WASHINGTON — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement on the ongoing infrastructure negotiations:
“Progressives have been clear from the beginning: a small and narrow bipartisan infrastructure bill does not have a path forward in the House of Representatives unless it has a reconciliation package, with our priorities, alongside it.
“We look forward to seeing the progress made by the twenty Senators. But the votes of Congressional Progressive Caucus members are not guaranteed on any bipartisan package until we examine the details, and until the reconciliation bill is agreed to and passed with our priorities sufficiently funded. The investments we identified months ago are long-standing Democratic priorities, including affordable housing, Medicare expansion, strengthening the care economy, climate action, and a roadmap to citizenship.
“Our Caucus will continue to demand that Congress fulfill the mandate we were elected on: to deliver necessary, urgent, and transformational change for working families.”
Congressional Progressive Caucus Applauds Nomination of Jonathan Kanter to Lead DOJ Antitrust Division
July 20, 2021
WASHINGTON — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement following the appointment of Jonathan Kanter to serve as Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust at the Department of Justice:
“Jonathan Kanter’s nomination means there will be a champion in the Department of Justice for those whose lives and livelihoods have been most harmed by unjust and illegal monopolies: from workers and consumers, to local newspapers and small businesses. We applaud President Biden for this critically important nomination of Kanter, who will ensure the federal government is fully empowered to rein in anti-competitive behavior, promote fairness, and end monopolistic practices — as well as preventing them from happening in the first place.
“We are at a critical moment in the fight against corporate consolidation. It is time to finally hold all corporate monopolies, including Big Tech, accountable. Big Tech platforms’ current policy of self-regulation clearly does not work — and as long as they remain unregulated, they will continue to violate users’ privacy, destroy small businesses, strangle competition, allow destructive misinformation and discrimination to fester, and endanger our democracy.
“The President’s nominations of Kanter, combined with progressive choices including Lina Khan, Tim Wu and Rohit Chopra, will enable Congress to reassert our power and to write the next critically important chapter of antitrust law. I'm looking forward to working with AAG Kanter once confirmed to build an economy that is equitable, competitive, and allows innovation to thrive.”
Congressional Progressive Caucus Applauds Executive Order to Promote Competition and Redistribute Corporate Power
July 9, 2021
WASHINGTON — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Vice Chair of the House Antitrust Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to an executive order from the Biden Administration to promote competition across several sectors of the American economy.
“President Biden promised to build the economy from the bottom up and the middle out, and we’re thrilled to see that he is keeping that promise with what will be a truly transformational executive order.
“The decades-long consolidation of corporate power has only deepened income inequality, stifled small businesses, hurt competition and innovation, threatened the free press, allowed exorbitant prices in necessities like prescription drugs, and entrenched racial inequity in the economy. Today’s order will address these problems and more, with real, tangible results for consumers, small businesses and working people.
“We all know someone who has been affected by anti-competition practices: families who have had to drive to Canada just to buy insulin, travelers losing hundreds of dollars while airlines face no recourse, grandparents unable to participate in daily life because they can’t afford hearing aids, neighbors trapped by predatory banking practices. By unleashing the competition powers of the federal government and empowering everyday people, we can break the grip corporations have on our economy and put money in the pockets of the people who need it.
“Progressives inside and outside of Congress have been some of the loudest voices calling to rein in monopolistic practices and for a redistribution of corporate power. This executive order will go a long way toward restoring fairness in systems that have preyed on working people for far too long.”
WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chairs Emeriti Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-13), Deputy Chair Rep. Katie Porter (CA-45), and Whip Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05), issued the following statement following remarks from President Biden on ongoing U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“We commend President Biden for fulfilling his commitment to ending the longest war in American history, making it clear that there is no military solution in Afghanistan. This tragic war has claimed the lives of thousands of American servicemembers and countless Afghans. It has also distracted the United States from urgent domestic and international challenges, and it is past time to bring our troops home.
“After nearly two decades of prolonged military occupation, we cannot easily discharge our responsibilities in Afghanistan. The U.S. must support peace and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, and we encourage the Biden administration to quickly put in place a multilateral diplomatic strategy for an inclusive, intra-Afghan process to bring about a sustainable peace. It is also imperative that Congress and the administration resettle Afghans who worked with U.S. forces, in addition to their families.
“We commend President Biden and Secretary Austin for listening to the American people and standing up to the voices that want to sustain endless war. The Progressive Caucus is committed to learning the lessons of Afghanistan by rebalancing our national security posture to emphasize diplomacy, and reasserting congressional war powers where military force is necessary. We look forward to working with the Biden administration on these goals.”
WASHINGTON — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement in response to developments in negotiations around an infrastructure package, including statements by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) that “[t]here ain’t no infrastructure bill without the reconciliation bill” passed by the Senate first that the House of Representatives would consider.
“For weeks, House progressives have been adamant that the White House and Congressional leadership cannot abandon the deep needs in American communities on climate action, housing, health care, childcare, immigration, and making billionaires and large corporations finally pay their fair share, for the sake of a bipartisan compromise. A recent poll of our 95-member Caucus showed overwhelming support for the House not passing a bipartisan infrastructure bill unless a larger reconciliation package containing our progressive priorities moved simultaneously.
“The stakes are too high in this moment, and progressives won’t let our chance to meet the needs of working families pass without a fight. We thank the Speaker for her work in these negotiations, and her commitment to guaranteeing that Congress will not only pass legislation to fix our roads and bridges, but also build back bold by enacting the transformational change that Democrats were elected to deliver for the people.”
Congressional Progressive Caucus Applauds Repeal of 2002 Authorization of Use of Military Force
June 17, 2021
WASHINGTON — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-13), chair emeritus of the CPC and longtime champion of AUMF repeal, issued the following statements in response to the House of Representatives’ vote to repeal the 2002 Authorization of the Use of Military Force (AUMF) by a 268-161 margin today:
“Today’s repeal of the 2002 AUMF is essential and long overdue,” said Jayapal. “This AUMF was based on a lie. Over nine years, that lie resulted in hundreds of thousands of lives lost, including civilians, U.S. service members, journalists, and humanitarian workers. Progressives have long fought to rein in an out-of-control Pentagon to ensure that precious resources are not wasted on regime change, forever wars, and military occupations. Today’s overwhelming vote represents a critical reassertion of Congress’ responsibilities over war and peace under Article I of the Constitution, and a commitment to prevent a disaster like the Iraq War from ever happening again.
“The Senate should quickly pass this measure and send it to the President’s desk, and Congress must build on this vote to end all ongoing military actions carried out under outdated or nonexistent legal authorities.”
In 2019, the Progressive Caucus stood with Rep. Lee’s effort to pass a repeal of the 2002 AUMF in the annual defense authorization, with convincing bipartisan support. And in 2020, the Caucus challenged President Trump’s outrageous use of the 2002 AUMF to assassinate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, and helped force a House vote to end illegal hostilities against Iran.
“It’s time to turn the corner on two decades of endless war,” said Rep. Lee. “The outdated 2002 Iraq AUMF has no relationship with the threats we face today. I’ve fought to get it off the books to prevent its abuse by future presidents. Today’s vote marks an important step in our fight to stop endless wars, but we must also work to repeal the 2001 AUMF. I thank Chairwoman Jayapal for her leadership to help end our forever wars and for her support on this legislation.”
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is made up of nearly 100 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and advance civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, good-paying jobs, fair trade, universal health care, debt-free college, climate action, and a just foreign policy. The caucus has been the leading voice calling for bold and sweeping solutions to the urgent crises facing this nation, including ending America’s broken for-profit health care system, raising the minimum wage, eliminating political corruption, bolstering labor protections for working families, and taking swift action to stop the warming of our planet.
Congressional Progressive Caucus Calls for Path to Citizenship on Ninth Anniversary of DACA
June 15, 2021
WASHINGTON — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement on the ninth anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:
“As an immigrant who came to this country alone at the age of 16, went on to start the largest immigrant rights organization in Washington state, and stood up in the streets organizing for DACA and humane immigration reform for more than a decade before coming to Congress, I am proud to join the immigrant community in celebrating this important anniversary. DACA was forged — and has survived — through the resilient and relentless organizing of Dreamers and communities across the country. Let’s be clear today and always: Dreamers are American, Dreamers are home, Dreamers are us.
“DACA has been critical in providing temporary relief from deportation, but in many ways, the status of 11 million undocumented immigrants and their families is no more certain than it was in 2012. Congress has failed our communities time and time again, as Republicans have used DACA recipients as bargaining chips in the cynical effort to pass their anti-immigrant agenda. And after four years of trauma under the Trump administration, it is past time to pass a roadmap to citizenship.
“Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus understand that we have a clear path ahead, one that the vast majority of Americans support: pass a roadmap to citizenship through reconciliation to permanently protect DACA recipients, TPS and DED holders, farmworkers, and essential workers. It is time to go big and bold in the fight for immigrant justice.”
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is made up of nearly 100 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and advance civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, good-paying jobs, fair trade, universal health care, debt-free college, climate action, and a just foreign policy. The caucus has been the leading voice calling for bold and sweeping solutions to the urgent crises facing this nation, including ending America’s broken for-profit health care system, raising the minimum wage, eliminating political corruption, bolstering labor protections for working families, and taking swift action to stop the warming of our planet.
Ahead of Putin meeting, lawmakers — including the Chair of the House Armed Services Committee — tell Biden that they support his efforts to, “create a stable and predictable U.S.-Russia relationship in support of strategic stability in Europe and the world.”
WASHINGTON — CPC Chair Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) led more than a dozen lawmakers today in supporting President Joe Biden’s upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the United States works to restore diplomatic efforts on key areas of cooperation and conflict between the two countries. The members of Congress — which includes Chair of the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith (WA-09) — identified specific areas of global importance including arms control to prevent a new nuclear arms race, addressing climate change, combating violent extremism, reducing cyber threats to national economies and infrastructure, and reducing global economic inequality.
The lawmakers also urged President Biden to reverse his proposed expansion of nuclear weapons funding while working with Russia to avert a nuclear buildup around the world. Additionally, they called for Wednesday’s summit in Geneva to result in U.S. support of a path to a peaceful resolution of conflicts that have come dangerously close to triggering a wider war in areas such as eastern Ukraine.
“We believe that armed conflict between Russia and the United States would be a catastrophe for both countries, for Europe, our allies, and for the world,” said the lawmakers. “We support your efforts to create a stable and predictable U.S.-Russia relationship in support of strategic stability in Europe and the world….We urge you to follow up on this diplomatic engagement with Russia by reviewing and reversing the current proposed expansion of nuclear weapons funding.”
The lawmakers’ call to prioritize arms control comes at a moment when the U.S. and Russia combine to hold more than 90 percent of the world’s nuclear warheads. President Biden has stated that, “the spread of nuclear weapons is the greatest threat facing the country and, I would argue, facing humanity.” He has also articulated a global vision that would “bring us closer to a world without nuclear weapons.”
The letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Donald S. Beyer Jr., André Carson, Jesús G. “Chuy” García, Raúl M. Grijalva, Sheila Jackson Lee, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr., Mondaire Jones, Ro Khanna, Barbara Lee, James P. McGovern, Ilhan Omar, Jan Schakowsky, Adam Smith, and Juan Vargas.
The full text of the letter is available here.
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is made up of nearly 100 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and advance civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, good-paying jobs, fair trade, universal health care, debt-free college, climate action, and a just foreign policy. The caucus has been the leading voice calling for bold and sweeping solutions to the urgent crises facing this nation, including ending America’s broken for-profit health care system, raising the minimum wage, eliminating political corruption, bolstering labor protections for working families, and taking swift action to stop the warming of our planet.
Progressive Caucus Welcomes Conclusion of Peru's Democratic Elections and Prospects for Political Stability
June 11, 2021
WASHINGTON — Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Vice Chair At-Large Chuy García (IL-04), Chair Emeriti Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03) and Barbara Lee (CA-13), Whip Ilhan Omar (MN-05), and Executive Board Member At-Large Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) expressed their support for the democratic process in Peru and their hope that the results of a highly competitive election will be respected.
“We congratulate the people of Peru for carrying out a free and fair election, and we hope that it will help resolve some of the political instability, polarization, and the loss of public confidence in democratic institutions. Given the major social, economic and political challenges the country confronts, and the importance of strong U.S.-Peruvian relations, we express our support for a return to well-functioning democratic institutions in Peru,” said the lawmakers. “For that to happen, the first step is for everyone — both inside and outside of Peru — to respect the will of the electorate.”
The second and final round of Peru’s presidential election saw Pedro Castillo, a schoolteacher and union leader, face off against Keiko Fujimori, a rightwing former congresswoman and daughter of the incarcerated former authoritarian president Alberto Fujimori. With almost all the votes counted, Castillo has maintained a lead of about 60,000 votes and is widely recognized as the winner. Fujimori has now claimed fraud, but has offered little evidence, and international observers have not found any.
In the past week, the government has announced that the number of deaths from COVID-19 had soared to 180,000 — three times higher than previously reported — putting Peru at or near the highest COVID-19 death rate in the world. The pandemic has also led Peru to suffer severe economic hardship, including an 11 percent decline in GDP in 2020, a near-doubling of unemployment to 15.3 percent, and a 27 percent increase in poverty.
Peruvians’ confidence in democratic institutions has also declined in recent years. In 2018, only 11 percent of the population responded that they were satisfied with the functioning of democracy — the lowest in Latin America after Brazil. Since 2016, three former presidents have been arrested for corruption, and a fourth committed suicide prior to arrest. Keiko Fujimori has been indicted on charges of corruption and money laundering, and had also pledged, if elected, to pardon her father, who was convicted of involvement in gross human rights violations, including murders and kidnappings.
In November of last year, President Martin Vizcarra was impeached by Peru’s Congress in a move that was widely considered an illegal congressional coup, leading to demonstrations that were met with violent repression for which another president is currently under investigation.
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El Caucus Progresista del Congreso aplaude la conclusión de las elecciones democráticas en Perú y las perspectivas de estabilidad política
WASHINGTON — La presidenta del Progressive Caucus, congresista Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), el vicepresidente general, Chuy García (IL-04), presidentes eméritos Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03) y Barbara Lee (CA-13), parlamentaria Ilhan Omar (MN-05), y miembra del directorio Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) manifestaron su apoyo al proceso democrático en el Perú y expresaron la esperanza de que se respeten los resultados de las elecciones altamente competitivas.
“Felicitamos al pueblo del Perú por llevar a cabo unas elecciones libres y justas, y esperamos que esto ayude a resolver parte de la inestabilidad política, la polarización y la pérdida de confianza pública en las instituciones democráticas. Dados los grandes desafíos sociales, económicos y políticos que enfrenta el país, y la importancia de la gran relación entre Estados Unidos y Perú, expresamos nuestro apoyo al retorno del buen funcionamiento de instituciones democráticas en Perú”, dijeron los legisladores. “Para que eso suceda, el primer paso es que todos, tanto dentro como fuera del Perú, respeten la voluntad del electorado.”
En esta segunda y última vuelta de las elecciones presidenciales del Perú, Pedro Castillo, un maestro de escuela y líder sindical, se enfrentó a Keiko Fujimori, una excongresista de derecha e hija del expresidente autoritario, hoy encarcelado, Alberto Fujimori. Con casi todos los votos contados, Castillo ha mantenido una ventaja de alrededor de 60.000 votos y es ampliamente reconocido como el ganador. Fujimori ha denunciado fraude, pero ha ofrecido pocas pruebas y los observadores internacionales no han podido encontrar ninguna.
La semana pasada, el Gobierno anunció que el número de muertes por COVID-19 se había disparado a 180.000 —tres veces más de lo reportado anteriormente— colocando la tasa de mortalidad per cápita por COVID-19 del Perú en la más alta del mundo, o cerca de serlo. La pandemia también ha llevado al Perú a sufrir graves dificultades económicas, incluida una disminución del 11 por ciento en el PIB en 2020, un desempleo que casi se duplicó llegando al 15,3 por ciento y un aumento del 27 por ciento en la pobreza.
La confianza de los peruanos en las instituciones democráticas también ha disminuido en los últimos años. En 2018, solo el 11 por ciento de la población respondió que estaba satisfecha con el funcionamiento de la democracia, la cifra más baja de América Latina después de Brasil. Desde 2016, tres expresidentes han sido arrestados por corrupción y un cuarto se suicidó antes del arresto. Keiko Fujimori ha sido acusada de corrupción y lavado de dinero, y también se hacomprometido, si fuera elegida, a indultar a su padre, quien fue condenado por su participación en graves violaciones a los derechos humanos, incluidos asesinatos y secuestros.
En noviembre del año pasado, el presidente Martín Vizcarra fue destituido por el Congreso del Perú a través de una maniobra que fue ampliamente considerada un golpe parlamentario ilegal, lo que provocó protestas que fueron atajadas con violentas represiones, por las que otro presidente está actualmente siendo investigado.
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is made up of nearly 100 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and advance civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, good-paying jobs, fair trade, universal health care, debt-free college, climate action, and a just foreign policy. The caucus has been the leading voice calling for bold and sweeping solutions to the urgent crises facing this nation, including ending America’s broken for-profit health care system, raising the minimum wage, eliminating political corruption, bolstering labor protections for working families, and taking swift action to stop the warming of our planet.
WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement in support of CPC Whip Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05):
“Rep. Omar is a deeply valued member of the Progressive Caucus. Her voice is critical and necessary, both in the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Democratic Caucus as a whole.
“We cannot ignore a right-wing media echo chamber that has deliberately and routinely attacked a Black, Muslim woman in Congress, distorting her views and intentions, and resulting in threats against Rep. Omar and her staff. We urge our colleagues not to abet or amplify such divisive and bad-faith tactics. Members of the Democratic Caucus owe it to each other to pause, reflect, and engage directly with each other when misunderstandings arise, and stand together against cynical attempts to divide our caucus.”
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is made up of nearly 100 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and advance civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, good-paying jobs, fair trade, universal health care, debt-free college, climate action, and a just foreign policy. The caucus has been the leading voice calling for bold and sweeping solutions to the urgent crises facing this nation, including ending America’s broken for-profit health care system, raising the minimum wage, eliminating political corruption, bolstering labor protections for working families, and taking swift action to stop the warming of our planet.
