Press Releases
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Cornyn (R-TX), and Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) introduced the One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act to create resource centers to support people transitioning from incarceration and connect them with the services they need to reintegrate into their communities.
The bill will help reduce instances of reoffence by providing grants to community-based organizations and other eligible entities to create Community Reentry Centers to support formerly incarcerated people. According to a U.S.
WASHINGTON – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to pass the Represent America Abroad Act of 2021, to ensure that the U.S. Foreign Service reflects the rich composition of the American citizenry. The legislation establishes a program to identify, attract and welcome diverse mid-career professionals into the Foreign Service.
“This bill shall ensure that all levels of the United States diplomatic workforce reflects the diverse composition of the United States,” said Congressmember Bass. “According to the American Academy of Diplomacy, out of 189 ambassadors recently serving overseas, only three were African American career diplomats, and just four were Hispanic.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep, Karen Bass (D-CA) hosted a virtual town hall to discuss the first 100 days of the Biden Administration. Listen below:
LOS ANGELES - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) issued the following statement:
“I am saddened to hear of the loss of Eli Broad, a giant in our city and a force for good. Eli’s commitment and support of the arts made our city a more beautiful place in a lasting way. His compassion for young people, especially those in foster care, and his work in health care research is where I had the pleasure of working with him closest.
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Global Human Rights, appointed Dennis Matanda as the next Democratic Staff Director of the Subcommittee.
“I look forward to working with Dennis to reset the U.S. alliance with the continent of Africa,” said Rep.
WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), and Bruce Westerman (R-AR) introduced the Childhood Offenders Rehabilitation and Safety Act of 2021 to update and improve our outdated federal juvenile crime laws.
“Studies have proven that punishing children the way we punish adults does not advance public safety,” said Rep.
LOS ANGELES – Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) announced that restaurants will be able to apply for direct relief through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund beginning Monday, May 3, at 12:00 p.m. ET. Applicants can register on the U.S. Small Business Administration application portal beginning Friday, April 30 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund will provide restaurants and other eligible businesses with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business. The relief does not have to be repaid, provided that the funds are put toward eligible uses by March 11, 2023.
WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA), issued the following statement after the Food and Drug Administration announced it would take steps to ban menthol flavored cigarettes and all flavored cigars.
“Today’s action is consistent with the Biden administration’s commitment to advancing racial equity and addressing health disparities in this country with fact-based, scientific action. The tobacco industry must no longer be permitted to use menthol cigarettes to profit at the expense of the health of Black Americans.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Global Human Rights, issued the following statement marking Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.
“Today marks 106 years since the murder of 1.5 million Armenians in the first genocide of the 20th century. That’s what happened. The continued denial of this genocide is an afront to the Armenian community in Los Angeles, throughout this country, and throughout the world.
WASHINGTON – Today, a resolution to encourage reunions of divided Korean American families introduced by Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Global Human Rights, was passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The resolution was introduced after constituents and local community organizers raised this important issue at a town hall meeting in Los Angeles before the pandemic.
“I want to thank the local organizers and families in my district who brought this incredibly important issue to my attention at a local town hall a few years ago,” said Rep. Karen Bass. “The division of the Korean Peninsula millions of families, including some who are now citizens of the United States and have not been able to see their families in more than 70 years.