Press Releases
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) issued the following statement after Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison for murdering George Floyd:
“Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd in broad daylight and acted with impunity. The sentencing today represents progress but there is still a long way to go. I hope it brings some measure of peace to the Floyd family, though there will never be complete closure and he will always be missed.
WASHINGTON - Today, Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA) submitted the following statement:
“I would like to recognize the time and effort of my colleagues and the staff on getting to this point and I would especially like to thank the authors of these bills. I have concerns with the bills that were passed out of committee this week.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement:
"I am deeply concerned about the provisions of the national elections in several regions of Ethiopia. I appreciate the increased participation from various political parties; however, the elections were not held in many regions of the country and several political parties were not allowed to participate.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) is encouraging hardworking families to be on the lookout for advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit of up to $300 per month per child beginning July 15th through December.
- Nearly all hardworking families should get their monthly payments automatically beginning July 15th with no further action required.
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of a religious adoption agency, but on very narrow grounds. The decision says that governments can continue to enforce neutral, generally applicable laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
“There is always a shortage of foster homes and even fewer safe and affirming homes for LGBTQIA+ youth. It’s critical that LGBTQIA+ families have the same opportunities to provide loving temporary foster homes and to become permanent adoptive parents for children who need it. The House has already passed The Equality Act but there is more work to be done.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) issued the following statement after President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, creating a federal holiday to commemorate Juneteenth.
“For centuries, the sometimes dark history of this country has been sanitized or even flat-out denied. Some state legislative bodies are actively trying to continue those efforts as we speak. Slavery to this day is talked about and discussed as an institution of the distant past -- a mistake that our country has made right and fixed.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement:
“My heartfelt condolences go out to the family of President Kenneth Kaunda and the people of Zambia. His leadership and vital role in fighting for independence from the former colonial power in northern Rhodesia, and his tireless support in fighting against HIV/AIDS made him a champion of global human rights and invaluable to the continent.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), alongside Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), introduced the Empowering Law Enforcement to Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act, which would expand the authority of the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants Program (Byrne JAG) to enable law enforcement agencies to compete for federal funding, specifically in developing and implementing sex trafficking demand reduction programs.
“When a child is placed in the child welfare system, it is on us, the government, to keep them safe,” Bass said. “The average age of a child who is trafficked is 12 years old. Unfortunately, our increasingly virtual world serves as breeding ground for human trafficking crime. We need to make sure the tools to protect our families and children are available.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement:
“I urge the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) to not partner with Russian mercenaries to solve internal conflict, and I call for an immediate investigation into Russian mercenaries torturing and killing innocent civilians in the country. This is another example of how a country uses a developing African nation for its own economic gain.