WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus Deputy Chair Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) issued the following statement following the announcements that CPC Members Representatives Chuy García (IL-04), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) will not seek reelection:

“Congressman Chuy García has been a steadfast fighter for working people throughout his time in Congress. As our Whip during the 119th Congress, he is an effective organizer, unifying our members as the CPC becomes an ever-more powerful bloc of votes for progressive change. As a champion of well-paying jobs, sustainable transportation, and international solidarity, including peace and diplomacy abroad, he will leave behind an incredible legacy of progressive coalition building. In Congress, Congressman García has extended his lifelong leadership in championing a fair, humane immigration system, both by advancing fixes to existing legislation and proposing more structural reform. From expanding access to quality education to fighting for affordable housing and working to improve economic opportunities for working people—Rep. García has been an undeniable force. Our Caucus looks forward to working with him through 2026 and wishes him a wonderful conclusion to his Congressional tenure.

“Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman has been a trailblazer and dedicated force for working families throughout her half century of public service. As the first African American woman to represent New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives, Bonnie quickly became one of the most active voices in CPC’s leadership, providing vital input into caucus strategy, including critical deliberations in our fight to retain the family-focused supports of the comprehensive Build Back Better agenda of 2022, which included generational investments in child care, housing, and senior care. She was one of the earliest and loudest voices calling for an end to U.S. participation in Netanyahu’s vicious military assault on Gaza and its people, inspiring her colleagues to also stand up against this intolerable injustice across two presidential administrations. The Congresswoman has been a thought leader and tireless advocate to build an economy for all, make crucial reforms to our criminal justice system, achieve health equity, and eliminate poverty. Her legislative innovations include pressing big corporations to share their profits with rank-and-file workers, a pilot program to provide guaranteed income in the fight against poverty, and forcing ICE agents to identify themselves with uniforms and badges during raids. Our Caucus has been proud to have her as a devoted Member and look forward to our shared fight for justice over the course of the next year.

Congresswoman Velázquez has had a storied career as a Latina pioneer in the halls of Congress, inspiring millions over the course of her decades as a progressive legislator. Coming from humble origins in Puerto Rico, Velázquez eventually wielded the gavel as chair of the House Small Business Committee, creating opportunities for women, minority and veteran entrepreneurs, so they could get a fair shake. A consistent and principled voice for peace and justice—for example, a voice and vote against the 2003 Iraq War, U.S. military weapons for Israel’s assault on Gaza, and the Saudi war on Yemen—she has influenced her colleagues with an alternative vision. She has championed equality, self-determination, and mutual respect in international relations as an alternative to the Monroe Doctrine that has too often guided U.S. foreign policy and its colonial behaviors toward her native Puerto Rico. She has also been a critical mentor to a new generation of progressive lawmakers in Congress and New York, showing us how to fiercely defend vulnerable communities and fight for working people against the ultra-rich and powerful, who use their money to corrupt the political process. Most recently, for example, she led progressives in demanding answers for Trump’s $20 billion to prop up a right-wing ally in Argentina and bail out financial corporations invested in its bonds while Americans saw their food assistance slashed and healthcare stripped away. My Progressive Caucus colleagues and I are proud to have served alongside her and look forward to her continued work over the rest of this Congress.”

Washington, D.C. – Deputy Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Rep. Ilhan Omar, the Co-Chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko, and the Chair of the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Rep. Brad Schneider, released the following statement in response to the current status of permitting reform negotiations in Congress: 

“The members of our respective caucuses hold diverse views of how Congress should improve the energy infrastructure permitting process; however, as leaders of these caucuses, we are unified in our belief that the current actions of the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are blocking us from engaging in good-faith, bipartisan permitting reform negotiations.

“Any serious permitting reform package must address—as a threshold matter—the Trump Administration’s active undermining of America’s clean energy industry by using every tool it can find to slow or block projects. The Administration regularly does not follow existing law, including revoking duly issued permits, rescinding previously awarded grants, and issuing stop-work orders on projects well under construction. Over the past 10 months, we have heard outcries over the Administration’s actions from state governments, businesses, and workers responsible for building critical clean energy projects to address growing electricity demand while improving the reliability and affordability of our energy system, but our Republican colleagues in Congress have remained largely silent in the face of the Trump Administration’s abuses.

“Ensuring that clean energy projects are treated fairly and can move forward where appropriate is the prerequisite for serious, practical negotiations on a reform package capable of meeting the nation’s energy needs. Additionally, to be comfortable with any sort of agreement, we need to be able to trust that this Administration is going to follow the law that we write.

“We are prepared to engage in and support good-faith negotiations, but meaningful negotiations require a shared, bipartisan commitment to enabling the deployment of clean-energy resources that are currently being targeted by the Trump Administration. The legislation must affirmatively end the scorched-earth attacks on clean energy, restore permitting integrity for projects that have been unfairly targeted, and ensure fairness and neutrality going forward. Without that foundation, permitting reform cannot succeed in the end goal of delivering affordable and reliable energy that Americans expect.”

WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Deputy Chair Ilhan Omar (MN-05) released the following statement regarding Trump’s White House meeting with Saudi ruler Mohammed Bin Salman: 

“Trump’s disgusting display at a White House reception for MBS—attacking American journalists on MBS’s behalf and warmly embracing the Saudi dictator—marks a new low in longstanding U.S. support for the repressive monarchy. 

“I strongly condemn Trump’s insults against the courageous dissident journalist and U.S. resident Jamaal Kashoggi, as well as Trump’s attack on the ABC reporter Mary Bruce who raised Khashoggi’s killing, as a ‘terrible person.’ It is truly disturbing that the president of the United States dismissed Kashoggi’s entrapment, murder, and dismemberment at the hands of MBS’s assassins simply as, ‘things happen.’

“With announced sales of F-35 warplanes and billions in financial investments, Trump is prioritizing weapons-contractor profits and his own family’s business interests, including Jared Kushner’s private equity firm that took $2 billion from MBS. Given MBS’s use of U.S. arms to devastate Yemen, Congress must do everything in our power to rein in and block Trump’s reckless and corrupt deals.

“Finally, with respect to any mutual defense agreement being considered with MBS, no American soldiers may be sent into harm’s way to defend Saudi Arabia without a debate and vote of authorization from Congress. My Progressive Caucus colleagues and I are committed to ensuring that this remains the case.”

WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus Deputy Chair Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) issued the following statement after the House vote to release the Epstein Files:

“Today, my Progressive Caucus colleagues and I unanimously voted to release the Epstein Files. The American people deserve to know who enabled Jeffrey Epstein, who looked the other way, and who’s still being protected. It is shameful that the pedophile protection party refused to take this issue seriously, all to protect Donald Trump at the expense of survivors who have waited long enough. While I am glad the House passed this legislation, it is unconscionable that we needed a discharge petition to get a vote because Republican Leadership refused to take up this issue. Despite an overwhelming vote in favor, we know Trump will still try to conceal the truth from coming to light which he can release on his own.   

“Our Caucus is grateful for the incredible work CPC Member Ranking Member Robert Garcia did on the Oversight Committee, as well as the efforts of CPC Member Congressman Ro Khanna in helping move this legislation across the finish line. This vote would not have happened without CPC Member Congresswoman Summer Lee, who forced the vote to subpoena the DOJ. 

Survivors of Epstein’s abuse—and all survivors of abuse and sex trafficking—deserve justice. We will keep fighting to ensure the public gets answers and transparency. Today is an important step in holding some of the most powerful institutions and people accountable.

WASHINGTON — The Congressional Progressive Caucus Deputy Chair Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) is proud to welcome Rep. Adelita Grijalva into the 119th Congress and be the 218th signature on the Epstein Discharge petition.

“After more than 50 days, Representative Adelita Grijalva was finally sworn in to the 119th Congress. Now, the people of Arizona’s 7th Congressional District will once again have their voice and advocate in Congress. Our caucus is proud to welcome her and thrilled that her first act was signing on as the 218th signature to the Epstein discharge petition. We are excited to welcome her as a champion for economic justice, environmental justice, and humane immigration policy. We cannot wait to see the work she does on behalf of the progressive movement.”

WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, the Congressional Progressive Caucus endorsed ten bills aimed at reining in many of the worst abuses involved in Donald Trump’s reckless immigration policies.

Among other things, the bills would bar ICE from detaining and deporting US Citizens, prohibit raids at hospitals, schools, and churches, and prevent ICE officers from wearing masks or impersonating police. A full summary of all bills is available at the end of this release.

“Trump promised to go after ‘bad guys,’ but instead is rounding up U.S. citizens, separating families, and deporting working people who have done nothing wrong,” said Representative Greg Casar, Chair of the Progressive Caucus. “With these proposals, Democrats are ready to go on offense and hold Republicans accountable for the recklessness and cruelty of the Trump administration’s policies.”

"This bold legislative package brings transparency, accountability, and humanity to our immigration enforcement system,” said Representative Adriano Espaillat, Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “These ten bills reflect the urgent need to rein in abuses, end anonymity in enforcement, and uphold the dignity of all people. I’m especially proud that my bill, the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, stands among these efforts to ensure schools, hospitals, and places of worship remain safe from intimidation and fear. I am proud to work alongside my colleagues in the Progressive Caucus to build on our oversight campaign and continue advancing reforms that restore trust, protect civil rights, and ensure our immigration system reflects the best of our values."

Trump’s immigration enforcement is out of control, said Representative Pramila Jayapal, CPC Chair Emerita and Ranking Member on the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee.” His agents have been kidnapping families off the street, tearing parents from their children, and going after anyone who stands in the way of their extreme tactics. We need to do everything in our power to stand up for immigrants and fight for humane immigration reform in this time of incredible cruelty and fear. This slate of bills from the CPC would rein in Trump’s cruel, authoritarian tactics that are terrorizing people of all statuses.”

The endorsement announcement comes amid growing public backlash to Trump’s immigration policies. According to new polling from Data for Progress, all of the bills win the support of the majority of Americans. Previously, CPC partnered with Way to Win on a polling project showing that informing Americans about Trump’s abuses made them more likely to oppose Trump’s immigration policies.

On Wednesday, Casar will join Way to Win President Tory Gavito and Voto Latino President Maria Teresa Kumar for a press call announcing the endorsements.

A list of the bills and a description of their contents follows.

IMMIGRATION OFFICER IDENTIFICATION

 

H.R. 4176 - No Secret Police Act (Bill Text)

Lead Sponsor: Rep. Goldman | Co-Lead: Espaillat 

 

The No Secret Police Act requires DHS officers and agents engaged in immigration enforcement to clearly identify themselves by wearing visible insignia and specifying the agency they work for (e.g., ICE, CBP) during detentions and arrests. It also bans the use of face coverings or non-tactical masks that conceal officers’ identities. The bill also mandates DHS to report its policies on the use of tactical gear to Congress and to research the ways to improve the visibility of officers’ identification under various conditions such as weather and time of day.

  

H.R. 4843 - Combatting Law Enforcement Anonymity by Requiring Identification Disclosure (CLEAR ID) Act (Bill Text)

Lead Sponsor: Rep. Crockett | Co-Lead: Dexter | Cosponsors: 3 Democrats (H. Johnson, J. Johnson, Norton)

 

The CLEAR ID Act prohibits DHS from using funds to carry out immigration enforcement by officers who are visibly hiding their identity or refusing to detail which agency they work for within the government. The bill prohibits wearing a mask or facial covering, using an unmarked vehicle, and failing to present a badge or wearing a uniform that represents the agency involved with the enforcement action.

 

H.R. 4004 - No Anonymity in Immigration Enforcement Act (Bill Text)

Lead Sponsor: Rep. Velazquez

 

The No Anonymity in Immigration Enforcement Act prohibits ICE agents conducting immigration enforcement from wearing facial coverings and requires that the agents wear a visible identification badge. Exemptions can be made for agents responding to an imminent threat to life or bodily harm, and all exemptions must be documented and reviewed within 48 hours. The bill also requires that any agent who violates these rules are subject to disciplinary action.

   

H.R. 3172 - ICE Visibility Act (Bill Text)

Lead Sponsor: Rep. Watson Coleman

 

The ICE Visibility Act prevents immigration enforcement from being carried out by plainclothes individuals by requiring all immigration officers wear visible and distinct uniforms at all times during enforcement actions. 

  

H.R. 3828 - Combatting Deceptive Immigration Enforcement Practices Act (Bill Text)

Lead Sponsor: Rep. Velazquez

 

The Combatting Deceptive Immigration Enforcement Practices Act ensures immigration officers are accurately identified as immigration personnel rather than law enforcement by prohibiting DHS immigration officers (including ICE and CBP) from wearing any clothing, accessories, or items bearing the word “POLICE” while performing immigration enforcement. 

 

USE OF MILITARY TROOPS

 

H.R. 4076 - Insurrection Act of 2025 (Bill Text)

Lead Sponsor: Rep. Deluzio

 

The Insurrection Act of 2025 reforms the Insurrection Act of 1808 by narrowing the criteria for the domestic deployment of military troops for law enforcement purposes, requiring the President to consult with Congress prior to invoking the Insurrection Act, and requiring Congressional approval if the President seeks to exercise the authority for longer than 7 days. The bill also provides for judicial review to ensure individuals, or a state or local government, can bring a civil action if the President’s authority under the insurrection act is misused or abused.

 

H.R. 5604 - National Guard Proper Use Act (Bill Text)

Lead Sponsor: Rep. Salinas

 

The National Guard Proper Use Act prevents the National Guard from being used for immigration enforcement purposes and functioning as an extension of ICE. The bill reaffirms and clarifies long-standing prohibitions on the use of national guard and military for domestic law enforcement activities.

 

IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT CONDUCT

 

H.R. 4456 - Stop ICE from Kidnapping U.S. Citizens Act (Bill Text)

Lead Sponsor: Rep. Jayapal

 

The Stop ICE from Kidnapping U.S. Citizens Act makes it explicitly clear that ICE has no authority to detain or deport U.S. citizens by prohibiting the use of funds to carry out immigration enforcement actions to detain a U.S. citizen or transport a U.S. citizen outside the United States.

H.R. 1061 - Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (Bill Text)

Leads Sponsor: Rep. Espaillat

Protecting Sensitive Locations Act codifies protections for immigrants seeking essential services at locations like hospitals, schools, and courthouses. The legislation would prevent ICE agents from carrying out the often disruptive and harmful enforcement actions that Americans have witnessed at such sensitive locations, where Americans access health care, education, justice, and prayer services.

 

H.R. XXXX - Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act (Bill Text)

Lead Sponsor: Rep. Jayapal | Co-Lead: Adam Smith

 

The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act brings dignity, justice, oversight, and accountability to the detention system by repealing mandatory detention, prohibiting the detention of families and children in family detention, phasing out the use of private detention facilities and jails, and requiring DHS to establish civil detention standards. The bill creates a presumption of release and imposes a higher burden of proof to detain primary caregivers and vulnerable populations. The bill also mandates the DHS Inspector General to conduct unannounced inspections and requires DHS to admit Members of Congress to detention facilities for unannounced inspections.

 

WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus Deputy Chair Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) issued the following statement following the House vote on the Senate spending deal to reopen the government:

“Today, my Progressive Caucus colleagues and I unanimously voted against the Senate deal on government funding today, just as we unanimously opposed the partisan House bill in September. Progressives were clear from the beginning of this fight: the American people need Congressional Democrats to demand real relief, not empty promises. 

“This deal does nothing to stop healthcare premiums from doubling for tens of millions of Americans or stop 4 million people from losing their coverage. It allows Trump to continue violating the law and withhold funds that Congress already approved. And in an egregious last-minute maneuver, this bill attached language that allows eight Senate Republicans to extract millions of dollars from taxpayers by suing the government for investigating Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

“The public rightly recognizes that Trump and Congressional Republicans are to blame for the longest government shutdown in history, exploding healthcare costs, and the cruel and needless punishment of 42 million Americans receiving nutrition support. And the American people stood with Democrats as we stood firm and fought for Americans’ right to healthcare. Over the past two months, Progressive Caucus members sounded the alarm on behalf of Americans in districts across the country who won’t be able to afford their insulin or chemotherapy due to the Republicans’ healthcare crisis. As this shutdown ends, we are more committed than ever to the fight for health care as a human right.”

WASHINGTON — Following a survey of its members, the Congressional Progressive Caucus announced its official position to oppose the current Senate deal to reopen government, which includes no provisions to guarantee affordable healthcare and protect tens of millions of Americans from massive price spikes to their premiums, and imposes no strong guardrails to prevent the Trump Administration from violating appropriations laws. 

“The Senate-passed bill is a betrayal of working people and massively fails to address the urgent needs of the American people,” said CPC Deputy Chair Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05). “The Progressive Caucus stands united in opposing this sham deal. Instead of working toward a fair deal, House Republicans refused to negotiate and abdicated their duty to serve the American people. The Senate-passed bill is morally bankrupt. It is indefensible to allow more than 20 million Americans to see their premiums double and let millions lose their healthcare coverage. Healthcare is a human right, and this bill contradicts that fundamental principle. Make no mistake, people will die from these skyrocketing healthcare costs, paired with Republicans’ brutal Medicaid cuts. 

“It is utterly devastating that working people will pay the price for this inadequate legislation,” Omar continued. “The adoption of this official caucus position by a supermajority of our caucus not only demonstrates our members’ overwhelming opposition to this bill on the House floor, but our shared commitment to continue fighting for universal healthcare and constitutional governance in the face of Trump’s corrupt and authoritarian administration.”

WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Deputy Chair Ilhan Omar (MN-05) released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s unnecessary shutdown of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on November 1st:

“Starting this weekend, Donald Trump is taking food away from 42 million hungry Americans, including 1 in 5 kids. That’s outrageous. Donald Trump is choosing to shut down SNAP benefits instead of using the billions of dollars in contingency funds that are sitting at USDA, designed to be used to keep the program running in a moment like this.

“Trump invents fake legal justifications to bomb Caribbean boats and raise taxes on imported food. But now he pretends that the plain language of the law won’t let him use billions of dollars in contingency funds or transfer authorities to fully cover the cost of November SNAP benefits.

“Hungry seniors, kids, veterans, and workers whose pay isn’t enough to make ends meet will suffer because of Trump’s decision. But Trump is too busy taking in donations from billionaires and giant corporations to construct a $300 million White House ballroom.

“After passing one of the biggest SNAP cuts in history with the Big Ugly Betrayal, Trump and Congressional Republicans want to make this shutdown even more painful for working people. If your family loses the support you need to buy groceries, you should know: this is happening because Donald Trump wants it to. Republicans should immediately end this attack on SNAP and pass a bill to save health care and reopen the government.”

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, Sept. 30 the Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus – including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) – together with leaders of the Democratic Women's Coalition (DWC), the New Democrat Coalition, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and the Congressional Equality Caucus (CEC) held a press conference to highlight how Republicans are shutting down the government to safeguard their assault on American health care.

Here are some highlights from the press conference:

"This Republican shutdown is all based on a lie told by Speaker Johnson and Vice President Vance. They incorrectly state undocumented people are eligible for health care subsidies. That is a lie,” said CHC Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat.

“So we are here. They are the majority in the House of Representatives, they are the majority in the Senate, they control the White House and some say they also control the Supreme Court. They have absolute control of government. This shutdown is the Republican shutdown.”

"The Republican assault on health care is unlike anything we have ever seen before. They are single-handedly responsible for the largest cut to Medicaid in U.S. history — a lifeline for 4.5 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) — and now they're raising health care premiums for 1.5 million AANHPI adults, just so their billionaire donors can get a tax cut," said CAPAC Chair Rep. Grace Meng. "Democrats have been ready to negotiate a funding bill that protects Americans' health care and keeps the government open, but Republicans are nowhere to be found. They have completely abdicated their responsibility to govern and are barreling our country toward a shutdown. This is a crisis of their own making, and CAPAC will not let AANHPI communities be used as pawns in their political games."

“We are facing a healthcare crisis manufactured by the Republican Party — marked by the largest proposed cuts to Medicaid and Medicare in our nation’s history,” said CBC Chair Rep. Yvette D. Clarke. “Once again, it is Black communities who stand to suffer the most. The Congressional Black Caucus will not support any spending bill that strips healthcare from millions, slashes federal jobs, and drives up the cost of living for working families. And to our Republican colleagues, let me be clear: Enough is enough. Work with us on a bipartisan solution that protects the people — not one that causes maximum harm to the very communities that have long sustained this country.”

“Listen, women work hard and are the key caregivers in their families. When there is a crisis at their house, with their families, what do they do? They stick with it until they solve it. Our country has a health care crisis, and what did Republicans do? They fled town. They do not care about their voters,” said DWC Chair Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández. “And that’s the difference: we see America, every part of America, blue America, red America, rural America, urban America, as part of our family. And so we are going to do everything we can to solve this crisis that our family is facing.”

"We face a dual crisis: costs are too high, and health care is unaffordable. Democrats are fighting to lower costs and protect healthcare,” said New Democrat Coalition Chair Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10). “We’re here, we’re ready, but Republicans are nowhere to be found. Our Republican colleagues need to put the American people above their own extreme agenda, come back to D.C. and work with us to get this done."


“There are more mentions of Donald Trump in the Epstein Files than there are House Republicans in D.C. to keep the government open. Unlike Republicans, House Democrats are willing to stand up and fight to make sure working people can afford health insurance,” said CPC Chair Rep. Greg Casar.

“We are a powerful coalition. We represent America. And we're here to speak with one voice: Republicans created this mess and then fled town, but Democrats are in D.C. working to protect Americans’ healthcare,” said CEC Co-Chair Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL). “As a proud member of the LGBTQI+ community, I am angry yet unsurprised to see Trump attempt to blame this shutdown crisis on trans people. He’s using tactics to get us to rage against each other. The American people know that while Trump is playing games with our lives, Democrats are working to keep the government open and protecting Americans' healthcare.”