Press Releases
WASHINGTON—Today, Rep. Bass (D-CA) and the Democratic members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs called on President Trump to restore funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) and warned against shifting blame to the WHO in order to distract from the Trump Administration's failed response to the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter led by Chairman Eliot L. Engel, the members underscored the need for a coordinated global response to the pandemic and the important role the WHO plays, despite the organization’s imperfections.
“The WHO plays a vital role in supporting and enforcing international health regulations, educating the public, and strengthening the ability of health systems—particularly those in the developing world—to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks. The organization is not perfect, and we should thoroughly review its early handling of this crisis, particularly its engagement with Chinese author
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) joined Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) along with 47 of her colleagues in sending a letter to House leadership calling for additional funding to help students and teachers adapt to distance, virtual, and online learning during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“As the public health crisis continues to worsen, a growing number of states and cities across the country are issuing stay-at-home orders and closing schools,” wrote the Members in their letter.
WASHINGTON-Today, Representatives Karen Bass (D-CA), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Don Bacon (R-NE), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), and Paul Mitchell (R-MI), Co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth (CCFY), sent a letter to Governors urging them to consider the needs of transition-age foster youth as they implement their COVID-19 pandemic response plans. In the letter, the CCFY Co-chairs express concern that transition-age foster youth are suffering serious social and economic hardship during this disaster -- from homelessness to food insecurity and a lack of healthcare.
While the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and their colleagues in Congress continue to advocate for federal COVID-19 relief for transition-age foster youth, they also encourage Governors to support these young people as they manage their state responses to the pandemic.
WASHINGTON—Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), in addition to a group of 15 Senators and 98 House members in pushing congressional leadership to institute a nationwide moratorium on utility shut-offs amid the mounting economic insecurity caused by the coronavirus pandemic, in order to help protect the health, well-being, and security of families across the country.
As jobless claims continue to spike—with millions of new claims being filed every week—millions of Americans are finding themselves unable to pay their bills. This is especially true for low-income families, which are more likely to pay higher rates for basic utilities, including electricity and heat.
LOS ANGELES - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, issued the following statement after the Trump administration halted U.S. payments for the World Health Organization during a pandemic.
"President Donald Trump’s absolute abdication of international responsibility and leadership is now unequivocally apparent.
WASHINGTON - Today, Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA), Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Don Young (R-AK) sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy encouraging them to address the increased need to support families during the COVID-19 response in ways that prevent child abuse and neglect. The letter also asks for increased funding to support older foster youth who are struggling for personal and financial security while the entire world is in a economic crisis. Finally, the letter asks for systems support so child welfare practice can adapt to social distancing and keep social workers online during the pandemic.
Read the full letter here or below.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswomen Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, and Barbara Lee (D-CA), along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and more than 85 of their colleagues introduced the Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID-19 Act.
The bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collect and report racial, ethnic, and other demographic data on COVID-19 testing, treatment, and fatality rates, and provide a summary of the final statistics and a report to Congress within 60 days after the end of the public health emergency. The legislation comes as reports across the United States poin
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) cosponsored H.R. 5986, the Environmental Justice For All Act, which seeks to restore, reaffirm, and reconcile environmental justice and civil rights, provide for the establishment of the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice Compliance and Enforcement.
The Environmental Justice for All Act is the product of a multi-year collaborative effort based on extensive public feedback and serious engagement with hundreds of environmental justice groups. A public draft of the bill received several hundred written comments from environmental justice leaders and everyday Americans, and was improved it based on their feedback.
WASHINGTON—Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) joined the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) in sending a letter urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to automatically extend employment authorization for all immigrants whose employment authorization documents (EADs) are about to expire. In a letter to Acting Secretary Wolf and Senior Official Cuccinelli, Democratic members are calling for immediate, common sense action to protect public health and prevent work authorizations from expiring in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Full text of today’s letter is available here or below.
April 13, 2020