Press Releases
WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; and Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, introduced a resolution calling on Burundi’s political opposition to renounce violence and urging the government to comply with constitutional limits on presidential terms and re-engage in regional peace negotiations (H.Res.651).
“Burundi has been in crisis since 2015 after President Nkurunziza insisted on running for a third term. Since then, the political and security situation there has worsened and the country has fallen at risk of mass atrocities. The government of Burundi and the political opposition must renounce violence and armed rebellion. The Burundian people deserve peace. Politically motivated violence is
LOS ANGELES – Yesterday, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) hosted her annual End of Year Legislative Report Back for over 350 constituents at the DoubleTree Hotel in Culver City.
Throughout the year, Rep. Bass was able to engage and inform thousands of constituents through town halls and community meetings addressing some of the nation’s most critical issues including executive oversight, immigration, workforce development, health care, and foster care. The End of Year Report Back gave Rep.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) issued the following statement ahead of President Trump’s anticipated appearance at the opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum this weekend.
“This museum, which has been years in the making, is opening this weekend because of the selfless and heroic work of people like Congressmen John Lewis and Bennie Thompson.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after at least 14 UN peacekeepers and five Congolese air force members were killed and at least 53 peacekeepers were injured.
“This has been the worst attack in recent history on a group of peacekeepers anywhere in the world.
WASHINGTON – Today, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) – led by CBC Foreign Affairs and National Security Task Force co-chair Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA-37) – met with Libyan Ambassador Wafa Bughaighis to discuss a recent report from CNN International that included video documentation of a slave auction in the North African country.
“We met with the Ambassador out of the profound concern that in this day and age, people are being sold as property,” said Rep. Bass, Second Vice Chair of the CBC. “The international community must operate on the assumption that we don’t need further proof, what we need is to stop it.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass challenged FBI Director Wray on a report by the FBI about "Black Identity Extremism". The report leaked in September.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) submitted the following letter to the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors during a public hearing regarding a resolution to seize a plot of land that had been abandoned for over 25 years located on the east side of the 8400 and 8500 blocks of South Vermont Avenue. The Board of Supervisors voted in favor of the resolution.
“This is terrific progress and a big win for the community,” said Rep. Bass. “I look forward to seeing this long-awaited project come to fruition.”
Read the full letter here or below.
Dear Supervisors:
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) released the following statement following President Trump signing proclamations to shrink two national monuments in Utah. This is the first time in more than 50 years that a United States President has undone these types of environmental protections. The orders signed lifts protections of thousands of Native American artifacts and cliff dwellings and endanger the environment.
“This attack on the environment must also be combatted as yet another instance of dog-whistle politics, this time a targeted and calculated attack against Native Americans in Utah,” said Rep. Bass.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) introduced a resolution that condemns the migrant slave auctions in Libya that were exposed in a recent CNN International report. This resolution calls upon the Trump Administration to develop strategies to rapidly respond to the migrant and refugee situation in Libya and also demands that the government of Libya conduct an immediate investigation into the slave auctions taking place in the country. It also recommends that the African Union conduct its own investigation into this human rights crisis.
“Congress cannot sit idly by as news of the Libya slave trade spreads,” said Rep. Bass, top Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Africa. “Slavery is a crime against humanity. This resolution calls for a comprehensive response, both domestically and internationally, to this report, which is what we’ll need going forward to take an effective stand against this tragedy.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) hosted a forum focusing on politics, security and development in the Sahel region of Africa, which includes Niger, Mali, Chad and Sudan. The region has faced a range of interconnected challenges including extreme poverty, food insecurity, high unemployment, and weak institutions. These socioeconomic challenges have been increasingly exploited by criminal and terrorist groups throughout the region.
"The death of four American soldiers in Niger and the recent exposure of a Libyan slave trade has brought significant international attention to the continent,” said Rep. Bass, who is the top Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Africa.