markup was a historic milestone in the mission to save moms' lives and end maternal health disparities in the United States,""said Rep. Underwood, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.""I'm thankful for the leadership of Chairman Pallone in advancing the Momnibus through the Committee's Build Back Better Act legislation, including critical resources for community-based organizations, funding to address social determinants of maternal health, and investments in the perinatal workforce. We are closer than ever to making the transformative change that is needed to achieve true birth equity in the America and I am grateful for the support of the Biden-Harris Administration, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, and maternal health champions in the House and Senate as we work together to get this legislation passed and signed into law."" The Energy & Commerce Committee's Build Back Better Act legislation includes historic investments from the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act to save moms' lives, end racial and ethnic maternal health disparities, and advance birth equity across the United States: Provides $175 million in funding for local entities to address social determinants of maternal health like housing, nutrition, and environmental conditions – including a minimum of $75 million exclusively for community-based organizations working to promote maternal health equity. Provides $275 million to grow and diversify the perinatal health workforce, including nurses, midwives, physicians, doulas, and maternal mental and behavioral health professionals – including $50 million specifically for doulas. Provides $100 million for maternal mental health equity grant programs. Provides $85 million to address the impacts of climate change-related maternal and infant health risks through health professional schools. Provides $50 million to advance maternal health research at Minority-Serving Institutions like Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and AAPISIs. Provides $50 million to promote representative community engagement in Maternal Mortality Review Committees. Provides $160 million to strengthen federal maternal health programs like the CDC's Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies program, Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM), Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Provides $60 million to expand access to digital tools and technologies that promote maternal health equity. Provides $25 million for bias trainings among health care professionals. The Build Back Better legislation also includes a mandatory provision that will make federal funds permanently available for states to spend on expanded postpartum Medicaid and CHIP coverage to one year in every state, with full state plan benefits throughout pregnancy and the yearlong postpartum period. A summary of the legislation can be found here. The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act(H.R. 959/S. 346) was reintroduced in February 2021 by Underwood, Adams, and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). The Momnibus builds on existing maternal health legislation with 12 bills to comprehensively address the clinical and non-clinical drivers of the maternal health crisis in the United States. The Momnibus makes critical investments in addressing social determinants of health, funding community-based organizations, growing and diversifying the perinatal workforce, and improving data collection processes. The Momnibus also includes new legislation to address the impacts of COVID-19 and climate change on maternal and infant health outcomes.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/rep-ross-secures-pathway-citizenship-documented-dreamers-judiciary-committee,Rep. Ross Secures Pathway to Citizenship for Documented Dreamers in Judiciary Committee Budget Reconciliation Text,2021-09-15,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Earlier this week, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) helped advance the House Judiciary Committee’s portion of the Build Back Better budget reconciliation package, which includes provisions to ensure a pathway to citizenship for Documented Dreamers that will support the U.S. economy and businesses. Specifically, the bill, which was reported by the Judiciary Committee on September 9, creates a pathway to permanent residency for Dreamers, including Documented Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients, and essential workers. “Documented Dreamers are Americans in every sense – they grow up here, go to school here, have families here, and contribute significantly to our economy,” said Congresswoman Ross. “It is unacceptable that we would allow them to age out of the system and be forced to self-deport to countries they may not even remember, resulting in a tremendous loss to the U.S. economy. I’m thrilled that the Judiciary Committee heeded my request to use budget reconciliation to ensure that these young people can contribute to our economy, pursue the American Dream, and continue their productive lives in the country they love and call home. I look forward to working with my colleagues to see that these important protections are included in the final budget reconciliation package and signed into law.” Over 200,000 children and young adults are living in the United States as dependents of long-term nonimmigrant visa holders (including H-1B, L-1, E-1, and E-2 workers). These individuals, known as Documented Dreamers, grow up in the United States, attend American schools, and graduate from American universities. Because they have maintained legal status, Documented Dreamers are not eligible for protection under DACA or the work authorization that comes with it. Providing a pathway to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status for Dreamers, including Documented Dreamers, TPS recipients, and essential workers is estimated to create more than 400,000 new jobs over 10 years. Immigrants paid $492.4 billion in state, local, and federal taxes in 2019. If undocumented immigrants gain legal status, state and local tax revenues will increase by $2.18 billion per year. In June, Representatives Ross, Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and Young Kim (CA-39) introduced America’s CHILDREN Act, bipartisan legislation to protect Documented Dreamers from aging out of the system when they turn 21, forcing them to self-deport. Congresswoman Ross also led 22 of her House colleagues in urging Congressional leadership to include a permanent path to residency for Documented Dreamers in the budget reconciliation package.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-hill-announce-american-airlines-joins-hbcu-partnership-challenge,"Adams, Hill Announce American Airlines Joins HBCU Partnership Challenge",2021-09-14,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12),and Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02),co-chairsof the bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus, announced that American Airlines is joining the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Partnership Challenge. The HBCU Partnership Challenge is an effort to promote greater engagement and support between private companies and HBCUs. ""Our team is the strength and the spirit of our airline, and we know how important it is to be intentional about recruiting diverse talent to bring a range of experience and perspectives to the work we do,"" said Doug Parker, Chairman and CEO of American Airlines. ""We're proud to join Rep. Adams in the effort she's leading to deepen connections between companies and HBCUs, and we appreciate the commitment of the coalition of policymakers involved in creating more and better opportunities for businesses to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We look forward to listening and learning so we can continually improve our existing engagement with HBCUs, and we appreciate the chance to be involved in this initiative."" American works to build a strong and diverse pipeline of talent through community partnerships dedicated to encouraging and mentoring people of color and women who are traditionally underrepresented in the aviation and aerospace industries. By supporting organizations like the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Women in Aviation International, National College Resources Foundation and engagements at HBCUs and Hispanic Serving Institutions, American remains committed to the diverse communities we serve. Additionally, American has a leading, multipronged implicit bias training program in place for its team, which examines ways to recognize and mitigate implicit bias and establishes cultural expectations. ""I'm proud to welcome American Airlines, Charlotte's hometown airline, to the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus' HBCU Partnership Challenge,"" said Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12), founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. ""Right now, our HBCUs are facing a major challenges due to the pandemic and a need for capital infrastructure improvements. It's the perfect moment for private and public partners to come together to support our HBCUs. I applaud all of our private partners for taking the pledge at such a critical time. With the power of partnerships, our HBCUs will continue to succeed in the 21st Century."" ""I applaud American Airlines' commitment to the HBCU community by joining the HBCU Partnership Challenge,"" said Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02), Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. ""The HBCU partnership challenge demonstrates the strength of public-private partnerships and philanthropic support for America's HBCU community. I have seen first-hand how private partnerships with HBCUs can be impactful. This support is a vital part of further bolstering our HBCUs and bringing their needs to the forefront of Congressional priorities."" American will officially join the HBCU Partnership Challenge at an HBCU Caucus event today. The Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus' Partnership Challenge encourages participating organizations to make greater investments in HBCUs. In addition to the Partnership Challenge, the Caucus hosts numerous events every year including HBCU STEAM Day of Action, HBCU Day, and the Diversity in Tech Summit. For more information, please contact Sam Spencer (Sam.Spencer@mail.house.gov). About Alma Adams Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. In 2015, she founded the first bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus in Congress.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/congresswoman-ross-announces-grant-nc-state-study-impact-pfas-firefighters,Congresswoman Ross Announces Grant for NC State to Study Impact of PFAS on Firefighters,2021-09-14,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC – Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) announced that North Carolina State University received a coveted National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) grant to study the health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on firefighters. Specifically, they will examine the degree to which the PFAS are absorbed into the skin from the treated fabric gear worn by firefighters. The federal funding amount is $247,036. “Since arriving in Congress, I have worked extensively with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to address PFAS contamination in our nation’s water, soil, and air,” said Congresswoman Ross. “I am so pleased that the talented researchers at NC State received funding to examine the ways these ‘forever chemicals’ threaten the safety of our firefighters. If we are to truly eliminate PFAS contamination in our communities, we must take a comprehensive approach, including utilizing the world-class research institutions, companies, and nonprofits in the Research Triangle area. I commend NC State for their commitment to solving our society’s most pervasive challenges, and I look forward to seeing what their research uncovers.” Congresswoman Ross serves on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee where she has consistently advocated for supporting research institutions and leveraging federal resources to eradicate PFAS contamination. In June, Congresswoman Ross led a letter with six other members of the North Carolina delegation to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Michael Regan urging the EPA to reconsider a Trump administration decision to deny a citizens’ petition filed by a group of NC-based environmental health and justice groups in 2020. The petition, filed under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), requested that EPA exercise its authority under TSCA to require Chemours to fund robust health and environmental testing for 54 PFAS manufactured by Chemours at its Fayetteville facility. Congresswoman Ross also voted to pass the PFAS Action Act, legislation that would require comprehensive regulation of PFAS by establishing standards to protect drinking water from contamination and authorizing grants to drinking water utilities treating PFAS contamination.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/today-adams-manning-hold-press-event-advancing-build-back-better-act,"Today: Adams, Manning to Hold Press Event Advancing the Build Back Better Act",2021-09-13,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORTH CAROLINA: Congresswomen Alma Adams (NC-12) & Kathy Manning (NC-06) are holding a Zoom press conference on September 13 at 11:00 AM ET after the House Committee on Education and Labor approved its section of the Build Back Better Act. The Committee's portion invests $761 billion to lower costs for families, secure good-paying jobs for American workers, and set a strong foundation of America's children. These investments will: Lower the cost of child care and secure universal pre-K for three- and four-year-olds, Lower the cost of higher education by funding two years of tuition-free community college and increasing the value of Pell Grants, Strengthen our public schools by helping school districts repair, modernize, or rebuild crumbling and outdated school buildings, Help workers secure good-paying jobs by expanding job training programs, and Help prevent child hunger by expanding our most effective child nutrition programs. WHAT: Zoom press event with Reps. Adams & Manning to discuss key investments in theBuild Back Better Act. WHO: Congresswomen Alma Adams (NC-12) & Kathy Manning (NC-06) WHEN: Monday September 13 at 11:00 AM ET WHERE: Zoom RSVP: Members of the media should RSVP here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/congresswoman-ross-announces-489-million-child-tax-credit-payments-second,Congresswoman Ross Announces $48.9 Million in Child Tax Credit Payments to Second District Families in August,2021-09-10,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) announced that 117,000 Child Tax Credit monthly payments, totaling $48.9 million, were sent to families of 191,000 children in the Second District in August. “President Biden’s expanded Child Tax Credit is a historic tax cut that is lifting millions of children out of poverty and supporting hard-working families throughout the Second District,” said Congresswoman Ross. “These monthly payments are a crucial lifeline for so many families, helping them cover the costs of child care, food, diapers, school expenses, and more. I voted for this tax cut in the American Rescue Plan and will continue working with my colleagues to make it permanent. It’s past time that we give families in Wake County the support they need and make real investments in the next generation.” According to a report released by the U.S. Joint Economic Committee, 1,184,000 monthly payments went to families across North Carolina in August for a total of $499 million. The average payment per household was $422. Nationwide, the Joint Economic Committee estimates the monthly Child Tax Credit payments are pumping $19.3 billion into local economies each month, supporting local jobs and businesses. Click here to learn more about the full Joint Economic Committee’s study on how the Child Tax Credit is supporting families and local economies nationwide.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/congresswoman-ross-holds-listening-session-local-leaders-housing-evictions,Congresswoman Ross Holds Listening Session with Local Leaders on Housing Evictions,2021-09-10,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) joined Wake County Sheriff’s department, Clerk of Superior Court Blair Williams, County Manager David Ellis, Housing Department Director Lorena McDowell, and Board of Commissioners Chairman Matt Calabria to discuss the eviction process, avenues for collaboration between federal, state, and local governments to navigate emergency relief assistance, and effective strategies to share relief resources to those eligible. “I would like to thank Wake County officials and staff for their continued commitment to providing critical assistance to our residents and keeping them in their homes during this crisis,” said Congresswoman Ross. “I have been working hard in Congress to help support renters and homeowners in this critical time of need and in light of the Supreme Court’s decision ending the eviction moratorium. I look forward to continued collaboration with North Carolina state and local partners to accelerate the delivery of vital rental assistance to those in need and their landlords.” Congresswoman Ross recently applauded the Biden administration’s efforts to prevent evictions and deliver emergency Rental Assistance and released a statement on the Supreme Court decision which put an end to the federal eviction moratorium.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/congresswoman-ross-statement-doj-lawsuit-block-texas-abortion-ban,Congresswoman Ross Statement on DOJ Lawsuit to Block Texas Abortion Ban,2021-09-09,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) issued the following statement on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit to block Texas’s abortion ban: “I applaud the Department of Justice and Attorney General Merrick Garland for acting swiftly against this pernicious threat to women’s reproductive freedom everywhere,” said Congresswoman Ross. “The unprecedented vigilante system authorized under this law is a clear and provocative violation of the constitution. Millions of women in Texas are losing access to vital reproductive health services, and we are already seeing clinics across Texas halt abortion services. “This abortion ban amounts to nothing more than a shameful attempt to exercise control over women and their constitutionally guaranteed rights. Abortion bans like this will embolden state legislatures across the country if we don’t take immediate action. I was proud to join my colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee in writing to the Department of Justice to request bold action to block this law, and I am grateful that AG Garland has heeded our request. I will continue to work with my colleagues to pass concrete legislation to protect a woman’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom.” Congresswoman Ross joined House Judiciary Committee Democrats in urging the Attorney General to use the full force of the DOJ to defend women’s constitutional right to reproductive health care.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/congresswoman-ross-calls-additional-covid-19-relief-small-independently-owned,"Congresswoman Ross Calls for Additional COVID-19 Relief for Small, Independently Owned Restaurants in Budget Reconciliation Package",2021-09-08,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. -- Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting that they include additional COVID-19 relief funding for small restaurants in the budget reconciliation package. Small, independently owned restaurants are the backbone of local economies, but the emerging Delta variant has slowed their recovery. Without additional funding, many of these restaurants will struggle to survive or be forced to shut their doors. The letter read in part, “North Carolina is home to nearly 20,000 eating and drinking locations, approximately 76% of which are independently owned—many of these by women and people of color. Food service businesses in North Carolina generate $21.4 billion, account for 8.7% of all employment in the state, and made up 16% of the state’s sales tax revenue in 2019. “With the vital relief provided in the American Rescue Plan earlier this year, many restaurants were able to continue operations, and we saw restaurant sales grow 2.4% from May to June. However, as the Delta variant has spread across the country, this growth has declined. As discussions regarding the budget reconciliation package continue, I urge you to include additional funding for restaurants in the upcoming legislation.” In February, Ross led North Carolina Democrats in sending a letter urging House leadership to make independent restaurants a top priority in COVID-19 stimulus negotiations. In March, Ross helped pass the American Rescue Plan, which included $28.6 billion fund specifically designed to support restaurants struggling due to the pandemic through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). Congresswoman Ross is a vocal supporter of the restaurant industry. Specifically, she is a cosponsor of the bipartisan, bicameral RESTAURANTS Act. Congresswoman Ross hosted a roundtable with Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) in December with local North Carolina restaurant owners to hear directly from them on the challenges they are facing due to COVID-19. Full text of the letter can be found here and below: The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Chuck Schumer Speaker Majority Leader U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate H-232, the Capitol 322 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer: I appreciate your ongoing efforts to expand opportunity, facilitate economic growth, and create prosperity for all Americans in the Build Back Better reconciliation package. I am writing to request that you include additional relief funding for small restaurants that have suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. North Carolina is home to nearly 20,000 eating and drinking locations, approximately 76% of which are independently owned—many of these by women and people of color. Food service businesses in North Carolina generate $21.4 billion, account for 8.7% of all employment in the state, and made up 16% of the state’s sales tax revenue in 2019. In short, our economy relies on the success of independent restaurants. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on these businesses. During the earlier stages of the pandemic, over 75% of North Carolina’s restaurants and other food services businesses were in danger of closing permanently. Approximately 56% of lost jobs in North Carolina are in the leisure and hospitality industry, which includes food services. With the vital relief provided in the American Rescue Plan earlier this year, many restaurants were able to continue operations, and we saw restaurant sales grow 2.4% from May to June. However, as the Delta variant has spread across the country, this growth has declined. As discussions regarding the budget reconciliation package continue, I urge you to include additional funding for restaurants in the upcoming legislation. I believe we need to build on the investments in the American Rescue Plan by providing additional assistance that will enable independent restaurants to keep their doors open until conditions improve. Thank you for considering this request. Restaurants play an integral role in our economy and in helping our communities to Build Back Better. We must continue to support independent restaurants so that they can remain in business, sustain jobs within their communities, and contribute to economic growth in this critical period for recovery. Very truly yours, Deborah K. Ross",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/congresswoman-ross-joins-house-judiciary-democrats-urging-ag-garland-use-full,Congresswoman Ross Joins House Judiciary Democrats in Urging AG Garland to Use Full Force of DOJ to Combat Texas Abortion Ban,2021-09-08,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Following the enactment of Texas Law SB 8, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) joined House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and 22 other Committee Democrats in sending a letter calling on Attorney General Merrick Garland to use the full force of the Department of Justice to defend a woman's constitutional right to access abortion care. Members also urged the Attorney General to take legal action up to and including the criminal prosecution of would-be vigilantes attempting to use the private right of action established by SB 8. The letter was issued following Attorney General Garland's confirmation that the Department of Justice was exploring “all options” to protect those seeking reproductive health services in Texas. In their letter, the Members wrote, ""As Justice Sotomayor wrote in her dissent to the Court’s ruling, '[i]t cannot be the case that a State can evade federal judicial scrutiny by outsourcing the enforcement of unconstitutional laws to its citizenry.' Similarly, the Department of Justice cannot permit private individuals seeking to deprive women of the constitutional right to choose an abortion to escape scrutiny under existing federal law simply because they attempt to do so under the color of state law. Indeed, the Department is fully empowered to prosecute any individual who attempts, 'under color of any law,' to deprive a United States citizen of 'any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution.' In addition to Congresswoman Ross and Chairman Nadler, the letter was signed by Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Karen Bass (D-CA), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), David N. Cicilline (D-RI), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Val Demings (D-FL), Lou Correa (D-CA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), and Mondaire Jones (D-NY). Congresswoman Ross denounced the Texas law as an egregious, unconstitutional attack on reproductive freedom when it went into effect. Full text of the letter can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-hill-announce-alaska-airlines-joins-hbcu-partnership-challenge,"​​​​​​​Adams, Hill Announce Alaska Airlines Joins HBCU Partnership Challenge",2021-09-07,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Ahead of September's HBCU Braintrust event, Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12),and Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02),co-chairsof the bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus, announced that Alaska Airlines is joining the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Partnership Challenge. The HBCU Partnership Challenge is an effort to promote greater engagement and support between private companies and HBCUs. ""At Alaska Airlines, we are on a journey to ensure everyone belongs, and has the opportunity to be their best self. We've also made a commitment to achieve goals for diverse representation in leadership, inclusive culture, and public leadership to enable a pipeline of diverse talent in and beyond aviation. That's why we are proud to be the first airline to join the HBCU Partnership Challenge,"" said Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines CEO. ""We still have a lot of work to do, but we're grateful to partner with HBCUs and the HBCU Caucus to learn and to deepen our ability to develop, attract, and grow phenomenal talent."" In addition to joining the HBCU Partnership Challenge, Alaska Airlines recently established commitments and specific goals to increase BIPOC representation in leadership, continue to cultivate an inclusive culture, and to lead publicly by supporting education on the path to equity. The airline also recently unveiled the ""Our Commitment"" aircraft in partnership with UNCF, as a public reminder and accountability for these commitments. The stunning aircraft features the profiles of the next generation of leaders – the children, grandchildren and mentees of Alaska employees, as well as quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela in typography inspired by Civil Rights Movement-era posters. Alaska Airlines is also supporting the bipartisan IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act, the landmark HBCU infrastructure bill led by Adams and Hill in the House of Representatives, to ensure the support needed to fuel excellent and diverse talent for all career paths. ""I'm proud to welcome Alaska Airlines as the first airline to join the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus' HBCU Partnership Challenge,"" said Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12), founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. ""Right now, our HBCUs are facing a major challenges due to the pandemic and a need for capital infrastructure improvements. It's the perfect moment for private and public partners to come together to support our HBCUs. I applaud all of our private partners for taking the pledge at such a critical time, and leaning in to create 21st century opportunity for the institutions and students who need our help the most. Through the power of partnerships, our HBCUs will soar to greater heights than ever before."" ""I applaud Alaska Airlines' commitment to the HBCU community by joining the HBCU Partnership Challenge,"" said Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02), Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. ""The HBCU partnership challenge demonstrates the strength of public private partnerships and philanthropic support for America's HBCU community. This support is a vital part of further bolstering our HBCUs and bringing their needs to the forefront of Congressional priorities."" Alaska will officially join the HBCU Partnership Challenge at the HBCU Braintrust event next week. The Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus' Partnership Challenge encourages participating organizations to make greater investments in HBCUs. In addition to the Partnership Challenge, the Caucus hosts numerous events every year including HBCU STEAM Day of Action, HBCU Day, and the Diversity in Tech Summit. For more information, please contact Sam Spencer (Sam.Spencer@mail.house.gov). About Alma Adams Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. In 2015, she founded the first bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus in Congress. About Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines and its regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States and to Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica. The airline emphasizes Next-Level Care for its guests, along with providing low fares, award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. Alaska is a member of oneworld. With the global alliance and the airline's additional partners, guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about our climate impact goals at blog.alaskaair.com. Read about Alaska Airlines at newsroom.alaskaair.com and news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/representatives-ross-krishnamoorthi-manning-lead-colleagues-calling-fix,"Representatives Ross, Krishnamoorthi, Manning Lead Colleagues In Calling For Fix to Employment-Based Green Card Backlog In Reconciliation Package",2021-09-03,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and Kathy Manning (NC-04) led a coalition of 40 colleagues in sending a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting that the budget reconciliation package provide relief to the 1.2 million individuals stuck in the employment-based green card backlog. Under the current system, no more than 7% of employment-based green cards are available to individuals from a single country. As a result, individuals from countries with large populations -- such as India and China -- face decades-long wait times to achieve lawful permanent resident status, prohibiting millions of people who contribute significantly to America’s economy from permanently calling the country home. The letter read in part: “Failure to provide a path to lawful permanent residence for the 1.2 million people in the employment-based green card backlog, most of whom are H-1B visa holders, would be tantamount to staging an economic recovery with one hand tied behind our back. Permanently relegating H-1B holders to nonimmigrant status while China, Russia, and other major powers are ascendant on the world stage – and hungry to be home to the innovators of the 21st century – is simply nonsensical. This can and must be addressed in the budget reconciliation package currently under negotiation.” Congresswoman Ross previously introduced the bipartisan America’s CHILDREN Act with Representatives Krishnamoorthi, Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), and Young Kim (CA-39). She also led 22 of her House colleagues in urging Congressional leadership to include a permanent path to residency for all Dreamers, including Documented Dreamers, in the budget reconciliation package. A copy of the letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/congresswoman-ross-announces-nearly-15-million-covid-19-relief-funds-2nd,Congresswoman Ross Announces Nearly $15 million in COVID-19 Relief Funds for 2nd District Venues,2021-09-02,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC - Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) announced that 31 venues in North Carolina’s Second District will receive nearly $15 million through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program. Funded through the American Rescue Plan, this program provides critical grants to venues in the music and entertainment industry that were forced to close operations due to COVID-19. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on our small businesses, especially on venue operators that were forced to shut their doors,” said Congresswoman Ross. “The American Rescue Plan revitalized our economy and delivered urgently needed relief to shuttered venues, restaurants, and small businesses that were struggling to stay afloat under extraordinary circumstances. I am pleased to see that the SBA acted swiftly to expedite the dispersal of these crucial grants to businesses that are so economically and culturally central to Wake County and our nation.” Congresswoman Ross joined over 200 bipartisan Members of Congress in calling for the SBA to expedite the release of SVOG funds following technical challenges with initial deployment of the grants. This call to action was successful, as the SBA has now approved more than $8.4 billion in grants to more than 10,800 businesses, including 290 North Carolina venue operators. The Small Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program was established through passage of the COVID-19 relief package in December 2020. Congresswoman Ross voted for the American Rescue Plan, which provided additional funding to the SVOG program—totaling over $16 billion in grants for local venues across the country. The American Rescue Plan also allowed shuttered venues that received Paycheck Protection Program loans after December 27, 2020 to receive SVOG grants, which was previously prohibited. While the SVOG program is not accepting any new applications, the SBA announced it will be sending invitations for supplemental SVOG awards. A full list of 2nd District businesses that have been approved for a Small Venue Operators grant is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-statement-texas-abortion-ban,Adams Statement on Texas Abortion Ban,2021-09-01,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) released the following statement in response to the Texas abortion ban (S.B. 8): ""No state has banned abortion at six weeks since Roe v. Wade. By allowing Texas' abortion ban to become law, the Supreme Court of the United States has effectively signaled that Roe should no longer be considered the law of the land,"" said Congresswoman Alma Adams. ""The Court's inaction means that women will be treated as second-class citizens, incapable of making their own choices. Despite the Court's failure to address and acknowledge the devastating impacts that such a ban will have on women, particularly women of color, I will continue to work in Congress to protect a woman's right to choose, her ability to access care, and her fundamental equality and dignity."" According to Dr. Sarah Horvath, a family planning fellow at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ""Unless a woman is actively trying to get pregnant, she is unlikely to know that she is pregnant at six weeks."" Without emergency action from the Supreme Court to block S.B. 8, abortion is now nearly impossible for patients to access in Texas.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/congresswoman-ross-statement-texas-abortion-ban-going-effect,Congresswoman Ross Statement on the Texas Abortion Ban Going into Effect,2021-09-01,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC – Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) issued the following statement on the Texas abortion ban: “The Texas abortion ban is an egregious and unconstitutional attack on reproductive freedom and healthcare providers that violates nearly 50 years of legal precedent,” said Representative Ross. “In failing to block this law from taking effect, the Supreme Court abdicated its responsibility to guard the American people against the whims of legislatures bent on restricting our personal freedoms. This law will have an immediate impact on millions of women in Texas who will lose access to safe abortions after six weeks of pregnancy—which is before many women are even aware they are pregnant. “The vast majority of Americans agree that people should be able to make their own decisions about their health and get the care they need. We must not allow a legislature and court that are at odds with our fundamental rights control our health care.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/9/representatives-ross-butterfield-host-forum-voting-rights,"Representatives Ross, Butterfield Host Forum on Voting Rights",2021-09-01,2021,2021-09,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC. –This afternoon, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Congressman G.K. Butterfield (NC-01) hosted a discussion on voting rights in North Carolina and broader federal voting reform efforts. This event featured remarks from an expert panel including Irving Joyner, Professor of Law at North Carolina Central University School of Law; Allison Riggs, Co-Executive Director for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice; and Guy-Uriel E. Charles, the founding Director of the Duke Law Center on Law, Race, and Politics and Professor of Law at Harvard University. “As we’ve heard today, Americans across the country—including in North Carolina—continue to face voter suppression,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Some states and localities have worked to deny and dilute the voices of racial minorities, and so it is imperative for us to enact new legislation to protect our most fundamental right—the right to vote. With the passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, and, recently, H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, in the House of Representatives, I am hopeful that voting rights will be protected and that we restore the promise of our democracy for the people.” Congresswoman Ross is a cosponsor of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which passed the House in March. H.R. 1 would expand access to the ballot box by addressing institutional barriers to voting and promoting election integrity and security. She is also a cosponsor of H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which passed the House last week. This legislation would restore Sections 2 and 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 after they were gutted in two Supreme Court decisions: Shelby County v. Holder in 2013 and Brnovich v. DNC in 2021. H.R. 4 would implement practice-based preclearance coverage and eliminate the heightened standard for challenging voter discrimination established in the Brnovich decision. Find the link to the event here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-hosts-pop-vaccination-event-sept-1,Adams Hosts Pop-up Vaccination Event on Sept. 1,2021-08-31,2021,2021-08,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"MINT HILL, NC – Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 1, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) and Walgreens will host a lunch-time pop-up vaccination mobile clinic in Mint Hill. The mobile vaccination clinic will be from 11am - 2 pm at Lawyers Square Shopping Center in Mint Hill, 9229 Lawyers Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227. Press are invited to an availability with Rep. Adams at 10:00 AM; she is expected to get her COVID-19 booster shot. A promotional video for the event is available here. Walgreens will bring their customized coach bus that has been transformed into a mobile vaccination clinic. The medical team from Walgreens will be administering COVID-19 shots, doing COVID-19 testing, and providing flu shots. ""We want to make sure that people know that getting vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus is easy, it's free and it's essential to protecting ourselves, our families, and our community,"" said Rep. Adams. ""It's your shot at life and our shot to thrive!"" Who: Congresswoman Alma Adams, Walgreens What: Pop-up Vaccination Event Where: Lawyers Square Shopping Center, 9229 Lawyers Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227 When: Wednesday, September 1 at 10:00 AM; clinic open from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM Why: Flu shots, COVID-19 testing, free COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District, which includes parts of Charlotte, Mint Hill, Matthews, Pineville, Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, and Mecklenburg County. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-introduces-resolution-honoring-131st-anniversary-1890s-land-grant,Adams Introduces Resolution Honoring the 131st Anniversary of 1890s Land Grant Universities,2021-08-31,2021,2021-08,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC– Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) introduced a resolution ""expressing the sense of Congress that August 30, 2021, be observed as the 131st anniversary of the 1890 Institutions."" The 1890s are 19 Historically Black land-grant Universities that were established by the Second Morrill Act of 1890. A copy of the resolution is available here. ""1890s Land Grant Universities, like all Historically Black Colleges and Universities, have opened doors of opportunity for millions of students over the past 131 years,"" said Congresswoman Adams, founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. ""Especially as we face a global pandemic, it's important to remember these institutions are more than universities: they're the cornerstones of communities both urban and rural. This success has come even though 1890s haven't benefitted from the same resources as other land-grant universities. As a proud 1890s graduate, I am honored to introduce this resolution celebrating the 131st anniversary of our dear universities."" The resolution is cosponsored by Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus Vice Chairs Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) and Michael Turner (OH-10), as well as Representatives Andy Barr (KY-06), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Al Lawson (FL-05 ), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Mark Pocan (WI-02), David Scott (GA-13), and David Trone (MD-06). The resolution is also endorsed by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) and the 1890s Universities Foundation. ""We are thrilled to endorse this resolution and honor 1890s Land-grant Universities on their 131st Anniversary,"" said Peter McPherson, President of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. ""For generations, 1890s Land-grant Universities have served as ladders of upward mobility while tackling their communities' most vexing challenges through research and engagement. Today, their mission and commitment to excellence is as important than ever as we work to bolster investment in these cornerstone institutions. APLU thanks the sponsors for working to advance this important measure and their steadfast support for 1890s Land-grant Universities."" ""The 1890 Universities Foundation hereby expresses its support of the House Of Representatives Concurrent Resolution for the observance of the 131st anniversary of the 1890 Land Grant Institutions,"" said Mort Neufville, President & CEO of the 1890 Universities Foundation. ""We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Congresswoman Alma S. Adams for introducing this Congressional Resolution and for her continuing leadership in advancing initiatives in the United States Congress that will benefit our 1890 institutions. The 1890 Universities Foundation on behalf of our 19 member institutions also expresses thanks to the co-signers of this resolution and all our supporters in the 117th Congress. We urge unanimous support of this Congressional Resolution and your participation in activities to commemorate the event."" Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D.represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Country) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. In 2015, Rep. Adams co-founded the first Bipartisan HBCU Caucus in Congress. She is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, one of the 1890s institutions.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/8/congresswoman-ross-statement-us-withdrawal-afghanistan,Congresswoman Ross Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan,2021-08-31,2021,2021-08,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan: “I join Americans from across the country and from every walk of life in expressing my deep gratitude to the more than 800,000 U.S. service members who put their lives on the line to keep our country safe over the last two decades in Afghanistan,” said Congresswoman Ross. “We are forever indebted to the men and women who served in this conflict, from those who deployed after watching the Twin Towers fall on September 11th to the 13 service members killed in the most recent Kabul airport attack. My prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who will never return home. The sacrifices of these courageous Americans will never be forgotten. “While our mission in Afghanistan has ended, our commitment to ensuring stability in the region and defeating groups that threaten our country and our way of life endures. The American evacuation, mounted under exceptionally difficult conditions, was unprecedented in its speed and scale. As President Biden has said, no other nation on earth could have airlifted so many to safety in so little time. The effectiveness of this effort is a testament to the patriotism and professionalism of our diplomats and our Armed Forces. I will continue to work with the Biden administration and my colleagues to do everything possible to evacuate the remaining American citizens and our Afghan partners.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z https://ross.house.gov/2021/8/congresswoman-ross-announces-new-data-lower-health-care-costs-wake-county,Congresswoman Ross Announces New Data on Lower Health Care Costs in Wake County Thanks to the American Rescue Plan,2021-08-30,2021,2021-08,Democrat,House,NC,Deborah K. Ross,R000305,ross.house.gov,ross,https://ross.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Raleigh, NC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) announced that the American Rescue Plan has made 87,000 Second District residents eligible for significantly lower health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs through the individual marketplace. Enacted on March 11th, the American Rescue Plan substantially expanded Affordable Care Act tax credits to reduce health care costs and make health insurance available to millions of Americans. “The pandemic highlighted and exacerbated the dysfunction of our health care system – a system that costs too much and doesn’t cover enough people,” said Congresswoman Ross. “I voted to pass the American Rescue Plan in part because it removes barriers that millions of families face in accessing high-quality, affordable health care. I’m thrilled that so many more individuals and families in Wake County are now paying less each month for coverage because of the tax credits we included in that legislation. Now we need to make these tax credits permanent so that people in North Carolina can continue to save money and access the care they need.” The Biden administration opened a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) in February 2021 to ensure vulnerable Americans had access to health care during the pandemic. In the Second District, there are an estimated 47,000 individuals who do not have health insurance who are eligible for coverage. With the enactment of the American Rescue Plan, nearly all of these individuals are eligible for health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace at no cost. Another 40,000 individuals who currently have health insurance are eligible for reduced costs through the American Rescue Plan, with the average household eligible to save $3,600 in health insurance premiums annually. With the American Rescue Plan’s expanded tax credits, an older couple with a household income of $45,000 could see their monthly premiums cut in half, allowing them to save $1,896 per year. A family of four with a household income of $106,000 could see their monthly premiums cut by more than half, creating $11,364 in savings that can now be used to cover other household costs. Congresswoman Ross has been a strong advocate for the expansion of Medicaid in non-expansion states like North Carolina. She introduced the Medicaid Saves Lives Act with Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07) to expand access to health care coverage for over four million low-income Americans. She has also called for lowering the age of Medicare eligibility to 60 or lower, which could open the door for millions to access Medicare.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-joins-pressley-letter-eviction-moratorium,Adams Joins Pressley Letter on Eviction Moratorium,2021-08-27,2021,2021-08,Democrat,House,NC,Alma S. Adams,A000370,adams.house.gov,adams,https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) joined a letter led by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) to Congressional leadership criticizing the Supreme Court decision to end the CDC Eviction Moratorium. Additionally, the letter calls on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to ""act with the urgency this moment demands and include an ambitious legislative solution to extend the eviction moratorium in a must-pass legislative vehicle."" A copy of the letter is available here. ""I am disappointed in the Supreme Court's decision because it willfully ignores the 6.4 million households across the country that are behind on rent,"" said Congresswoman Alma Adams. ""In my district, over 20,000 Mecklenburg County households are behind on rent - the highest number of households in the state of North Carolina."" ""Now more than ever, it is important tenants and landlords seek the rental assistance that Congress has made available. Through RAMP CLT, Charlotte-Mecklenburg has been among the leaders in our state in distributing emergency rental assistance funds; however, hundreds of new families have applied for assistance in August. When tenants utilize these federal programs, they also have a chance to pay back their landlords who are struggling to make ends meet and facing foreclosure on their properties. Importantly, through RAMP CLT, landlords can apply for rental assistance on behalf of their tenants. If you're one of my constituents facing eviction, please visit my website at adams.house.gov to learn more about the help that is out there, give us a call at 704-344-9950 so we can connect you with resources, or visit RampCLT.com to be directly connected with housing assistance,"" Adams concluded.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z