Press Releases
WASHINGTON – As we mark Equal Pay Day on March 24, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) said that more needs to be done to close the wage gap that still exists between men and women – including passage of the critical Paycheck Fairness Act. Each year, Equal Pay Day symbolizes when, almost three months into the year, women’s wages finally catch up to what men were paid in the previous year.
“Equal pay is not simply a women’s issue; it’s a family issue,” Rep. Karen Bass stated. “When women bring home less money each day, it means they have less for the everyday needs of their families – rent, education costs, and doctors’ visits. Two-thirds of mothers are either the primary breadwinner of a co-breadwinner in the household, so their earnings are vital to their families.”
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Africa, issued the following statement
“I am deeply concerned by the escalated violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and about the growing crisis in the Great Lakes region writ large. The conflict in northeastern DRC has worsened since the start of the year, leading to the deaths of hundreds of people, and forcing tens of thousands from their homes with nearly 20 million dealing with food insecurity.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Africa, introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives reaffirming bilateral and multilateral relations between the United States and African nations and recognizing the importance of diplomatic, security, and trade relations.
“Africa represents a myriad of opportunities for the United States and must be met where it is – a continent of diverse people, cultures, critical natural resources, and multilateral organization,” said Rep. Karen Bass.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) voted to pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, two landmark pieces of legislation to modernize and reform our immigration system and secure permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have been, and will continue to be, key to the economic recovery of our nation. The American Dream and Promise Act provides relief to our nation’s Dreamers, as well as to many Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act provides stability, predictability and fairness to the workers who feed America.
The American Dream and Promise Act – establishes a path to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status for Dreamers and for certain individuals who either held or were eligible for TPS or DED. The majority of these individuals have been in the United States for much of their lives, often with work authorization and temporary protections against deportation.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Africa, introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives calling for a renewed, decisive, and robust international collaboration and coordination to fight COVID–19 across Africa.
“Shortly after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, doomsday scenarios were predicted for the African continent,” said Rep. Karen Bass. “While Africa defied the COVID-19 nightmare scenarios, the toll of the pandemic on the continent, which has now surpassed 100,000 deaths, should not be ignored. Renewed, strategic, respectful, and focused approach to U.S.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) joined Rep. Jaime Raskin and Rep. Bill Pascrell in urging the Internal Revenue Service to extend the April 15 federal tax filing deadline given the changes to the tax law contained in the American Rescue Plan.
The letter was signed by more than 100 Members of Congress.
Read the full letter here or below.
Dear Commissioner Rettig and Acting Assistant Secretary Mazur:
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep, Karen Bass (D-CA) hosted a telephone town hall to discuss resources made available by the passage of the American Rescue Plan. Listen below:
Call Summary:
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) voted to pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, two commonsense gun violence prevention measures to require background checks on all gun sales and close the Charleston Loophole that allowed the hate crime at Mother Emanuel AME Church. In the 116th Congress, the House passed versions of these two bills in a strong, bipartisan way.
These two pieces of legislation include commonsense measures to end gun violence and make background checks universal:
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, introduced the bipartisan Foster Youth Dental Act of 2020, which will strengthen dental coverage under the Medicaid program for foster youth by increasing eligibility, providing incentives for dental providers, enhancing outreach efforts for enrollment, and protecting existing coverage for foster youth.
Youth enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP have access to oral health care but the use of oral care services varies by state and many foster youth fall through the cracks of care because states often treat oral health care coverage as optional. Tooth decay is the most common chronic condition among US children.
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, re-introduced the Expanded Coverage for Foster Youth Act and the Dosha Joi Immediate Coverage for Foster Youth Act. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced both bills in the United States Senate.
“Today marks one year since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic,” said Rep. Karen Bass. “Around that time, it was common to hear that covid-19 would be a great equalizer. The thought was that no one had ever been exposed to the disease before, so everyone was vulnerable. But data gathered over the past year has revealed that to be untrue.