Julia Brownley

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, and 40 of their California congressional colleagues in issuing the following statement regarding President Donald Trump’s inflammatory remarks at a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska: “Upon taking office, the President swears to uphold the Constitution and to protect us from our enemies. Yesterday, President Trump, while defending his unconstitutional war against Iran, appeared, incredibly, to invite Iran to destroy two American cities. His exact words were “Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.” As members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, we call on President Trump to apologize to the over 16 million Americans who live in the Los Angeles and San Diego metropolitan areas and all Americans who expect more out of our President,” the Members said. Joining Chair Lofgren and Congresswoman Brownley on the statement are Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Representatives Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Nanette Barragan (CA-44), Ami Bera (CA-06), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Adam Gray (CA-13), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Scott Peters (CA-50), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Derek Tran (CA-45), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Aisha Wahab (CA-14), Maxine Waters (CA-43), and George Whitesides (CA-27). ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-IN) announced the introduction of a resolution recognizing October 2026 as National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. Observed annually in October, National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month raises public awareness of learning disabilities, promotes early and accurate diagnoses, and highlights the importance of ensuring individuals have access to the resources, tools, and support they need to succeed in school, the workplace, and their communities. “Having a learning disability should never stand in the way of a person’s ability to pursue their goals and achieve success,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “I began my career in public service to ensure that individuals like my daughter, who has dyslexia, have access to the resources and tools that empower them to learn and grow with confidence. I am grateful for Congresswoman Houchin’s partnership in recognizing National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month as we work to foster positive and supportive learning environments and improve learning outcomes and lived experiences for people with learning disabilities.” “Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and that starts with the early identification of learning disabilities,” said Congresswoman Houchin. “Students who struggle quickly fall through the cracks of our education system. That’s why I am proud to recognize National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month alongside Congresswoman Brownley. We can, and should, do more to screen children as early as possible for learning challenges, like dyslexia, and this resolution brings awareness to the issue.” This resolution is endorsed by the National Center for Learning Disabilities, a leading non-profit organization focused on building community, sharing resources, and shaping policy to help individuals with learning and attention issues. The full text of the resolution can be found here. ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined 189 Members of Congress in demanding that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) withdraw its proposal to remove more than 90 percent of Head Start’s standards that ensure children receive a high-quality early education. Under the proposed rule, nearly one in ten children currently enrolled in Head Start could become ineligible overnight. In the House, the letter is led by Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), Early Childhood and Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Bonamici (D-OR-01), and Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13). In the Senate, the letter is led by Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Sanders (I-VT), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Senator Ben RayLuján (D-NM). The Members are concerned that the proposed rule would illegally modify and weaken the services required by the Head Start Act. Specifically, the rule would eliminate federal quality standards for Head Start classrooms, including safety standards, staff-to-child ratios, staff qualifications, and standards for teaching. Additionally, the rule would erode critical services Head Start provides children and families, including health services. It would also shorten Head Start operating hours, eliminate enrollment protections for children with disabilities, and undermine services for dual language learners. “This proposed rule is a brazen attempt to dismantle Head Start without regard for the hundreds of thousands of young children and working-class families who depend on these programs and services every year. Under your proposal, Head Start children could be subject to corporal punishment; left unsupervised; have larger class sizes; have less qualified teachers; and no longer receive preventative and continuous health services, including oral health and mental health services,” wrote the Members. “We strongly urge you to withdraw the proposed rule, obey the law, and protect the legacy of Head Start.” Since the beginning of the second Trump Administration, HHS has repeatedly attempted to undermine and disrupt Head Start programs with an aggressive deregulation agenda, illegally withholding funding, firing federal staff, and threats to eliminate the program entirely. These actions serve the Trump Administration’s goal to end the Head Start program as laid out on page482 of Project 2025. In the House, the letter was also signed by: Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Hakeem S. Jeffries (NY-08), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Donald S. Beyer (VA-08), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Everton Blair (GA-13), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Shontel M. Brown (OH-11), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Salud O. Carbajal (CA-24), Andre Carson (IN-07), Troy A. Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Ed Case (HI-01), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr. (CA-31), Katherine M. Clark (MA-05), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jason Crow (CO-06), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Donald G. Davis (NC-01), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01), Christopher R. Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-3), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (MD-3), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-3), Bill Foster (IL-11), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-8), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Pablo José Hernández (PR-AL), James A. Himes (CT-04), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Robin L. Kelly (IL-02), Timothy M. Kennedy (NY-26), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), John W. Mannion (NY-22), Doris O. Matsui (CA-07), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), James P. McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Frank J. Mrvan (IN-01), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Richard E. Neal (MA-01), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Johnny Olszewski Jr. (MD-02), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Scott H. Peters (CA-50), Brittany Petterson (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie B. Raskin (MD-08), Josh Riley (NY-19), Deborah K. Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda T. Sanchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Bradley Scott Schneider (IL-10), Hillary J. Scholten (MI-03), Terri A. Sewell (AL-07), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Darren Soto (FL-09), Melanie A. Stansbury (NM-01), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Haley M. Stevens (MI-11), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Mark Takano (CA-39), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Shultz (FL-25), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), George Whitesides (CA-27), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24). In the Senate, the letter was signed by Senators: Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Timothy Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). The full text of the letter can be found here. ###

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) joined Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) in introducing a resolution standing strong for the American freedom to read, write and learn. The lawmakers’ resolution condemns MAGA’s escalating campaign of book bans in school libraries and censorship targeting the Smithsonian Institution and other public museums, parks and facilities. The lawmakers’ resolution specifically cites book bans issued by the Trump Administration, MAGA state legislatures, local libraries and schools across America. This year, federal officials, at the direction of President Trump, censored books and educational materials at the Smithsonian Institution and Department of Defense Education Activity schools. More than 12,000 individual books were banned in America between July 2025 and June 2026, according to a report by PEN America. This includes books like “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison and “MARCH” by former Congressman and Civil Rights Movement hero John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell. PEN America’s report captures the proliferation of MAGA book bans that specifically target books written by and about outsiders and individuals from marginalized backgrounds. Books with LGBTQ+ characters or themes face a disproportionate risk of being banned. According to PEN America, from July 2025 to June 2026, 24 States across the country limited access to certain books, including: Texas, where at least 8,000 books in total have been banned or restricted in 45 school districts; Florida, where at least 3,000 books in total have been banned or restricted in 35 school districts; Ohio, where at least 115 books in total have been banned or restricted in one school district; Utah, where at least 100 books in total have been banned or restricted in five school districts; and Michigan, where at least 65 books in total have been banned or restricted in two school districts. The resolution is endorsed by PEN America and the American Library Association (ALA); Authors Against Banned Books; Banned Books Week Coalition; Center for American Progress; EdTrust; EveryLibrary; Freedom to Learn Foundation; Florida Freedom to Read Project; Freedom to Read Project; Hatchette Book Group; Interfaith Alliance; JCRC of Greater Washington; Jewish Community Relations Council of Portland; Jewish Council for Public Affairs; Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester; Lee & Low Books ; Let Utah Read; Macmillan Publishing; National Coalition Against Censorship; National Council for Jewish Women; National Council of Teachers of English; National Education Association; Penguin Random House; PFLAG National; Red Wine and Blue Education Fund; Simon & Schuster; Texas Freedom to Read Project; and the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center. The resolution is also cosponsored in the House by Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Andre Carson (IN-07), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emmanuel Cleaver (MO-5), Jim Costa (CA-21), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Summer Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Betty McCollum (MN-04), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05) and Frederica Wilson (FL-24). The resolution is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Angus King (I-ME), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), John Fetterman (D-PA) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). Read the full text of the resolution here. ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA-26) joined Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA-32) and U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla (both D-CA) in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to quickly release more than $4 million in federal funding for the Encinal Canyon Road Emergency Interconnection Project. This project is essential for protecting the flow of fire hydrants and building connections during firefighting operations in the western Malibu community. Malibu was among the cities impacted by the Palisades fire in January 2025. Los Angeles County was selected for $4,893,885 in FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) award in December 2024 to support construction. However, the project has been significantly delayed due to FEMA’s prolonged processing of the award. The project would provide an urgently needed alternative water source during emergencies, system disruptions, or supply shortages. Any failure to complete this project could jeopardize potable water and fire protection for up to 23,000 residents. “The issuance of this grant is essential to strengthen critical infrastructure and ensure the community remains resilient in the face of increasing risk of natural disasters” the lawmakers wrote. The full letter can be found here and below: Dear Administrator Hamilton, We are writing to request your assistance regarding a critical infrastructure project for Los Angeles County Waterworks District 29, the Encinal Canyon Road Emergency Interconnection Project. This project is essential to protecting the reliability of drinking water and needed fire flow for fire hydrants and building connections during firefighting operations in the western Malibu community and was selected for a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) award in December 2024. However, the project has been significantly delayed due to FEMA’s prolonged processing of the award. The Encinal Interconnection will construct approximately 7,000 feet of new water main and appurtenances to connect District 29 with the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. This new interconnection will provide an urgently needed alternative water source during emergencies, system disruptions, or supply shortages. The Malibu area currently relies on a single 35‑mile transmission main that traverses steep, landslide‑prone coastal terrain. Any failure along this alignment would jeopardize potable water and fire protection for up to 23,000 residents, and this interconnection will provide vital resiliency for the community. The County completed the design and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the project on November 18, 2025. The total project cost is approximately $9 million, and the County had applied for $4,893,885 in HMGP funding to support construction. The project application (AP1140) was submitted under HMGP DR‑4683 in August 2023 and was selected for award in December 2024. However, more than a year and a half later, FEMA has not issued a Notice of Award. FEMA has cited an ongoing environmental review, despite the project being limited to buried pipeline installation within an existing roadway, and no notable impacts anticipated. The project has already completed environmental reviews consistent with local and state laws. We have been informed that the County cannot advertise the construction contract until FEMA issues the grant award, or they risk forfeiting the funding. As a result, the project remains on hold, and the delay poses a threat to public safety and emergency preparedness. Considering the critical importance of this project, we respectfully request answers to the following questions: What is the status of FEMA’s review for AP1140? What is the specific reason for the extended environmental review? What is the estimated timeline for issuance of the Notice of Award? The issuance of this grant is essential to strengthen critical infrastructure and ensure the community remains resilient in the face of increasing risk of natural disasters. We appreciate your expeditious attention to this critical matter. ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined New Dem Trade and Tariffs Task Force Chair Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08), Global Competitiveness Task Force Chair Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04), and 26 New Dem colleagues in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer calling on him to retain and, if possible, strengthen the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), warning that prolonged uncertainty over the agreement threatens American jobs, hurts workers, raises costs for families, and undermines North American competitiveness. This follows the administration’s decision not to extend the agreement on July 1. USMCA supports roughly 13 million American jobs and nearly $2 trillion in annual trilateral trade, serving as the backbone of integrated North American supply chains in agriculture, manufacturing, and the automotive sector. Allowing uncertainty surrounding the agreement to persist will discourage long-term investment, weaken U.S. competitiveness, and ultimately increase prices on everyday goods for American consumers already struggling with high costs. The letter reads in part: “USMCA is a cornerstone of North American competitiveness, American agriculture, and an essential tool for cross-border cooperation. The more the renewal negotiations drag on, the more uncertainty compounds across supply chains and puts at risk the 13 million American jobs and $2 trillion in trilateral trade this agreement supports. While there are important issues that need to be addressed, the core agreement must be retained to enable American workers, businesses, and communities to continue to prosper in the future.” Through the Coalition’s Governing Agenda, New Dems have championed policies that strengthen domestic manufacturing, reinforce resilient supply chains, expand trade with trusted allies, with the goal of lowering costs for working families. At a time when businesses need certainty to invest and grow, New Dems are urging the Administration to move quickly to preserve the foundation of North American trade while working collaboratively with Canada and Mexico to modernize the agreement, address outstanding labor and trade concerns, and ensure countries like China cannot exploit loopholes in the North American market. This letter comes after New Democrat Coalition members penned a letter to Ambassador Greer in November 2025 calling on negotiators to “update and expand the existing framework without undermining the successes and essential components” that have benefited all parties of the agreement. The full letter can be found here, and below: Dear Ambassador Greer, Following the Administration’s decision not to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) for another 16 years, we write to express our strong support for retaining and enhancing, not exiting, the existing agreement. USMCA is a cornerstone of North American competitiveness, American agriculture, and an essential tool for cross-border cooperation. The more the renewal negotiations drag on, the more uncertainty compounds across supply chains and puts at risk the 13 million American jobs and $2 trillion in trilateral trade this agreement supports. While there are important issues that need to be addressed, the core agreement must be retained to enable American workers, businesses, and communities to continue to prosper in the future. The decision not to extend USMCA has profound consequences for American businesses and consumers, creating the kind of uncertainty that discourages investment, unnecessarily complicates supply chains, and decreases U.S. competitiveness. Most supply chains require thirty-year lead times to be built, not just five, especially in manufacturing industries where factories can take years to become operational. The longer the negotiations drag on, the more uncertainty will result, and there will be fewer incentives to invest. A destabilized USMCA would ripple through the entire economy and weigh on growth and employment in every sector. Leaving USMCA will result in job losses in any industry dependent on trade with Mexico and Canada, including the agricultural, automobile, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Over time, the supply chain disruptions and the absence of tariff-free trade will raise costs for consumers whose cars, groceries, and other household goods depend on tightly interconnected production networks. Affordability has become a central concern for our constituents. Creating more frictions between Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. is going to make things more expensive here at home. Therefore, what might have seemed like an inconsequential deadline will likely result in profound economic impacts for decades to come. With these consequences in mind, we urge you to use this review process to quickly reach a consensus with Mexico and Canada to strengthen the agreement and address key outstanding issues. These include our Section 232 “national security” tariffs, which were imposed without congressional oversight or efforts to coordinate with our neighbors. Additionally, any revisions to rules of origin and regional value content should be carefully calibrated to ensure that the continent remains an attractive destination for investment while also ensuring that labor concerns are addressed. Further, we should work with our trading partners to prevent any country, particularly China, from getting a duty-free back door into the North American market. Finally, the U.S. relationship with Canada and Mexico goes beyond trade. President Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex Canada and turn it into the 51st U.S. state, as well as threatened to bomb targets in Mexico. At this precarious moment for cross-border relations, it is more important than ever that we renew confidence in our North American partnerships. That starts with quickly reaching an agreement to retain and, if possible, enhance the USMCA. We look forward to your prompt response as talks continue with Mexico and Canada in the coming weeks and months. ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) released the following statement after passage of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 (H.R. 8595). “I unequivocally believe in Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign Jewish state, and I am unwavering in my belief that Israel has the right to defend its people against hostile governments and proxy groups that seek its destruction. I also firmly believe that the Palestinian people have a right to dignity, security, and self-determination. “I also believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions in the Middle East have deeply undermined these efforts and recklessly escalated tensions in the region. His government’s actions have not advanced the cause of peace or security and have instead left both Israelis and Palestinians less safe. I do not see how we can continue down this path without a course correction. “I recognize that Rep. Massie’s amendment is not a serious effort to solve the current state of affairs in the Middle East. It’s also clear to me that the Republicans and the President have long ago ceased to want to take this historically bipartisan issue seriously, and to thoughtfully engage with Democrats to provide the leadership necessary to find a path forward to ending the violence, rebuilding Gaza, and securing the region. “My vote in favor of the Massie amendment is simply a vote for that course correction.” ###

Washington, DC – Last week, Congresswoman Brownley (CA-26), Congressman Huffman (CA-02), and Congressman Raskin (MD-08), alongside other democratic colleagues, introduced a resolution in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. As the United States prepares to celebrate its Semiquincentennial, the resolution recognizes the nation’s long tradition of protecting religious liberty through a secular government, celebrates America’s growing religious diversity, and rejects efforts to use the power of government to impose any one religious belief on the American people. This resolution comes at a pivotal moment for religious freedom in America. Last week, Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission released a dangerous 224-page draft report proposing policies that would expand the role of religion in government and weaken safeguards that have protected religious freedom for generations. The commission is stacked with mostly right-wing Christian nationalists, and one conservative Jewish member, all of whom endorse claims that America was founded as a Chrisian nation. “Last week Trump’s so called Religious Liberty Commission released an absurd report launching a direct attack on one of America’s greatest constitutional achievements: the separation of church and state,” said Rep. Jared Huffman. “The Constitution doesn’t belong to Christian nationalists, and it doesn’t belong to Donald Trump. It belongs to all of us, and its promise of religious freedom protects every American, regardless of what they believe. No president, no matter how determined to erode our constitutional freedoms, can change what has always been at the heart of this country: a belief in liberty and freedom for all. That includes the freedom to worship as you choose, or not at all, without government interference or religious coercion. That’s the America worth celebrating after 250 years, and it’s the America we must continue to defend.” “Our Founders rebelled against centuries of state-controlled churches, religious warfare, Crusades, inquisitions, witchcraft trials, and other expressions of religious authoritarianism to create a secular Constitution,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin. “As we mark America’s 250th anniversary, our resolution is a necessary reminder to guard religious freedom, one of our nation’s founding principles, from those seeking to destroy it by using the government to impose white Christian nationalism. Mr. President, read the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of our Constitution.” The resolution draws on the writings of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Washington, and other Founders, as well as longstanding constitutional precedent, to underscore that religious freedom flourishes when government remains neutral in matters of faith. It also recognizes that the First Amendment’s Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses have safeguarded Americans of every religion, and those of no religion, for nearly 250 years. A full copy of the resolution can be found here. In addition to Brownley, Huffman, and Raskin, the resolution is cosponsored by Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Sean Casten (IL-06), Emily Randall (WA-06), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Robert Garcia (CA-42). The resolution is endorsed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, American Humanist Association, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Secular Coalition, The Center for Inquiry, and Interfaith Alliance, and Baptist Joint Committee, Ex-Muslims of North America, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Jews for Secular Democracy, Society for Humanistic Judaism, Emgage, Vote Common Good, Sikh Coalition. A full list of quotes from endorsed organizations can be found here.

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) and 35 members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC), led by DWC members Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), sent a letter to Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon calling out the Department of Education’s failure to enforce Title IX protections for students who have been sexually harassed, sexual assaulted, and faced other forms of sex discrimination. Since the start of the second Trump administration, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which is in charge of handling student discrimination, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment claims, has not entered into a single resolution agreement addressing sexual harassment or sexual violence, despite hundreds of pending cases involving student survivors. Last week, the Trump administration announced they would move the OCR outside of the Department of Education entirely—further evidence of the administration’s failure to prioritize any resolution, accountability, or justice for women and girls. The Members’ letter argues that the Department of Education must prioritize the investigation and resolution of complaints, restore resources dedicated to Title IX enforcement, end politically motivated investigations, and provide Congress with detailed information about its handling of Title IX cases and enforcement activities. In their letter, the Members express outrage that the OCR has not entered into a single resolution agreement addressing sexual assault or harassment in schools. “As members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, we are outraged that since the start of the second Trump administration, the Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Education (OCR) has not entered into a single resolution agreement addressing sexual assault or harassment in schools. Instead, this administration is wasting taxpayer dollars pursuing immaterial politically motivated investigations while failing vulnerable students, including survivors of sexual assault or violence. We urge you to cease baseless investigations and demonstrate immediate progress in effectively resolving all pending OCR cases to deliver real enforceable legal protection for students facing discrimination based on their sex.” The Members also explained that the Trump administration has deliberately reduced the capacity of the OCR to handle these complaints by placing investigators on leave without plans to hand off their cases. “Your failure to enforce Title IX protections for millions of women and girls is deliberate and indefensible. In March 2025, the Trump administration placed 299 OCR employees—nearly half the agency’s entire workforce—on paid administrative leave and closed seven of OCR’s 12 regional offices, barring investigators from doing their jobs. According to the Government Accountability Office, this decision cost taxpayers up to $38 million in salaries paid to investigators who were prohibited from working. To this day, the Department has not explained to Congress how many investigators have returned to work, what caseloads they now carry, or how OCR plans to address the backlog it created.” The Members closed the letter by calling on the Department of Education to prioritize Title IX enforcement of actual cases of sex discrimination. “Protecting students’ civil rights is your fundamental responsibility as the Secretary of Education, and instead of using your authority to provide justice to survivors, you are weaponizing it against vulnerable students. That is shameful. We call on you to take immediate action to increase the resources focused on Title IX enforcement of actual and pending cases of sex discrimination and cease baseless directed investigations against schools or colleges.” Read the full letter here. In addition to Brownley and letter leads Suzanne Bonamici and Adelita Grijalva, the letter was signed by Yassamin Ansari, Joyce Beatty, Suzanne Bonamici, Judy Chu, Jasmine Crockett, Diana DeGette, Debbie Dingell, Veronica Escobar, Sylvia Garcia, Adelita Grijalva, Jahana Hayes, Pramila Jayapal, Julie Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Summer Lee, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Doris Matsui, Lucy McBath, LaMonica McIver, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Nellie Pou, Emily Randall, Deborah Ross, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Terri Sewell, Lateefah Simon, Emilia Sykes, Jill Tokuda, Lori Trahan, Nydia Velázquez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson. ###

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Congressman Derek Tran (CA-45), and 32 members of the California Congressional Delegation in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries raising the alarm about a section in the surface transportation reauthorization bill, the BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870), that would give rideshare companies immunity from any injury, sexual assault, or fatality that happens during a ride. For a full copy of the letter, click here. Introduced by Representative Fong (CA-20), the relevant section of the BUILD America 250 Act would ensure that rideshare companies “shall not be liable under the law of any State or political subdivision thereof […] for any harm to persons or property that results or arises out of the use, operation, or possession of a motor vehicle by an app-based driver,” protecting companies from legal liability even when presented with concerning information about a driver in a criminal background check, motor vehicle background check, customer complaint, safety test, or internal complaint. This would allow individuals who do not meet criminal or safety standards to continue operating as drivers. In the event of an incident, the company would not be held accountable, no matter its obligations to adequately screen drivers. H.R. 8870 was reported out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on May 22, 2026, with this language included, and awaits a floor vote by the full House. Representatives Brownley, Lofgren, and Tran were joined by 32 members: Representative Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Representative Mike Thompson (CA-04), Representative Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Representative Jim Costa (CA-21), Representative Doris Matsui (CA-07), Representative Judy Chu (CA-28), Representative John Garamendi (CA-08), Representative Ami Bera (CA-06), Representative Jared Huffman (CA-2), Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02), Representative Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Representative Mark Takano (CA-39), Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52), Representative Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Representative Norma Torres (CA-35), Representative Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Representative Lou Correa (CA-46), Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Representative Mike Levin (CA-49), Representative Sara Jacobs(CA-51), Representative Robert Garcia (CA-42), Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Representative Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Representative Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), Representative Laura Friedman (CA-30), Representative Sam Liccardo (CA-16),Representative Dave Min (CA-47), Representative Luz Rivas (CA-29), Representative Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Representative George Whitesides (CA-27). The full text of the letter is below: Dear Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Jeffries, We write to urge you to strip out a provision in Title I of the BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870), that would endanger consumers across the United States. The provision, which faced bipartisan opposition in markup, would shield rideshare companies from liability for crashes and sexual assaults caused by their negligence. This provision must be removed from the BUILD America 250 Act before it is considered on the House Floor. The rapid expansion of the rideshare industry has introduced significant safety vulnerabilities, often putting consumers at the risk of physical harm. Uber alone faces more than 3,000 sexual assault claims in Federal Court nationwide for allegedly failing to implement adequate safety protections, driver screenings, or rider safeguards. In California, Uber is facing roughly 550 cases for allegedly failing to protect female drivers from sexual assault, stalking, kidnapping, or false imprisonment. Victims may soon face a heavily restricted path to legal recourse. Uber is currently funding a California ballot initiative designed to cap damages for medical care and restrict a consumer’s ability to retain legal counsel following an accident. This initiative would functionally protect all negligent drivers and defective car manufacturers. Common product liability suits involving airbag defects, braking failure, steering issues, battery failure, or electronic control system and software defects would be judicially handicapped. The BUILD America 250 Act, as amended, would further hinder victims’ ability to seek recourse. Currently, rideshare companies face legal accountability if their negligence causes harm–such as allowing a driver onto the platform despite a known dangerous criminal history. If that driver later assaults a passenger or causes a crash, the company can be held liable for failing to protect the public. H.R. 8870 threatens to dismantle these vital safety incentives. The bill as currently written would provide rideshare companies with immunity from any injury, sexual assault, and fatality case no matter the red flags from any criminal background check, motor vehicle background check, customer complaint, safety test, or internal complaint. Moreover, it expressly preempts State law. Though a rideshare company would still have to follow local laws regarding background checks, it would be immune from liability if it chose to ignore red flags in the background check. Our constituents deserve better. Drivers trying to earn a living and riders who want to get to their next destination all deserve a safe ride – and the ability to be made whole if they are injured along the way. The Build America 250 Act must be amended, and this provision stripped, before it is considered on the House Floor. Sincerely, ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined 37 members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC), led by DWC Caregiving Task Force Co-Chairs Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), and Lateefah Simon (CA-12), DWC Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), and DWC member Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), in sending a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in opposition to HHS’s proposed rule (RIN 0970-AD21) (“the proposed rule”), which would repeal higher wages and expanded benefits for Head Start workers established in 2024. The letter urges HHS to withdraw the proposed rule and instead prioritize funding to strengthen Head Start and support childcare workers, families, and children. Head Start is a critical program that allows parents to go to school or work while their child is in a high-quality learning environment. The letter emphasizes that the proposed rule, which would weaken Head Start, would worsen the nation’s childcare crisis, push more women out of the workforce, and harm economic growth. It would also disproportionately impact women, who make up nearly the entire Head Start teaching workforce. In their letter, the Members explain that Head Start is a critical program that is essential to helping families access childcare amidst a national shortage: “Childcare is an essential, high-demand service that is increasingly inaccessible for many families. Childcare programs are experiencing widespread closures across the country, hindering families’ ability to achieve financial security and fully participate in the economy. Nationwide 14.8 million children under age 5 may need childcare. Yet, only 10.8 million formal spots exist. Since its founding, Head Start has tried to fill that gap, serving around 40 million children and their families. However, Head Start remains underfunded and unable to fully meet the growing need. These factors made the lack of access to affordable childcare the leading reason women left the workforce in 2025. When women and caregivers leave the workforce, it costs the economy $172 billion in lost earnings annually. Proposed rule (RIN 0980-AD21) will further limit the number of formal childcare spots and add to economic losses as women continue to be pushed out of the workforce.” The Members also underscore that the proposed rule is just the latest in an onslaught of attacks on America’s childcare system: “This proposed rule is the latest in a series of attacks by this administration on our nation’s childcare infrastructure. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. childcare infrastructure has suffered from billions of dollars in funding delays under the Trump administration in 2025. In May, your Department finalized the proposed rule Restoring Flexibility in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) (RIN 0970-AD20), which overturned critical protections to keep childcare costs affordable for families. In January, Trump ordered the freeze—currently being disputed in the courts—of $10 billion in federal child care and family assistance funding for California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York as the administration sends officials to investigate unsubstantiated claims of fraud. We refuse to stand by while your Department rips childcare and early childhood education away from women and families.” The Members close by urging HHS to strike the proposed rule, and instead work to strengthen Head Start: “Proposed rule (RIN 0970-AD21) does nothing to support working women, families, childcare workers, or early childhood education teachers. Rather, it will worsen our country’s failing childcare infrastructure, push women out of the workforce, and cost our economy billions. We remain committed to building an affordable future for all women and families, where childcare is not financially detrimental. That is why we strongly oppose proposed rule (RIN) 0970-AD20 and demand your Department prioritize funding for Head Start.” Read the full letter here. In addition to letter leads DWC Caregiving Task Force Co-Chairs Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), and Lateefah Simon (CA-12), DWC Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), and DWC member Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), the letter was signed by Joyce Beatty, Julia Brownley, Judy Chu, Jasmine Crockett, Sarah Elfreth, Laura Friedman, Sylvia Garcia, Adelita Grijalva, Jahana Hayes, Pramila Jayapal, Julie Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Robin Kelly, Summer Lee, Doris Matsui, Lucy McBath, Sarah McBride, LaMonica McIver, Gwen Moore, Eleanor Norton, Nancy Pelosi, Chellie Pingree, Delia Ramirez, Deborah Ross, Andrea Salinas, Linda Sánchez, Hillary Scholten, Haley Stevens, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Lauren Underwood, Nydia Velázquez, and Frederica Wilson. ###

Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), and Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) led 73 colleagues demanding answers from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya about the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, warning that weakened U.S. global health capacity may have contributed to delays in detecting and responding to the current outbreak. With more than 500 infected, over 90 deaths reported, and more than 1,000 suspected cases being investigated, the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda exposes dangerous gaps in U.S. leadership on global disease surveillance and response. Since taking office for the second time, Trump has gutted United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programs, pushed changes at the CDC, and undermined the World Health Organization. While Secretary Rubio claimed during last week’s House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that the severity of the outbreak was due to the rural and unstable nature of the region in which it has occurred, the Trump Administration’s reduction of global health funding, staffing, and international coordination has likely weakened outbreak detection and response efforts. The Members write: “Infectious diseases do not stop at borders. This Ebola outbreak has already infected one American doctor and risks bringing this deadly disease to our nation if not properly contained and controlled.” “We write to express our dismay about the failure to detect and contain the deadly outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. This outbreak was allowed to spread undetected, untreated, and unprevented in part because this Administration, under your leadership, slashed funding for global health programs, gutted public health officials and senior staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shuttered the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO).” “We urge you to reverse the cuts to our global health programs, rejoin the WHO, and ensure that we have the expert staff at the CDC and the State Department needed to prevent and manage any future outbreaks of deadly diseases before they endanger Americans.” The letter was signed by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), André Carson (IN-07), Sean Casten (IL-06), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesús García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Henry Johnson (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), John Larson (CT-01), George Latimer (NY-16), Summer Lee (PA-12), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Norton (DC-AL), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Janice Schakowsky (IL-09), Bradley Schneider (IL-10), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Darren Soto (FL-09), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and George Whitesides (CA-27). A full copy of the letter can be found here. ###

Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Congressman André Carson (D-Ind.), along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), led 61 members of Congress in pressing the Department of Education (ED) to immediately address the largest student loan default and delinquency crisis on record, which has been made worse by the Trump administration’s policies. “(I)nstead of pursuing solutions that protect borrowers, the Trump administration has deflected blame, punted responsibility for the default crisis to another agency, and raised costs for borrowers at every turn. We urge you to provide meaningful support to borrowers,” said the lawmakers. A February 2026 analysis by The Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers revealed that close to 9 million student loan borrowers are now in default, up from 5 million last summer. 3.6 million borrowers defaulted during the first year of the Trump administration alone. 75 percent of borrowers who moved from delinquency to default on a student loan under the Trump administration had never previously defaulted. “The Trump administration’s actions have fueled this default and delinquency crisis,” wrote the lawmakers, highlighting the administration’s decision to block borrowers from accessing lower student loan payments and reduced access to debt relief. Making matters worse, millions of borrowers will soon face an increased risk of delinquency and default due to the Trump administration’s decision to end the affordable SAVE income-drive repayment (IDR) plan. Instead of helping those vulnerable borrowers, the Trump administration will automatically enroll them in more expensive loan repayment plans if they do not apply for an IDR plan within 90 days. The rise in delinquencies and defaults will have devastating economic effects and raise costs for American families. The Trump administration has threatened to restart forcibly collecting wages, Social Security, and tax refunds for defaulted borrowers, meaning that more than $30 billion could be seized from Americans’ incomes by the end of next year. Around 2 million borrowers saw their credit score drop by an average of 100 points over the course of 2025, which can restrict access to credit or loans that help them afford everything from housing to medical bills. According to Moody’s Analytics, a 1% increase in the student loan delinquency rate is associated with a statistically significant decline in home ownership. The lawmakers urged ED to immediately take the following steps to address the default cliff: Cancel student debt for qualified borrowers under existing debt cancellation programs, including IDR debt cancellation, Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge, closed school discharge, borrower defense to repayment, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF); Adequately staff ED to conduct outreach to borrowers and oversight of servicers; Clear the more than 550,000 application backlog of income-driven repayment applications; Enroll all 7.5 million borrowers currently enrolled in SAVE in the lowest cost repayment plan available; and Continue the pause on forced collections, end the interagency agreement tasking the Treasury Department with default collections, and create an interest-free temporary default prevention forbearance. The coalition requested that ED commit to clearing the backlog of applications for loan debt relief and create a new form of forbearance to support borrowers by June 22, 2026. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, along with Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined in signing. Representatives Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Cleo Fields (D-La.), Shomari Figures (D-Ala.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Henry Johnson (D-Ga.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) joined in signing the letter. ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16), and Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) led a coalition of twenty-four Members of Congress urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to release disaster assistance funds. Their push follows reporting by The Washington Post that revealed the agency withheld $1.68 billion in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) awards from California and Colorado. The Post’s reporting suggests politics motivated the delays. The Trump administration has made it three times harder for states with a Democratic governor and two Democratic senators to secure federal disaster aid. “While FEMA has awarded $1.1 billion in HMGP awards this year, California has received only $830,000 and Colorado none,” wrote the lawmakers. “By contrast, FEMA awarded $239 million to Florida, $131 million to Texas, and $117 million to Louisiana. We know of no eligibility or statutory factors that justify California and Colorado—together home to roughly one in eight Americans—receiving less than one-tenth of one percent of HMGP awards this year.” The lawmakers also highlighted the troubling delay given that California and Colorado are both donor states, contributing $276 billion and $10 billion more in taxes, respectively, than they receive in federal spending. HMGP awards also save taxpayer dollars. Disaster preparedness and mitigation save lives and reduce costs, with studies showing that every dollar invested in prevention saves $13 in disaster response and economic impact. “We trust that you agree that FEMA should not put Americans’ lives and livelihoods at unnecessary risk,” the lawmakers wrote to Acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton. “Accordingly, we request your support in ensuring that our constituents receive the same full, fair, and prompt consideration of their FEMA grant requests as Americans in every other state, and we look forward to your timely response.” Read the letter here. Signers include: Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Jason Crow (CO-06), Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), Judy Chu (CA-28), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Dave Min (CA-47), Jared Huffman (CA-02), George Whitesides (CA-27), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), John Garamendi (CA-08), Laura Friedman (CA-30), and J. Luis Correa (CA-46). ###

Washington, DC – Today, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) member Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), DWC Executive Steering Committee member Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), DWC member Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04), and 32 DWC colleagues sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin urging him to immediately reinstate protections to help immigrant survivors escape abuse, stay safe, and seek justice without fear of deportation. This letter follows consistent abuse of immigrant survivors at the hands of ICE, including a harrowing report about a mother of two who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after testifying against her ex-boyfriend for choking her until she lost consciousness then raping her. In the letter, the members also requested a meeting with Secretary Mullin to further discuss the importance of protecting survivors. In the letter, the members explain that the Trump administration’s policies are continuing to put immigrant survivors at risk, despite demands from DWC that DHS act to protect them. The letter highlights multiple cases where ICE detained women after they sought help after abuse. This has created a chilling effect that prevents immigrant survivors from reporting violence, accessing health care, or seeking supportive services. In the letter, DWC members explain that immigrant women are especially vulnerable to intimate partner violence because abusers often exploit survivors’ immigration status to maintain control and prevent them from seeking help: “Immigrant women are especially vulnerable to intimate partner violence—experiencing intimate partner violence at a rate of 49%, which is three times the national average. This is in part because abusers can use survivors’ immigration status, to wield control, manipulating survivors not to report the abuse. In 2025, 75.6% of advocates reported that the immigrant survivors they help have concerns about contacting the police; 70.3% reported that immigrant survivors are concerned about going to court for a matter related to their abuser; and 50% reported that immigrant survivors chose not to report their abuser out of fear. The lack of reporting also means that abusers remain in our communities- making all of us less safe.” The members also highlight that the Trump administration has weakened longstanding protections for immigrant survivors of domestic violence from the Violence Against Women Act: “In December 2025, USCIS published updates to its Policy Manual that significantly weakened longstanding protections for immigrant survivors of domestic violence under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The new narrow the definitions of ‘battery and extreme cruelty,’ raise evidentiary burdens through a stricter interpretation of the ‘any credible evidence’ standard, and impose new good moral character guidelines that ignore the realities survivors face—including trauma’s effect on memory, abusers’ control over documents, and language and cultural barriers. These changes reward abusers by making it harder for survivors to self-petition for relief which goes against the intent of VAWA. Without protections in place for survivors to report violence coupled with stories about enforcement actions at courthouses and other sensitive locations, immigrant survivors are left with no safe avenues to report their abuse.” DWC members close the letter by calling on DHS to change policies that are protecting perpetrators: “Your Department must re-evaluate their policies to ensure that immigrant women survivors of intimate partner violence and other crimes can seek safety without fear. Your Department is punishing victims rather than perpetrators, which contradicts your Department and the President’s stated priority to keep our communities safe and get violent offenders off our streets. Your policies are instead protecting violent offenders, leaving many women vulnerable, scared, with their safety at real risk. Effective enforcement depends on survivors being able to safely report crime. Congress created survivor-based protections to support law enforcement and] improve public safety. A victim-centered approach strengthens enforcement, increases accountability, and makes us all safer. The Democratic Women’s Caucus stands with all survivors, and we implore your Department to undo these dangerous immigration policies and restore protections that allow survivors to escape abuse and receive the resources they need to heal. They deserve to find support without the looming threat of deportation. As you assume your new position, we would like to request a meeting with you to discuss this issue further. We look forward to your timely response.” Read the full letter here. In addition to Brownley and letter leads Debbie Dingell and Gwen Moore, the letter was signed by Yassamin Ansari, Nanette Barragán, Joyce Beatty, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Lois Frankel, Sylvia Garcia, Adelita Grijalva, Pramila Jayapal, Julie Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Summer Lee, Teresa Leger Fernández, Sarah McBride, Betty McCollum, LaMonica McIver, Kelly Morrison, Brittany Pettersen, Delia Ramirez, Luz Rivas, Deborah Ross, Andrea Salinas, Lateefah Simon, Haley Stevens, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson. This is a follow up to the Democratic Women’s Caucus’s January letter calling on DHS to reinstate protections for immigrant survivors with pending T and U visa applications. This letter is part of DWC’s ongoing efforts to call out DHS on how their policies harm women, including at a hearing entitled: “The Assault of Women By Trump’s ICE & CBP” and in several oversight letters (see here, here, and here). ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced Wenqing Lu from Oak Park High School as the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for California’s 26th Congressional District. Lu’s piece, “Inner Worlds Never Fade,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for one year. “I am always deeply impressed by the incredible artwork submitted to my office in the Congressional Art Competition, and in my final year of hosting this event, the pieces we received from students throughout our region surpassed all expectations. Wenqing Lu’s poignant artwork exemplifies the creativity and talent that thrives in our community, and I congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition and the opportunity to have her work displayed in the halls of our Capitol,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “Art is a powerful form of expression that allows students to harness their imagination and share perspectives, experiences, and ideas that matter deeply to them. I am proud of every student who participated in this year’s competition and shared something meaningful through their work. This event is truly a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our community’s up-and-coming artists and the unique voices they bring to the world.” “I am incredibly honored to have my artwork selected as the first place winner in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. Seeing my work recognized alongside so many talented artists in our community is deeply meaningful for me and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to share my work on this platform. Art has become one of the most important ways I express my thoughts, explore identity, and communicate ideas that are difficult to express with just words alone. I love doing art whenever I can because it soothes me and lets me harness my creative freedom. I also hope viewers can connect my art with their own interpretations and experiences. With this painting, I wanted to show how inner worlds never fade. Even in old age, like the woman I painted, creativity is always there. That childlike wonder still exists deep inside all of us,” said Wenqing Lu, 2026 Congressional Art Competition winner for California’s 26th Congressional District. “We are so proud of Wenqing! Her piece speaks to the joy and fullness of life while celebrating multi-generational relationships. Art is meant to be shared and we are honored that one of our students’ voices will be displayed so others can enjoy it,” said Mat McClenahan, principal of Oak Park High School. “Oak Park High School is proud that Wenqing Lu is representing our school and district for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. ‘Inner Worlds Never Fade’ represents our people and our diverse, beautiful community. Wenqing shows the joy of creativity encompassing innovation that never truly leaves you, no matter what age. I am so proud of the work that is being created in our classroom, the talent and passion at Oak Park High School is terrific. Wenqing’s work leaves me in awe and I am proud to know her for the kind person that she is as well,” said Anna Mendez, Visual Arts and AP Art teacher at Oak Park High School. “This year’s Congressional Art Competition was both challenging and rewarding to judge. It was challenging because the number of entries demonstrating advanced artistic skill, creative experimentation, and technical mastery made selecting a winner no easy task. At the same time, it was deeply rewarding to see how students interpreted the world around them on canvas and paper. Wenqing Lu’s compelling juxtaposition of highly realistic figurative art with whimsical illustrations, combined with its intimate familial theme, distinguished the work as especially deserving of the competition’s top honor,” said Jeffrey Bowen, art competition judge. “It was an honor to serve as one of the judges for this year’s Congressional Art Competition. When I arrived to judge I decided to start with the ‘wow factor’ to get a feel for the work submitted. As I quickly walked past all the work, I was immediately drawn to four pieces on the first pass. Knowing the makers were all high school students, I was very impressed at the skill level on display with each work of art. There were 34 submissions, and I began judging by sitting with each piece and absorbing the topic, the colors, the style, and how the piece made me feel — that is what art & photography is all about anyway. As I moved from piece to piece, I could envision who each artist was by the feeling the work revealed. The piece that won, ‘Inner Worlds Never Fade’ had all of that!” said Bill Horstick, art competition judge. “Wenqing Lu’s ‘Inner Worlds Never Fade’ captures the boundless possibilities that imagination offers. Her work feels like a doorway into something deeply personal yet universally felt by individuals of any and all ages. She beautifully captured a moment where ideas stretch beyond limits and take on a life of their own. It’s a powerful reminder that imagination doesn’t just reflect our inner worlds, it expands them,” said Cristian Rivas, art competition judge. Two honorable mentions were also recognized: “Uniquely American” by Dylan Li from Newbury Park High School and “us.” by Kate O’Loughlin from Westlake High School. Started in 1982, the nationwide Congressional Art Competition is sponsored by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and provides an opportunity to recognize and encourage student artistic talent from across the country. Submissions from students in grades 9-12 across California’s 26th Congressional District were judged by a panel of local judges who work in the arts, academic, and social work fields. This year’s submissions were judged by Jeffrey Bowen, Director of Library Programming and Public Affairs at Pepperdine University; Bill Horstick, Superintendent for Ventura County Fairgrounds’ Photography Department; and Cristian Rivas, a local artist from Oxnard. ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), and members of the California congressional delegation are launching an inquiry into Sable Offshore’s efforts to restart oil drilling off the California coast and are demanding answers on the company’s collaboration with the Trump administration to invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) in relation to this project. In a letter to Sable Offshore Corp.’s CEO and Chairman Jim C. Flores, the lawmakers raise concerns about the timeline of Sable’s accrued lawsuits, cease and desist orders, fines, etc. dating back from April 2025 to March 2026. They demand Sable preserve all of their internal communication records between the company and administration officials related to the restart. “The administration’s reliance on the Defense Production Act (DPA)—no doubt in consultation and coordination with lawyers representing Sable—is a serious misuse of a federal law meant to be involved for national security reasons, not to enrich an industry already making record profits. To help Congress better understand this effort to circumvent California law and coastal protections, we seek detailed information on the company’s role in this decision, and your communications with the Trump administration in relation to Sable Offshore’s SYU project,” the lawmakers wrote. The lawmakers also point to concerning financial ties between Sable and President Trump, including executives at Sable directly contributing to the president’s campaigns. They emphasize that Sable has closely worked with the Trump administration to restart the oil pipelines that have been dormant for over a decade all in an effort to “benefit industry partners and preferred energy sources” rather than protect our coastlines. “Californians do not want oil production restarting along their coasts and have voted repeatedly for California laws that block coastal oil production. The environmental impacts, along with the economic fallout from those impacts, are simply too great, especially when there is little to no benefit for California consumers. We urge you to pause and consider the long-term legal and financial ramifications of collaborating with the Trump administration to circumvent California law,” the lawmakers concluded. In addition to Brownley, Schiff, and Carbajal, the letter was signed by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representatives John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11), and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04). The full text of the letter can be found here, and below: Dear Mr. Jim Flores: We write to express our grave concern over the restart of Sable Offshore Corporation’s (Sable) Santa Ynez Unit (SYU) offshore oil activities near the coast of Santa Barbara, California, and your company’s disregard for California law and the well-being of our constituents. The administration’s reliance on the Defense Production Act (DPA)—no doubt in consultation and coordination with lawyers representing Sable—is a serious misuse of a federal law meant to be invoked for national security reasons, not to enrich an industry already making record profits. To help Congress better understand this effort to circumvent California law and coastal protections, we seek detailed information on the company’s role in this decision, and your communications with the Trump administration in relation to Sable Offshore’s SYU project. We also demand that all relevant documents and records pertaining to the SYU project as described in detail below be preserved. In February 2024, your family-owned special purpose acquisition company, Flame Acquisition Corp., struck a deal with ExxonMobil to acquire SYU for roughly $700 million, creating the Sable merger. Given the liabilities attached to SYU operations, including ten years of platform and equipment inactivity, challenges with complying with State regulations, and twenty-seven other risk factors identified in Sable’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 10-K Form, this was a risky purchase. Since April 2025, Sable has accrued multiple lawsuits, shareholder complaints, notices of violation, cease and desist orders, and fines from California state agencies and nonprofit organizations. Sable has responded by disobeying directives and filing counterclaims for monetary damages. A timeline of state agency and court penalizations are outlined below: April 2025: The California Coastal Commission (CCC) issued an $18 million fine and cease and desist order against Sable for unpermitted work that harmed habitats and waters on California’s coastline in violation of California’s Coastal Act. At the hearing, CCC staff presented evidence of Sable ignoring state orders; Sable had previously received two cease and desist orders from CCC for violating the Coastal Act and Sable responded by suing the CCC and vowing to continue work in defiance of the order. In October 2025, Sable filed a complaint seeking over $347 million in damages from the CCC, claiming “unlawful delay” of the pipeline restart.3 The CCC won a preliminary injunction against Sable in May 2025. July 2025: Multiple class action lawsuits were filed by Rosen Law Firm and Schall Law Firm on behalf of purchasers of Sable securities, alleging the company made misleading statements by claiming they had restarted oil production when they had not. Sable is also currently under investigation by the SEC for allegations of advance information being shared selectively among company insiders in October 2025, right before Sable raised $250 million by selling shares of its common stocks to private investors to help keep the company afloat. This same month, a Santa Barbara court placed a separate injunction against Sable preventing the restart of operations unless and until Sable obtains all necessary state approvals. September 2025: The Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch filed 21 criminal charges, including five felony counts, against Sable for unlawful discharge of pollutants into waterways and improper excavation during pipeline repair. The District Attorney alleged that these actions are in violation of the California Fish and Game Code and the Water Code. Sable responded by calling theses criminal charges “inflammatory and extremely misleading” and a “politically motivated attack”. October 2025: The California Office of the State Fire Marshal determined that Sable had failed to comply with safety standards on its pipeline corrosion repair work and therefore its restart could not proceed. That same month, on behalf of the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, the California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, filed a lawsuit against Sable asserting three causes of action: 1) Sable repeatedly discharged or threatened to discharge waste to waters of the state without authorization, despite being notified by the Central Coast Water Board that permits were required for the activities; 2) Sable activities resulted in the discharge of sediment and vegetative debris to various bodies of water inland and near the Gaviota Coast, harming water quality and aquatic habitat; and 3) Sable failed to submit information to the board that was required by law. Sable responded by working with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to update its federal Development and Production Plan to allow the company to bypass its onshore pipeline and use a floating barge operating in federal waters (an Offshore Storage and Treating Vessel). March 2026: Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright issued an order claiming that SYU oil production was a national security concern invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA), which unlawfully superseded state laws and restarted SYU oil production. On behalf of the State of California, Attorney General Bonta responded by filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to halt the use of the DPA Order as a basis for executive overreach. The lawsuit alleges that the DPA Order, which DOE issued at Sable’s request, violates the Administrative Procedure Act and infringes on California’s sovereign power under the Tenth Amendment. The Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel opinion supporting DOE’s move to invoke the DPA explicitly references a letter from Sable through Holland and Knight to the DOE General Counsel requesting the invocation of the DPA. The Trump administration has clearly been working hand in glove with Sable to try to force the restart of SYU. For example, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) made misleading statements about SYU oil production in July 2025 that paralleled statements made by Sable, the same statements that resulted in securities class action lawsuits by your shareholders. California Congressional Members also requested further information about these statements in a letter to DOI Secretary Doug Burgum and BSEE Deputy Director Kenneth Stevens. To date, we have not received any response. While this fight between California and the Trump administration continues, these actions suggest that the Trump administration is willing to circumvent state laws to benefit industry partners and preferred energy sources, and you appear to be a willing partner in its efforts. Furthermore, we have concerns regarding financial ties between Sable and President Trump. Executives at Sable have directly contributed to President Trump’s campaigns. You have contributed over $300,000 to Super PACs like Right to Rise USA and Senate Leadership Fund, which made contributions to President Trump’s 2016 and 2024 campaigns. Additionally, Gregory Patrinely, Executive Vice President and CFO of Sable, contributed thousands of dollars to Trump-aligned committees in 2020 and 2024. During his campaign, President Trump promised to reverse environmental rules for your industry in exchange for $1 billion in donations. It is difficult to avoid the inference that actions like the use of DPA to overcome state laws on behalf of an oil producer represents a fulfillment of that “pay to play” promise. In addition to the information requests below, please preserve all records and communications related to your efforts to work with the Trump administration or campaign to restart the SYU from January 1, 2024, to March 13, 2026, and on an ongoing basis moving forward. This preservation hold applies to your personal records, corporate records, and all communications with President Trump, the White House, the Department of Energy, the Trump presidential campaign and outside entities, and any person representing or purporting to be acting on behalf of President Trump, as well as communications with any intermediary that communicated with these entities on your behalf. This includes but is not limited to: records and communications via email, whether official or personal; mobile devices; encrypted or disappearing messaging applications; social media; calendar entries; meeting notes; and voicemail and text messages. To the extent that you or Sable use any auto-delete functions, you should immediately suspend autodelete functions and notify persons with control over potentially relevant records of their preservation obligations. You should also preserve all records of your or Sable’s communications with the White House or White House personnel, Department of Energy political appointees and staff, others appointed by the President or his advisors, or any member of the Trump presidential campaign. We request responses to the following: When did your relationship with President Donald Trump begin? Please outline those communications, including any meetings with Trump, his family, or his representatives, to date. When did your relationship with Secretary Chris Wright begin? Please outline those communications to date. Did Sable, its executives, attorneys, or other representatives at any point discuss with President Trump or any member of his administration or campaign the SYU project and did you link it in any way with any campaign or political donations made by you or executives of your company? Did you, your attorneys, your representatives, or any executive of Sable ever make contributions to 501(c)(4) organizations or any other entity for which public disclosure would not be required, and were these contributions ever discussed with President Trump, any member of his family, any member of his campaign, or any political appointee of the current administration in relation to the SYU project? Did you, your attorneys, your representatives, or any executive of Sable ever discuss campaign or political donations at all—before or after it was given—with President Trump, any member of his family, any member of his campaign, or any political appointee of the current administration? What was communicated and when did these communications begin? Has Sable, its executives, attorneys, or other representatives ever communicated with anyone in the DOE General Counsel’s office or the White House Counsel’s office? Please detail those communications. Has Sable, its executives, attorneys, or other representatives communicated with anyone in the Executive Office of the President, the President, the President’s campaign, or any Cabinet members since the start of President Trump’s second term? Or direct others to do so on your behalf? If so, please outline those communications to date. Please provide any and all communications to the Department of Energy (DOE) from Sable (including through Holland and Knight), asking DOE to invoke the Defense Production Act, including the December 12, 2025, letter Re: Sable Offshore Corp.— Request for Action Under the Defense Production Act. Who initiated the request to DOE to ask for an opinion on the Defense Production Act? Did Sable’s attorneys, DOE, or a member of the President’s administration advise you to do so? Did you communicate nonpublic information to a select group of investors concerning your strategy to convince Secretary Wright, Secretary Lutnick, or President Trump to assist in your preemption of California law, and did this strategy involve offering a round of golf with Phil Mickelson to Secretary Lutnick or having an intermediary promise President Trump to affix gold leaf to your offshore oil platform in exchange for helping to override California law? Californians do not want oil production restarting along their coasts and have voted repeatedly for California laws that block coastal oil production. The environmental impacts, along with the economic fallout from those impacts, are simply too great, especially when there is little to no benefit for California consumers. We urge you to pause and consider the long-term legal and financial ramifications of collaborating with the Trump administration to circumvent California law. We also advise you that we will continue our oversight and investigative efforts in the next Congress. We look forward to your response and acknowledgement of compliance with this preservation request by June 10, 2026. ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) in introducing the Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act. Companion legislation has been introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA). This bipartisan legislation would create a competitive grant program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand scratch cooking in schools. Scratch cooking allows school districts to prepare their own meals using fresh, locally sourced ingredients instead of serving pre-assembled or processed meals. This innovative approach incorporates a farm to table system in the school setting that helps to reduce water, carbon, and waste footprints. Research shows that school meals are the most nutritious food source for American schoolchildren. Through scratch cooking, students are afforded the opportunity to consume whole, healthy fruits and vegetables, which are key for healthy growth and brain development in children. “With increasingly limited funding, school districts across the country are struggling to provide students with consistent access to healthy food options,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “Scratch cooking helps address this challenge by giving school food programs the tools to prepare healthier, more sustainable meals while empowering local schools to serve hearty, nutritious food made with fresh ingredients. I am grateful for Congresswoman Jahana Hayes’ leadership on this important issue, and I am proud to work alongside her to ensure school meal programs across the country can nourish children, support their long-term health and success, and help build a more sustainable future for their generation and generations to come.” “Healthy eating fuels the brain and leads to improved academic performance and emotional well-being. Scratch cooking brings fresh, nutritious meals into schools and strengthens local partnerships with farmers and producers, said Congresswoman Hayes. “The Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act is a comprehensive way to create healthy eating habits at an early age, which students can carry well into adulthood.” “School nutrition is local health infrastructure. It shapes how children learn, how families are supported, and how communities invest in the next generation. Through our work with local schools, nutrition professionals, farmers, and community partners, we have seen that many districts want to serve fresher, healthier meals, but need the tools, training, and local partnerships to make that shift sustainable. This effort will help close that gap, so more children have access to healthy meals that support their learning and reflect a community-wide commitment to their future,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “Fresh and nutritious food should be accessible for students across America, and school meals are often one of the most reliable sources of nutrition for kids. I’m proud to join Representatives Hayes, Fitzpatrick, and Brownley to introduce this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to expand federal funding so schools have more resources to prepare healthier meals for young Americans,” said Senator Schiff. The Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act has been endorsed by the Chef Ann Foundation, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), National Education Association (NEA), School Nutrition Association (SNA), and School Nutrition Association of Connecticut, and ScratchWorks. ###

Federal funding will strengthen emergency preparedness, modernize aging infrastructure, and improve access to clean drinking water Thousand Oaks, CA – On Thursday, May 7, Congresswoman Julia Brownley presented checks to the City of Camarillo and the City of Oxnard for community projects she secured federal funding for through the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process. Congresswoman Brownley presented the City of Camarillo with $1,145,144 for its Hybrid Microgrid Standby Power Resiliency Project and the City of Oxnard with $1,092,000 for its Cast Iron Pipe Replacement Project. “Working alongside federal, state, and local leaders, I am proud to have secured funding for these critical infrastructure investments in Camarillo and Oxnard,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “From replacing aging pipelines that are essential to delivering clean drinking water to strengthening energy-resilient infrastructure that can withstand the demands of our disaster-prone region, these investments will help keep our communities safe, connected, and prepared for the future. This funding is about delivering real, lasting results for the people we serve.” “We thank Congresswoman Brownley for helping secure this critical funding to bolster Camarillo’s operational resiliency,” said Camarillo Mayor David Tennessen. “With these investments in backup power technology, the City will be able to continue to provide essential services to the community under adverse conditions such as power outages during high-wind events and wildfires.” “Investing in critical water infrastructure is a top priority for Oxnard’s future. This investment towards the cast iron pipeline replacement project will make a meaningful difference, improving the reliability, safety, and long-term sustainability of our water system for years to come,” said Oxnard Mayor Luis Mc Arthur. “These essential projects ensure Oxnard’s infrastructure can continue to support future generations. We are grateful to Congresswoman Julia Brownley for her support and partnership in securing these important federal funds for the City of Oxnard.” “I appreciate Congresswoman Brownley’s dedication and efforts to ensure our local projects remain a priority,” said Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez, District 5. “Projects like the Cast Iron Pipe Replacement Project improve the wellbeing of our community. With these funds, the City will be able to make progress in replacing old pipes in the Kamala Park neighborhood where frequent repairs to the current 60-year-old pipes cause disruption to residents by installing new PVC water pipelines in the community.” About the Projects The Hybrid Microgrid Standby Power Resiliency Project will fortify critical response operations by integrating power generators, solar technology, and battery storage with advanced switchgear controls, ensuring uninterrupted power and services during emergencies. The need for the project was proven in November 2024 when the Mountain Fire devastated hundreds of structures in and around Camarillo. The city regularly faces disruptions from power shutoffs during Santa Ana wind conditions, compromising emergency services. This important infrastructure project allows Camarillo to maintain operational capacity during grid disruption, with substantial cost savings, while strengthening its capacity to serve residents during emergencies. The Cast Iron Pipe Replacement Project will replace aging cast iron waterline pipes at risk of failure. Many of the cast iron potable water pipelines in Oxnard are over 60 years old, have reached the end of their useful life, and are constantly in need of repairs, which is disruptive and costly to the residents of the city. Replacement of these aged pipelines will ensure access to clean drinking water for residents of the Kamala Park neighborhood in Oxnard. Background on FY2026 Community Projects Congresswoman Brownley secured more than $62 million in federal funding for 15 community projects and for other programmatic requests across Ventura County and the Conejo Valley in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process. An initial list of FY26 community projects and investments secured by Congresswoman Brownley is available here. A list of additional community projects and investments secured by Congresswoman Brownley in the FY26 appropriations packages is available here. Photos from the check presentation in Camarillo can be found here. Photos from the check presentation in Oxnard can be found here. ###

In total, Brownley secured more than $62 million for local infrastructure, transportation, and resilience projects in the FY26 appropriations process Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) announced additional funding that she secured for California’s 26th Congressional District in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process. The funding ensures continued federal support for important transportation and infrastructure investments throughout Ventura County and the Conejo Valley. “I am proud to have played a part in keeping our communities moving forward,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “I am especially grateful to our local leaders and community stakeholders whose partnership helped make these projects possible. “A strong future for Ventura and Los Angeles Counties depends on modern, reliable infrastructure and transportation networks that keep our communities connected and our economy moving. These investments will strengthen public safety, improve disaster resilience, modernize critical infrastructure, and create good-paying jobs throughout our region.” The final FY2026 Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act included the following Community Projects: $250,000 for the Southern California Regional Railroad Authority (Metrolink) Arroyo Simi Bridges Scour Mitigation Project $1,120,000 for Additional In-Route Charges for the City of Simi Valley Transit Hub Project $2,600,000 for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Metro) Regional Bus Stop Enhancement Program $250,000 for the Clean Power Alliance Power Ready Program for Critical Public Facilities Improvements $850,000 for the City of Calabasas Citywide Green Street Project $850,000 for the City of Agoura Hills Affordable Housing Microgrid $250,000 for the Ventura County Agricultural Training, Resource, and Community Center Development and Reconstruction The FY2026 Homeland Security and Related Agencies Appropriations Act included the following Community Projects: $1,145,144 for the City of Camarillo Hybrid Microgrid Standby Power Resiliency Project $1,145,144 for the City of Thousand Oaks Community Resilience Center Project $336,000 for the City of Westlake Village Emergency Operations Center Resilience Project Congresswoman Brownley also announced that the final FY2026 Work Plan, which Congress requires be released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, included additional funds from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for the Channel Islands Harbor, bringing the harbor’s FY2026 total allotment to $18,646,000. The Army Corps’ FY2026 work plan also provided additional donor port funds for the Port of Hueneme, bringing the port’s FY2026 total allotment to $23,381,610. In 2016, Congresswoman Brownley authored a provision in the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-322) that ensured the Port of Hueneme would be eligible to receive donor port funds. Since coming to Congress, Brownley has been a leading advocate for California’s donor ports, including the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. “California’s ports are essential economic engines that support jobs, trade, and supply chains across the country, and Congress has a responsibility to ensure they receive fair and equitable funding. I will continue working alongside California’s donor ports to ensure they have the resources necessary to grow and thrive.” In total, Brownley secured over $62 million for critical investments throughout Ventura County and the Conejo Valley in the final FY26 appropriations legislation and Corps’ work plan. To view the list of previously announced FY26 funding, click here. ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), and U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla (both D-CA) announced more than $22 million in federal funding from the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) for the Port of Hueneme in Ventura County, California and for the Port of Richmond in Contra Costa County, California. The funding the lawmakers secured will improve efficiency and safety and help support the much-needed upgrades to infrastructure at the ports. The grant program is administered by the Maritime Administration. Port of Hueneme was awarded $11,250,000 Port of Richmond was awarded $11,224,449 “A vital engine for clean jobs and workforce development, the Port of Hueneme drives economic growth and promotes climate resiliency across our region,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “To keep the Port strong and competitive, I worked alongside Senators Schiff and Padilla to secure federal funding for critical infrastructure upgrades. These federal investments will help the Port of Hueneme carry out its critical functions while prioritizing safety, maximizing efficiency, and guaranteeing responsible stewardship. Ensuring the Port’s sustainability and resilience is essential for our environmental and economic prosperity, and I will continue to support investments like these that serve our community and help safeguard our future.” “America’s economic strength is built on investments in our ports,” said Congressman Garamendi. “That’s why I’m proud to announce over $11 million in critical funding for the Port of Richmond. This investment reinforces the port’s vital role in our economy and our community. I thank Senators Schiff and Padilla for their partnership and leadership in securing this critical investment.” “As vital economic drivers for California and the nation, it is crucial that we support the infrastructure upgrades needed at our ports. I am proud to have partnered with my colleagues to bring back federal funding for our ports, so they remain leading gateways for imports and exports,” said Senator Schiff. “By upgrading key infrastructure at the Ports of Hueneme and Richmond, we’re strengthening our supply chains, supporting good-paying jobs, and moving goods more reliably across California and the nation,” said Senator Padilla. “As the fourth-largest economy in the world, California depends on ports like these as critical gateways for trade and growth. I’ll continue fighting for investments that deliver lasting benefits for the workers, businesses, and communities that rely on them.” “This $11.25 million federal investment in the Port of Hueneme prospers the local and regional economy and strengthens the national supply chain,” said Kristin Decas, CEO & Port of Hueneme Director. “Funds will rehabilitate an essential wharf and deepen the berth to support larger vessels requisite to growing import/export volumes. This funding doesn’t just improve our docks; it creates good paying jobs in logistics. We thank Senators Schiff and Padilla and Representative Brownley for their support of the Port of Hueneme and their leadership on supply chain initiatives.” ###

Washington, DC – Today, on Marine Mammal Rescue Day, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) reintroduced the Marine Mammal Climate Change Protection Act, legislation to strengthen protections for marine mammals and the coastal ecosystems they depend on from the growing threat of the climate crisis. “Marine mammals are facing unprecedented threats,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “The climate crisis is rapidly reshaping our oceans and putting whales, sea otters, polar bears, manatees, and other species at risk. “For decades, the Marine Mammal Protection Act has served as a cornerstone of our nation’s commitment to protecting marine mammals. But the law has not kept pace with the accelerating impacts of climate change. My bill updates that framework by requiring federal agencies to directly address the growing risks climate change poses to marine mammals. “From sea-level rise and ocean warming to habitat loss and declining biodiversity, the challenges facing our coastal ecosystems are intensifying. These are not distant threats. They are happening now, and they are driven by human activity. “In coastal communities including Ventura County, we have seen firsthand how fragile these ecosystems have become. Protecting marine mammals means protecting the health of our oceans and the future of our planet. “We have a responsibility to act. This legislation takes a critical step toward building climate-resilient ocean ecosystems and ensuring marine mammals can survive and thrive for generations to come.” Background The Marine Mammal Climate Change Protection Act amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop climate impact management plans for marine mammal species most vulnerable to climate change. These plans would identify and implement strategies to mitigate climate-driven risks and improve long-term species resilience. Read the text of the bill here. ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), a senior member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) to introduce the Transit Workforce Development Act, a bill to expand workforce training and strengthen the pipeline of skilled workers needed to support the nation’s public transportation systems. The bill amends federal transit law to allow a greater portion of existing bus and bus facility grants to be used for workforce development, including training programs, registered apprenticeships, and labor-management partnerships. Public transportation agencies across the country are confronting significant workforce shortages, compounded by rapid technological changes such as the transition to zero-emission buses. These advancements require new technical skills, including expertise in high-voltage systems, electronic diagnostics, and advanced safety procedures. However, current training programs remain limited and underfunded. “Today’s transit buses are way different under the hood compared to twenty or even ten years ago. Battery electric buses require a different set of skills to not only repair and maintain, but to operate. Our Union has been a leader in developing transit workforce development programs to train our members with the skills and knowledge to have successful careers in public transit,” said John Costa, President of Amalgamated Transit Union International. “We commend Representative Wilson and the other 19 Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for introducing the Transit Workforce Development Act. It is long overdue!” “Public transit is a service that so many working families rely on, and it is crucial that we are investing in the workforce training needed to keep these systems safe and reliable as transit vehicle technology advances,” said Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO. “TTD strongly supports the Transit Workforce Development Act because it will help to solve some of the current challenges facing transit systems, and promote job quality, retention, and recruitment in the industry.” The Transit Workforce Development Act addresses these challenges by: Increasing the workforce development set-aside from 5 percent to 10 percent under the Low or No Emission Bus Program Allowing up to 10 percent of bus and bus facility grant funds to be used for workforce training Expanding training eligibility across all federal bus programs under 49 U.S.C. §5339 Supporting registered apprenticeships and labor-management training partnerships The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Cosponsors of the bill also include Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Patrick Ryan (NY-18), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), and Dina Titus (NV-01). Read the full bill text here. Read the bill summary here. ###

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced the Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act of 2026—commonsense, bipartisan legislation to ensure vulnerable children do not lose access to essential mental health care because of a bureaucratic technicality. Children in the foster care system have often endured severe trauma, abuse, or neglect. Many rely on specialized, around-the-clock care to begin healing. Congress recognized this need when it passed the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 (FFPSA), which created Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs)—high-quality, trauma-informed settings designed to provide comprehensive mental and behavioral health services to children with the most complex needs. But due to a technical interpretation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), many of these programs are being treated as Institutions for Mental Disease (IMDs) simply because they serve more than 16 individuals. As a result, children placed in these appropriate, clinically recommended settings can lose access to Medicaid coverage for the very services they depend on. In plain terms, this means that a child who has already experienced significant trauma could be denied care—not because it isn’t needed, but because of how a facility is categorized on paper. The Bilirakis-Brownley bill fixes this problem by ensuring that QRTPs are not unfairly classified as IMDs, as long as they meet the rigorous standards and accreditation requirements established under FFPSA. This targeted solution preserves accountability while ensuring that children can continue receiving the care they need, when and where they need it. “Children in foster care deserve stability and consistent access to the mental and behavioral health services that support their well-being,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “Yet because of how certain programs are classified, children placed in clinically appropriate settings can lose access to Medicaid coverage for the very care they rely on. That is a failure of our system. This legislation fixes that gap, strengthens continuity of care, and ensures foster youth can access the services they need without disruption. We have a responsibility to ensure no child’s health, stability, or future is put at risk by outdated policy, and to make sure every child has the support they need to thrive.” “No child should lose access to critical mental health care because of a bureaucratic definition,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “Most children who enter the foster care system have already experienced unimaginable trauma. The last thing we should do is put up barriers to the care that can help them heal. This legislation ensures continuity of care in the settings best equipped to meet their needs. I am proud to work in a bipartisan manner to fix this unintended roadblock and ensure these children receive the support and services they deserve.” ###

🚨Attention! To foster a more productive and engaging social media environment, I am leaving X and moving over to Bluesky. To remain up-to-date on how I am working for you in Congress, please follow me on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. As always, my office remains open to assist you. If you or someone you know need assistance with a federal agency, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (805) 379-1779. I’m here to help!