Press Releases

Congressional Progressive Caucus to Hold Remote Hearing on Oversight of Coronavirus Relief Funds on Wednesday, June 10th

June 8, 2020

Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, June 10th at 3:00pm ET, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) will hold a remote hearing entitled “Conducting Effective Oversight: What Congress Can Do to Root Out Corruption and Ensure Coronavirus Relief Funds Benefit the American Public,” featuring experts to discuss the need for greater oversight of the lending authorities in the CARES Act to ensure that these programs assist midsize businesses, and place meaningful conditions on assistance to large corporations.


This week’s hearing will be chaired by CPC Co-Chair Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and CPC Executive Board Member Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45). The hearing will examine the work of the Congressional Oversight Commission and identify solutions to ensure federal funds are being used to keep workers on payrolls.

Wednesday's virtual hearing will be available to watch live here.

WHAT: CPC Remote Hearing; “Conducting Effective Oversight: What Congress Can Do to Root Out Corruption and Ensure Coronavirus Relief Funds Benefit the American Public”

WHO:

  • CPC Co-Chair Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)
  • Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45)
  • Bharat Ramamurti, Member of the Congressional Oversight Commission and Managing Director of the Corporate Power Program at the Roosevelt Institute.
  • Norm Eisen, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies at Brookings Institution
  • Damon Silvers, Policy Director at the AFL-CIO
  • Lisa Gilbert, Vice President of Legislative Affairs at Public Citizen
  • Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus

WHERE: The hearing will air live on the Progressive Caucus’s Facebook Page

WHEN: Wednesday, June 10th at 3:00pm Eastern/12:00pm Pacific

BACKGROUND: Over the last few months, the Progressive Caucus has been holding weekly virtual hearings to examine bold ideas to tackle the coronavirus crisis. On April 29th, the CPC held its first remote hearing on the pandemic, focused on the need for expanded worksharing and to prevent layoffs. On Wednesday, May 6th, the CPC held its second hearing, focused on the disproportionate toll of the epidemic on communities of color. And on May 13th, the CPC held its third hearing on strategies for ramping up testing and contact tracing to safely reopen the economy. The hearings are available to watch on the Progressive Caucus’s Facebook page. 

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Congressional Progressive Caucus Leaders Announce Forthcoming Legislation to Amend the Insurrection Act of 1807

June 4, 2020

Washington, D.C. — Today, the leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, CPC Whip Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05), along with CPC Co-Chairs Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02), announced forthcoming legislation to reform the Insurrection Act and prevent the deployment of the U.S. military into American cities.


“In the coming days, we will be introducing legislation to prohibit the unilateral deployment of U.S. military personnel into American cities without the explicit approval of Congress,” said Representatives Omar, Jayapal, and Pocan. “Time and again, President Trump has governed as an authoritarian — abusing his power at the expense of the American people and our democracy. Now, he’s threatening to weaponize the U.S. military against its own citizens.”

“Even President Trump’s own Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, opposes deploying troops to silence the protests,” added Representatives Omar, Jayapal, and Pocan. “The American public has a constitutionally-protected right to free speech. Deploying the military in an attempt to quash these protests would be an attack on our constitution, our democracy, and our people. Congress must send an unequivocal message that this grotesque abuse of power will be stopped.”

The Insurrection Act of 1807 allows the President of the United States, in rare circumstances, to unilaterally deploy the National Guard and armed forces against the will of a state government. The proposed legislation, which will be introduced in the coming days, would amend the law to require congressional approval prior to the deployment of U.S. troops.

Progressive Caucus Leaders Announce Opposition to FISA Reauthorization

May 27, 2020

Washington, DC – Today, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02), announced their opposition to the FISA reauthorization bill amid concerns regarding the lack of reforms to warrantless online surveillance.


“We have grave concerns that this legislation does not protect people in the United States from warrantless surveillance, especially their online activity including web browsing and internet searches,” said CPC Co-Chairs Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Congressman Mark Pocan. “Despite some positive reforms, the legislation is far too narrow in scope and would still leave the public vulnerable to invasive online spying and data collection.”

“We cannot in good conscience vote for legislation that violates Americans’ fundamental right to privacy,” continued Congresswoman Jayapal and Congressman Pocan. “Therefore, we will be opposing the bill, as well as recommending a ‘no’ vote to members of the Progressive Caucus. For months, we’ve worked to overhaul the expansive surveillance powers authorized in Section 215. There’s no reason to rush through a multi-year authorization that fails to make critical reforms needed to protect the civil liberties of the American public.”

The Progressive Caucus previously opposed the FISA reauthorization bill considered by the House of Representatives in March.

Congressional Progressive Caucus Statement on the Killing of George Floyd

May 27, 2020

Washington, D.C – Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement on the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN:

“George Floyd should be alive today. His brutal killing, at the hands of four police officers, is another heartbreaking example of the deadly racism that persists in this country.

“George Floyd’s murder was not an isolated incident – but rather part of a pattern of police brutality and white supremacy that pervades our nation, and our criminal justice system in particular.

“The officers responsible for George Floyd’s death must be brought to justice. And public officials – at every level of government – must take action to end police brutality and ensure that the perpetrators of racist killings are held accountable.

“Black lives matter. George Floyd’s life mattered. In his memory, we pledge to do all we can to end the plague of police brutality and anti-Black violence that led to his death.”

Progressive Caucus Leaders Call on Speaker Pelosi to Repeal Egregious Millionaire Tax Breaks Tucked into CARES Act

May 8, 2020

Washington, D.C. – Today, Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), along with CPC Deputy Whip Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling for the repeal of $160 billion in tax breaks for millionaires tucked into last month’s CARES Act.


“One of the Progressive Caucus’s guiding principles as we consider the next relief package is ensuring every action Congress takes addresses inequality. Relief must be focused on those who need it most, and we must resist regressive measures that deliver most benefits to those at the top, while doing little for working families,” the letter notes. “The $160 billion in no-strings-attached handouts was more than aid provided in the CARES Act for hospitals across America...We appreciate your recently stated opposition to these provisions, which are totally unrelated to the pandemic, and urge you to prioritize their repeal in the next relief package.”

The full letter is below.
 


Dear Speaker Pelosi:

Thank you for your leadership as the nation continues to battle the coronavirus and we work together to deliver further relief for those suffering. One of the Progressive Caucus’s guiding principles as we consider the next relief package is ensuring every action Congress takes addresses inequality. Relief must be focused on those who need it most, and we must resist regressive measures that deliver most benefits to those at the top, while doing little for working families.

As small businesses and workers were running out of options last month, Republicans tucked into the CARES Act tax breaks for “net operating losses” that will overwhelmingly benefit the super-rich and large corporations. The $160 billion in no-strings-attached handouts was more than aid provided in the CARES Act for hospitals across America. At a time when workers need a paycheck guarantee and monthly direct cash assistance, the Joint Committee on Taxation found that those with $1 million or more in annual income, who will enjoy 82% of the benefits of one provision, will get an average of $1.6 million each. We appreciate your recently stated opposition to these provisions, which are totally unrelated to the pandemic, and urge you to prioritize their repeal in the next relief package.

We also urge opposition to further tax breaks targeted at the wealthy few and large corporations. Corporate lobbyists are pushing for numerous handouts that have little to do with the pandemic and more to do with locking in or expanding the windfall they reaped from the Republican tax scam in ways that will not promote economic recovery. Whether in the form of tax breaks, loans, or other federal support, any assistance to corporations must at the very least come with adequate guardrails to ensure workers benefit instead of executives and wealthy shareholders. However, our focus as Democrats must be on advancing relief measures that put assistance directly into the hands of the working families that need it most.

Thank you for your continued leadership and consideration.

Sincerely,

Mark Pocan

Pramila Jayapal

Lloyd Doggett 

Congressional Progressive Caucus Holds Remote Hearing on Racial Disparities in the Coronavirus Crisis

May 6, 2020

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Congressional Progressive Caucus held the second in a series of remote hearings on bold solutions to the coronavirus pandemic. Today’s hearing, entitled “A Just Response: Addressing Racial and Economic Disparities in the COVID-19 Pandemic” was chaired by CPC Executive Board members Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16).


The hearing featured expert testimony from four witnesses:

  • Reverend Dr. William J. Barber, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign
  • Dr. James E.K. Hildreth, Ph.D, M.D., 12th President and Chief Executive Officer of Meharry Medical College
  • Nayna Gupta, Associate Director of Policy, National Immigrant Justice Center
  • Dr. Christina Paz, CEO of Centro San Vicente

The hearing is available to watch here. 

Congressional Progressive Caucus to Hold Remote Hearing on the Disproportionate Impact of the Coronavirus Crisis on Communities of Color

May 4, 2020

Washington, D.C. — Wednesday, May 6th from 2:00-3:30pm ET, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) will hold a remote hearing entitled “A Just Response: Addressing Racial and Economic Disparities in the COVID-19 Pandemic.” This hearing will be the second in a series from the Progressive Caucus examining bold solutions to the coronavirus crisis.

Wednesday’s hearing will be chaired by CPC Executive Board members Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16). The hearing will examine the various factors – including health disparities, economic inequality, and inhumane detention practices – that have put communities of color at greater risk in this pandemic.

Wednesday's virtual hearing will be available to watch live here.

WHAT: CPC Remote Hearing; “A Just Response: Addressing Racial and Economic Disparities in the COVID-19 Pandemic”

WHO: 

  • Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13)
  • Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)
  • CPC Co-Chair Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)
  • Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
  • Reverend Dr. William J. Barber, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign
  • Dr. James E.K. Hildreth, Ph.D, M.D., 12th President and Chief Executive Officer of Meharry Medical College
  • Nayna Gupta, Associate Director of Policy, National Immigrant Justice Center
  • Christina Paz, CEO of Centro San Vicente


WHERE: The hearing will air live on the Progressive Caucus’s Facebook Page

WHEN: Wednesday, May 6th at 2:00pm Eastern/11:00am Pacific

Progressive Caucus Leaders Call for Urgent Action from Democratic House Leadership on Remote Voting and Bold CARES-2 Legislation

April 29, 2020

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer urging quick action to enact a remote voting system and pass a bold and inclusive CARES-2 package to protect the physical health and financial security of families across the country.

Read the letter below.

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer,

As Congress considers the next steps for a just and resilient recovery, we write to you on two important issues.

First, we ask that Congress work urgently to pass—within the next two weeks—a comprehensive and inclusive CARES-2 bill that meets the scale of the crisis. Since the last letter we wrote you on April 9th, the Covid19 crisis has worsened dramatically, and has taken a disproportionate toll on vulnerable communities:

• As of today, at least 55,000 of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones have died from this pandemic – approaching the death toll of American servicemembers in the Vietnam War.
• African Americans comprise nearly one-third of all US Covid19 deaths, despite making up only 13 percent of the US population, a staggering total rooted in a long history of structural inequalities and environmental racism.
• More than 24 million Americans – one in seven workers – have filed for unemployment in just the last five weeks, with job loss disproportionately concentrated among low-income workers and women.
• It’s estimated that only 29 percent of jobless Americans received unemployment benefits in March, leaving millions without income or a safety net.

CARES 2 must provide immediate and substantial relief on four key priority areas that will put families first and leave no-one out. Those priorities are:

1. Keeping people on payrolls: Stop mass layoffs and ensure federal dollars go to workers and small businesses, not enriching CEOs and Wall Street.
2. Providing financial relief: Expand aid for the most vulnerable in the COVID-19 epidemic, including direct cash assistance, increased food aid, debt relief, and eviction protections.
3. Protecting public health: Provide full health coverage for all COVID-19 care, ensure protections and hazard pay for essential workers, and secure critically-needed state and local funding.
4. Safeguarding our elections: Enact a vote-by-mail requirement for 2020 federal elections while maintaining access to in-person voting for those who do not have access to mail voting

Second, we urge you to work with us to find a way for Congress to safely vote on both the proxy voting proposal and a CARES-2 package as soon as possible. We appreciate the decision to delay next week’s return given the ongoing pandemic, but we must find a way for members of Congress to vote on issues of critical national importance while protecting public health. Time is of the essence.

Below, we have reattached the CPC letter from April 9th for your consideration. We look forward to working with you to ensure Congress takes a comprehensive and inclusive approach to the next coronavirus package.

Sincerely,

Pramila Jayapal
Co-Chair
Congressional Progressive Caucus

Mark Pocan
Co-Chair
Congressional Progressive Caucus

CPC Leaders Call for Bold, Visionary CARES-2 Legislation Without Delay

April 23, 2020

Washington, D.C. -- Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement calling for immediate action on bold, sweeping CARES-2 legislation:


“While important, the interim legislation passed by Congress today comes nowhere close to meeting the needs of families across this country. More than 47,000 Americans have died, 26 million people are unemployed, and there is no end in sight to this crisis.

“Congress must do far more to direct relief to the everyday families who need help the most. We’re pleased that Speaker Pelosi has committed to drafting a CARES-2 bill that originates in the House, with input from all House Democrats. We must pass bold legislation that meets the scale of this crisis and that is grounded in justice, equity and inclusion.

“Two weeks ago, we sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi outlining our four priorities for the next big coronavirus response legislation, namely:

  1. keeping people on payrolls through worksharing and a paycheck guarantee;
  2. providing economic relief;
  3. protecting public health;
  4. and safeguarding our elections. 

“By centering these principles in the next package, and ensuring that these programs are open to all, regardless of immigration status, Congress can show that we are putting people first.

“We cannot afford to think small in a time that calls for bold and decisive action. House Democrats must lead with vision and urgency by passing a CARES-2 bill that meets the immense needs of this moment.”

Congressional Progressive Caucus Announces First-of-Its-Kind Remote Hearing Series on Progressive Responses to the Coronavirus Crisis

April 17, 2020

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) announced the launch of a series of remote congressional hearings to examine bold solutions to the coronavirus crisis. The hearings, entitled “The Progressive COVID-19 Response: Proposals to Protect Families’ Physical and Financial Health,” will feature presentations from experts.

The series will start on Wednesday, April 29rd at 2pm Eastern/11am Pacific with a hearing entitled “Preventing Layoffs: Keeping People Employed through Worksharing and a National Paycheck Guarantee.” The hearing, which will be chaired by CPC Co-Chairs Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), will examine efforts to expand the Workshare program within Unemployment Insurance to more states and businesses, as well as legislation on a national paycheck guarantee.

Wednesday's virtual hearing will be available to watch live here.

WHAT: Congressional Progressive Caucus Remote Hearing on Preventing Layoffs: Keeping People Employed through Worksharing and a National Paycheck Guarantee

WHO: CPC Co-Chairs Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)
Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
Sharon Block, Executive Director of the Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School
Amanda Ballantyne, Director of The Main Street Alliance
Owen Herrnstadt, Esq., Chief of Staff to the International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

WHERE: The hearing will air live on the Progressive Caucus’s Facebook Page

WHEN: Wednesday, April 29th at 2:00pm Eastern/11:00am Pacific
 

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