Press Releases

Congressional Progressive Caucus Calls for Urgent Commitment from Ryan to Prevent Further Zika Outbreak

August 2, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement today after the recent outbreak of Zika virus in Florida.

“With Florida linking an outbreak of Zika infections to local mosquito transmission, it is clear that Zika is a serious and rising health threat to our nation. Pregnant women should never have to live in fear that their unborn children are at grave risk because of inaction by Congress to address a largely preventable health crisis. Perhaps just as horrifying is that most cases are asymptomatic, meaning that individuals could be at risk of spreading Zika while not even knowing it.”

“We’ve seen the devastation Zika has caused in South and Central America, as well as our own U.S. territories, and the fact that our elected officials have not heeded experts’ warnings is a travesty. House Republicans’ decision to recess for summer without passing this crucial legislation is inexcusable. It’s time for Speaker Ryan to immediately reconvene Congress and pass President Obama’s full emergency funding request to protect expectant parents and their children from Zika virus.”

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Congressional Progressive Caucus Accepts Over 1 Million Signatures Demanding Assault Weapons Ban on 1 Month Anniversary of Orlando Shooting

July 12, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) were joined by fellow CPC members today to accept a petition signed by more than 1 million Americans demanding Speaker Ryan schedule a vote on legislation reinstating the assault weapons ban that expired in September, 2004. The petition, which was organized by MoveOn.Org, CREDO Action, Democracy for America, The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Daily Kos, and Ultraviolet was delivered on the one month anniversary of the attack on Latin night at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, the deadliest mass shooting in our nation's history.

Congressional Progress Caucus Demands DOJ Investigation Into Police Shootings

July 7, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) today urged the Department of Justice to conduct a thorough investigation after two black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, were shot to death by police officers this week. The shootings continue a long trend of racially tinged police violence that has come to the forefront of national discourse through the increasing prevalence of personal video cameras.

Congressional Progressive Caucus Urges Department of Education to Revoke ACICS Accreditation

July 6, 2016

Washington, D.C.– Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) sent a letter to Acting Assistant Secretary of Education Lloyd Horwich supporting a final recommendation received from the June 22-24, 2016 National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) meeting. In the letter, the co-chairs urge the Department to strip the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) of its authority to evaluate and renew accreditation for institutions of higher education. This accreditation gives schools access to federal student aid. The co-chairs express concerns with ACICS's long and well-documented list of failures to meet its obligations to ensure federal dollars are well spent and students are receiving high-quality education. The Department of Education has 90 days to act after receiving NACIQI's final recommendation.

Congressional Progressive Caucus on Supreme Court Decision Upholding Woman's Access to Healthcare

June 27, 2016

Washington, D.C.– Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) today praised the Supreme Court decision in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. By a 5-3 margin, the Court struck down two provisions of an anti-abortion law in Texas – requirements that abortion providers have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and that procedures only be performed at ambulatory surgical centers – which have already caused half of the state's abortion clinics to close.

Congressional Progressive Caucus Statement on Supreme Court Affirmative Action and DACA/DAPA Rulings

June 23, 2016

WASHINGTON– Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement after the Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action and President Obama's expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) programs:
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