Lou Correa

If you didn't commit the fraud, you shouldn't have to carry the debt for the rest of your life. That’s why I’m introducing the Bankruptcy Relief for Innocent Partners Act. This legislation would ensure that no one is burdened with debt from fraud committed by their partner and frees the chains for survivors of abuse forced to stay in dangerous relationships for financial reasons.

Please join my special guests and I for the third volume of my neurodivergent youth and family series, Together on the Spectrum, this Saturday, October 17th. Together on the Spectrum is a welcoming community event. featuring resources for neurodivergent youth and their families. Join me as we explore resources for autism and neurodiversity, family support and advocacy, and more! For any additional questions, please call my office at (714) 559-6190.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA), alongside Congresswoman Laurel Lee (R-FL), introduced the bipartisan Bankruptcy Relief for Innocent Partners Act, which would ensure that people are not stuck with debt from fraud their partner committed alone, and that survivors of domestic and financial abuse are not forced to stay in dangerous relationships for financial reasons. "If you didn't commit the fraud, you shouldn't carry the debt for the rest of your life," said Correa. "For a survivor of abuse, that debt can be a chain. Abusers use debt to control their partners and keep them from leaving. This bill removes one more chain." “No one should be left responsible for debt caused by a partner’s fraud they neither knew about nor participated in,” said Laurel Lee. “For victims of domestic or financial abuse, being forced to bear the financial consequences of a partner’s wrongdoing can compound an already devastating situation. The Bankruptcy Relief for Innocent Partners Act is a matter of fundamental fairness. It provides meaningful relief for innocent individuals while ensuring our bankruptcy laws hold those who commit fraud accountable.” The bill amends the Bankruptcy Code so that only the person who committed fraud is barred from discharging the resulting debt. Innocent partners would get the same fresh start as any other honest filer. The bill also protects survivors of domestic and financial abuse from being forced to stay in a relationship for financial reasons. "NACBA strongly endorses this legislation because a person can be held legally responsible for someone else’s fraud without having committed fraud themselves. Bartenwerfer blurred that critical distinction in bankruptcy, allowing an innocent debtor to be saddled for life with a debt arising from misconduct they neither knew about nor could prevent. This bill would restore a simple rule: the extraordinary consequence of nondischargeability for fraud should follow the person who committed the fraud. It does not excuse wrongdoing or eliminate anyone’s underlying liability—it ensures that an honest debtor is not denied a fresh start because of someone else’s misconduct. We're grateful to Representative Correa and his colleagues on both sides of the aisle for taking it up," said Richard Nemeth, President, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA). “Ninety-nine percent of domestic violence survivors experience economic abuse and half experience coerced debt. Beyond the hard costs, coerced debt creates an economic ripple effect by damaging credit, and preventing a survivor from accessing housing, employment and the basic resources needed to be safe. The Bankruptcy Relief for Innocent Partners Act would provide critical relief to domestic violence survivors who are burdened with debt through no fault of their own. By naming the fraud, this legislation will remove a substantial barrier to bankruptcy relief, offering a pathway to economic security and safety for domestic violence survivors across the nation,” said Erika Sussman, Founder & Executive Director, Center for Survivor Agency and Justice. View the bill text here. Background In Bartenwerfer v. Buckley, a couple ran a house-flipping business together, and one partner committed fraud without the other's knowledge. After the couple filed for bankruptcy, the Supreme Court ruled that current law did not allow the innocent partner to discharge the fraud-related debt. The issue is especially serious in abusive relationships. Half of domestic abuse survivors report experiencing "coerced debt," where abusers use debt to maintain control and limit their partners' economic resources.

More than 500 American citizens have been detained by ICE in Trump’s second term. President Trump promised to deport the “worst of the worst”. Instead, our own citizens are being targeted. This reign of terror has to end, and it has to end NOW. https://t.co/1CnTwzCie8

Today, @RepRashida and I reintroduced a resolution honoring the life and legacy of teacher, poet, and human rights activist, Alex Odeh. Alex, your memory and impact lives within each and every one of us. I’m fighting to deliver the justice that you and your family deserve. https://t.co/gXyhFIxCD6

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Lou Correa (CA-46) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) today reintroduced a resolution remembering and honoring the life and legacy of Alex Odeh. The resolution acknowledges Alex's impact on his community and the country, and reaffirms the importance of pursuing justice against those responsible for his death. “Alex Odeh was a teacher, a poet, and a man of peace, and he was murdered in our community simply for speaking up for civil and human rights,” said Correa. “He was a voice for peace and dignity in Orange County. Remembering him is the least we can do, and pursuing justice for his family is our obligation.” Rep. Correa represents the district where Alex and his family lived and where the attack took place. “Alex Odeh dedicated his life to achieving true equality and equity for all. For daring to push for a better tomorrow, Alex was assassinated by members of the Jewish Defense League, and his killers have yet to be brought to justice,” said Tlaib. "This horrific act of anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian violence was, and is not, new. But this violence will never silence us. Those who continue to fear-monger and incite hate against us will not win. Arab and Palestinian Americans are still here, loud and proud, carrying on Alex’s legacy.” Read the bill text here. About Alex Odeh Alex was born in Jifna, Palestine, and lived in Orange County, California, for most of his adult life, including Santa Ana. He was a peace activist who worked to promote civil liberties for Arab-Americans in the United States. Alex Odeh was the Southern California Regional Director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). On October 11, 1985, Alex was killed when a pipe bomb exploded as he entered the ADC regional office in Santa Ana, California. Although the primary suspects have long been known, no one has been brought to justice. The investigation remains open.

President Trump says of Iran, "Let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego." Mr. President, this is not the way to talk about the people that you took an oath to protect. These comments are outrageous, reckless, and above all, un-American. https://t.co/zAH8Xode5Z

No child should face a courtroom alone. That’s why I’m leading the effort to demand quality legal services and humane treatment for unaccompanied immigrant children. https://t.co/cC221o6QGT

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I want to make one thing clear: voting-by-mail remains a safe, secure, and legal way to make your voice heard in this year’s elections. https://t.co/miGpn0iD6k

President Trump’s immigration policies are TEARING OUR FAMILIES APART. Under a rogue ICE, a new family-separation crisis has emerged as parents are being deported without their children. An estimated 35,000 children have been separated from their parents and left in the US. We can and MUST do better. https://t.co/xqKawGWiJO

This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we stand with survivors and recommit to ensuring a future where they are seen, protected, and supported. In Congress, I will continue to legislate to guarantee that every neighbor feels safe in their relationships, homes, and communities. If you or someone you know needs support please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at https://t.co/SxSkTgZ22K or seek confidential help at https://t.co/xiXJrKACfB.

Children deserve to be treated with decency and have strong legal representation in our nation’s immigration courts. That’s why I sent a letter to Trump Administration officials DEMANDING oversight on inadequate legal services for unaccompanied children and an end to cruel practices like prolonged detentions and expedited court proceedings.

Washington, DC — Today, Congressmen Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI) reintroduced the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act. The bipartisan legislation directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct clinical research on the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis in treating veterans’ post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain. "With the opioid crisis raging across America, it is imperative to the health and safety of our veterans that we find alternative treatments for chronic pain and service-related injuries," said Correa. "Throughout my district, I consistently meet veterans who depend on cannabis to manage their pain. Numerous veterans attest to the treatment benefits of medical cannabis. It's time the VA did a formal study and began recognizing that cannabis can play a safe role in our veterans' healthcare." The bill would: Authorize VA to implement a comprehensive research plan, including clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis in treating chronic pain and PTSD. Expand research into related factors in veterans' health, including improvements to mood and social functioning, impacts on other substance use, and overall quality of life. Require clinical trials to examine different forms, potencies, and methods of cannabis administration, with veterans' health and safety prioritized throughout. “Veterans struggling with PTSD and chronic pain deserve access to treatments backed by sound science and rigorous research. The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act will help us better understand whether medicinal cannabis can provide safe and effective relief while ensuring Veterans’ health and safety remain the top priority. We owe it to our Veterans to explore every responsible avenue that could improve their quality of life,” said Bergman. Chronic pain affects one in five Americans and impacts veterans at a higher rate than the general population. Twenty-three percent of veterans receiving VA care have experienced PTSD at some point in their lives, and the two conditions are often linked — veterans with chronic pain have elevated rates of PTSD. This bill would mandate research that could lead to safer, more effective treatment options for veterans managing these conditions. "Since 2017, IAVA has made empowering veterans who are calling for the medicinal use of cannabis one of our top priorities. Our members have said consistently and passionately that cannabis offers real help with the most pressing injuries we face when we come home, from chronic pain to PTSD to traumatic brain injury. Our national policies are lagging, research is lacking, and the stigma persists. The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act is how we start to change that. Every solution begins with research, and veterans have waited long enough for it," said Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). “The VFW supports the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2023,” said Pat Murray, Director, National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). “VFW members tell us that medicinal cannabis has helped them cope with chronic pain and other service-connected health conditions. They cannot receive these services at VA because of VA’s bureaucratic hurdles. VA uses evidence-based clinical guidelines to manage other pharmacological treatments of post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, and substance use disorder because medical trials have found them effective. VA must expand research on the efficacy of non-traditional medical therapies, such as medicinal cannabis and other holistic approaches.” View the bill text HERE.

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Report Responds to Congressional Request for Information on Regulatory, Ethical, and Cultural Considerations for Integrating Prescription Psychedelic Medicine into the United States Washington, DC — The Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus released a report capturing responses to a 2024 Request for Information into how psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) could be safely and ethically integrated into the United States health care system. The report found broad consensus among clinicians, researchers, veteran advocates, Tribal leaders, payors, regulators, and patients that PAT could offer safe, equitable, and evidence-based treatment for a wide array of treatment-resistant conditions – including generalized anxiety disorder, depression, PTSD, and substance use disorder. It also offered several federal policy recommendations for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Congress to consider as they aim to improve health outcomes for patients across the country. “Every day, more than 130 Americans die by suicide, including over 20 veterans,” said Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA-46). “Psychedelic-assisted therapy has shown promising results for treatment, but we need more information. This report is a serious step toward bringing it into our health care system safely and ethically, so that all Americans, especially those who served our country, can get care that works for them.” “This report is exactly the kind of resource Congress needs to legislate responsibly,” ?said?Congressman Jack Bergman (R-MI-01).?“Our Veterans have waited long enough for successful treatments and breakthrough therapies to help mitigate PTSD and other service-related conditions. It’s time to advance real, actionable policies that meet the unmet mental and physical health needs of Americans in every community.”? Key Findings Respondents agree that the U.S. faces a severe mental and behavioral health crisis – including treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, suicidality, substance use disorder, and high unmet needs among veterans, terminally ill patients, minorities, low-income families, seniors, and rural communities – requiring novel and efficacious treatments. Respondents highlight clinical trial evidence suggesting that PAT can produce meaningful and sometimes transformative improvements in PTSD, depression, end-of-life distress, addiction, and overall functioning and quality of life, though it is not considered a single solution and is seen as appropriate only in structured, supervised medical settings. Respondents encourage national guidance and credential verification systems to be developed before the first FDA approvals of prescription psychedelic medicines. Respondents highlight the need for evidence-based, standardized adverse event monitoring and robust ethical guidelines to protect patients and ensure trust. Respondents recommend federal guidance that supports multidisciplinary, culturally competent care teams. Policy Recommendations The report suggests that federal agencies – including the FDA, U.S. National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Office of National Drug Control Policy – should work with state regulators and Tribal Nations/Territories to develop national guidelines for safe and ethical delivery of prescription psychedelic medicines The report recommends that federal agencies establish flexible, tiered credentialing pathways to balance safety with accessibility, and to standardize consent and screening protocols nationally. The report proposes a hybrid policy framework to guide Congress, federal agencies, Tribal Nations/Territories, states, and communities in a balanced, pragmatic rollout of PAT, supported by coordinated leadership, flexible regulation, investment in workforce and infrastructure, and robust long-term data systems. See here for the full report. About the Congressional PATH Caucus The bipartisan Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Lou Correa (D-CA), aims to address the nation’s mental health crisis by promoting rigorous, FDA-aligned clinical research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelic-assisted treatments for mental health disorders and integrating these promising treatments into the U.S. health care system for millions of patients with unmet needs.

Today, I joined @RepJackBergman to introduce the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act. This bipartisan legislation seeks to find alternatives for the dangerous opioids harming America’s veteran community. Our veterans deserve real solutions — this bill is a step forward in conducting the clinical research needed to give them the support they deserve.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) today led 56 colleagues in demanding the Trump Administration guarantee quality legal services and humane treatment for unaccompanied immigrant children in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Attorney General Todd Blanche. The letter follows reports of children as young as two years old showing up in immigration courts nationwide for fast-tracked hearings, many without an attorney. This change has been part of the Trump Administration’s cruel efforts to target immigrant children for removal and deny them legal immigration pathways. “We write to demand answers regarding the fairness of the legal process and the quality of representation being provided to unaccompanied children under the new legal services contracts for Our Rescue and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI). Congress has shown clear intent through bipartisan passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization that children deserve representation in legal proceedings. However, we have received reports that unaccompanied children are being provided with inadequate representation and that their cases are being moved into expedited judicial proceedings meant to limit the strength of their legal defense and increase deportations. We urge you to follow the law and give children the fair day in court they deserve by ensuring legal service providers do not just collect a paycheck, but vigorously represent those they are paid taxpayer dollars to serve, and that courts give adequate consideration to each child’s case,” the lawmakers write. “Unaccompanied immigrant children are receiving substandard legal services at a time when the Trump Administration is already trying to prevent a fair hearing of their cases. The Department of Justice (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has reportedly directed immigration judges to limit the length of continuances from months to three weeks, reducing the time children have to find an attorney and prepare for their case. In some jurisdictions, children are given only days of notice to appear in immigration court, which directly violates EOIR policy,” the lawmakers continued. “Judges who attempt to give more time in proceedings are reportedly at risk of being punished. While children are being given less time to prepare for proceedings, the Administration is training immigration judges to deny asylum claims, further stacking the odds against these kids, some of whom have been abused or abandoned and are survivors of violent crime.” “Reports of inadequate representation and EOIR’s efforts to prevent children from having their case fully considered are unacceptable. We urge you to end the prolonged detention of children, give them adequate time to prepare their cases, stop pressuring judges to deny claims, and conduct oversight to ensure new legal services providers effectively represent their clients in exchange for our tax dollars,” the lawmakers concluded. Specifically, the lawmakers requested answers to the following questions: Has the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or DOJ conducted oversight into the legal services that USCRI is providing for unaccompanied children? If so, has HHS or DOJ found any instances where legal representatives represented children virtually with cameras off or failed to speak during proceedings? For each month of 2026, how many times have unaccompanied children appeared in immigration court without legal counsel? Do Our Rescue and the USCRI have sufficient lawyers on staff who are barred in all states and can make filings for all unaccompanied children to whom they will be responsible for providing legal services? In 2026, how many times has EOIR summoned a child to immigration court without giving the 10 days of notice required for immigration court appearances? Have immigration judges been given any guidance since January 20, 2025, directing them to deny or change the way they review any type of petition, application, motion, or other filing or request for unaccompanied children? If so, please provide a record of this instruction. Is there any policy, formal or informal, requiring or encouraging the conclusion of unaccompanied children's immigration proceedings by a certain date or timeframe? If so, please provide a copy of said policy. In 2026, have any judges within EOIR been reprimanded, warned, or faced a consequence or warning of consequences for allotting children additional time in their legal proceedings? This letter was signed by Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Suzanne Bonamici, Janelle Bynum, André Carson, Greg Casar, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, Gilbert Cisneros, Yvette Clarke, Jim Costa, Jasmine Crockett, Jason Crow, Madeleine Dean, Diana DeGette, Mark DeSaulnier, Maxine Dexter, Veronica Escobar, Lizzie Fletcher, Maxwell Frost, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Adelita Grijalva, Steven Horsford, Jonathan Jackson, Henry Johnson, Raja Krishnamoorthi, George Latimer, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, Jennifer McClellan, Gwen Moore, Jerrold Nadler, Joe Neguse, Eleanor Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Brittany Pettersen, Mark Pocan, Mike Quigley, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Luz Rivas, Andrea Salinas, Mary Gay Scanlon, Janice Schakowsky, Lateefah Simon, Melanie Stansbury, Greg Stanton, Mark Takano, Rashida Tlaib, Norma Torres, Juan Vargas, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Frederica Wilson. View the full text of the letter here.

Calling all college students and recent grads! Spring 2027 Congressional Internship applications are now open. Join my Washington, D.C. or Santa Ana offices to gain valuable experience in public service and the opportunity to serve the people of CA-46. Interested in joining Team Correa? Head to the link in my bio or https://t.co/vvcmVD1M4T to apply now!

This National Suicide Prevention Month, we remember those who have lost and and stand with those that are still struggling. September serves as a reminder that we must invest in mental health care services and expand access to mental health support for those in need. Folks, please check in on one another. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

SANTA ANA, Calif. — U.S. Representative Lou Correa (CA-46), who has long advocated for bringing a veterans cemetery to Orange County, sent a letter today urging Governor Gavin Newsom to ensure the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) accepts $10 million in federal funding offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon. Representatives Ken Calvert, Young Kim, Mike Levin, Dave Min, Derek Tran, and State Senator Thomas J. Umberg and Assemblymembers Sharon Quirk-Silva and Avelino Valencia joined Correa in signing the letter. “After more than a decade of work, we are closer than ever to fulfilling our promise to Orange County’s veterans and their families,” said the lawmakers. “We should not allow $10 million in federal funding secured for this purpose to be left on the table.” In July 2025, Rep. Correa led a letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs urging federal support for construction of the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills. A copy of the letter can be found HERE and below Dear Governor Newsom: We write to respectfully urge your administration to take all necessary steps to preserve the $10 million in federal funding offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Orange County. After more than a decade of work by veterans, local communities, and elected officials at every level of government, we have made extraordinary progress toward finally delivering a veterans cemetery for Orange County. The project enjoys broad and bipartisan support, including the County of Orange, all 34 cities in Orange County, our state and federal legislative delegations, and veterans organizations throughout the region. The County has also dedicated 200 acres of public land to the cemetery project. At the federal level, the Orange County congressional delegation has worked diligently and on a bipartisan basis to secure federal funding for this project. Importantly, our efforts to secure this funding were undertaken at the express recommendation of the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet). In October 2025, the VA moved the Gypsum Canyon project to its conforming list, confirming that CalVet’s revised pre-application satisfied federal eligibility requirements. In February 2026, the VA accepted CalVet’s pre-application and offered $10 million in federal funding for the project. The VA further indicated that the funds could be provided by the end of the federal fiscal year upon receipt of CalVet’s completed grant application. Based on that history, we are deeply concerned that CalVet is now indicating that acceptance of the federal funding is premature. The congressional delegation pursued this funding at CalVet’s request and successfully secured a $10 million federal commitment for the project. We should not place those funds at risk because CalVet has determined that the project does not align with its preferred development timeline. We cannot allow this opportunity to be lost. Federal funding through the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program is limited and appropriated annually, with projects across the country competing for available resources according to federal priorities. There is no assurance that $10 million will remain available for Gypsum Canyon in a future federal fiscal year. Declining or failing to act upon the current federal commitment therefore risks forfeiting these funds altogether, not simply postponing their receipt. California has already made a substantial investment in this project. Your administration recently dedicated $19 million in the 2026–27 State Budget to advance the cemetery, including $9 million for an access road and $10 million in expenditure authority for preliminary plans, working drawings, and Phase I construction. Your administration appropriately described these investments as another major milestone toward delivering the cemetery. The federal government’s $10 million commitment should build upon that investment, not be forfeited because the State is unwilling to complete the steps necessary to receive it within the federal funding window. The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program exists specifically to assist states in establishing and improving veterans cemeteries. Federal funding offsets eligible costs associated with establishing a state veterans cemetery, while the State assumes responsibility for its continued operation. California and Orange County have spent years positioning Gypsum Canyon to take advantage of precisely this federal partnership. Governor, we appreciate your administration’s continued commitment to the Southern California Veterans Cemetery and the significant resources the State has dedicated to bringing it to fruition. We respectfully ask that you direct CalVet and the appropriate agencies within your administration to take the steps necessary to preserve the $10 million federal commitment and ensure that these funds are not forfeited. After more than a decade of work, we are closer than ever to fulfilling our promise to Orange County’s veterans and their families. We should not allow $10 million in federal funding secured for this purpose to be left on the table. We stand ready to work with you, CalVet, the VA, and our state and local partners to resolve any remaining issues necessary to protect this funding and keep the project moving forward.

America cannot afford another September 11th. We should be strengthening the defense of Americans in this country, not decimating the programs that protect us. https://t.co/5vNSPaK1yB

Billions spent on a war in Iran while the President cuts health care and food assistance for America’s families. The priorities couldn’t be clearer. https://t.co/mWFRNcRNdf

Congress is getting sent home early…AGAIN. Why? Republican leadership didn’t want to vote on impeaching Secretary Pete Hegseth. https://t.co/oWtzqCYjMW