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Congressional Progressive Caucus Statement on President Biden’s State of the Union Address

February 7, 2023

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued this statement following President Biden’s State of the Union address:

“In his first two years in office, President Biden acted boldly to create a workers’ economy that benefits families across the country and improves the lives of the American people.

“Under his leadership and with Democrats in Congress, the President rightly celebrated a significant record of achievement tonight. In just two years, we have created 12 million jobs, more than any other President has created in four years. Unemployment is down to its lowest level in half a century and real wages are increasing, particularly in lower-paid sectors. Seniors on Medicare now pay no more than $35/month out-of-pocket for insulin and Affordable Care Act enrollment is at a record high. American manufacturing is on the upswing, with strong government industrial policy at work. Due to the largest climate investment in history, working families have access to affordable, renewable home appliances and electric vehicles, and we are on a path to achieve the President’s goal of 80 percent clean electricity by 2030. I am proud that the Progressive Caucus worked closely with the President to play a defining role in all these achievements.

“We applaud the President’s bold call for increased tax fairness with new taxes on billionaires and stock buybacks that enrich wealthy shareholders but discourage investments in workers and lower prices for consumers. We began this fight in the last Congress and have shown that increased tax revenue through fair and equitable means, combined with strong investments in the tools people need to get back to work and take care of their families, is exactly how you build a strong economy. While Republicans want to cut food stamps, Social Security, and Medicare, Democrats want to tax the wealthiest to pay their fair share, expand Social Security and Medicare, and lower costs for working and poor Americans.

“That’s why it is so important that the President called out the need to finish the rest of his agenda, to lower costs through universal child care, home care, and pre-K, paid sick leave, and bold housing investments. These are some of the biggest inflationary costs hitting working people, and why we fought so hard to deliver them in the last Congress. We got incredibly close, and we will not stop until they are law.

 “In the wake of the killing of Tyre Nichols and too many before him, our communities are urgently demanding significant change to law enforcement’s use of force. We also know that we must expand voting rights and codify the right to abortion — fundamental freedoms without which our democracy will suffer. As the mother of a transgender kid, I was deeply moved to hear him rally our country to defend the transgender community. Progressives are proud champions of the President's bold antitrust agenda, and we were thrilled to hear him tout it tonight. We commend the President for presenting a vision for the path forward to meet these challenges and look forward to continuing to be partners in that fight.

“The President has shown how he can use executive action to make enormous progress. We will focus the next two years not only on showing the American people what we have done, but also working with the White House to deliver more. Progressives stand ready to work with the Biden administration to: raise the overtime threshold so tens of millions of workers can get paid for work they already do; institute strong rules to clean up the power sector and lower emissions; continue the work to end gun violence; address the crisis of access to affordable housing, child, and home care, and pay for care workers; ensure the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share in taxes, rather than padding shareholder profits; restore competition across industries; continue to crack down on Big Pharma and lower prescription drug prices; provide a fair and humane process for everyone seeking safety in the United States, and continue expanding legal pathways and protections for immigrants. He has made important progress on the agenda the Progressive Caucus released in 2022; in the coming weeks, we will release our updated agenda for 2023. We will also be watching to ensure equitable implementation of the investments we passed into law last Congress. 

“As the President made clear, this year Democrats will also need to hold the line against Republican extremism, including guarding against any attempts to force a default on the debt limit, gut Social Security, Medicare and other critical programs. We will be a strong opposition party against these extreme MAGA Republican ideas that would hurt Americans everywhere. But the President today made clear that Democrats are always a party of not just opposition, but also of proposition. 

“Tonight, the country heard the President lay out his vision for a better America backed by the powerful results of a progressive agenda put into action over the last two years. If we continue on this path — taking on corporate power, investing in working families, and embracing equitable policymaking — we will continue to deliver.”

Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair on Republican Resolutions and Attack on Rep. Omar

February 2, 2023

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement on the resolutions passed today, H.Con.Res. 9 and H.Res. 76:

“Republicans don’t have legislation that would raise wages for workers or reduce the cost of living. So they’re spending time on ‘gotcha’ resolution votes and political games. 

“The Republicans’ resolution is a blatantly bad faith attempt to smear the Democratic agenda and equate it with totalitarian regimes. Throughout history, every effort by Democrats to advance a fairer society for working people has been attacked as ‘socialism’: the New Deal, Medicare, libraries, public education, the Postal Service, Medicaid expansion, the Affordable Care Act, Social Security, taxes on the wealthy and corporations, lower prescription drug prices and a $15 minimum wage. By denouncing ‘socialism in all its forms,’ the resolution insults many United States’ allies with socialist governments or who have adopted socialist ideas, including Spain, Germany, Portugal, Canada, New Zealand, and many Nordic countries.

“It’s a baseless and craven maneuver designed to distract from Republicans’ agenda of propping up the wealthy and powerful — which also describes the Republican removal of our CPC Deputy Chair Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-05) from the Foreign Affairs Committee. This was a revenge resolution, designed to silence a refugee and war survivor because they do not agree with her views. 

“Today, Republicans showed us who they are: apologists for corporate greed who want to gut Social Security and Medicare and protect billionaire power, politicians who are more focused on performative, insulting, absurd stunts than doing anything to help families across the country. We will not back down from our fight to deliver for working people, no matter what Republicans call it.

“Nor will we back down from our support for Rep. Omar. Progressives value Rep. Omar’s voice, her lived experience, and leadership. We know that she will not be silent, but will continue her fierce and necessary advocacy on behalf of human rights around the world. We stand with Rep. Omar today and always.”

Congressional Progressive Caucus Condemns Vote to Removal of Rep. Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee

January 30, 2023

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement on Republicans’ attempt to bring to a vote on the House floor a resolution to remove Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Deputy Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, from the House Foreign Affairs Committee:

“The Congressional Progressive Caucus stands fully behind our Deputy Chair, Representative Ilhan Omar. Rep. Omar is a valued member of the Democratic Caucus and of this Congress. Throughout her service in Congress and on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, she has brought her essential and unique voice and lived experience to bear: as a refugee, war survivor and soon, as the first African-born Ranking Member on the Africa Subcommittee.   

“You cannot remove a Member of Congress from a committee simply because you do not agree with their views. This is both ludicrous and dangerous. In the last Congress, Republican members were removed from committees with a bipartisan vote for endangering the safety of their colleagues. Speaker McCarthy is attempting to take revenge and draw false comparisons.  I applaud those Republican members who have already rejected this idea and hope that more will join them to state their opposition so it is not brought to the floor, or vote against it should it be brought to the floor. 

“As a fellow woman of color and Chair of the CPC, I am proud that our Caucus will stand strongly with Rep. Omar: an esteemed and invaluable legislator, a respectful and kind colleague, and a courageous progressive leader.”

Congressional Progressive Caucus Leaders Echo Community Demands for Justice for Tyre Nichols

January 27, 2023

WASHINGTON — Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Chair of the CPC Policing, Constitution, and Equality Task Force, issued the following statement in response to the body camera footage from Memphis Police in the killing of Tyre Nichols:

“Like so many across the country, we are horrified and appalled by the actions seen in the video of the murder of Tyre Nichols. The utter lack of humanity on display in the video defies even the worst expectations.

“As mothers, seeing Tyre call out for his mother is deeply painful. As human beings, this vicious murder leaves us shaken to the core. We are outraged at the ongoing violence, injustice, and brutality that Black people face every day in our country.

“People are rightfully furious by what we’ve seen. That anger is justified, and must be directed toward demanding accountability and reform of law enforcement and the criminal legal system, including an end to the police culture of use of force. Just as we have had a national conversation about safety during mental health calls, we must also address safety during traffic stops. Preserving public safety means ending qualified immunity, reducing unnecessary contact between police and communities, and fundamentally reimagining public safety in our country. We must end the filibuster, pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the Mental Health Justice Act, and put a stop to this devastation.

“We mourn Tyre Nichols and extend our prayers to his loved ones. We mourn George Floyd, whose name was invoked by Keenan Anderson in a police killing earlier this month. We mourn Breonna Taylor. We mourn Eric Garner. We mourn Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, and every single innocent Black life taken by police who should still be with us today.

“We must all recommit ourselves to making real, systemic, lasting change — and progressives in Congress will not back down from this fight.”

Progressive Caucus Leaders Celebrate Administration Action Redesignating Temporary Protected Status for Somalia

January 12, 2023

WASHINGTON — Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Deputy Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Chair of the Caucus Immigration Task Force, released the following statement after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that the Department would extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia:

“Secretary Mayorkas’ announcement to redesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status to Somalis living in the United States will deliver a sense of much-needed relief and stability. As conflict and humanitarian crises continue to impact the lives of Somalis, it is important that the United States continues to live up to its mission of granting and providing humanitarian relief to people who need it most. We commend Secretary Mayorkas and the Biden administration for taking this important step forward, and making Somalia the thirteenth country from the Congressional Progressive Caucus Executive Action Agenda to receive an extension or redesignation of TPS in the last year. 

“The fight for immigrants’ rights cannot, and will not, end here, and we will continue to push for the American Dream and Promise Act to become law. TPS, like DACA, is critical, lifesaving policy — but they are both temporary fixes, leaving immigrants and their communities in a constant state of limbo. If the United States is to create a more humane immigration system rooted in compassion and justice, we must finally provide immigrant community members with a roadmap to citizenship.”

In addition to Somalia being included in the CPC Executive Action Agenda, Representatives Jayapal and Omar were joined by Representatives Adam Smith (WA-09) and Yvette Clarke (NY-09) to lead members of Congress in calling for the extension and redesignation of TPS for Somalia. 

Congressional Progressive Caucus Leaders on Biden Administration’s Border Enforcement Announcement

January 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Representative Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), chair of the CPC Immigration Task Force, released the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s announcement on increased border enforcement actions:

“The Biden Administration’s announcement of expanded legal pathways to come to the United States — something President Trump ripped away ruthlessly — is long overdue. The moves to expand the parole process to include Nicaraguans, Haitians, and Cubans; increase the number of individuals permitted to come through this parole program; and triple refugee resettlement from the Western Hemisphere over the next two years are commendable. 

“However, the new Department of Homeland Security proposal also includes expanding the use of Title 42, a public health law weaponized by Donald Trump to deny legal rights to asylum seekers, as well as potential regulations that would restrict the legal right to seek asylum. That is unacceptable. We recognize that President Biden has inherited a broken immigration system, and that he has taken steps to restore it by ending the Trump administration’s discriminatory and xenophobic implementation of Title 42. Even as that effort has unfortunately been thwarted in the courts, we cannot go backwards. Immigrants and their families are not a political football, and seeking asylum is a legal right. We must work to find policy solutions to meet the deep humanitarian need at the border and uphold U.S. treaty obligations by continuing to expand legal pathways to the United States and ensuring efficient and timely processing of people seeking protection. We must address the root causes of this crisis, including reconsidering Trump-era sanctions that have fueled much of the economic deterioration that triggered the latest wave of migration. Democrats must refuse to participate in Republicans’ games with people’s lives. 

“Despite congressional Republicans’ refusal to humanely engage with this issue, the American people want to see our government treat people with humanity, keep families together and recognize the value and necessity of immigrants. The details of this new rule will be critical. We strongly urge the Biden administration to reconsider this proposal, and work in consultation with members of Congress and immigration organizations to find solutions that live up to our American values.” 

Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Applauds Proposed FTC Rule to Ban Non-Competes

January 5, 2023

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and vice chair of the House Antitrust Subcommittee in the 117th Congress, issued the following statement on a new rule proposed today from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prohibit non-compete clauses in employment agreements and contracts:

“President Biden and his administration continue to cement their legacy as antitrust champions. This new proposed rule from Chair Khan and the FTC represents a major pro-worker move and advances the President’s vision of a fair and equitable society that lessens market concentration, and supports small businesses, innovation, and workers. Nearly half of private businesses force non-compete clauses on workers as just another way to exert employer control and deny workers their basic right to seek another often higher-paying job in their chosen field. When employers don’t have to compete for potential employees against other offers, they can decrease wages and keep them low, knowing their workers cannot quickly secure better pay and working conditions elsewhere. As President Biden said, capitalism without competition isn't capitalism; it’s exploitation. If this rule is finalized, it would increase worker wages by nearly $300 billion across the economy, including in both low-wage and high-wage industries, and support the creation of new start-ups and small businesses. 

“Prohibiting non-competes removes a key lever of power used to keep the labor market rigged against workers. That’s why as a member of the House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, I championed a focus on market concentration, including the importance of limiting non-compete agreements in our recommendation for policies to build a fair economy, and it was ultimately included in the Select Committee’s final report. I’m thrilled to see Chair Khan and the FTC continue to take advantage of the commission’s unique power to put government to work for working people and take on monopoly power and market concentration.”

Congressional Progressive Caucus Celebrates Progressive Wins in Government Funding Legislation

December 23, 2022

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives voted to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act of FY2023, including funding several key progressives priorities, the Congressional Progressive Caucus announced today.

Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement:

“The Consolidated Appropriations Act of FY2023 is another powerful example of progressives’ governing skill. Our advocacy was particularly key in increasing National Labor Relations Board funding for the first time in nearly a decade, extending robust Medicaid support for American citizens in the territories, strengthening nutrition programs for low-income children, expanding affordable housing, and other programs that directly support and invest in working people. CPC members were also essential in leading so many of the progressive priorities attached to the spending bill. We are particularly grateful to CPC member and House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro for her tireless work and to Congressional leadership in the House and Senate for their partnership.

“While we are disappointed that Republicans blocked the reinstatement of an expanded Child Tax Credit to reduce child poverty, we are pleased that a number of massive corporate tax giveaways, provisions to continue Title 42, and fossil fuel permitting proposals were excluded from the bill. Progressives kept our promise that there would be no corporate tax breaks without relief for working families, and will continue to fight for the essential and hugely successful Child Tax Credit to be brought back. We will also need to remain vigilant against the ballooning of military spending in future budgets. Republicans exploited their leverage with the filibuster to break the longstanding tradition of equal military and non-military spending increases, but we cannot allow that to become the new normal.”

“The omnibus package will also pass legislation from CPC members, including Representative Jerry Nadler (NY-10)’s Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which will ensure no worker can be fired or retaliated against on the job for needing reasonable accommodations for their pregnancy; Representative Joe Neguse (CO-02)’s Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act to continue antitrust reform; Representative Frank Pallone (NJ-06)’s Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act, which expands programs and grants to improve mental health and substance abuse; and Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)’s INFORM Consumers Act, to combat online retail crime and identity theft. It also includes the Electoral Count Reform Act, which will protect the certification of American presidential elections from subversion.

“I feel proud that as the 117th Congress ends, the Progressive Caucus has done everything we could deliver for our communities.”

The FY23 omnibus appropriations bill includes the following progressive priorities:

  • Increases funding for the National Labor Relations Board for the first time in nearly a decade, adding $25 million to the agency’s budget that is essential to keep pace with expanded worker union organizing and collective bargaining across the country, and to protect workers’ rights from union-busting and retaliation;

  • Extends robust Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories to protect these American citizens’ access to care, including ensuring that more than 1 million Puerto Rico residents do not lose their health coverage or experience deep cuts to eligibility and benefits;

  • Extend the summer school meals program for low-income students, including rural home delivery, to ensure that children do not go hungry while school is out of session;

  • Provides new, permanent food assistance for low-income families in the summer with a $40 grocery benefit per child per month;

  • Adds $1 billion to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program so that the support available to families will increase to account for higher energy costs;

  • Appropriates $27 billion for disaster relief for communities impacted by extreme weather events, which are critical to helping the agency meet the increased frequency and severity of natural disasters;

  • Increases funding for child care, Head Start, and Pre-K for low-income families by nearly $3 billion;

  • Expands access to affordable housing and rental assistance for tens of thousands of families at risk of homelessness;

  • Continues coverage for 40 million children on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), ensuring uninterrupted access to health care throughout the year;

  • Significantly increases funding support for antitrust enforcement at the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice;

  • Permanently extends Medicaid postpartum health care coverage for 12 months to participating states;

  • Fully funds the implementation of the Honoring our PACT Act, which will provide medical care to millions of veterans exposed to toxins during their military service;

  • Provides robust funding for FEMA’s Case Management Pilot Program to help people navigate immigration proceedings;

  • Extends the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program through the end of 2024 and adds 4,000 more visas; and,

  • Provides billions of dollars in federal support to thousands of community projects across the United States, advocated for by House Democrats.

Congressional Progressive Caucus Leaders Applaud President Zelensky Speech to Congress

December 21, 2022

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Representative Barbara Lee (CA-13), CPC chair emeritus and chair of the Caucus Peace and Security Task Force, issued the following statement in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Congress:

“Tonight, President Zelensky demonstrated the same bravery and defense of democracy that has rallied the United States and the world to his and the Ukrainian people’s side in the ten months since Russia’s brutal, unjust, illegal invasion. Alongside President Biden, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, and our colleagues, we were pleased to welcome him to Washington, and are proud to continue Democrats’ support of the Ukrainian people’s fight for sovereignty and democracy. We expect strong support from progressives for aid for Ukraine included in the year-end spending agreement. Our commitment to the Ukrainian people, in accordance with our progressive values for peace, diplomacy, and human rights around the world, will not wane.”

Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Appoints Members to Complete Caucus Executive Board for 118th Congress

December 20, 2022

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, announced 14 appointments to complete the Caucus executive board for the 118th Congress today. 

These leaders will serve alongside their colleagues elected to CPC leadership earlier this month, and assume their roles in January 2023 as part of the 30-member executive board. The executive board will be 50 percent women and 73 percent people of color and LGBTQ members, with representation from 18 states in the East, West, South, and Midwest, making it the most diverse leadership in the history of the CPC. Together, they will also oversee the largest Progressive Caucus in history which, with the addition of at least 16 freshmen, will grow to include 103 members at the start of the 118th Congress.

The members appointed to the executive board include:

Deputy Whips

  • Representative Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

  • Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12)

  • Representative-Elect Chris Deluzio (PA-17)

  • Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-37)

  • Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

  • Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17)

  • Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20)

  • Representative Chellie Pingree (ME-01)

Executive Board Members-at-Large

  • Representative Joe Neguse (CO-02)

  • Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)

  • Representative Nydia Velázquez (NY-07)

Special Order Hour Convenors

  • Representative-Elect Summer Lee (PA-12)

  • Representative-Elect Morgan McGarvey (KY-03)

  • Representative-Elect Delia Ramirez (IL-03)

On the CPC Executive Board for the 118th Congress, Chair Jayapal said:

“I am thrilled to announce these appointments today and complete our CPC Executive Board for the 118th Congress. These members represent the diversity of the progressive movements, our caucus, and our country: they are immigrants and first-generation Americans, freshmen and senior members, state legislators and organizers, people of color and women, from working class backgrounds and diverse geographies. Each of them are committed to our progressive values and to leaving no one behind. As we enter the unique challenges of the minority, I know these members are dedicated to finding ways to deliver for working families and holding the line to protect the progressive we’ve won so far. I look forward to convening this new Executive Board next year and to the work ahead.”
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