Press Releases
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Karen Bass (D-Calif.) were joined by local and national justice advocates to announce new legislation to improve our emergency response capabilities by creating systemic alternatives to police involvement, especially where it could lead to unnecessary escalation. Their new legislation, the Community-Based Response Act, creates a new Community-Based Emergency and Non-Emergency Response Grant Program through the Department of Health and Human Services to establish programs to provide an additional option beyond law enforcement for community-based emergency response. The bill will promote an additional option for a community-based response in emergency situations, allowing the dispatch of professionals trained in mental and behavioral health or crisis response instead of law enforcement. As shown by new polling, this approach receives widespread support from the American people, regardless of political affiliation.
Senator Van Hollen and Representative Bass were joined on the call today by Clint Odom, Senior Vice President, Policy & Advocacy and Executive Director, Washington Bureau of the National Urban League; Kate Chatfield, Director of Policy for The Justice Collaborative; Erricka Bridgeford, Executive Director at the Baltimore Community Mediation Center and founder of the Baltimore Ceasefire move
WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women in Custody Act of 2020, introduced by Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, to provide a national standard of care to address pregnancy-related needs of incarcerated women during pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum periods.
Women are the fastest-growing incarcerated population in the United States and both pieces of legislation address the growing need for the humane treatment of these individuals and decreasing the chance of reoffending.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA) today released a letter she and 28 other Members of the House sent to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Stephen Dickson expressing concern about a recent FAA report regarding airplane noise metrics. Norton is a senior member of the Aviation Subcommittee and co-chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus. Bass is also a member of the Quiet Skies Caucus.
“The FAA’s report is inadequate and incomplete, to say the least,” said Rep. Karen Bass. “The FAA failed to meet its mandate because it didn’t evaluate alternative noise metrics, standing by standards that don’t fully capture noise impacts. The FAA must go back to the drawing board and write a new report.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, issued the following statement after Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced there would be no homicide charges brought against the police officers that murdered Breonna Taylor and instead, minimal charges brought against one officer for firing bullets into neighboring apartments.
“These charges are an affront to the movement for justice and peace in this country and conveys loud and clear that Breonna Taylor’s life does not matter to the legal system of the United States.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, introduced a resolution urging the Government of Tanzania and all parties to respect human rights and constitutional rights and ensure free and fair elections next month.
“I am concerned about reports indicating restrictions of freedom of expression, association and assembly in Tanzania ahead of a possibly contentious election next month,” said Rep. Bass. “We must support Tanzanian people, especially right before an election.
WASHINGTON – Today, the House Judiciary Committee sent two pieces of bipartisan criminal justice reform lead by Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, to the House Floor.
H.R. 7718, the Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women in Custody Act of 2020, and H.R 8161, the One-Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2020, were both passed out of the Judiciary Committee by a unanimous voice vote.
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Reps. Karen Bass (CA-37), Robyn Kelly (IL-2), Judy Chu (CA-27), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Deb Haaland (NM-1), and Sharice Davids (KS-3) introduced the COVID Community Care Act to establish a contact tracing program through community-based organizations and non-profits.
Contact tracing is a critical public health resource that helps slow the spread of disease. Contact tracers identify patients and contact all those who may have been infected in order to provide additional resources and services.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, and Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) introduced bipartisan legislation to create resource centers in communities to assist individuals exiting custody and formerly incarcerated individuals.
In some states, a person released from prison is given as little as $10 and a bus ticket. According to a U.S. Sentencing Commission report, the average national recidivism rate for released individuals is 49.3% over 8 years. One of the reasons this rate is so high is because of a lack of access to resources.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement regarding the alleged arrest of Paul Rusesabagina.
"This week, Paul Rusesabagina appeared in Rwanda in handcuffs facing terror-related charges. According to reports, a spokesman for the Rwanda Investigation Bureau would not go into details about how and where Mr. Rusesabagina was apprehended, saying that he has to answer "charges of serious crime.” My office is monitoring this situation very closely.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement regarding the possible deportation of Pastor Steven Tendo.
"The Trump administration is preparing to deport Pastor Steven Tendo of Uganda who could face harassment, repression, arrest, and even death for advocating for human rights and voting rights. The United States government should allow people facing repression to remain in the United States. They should never have to face deportation."