WASHINGTON, D.C.— Amid Donald Trump’s use of the racist term “Chinese Virus” to describe the coronavirus, and reports that a White House official used the term “kung flu” while discussing the coronavirus with an Asian American reporter, People For the American Way President Michael Keegan released the following statement: “We condemn in the strongest…
OAKLAND, Calif., March 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Seven high school youth leaders from Oakland’s Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center will participate in the 2020 Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama March 6-8 with Congresswoman Barbara Lee. The annual Pilgrimage was originated in 1998 by Congressman John Lewis and is a program of the Faith…
Trump’s conviction was bipartisan, his acquittal was partisan Today’s illegitimate acquittal is fitting for a dishonorable, unpatriotic, dangerous, illegitimate, and impeached president. Anyone who lends any credence to the idea that this unlawful outcome serves as a credible exoneration of Donald Trump is an enemy to the rule of law and the Constitution. The founders…
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) released the following statement today in response to President Donald Trump’s FY 2021 Budget Request, which slashes deeply at domestic programs to help working and low-income Americans, in some cases, eliminating them outright. “This budget makes President Trump’s priorities crystal clear for the American people –…
The Cities of Huntington Park and Tustin Also Violated California Values Act The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California today filed administrative complaints against Orange County and the cities of Huntington Park and Tustin for unlawfully interrogating people about their immigration status and detaining them for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The…
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today published its proposed Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule, which offers clearer guidance to states and local governments to help them improve affordable housing choices in their community. Read HUD’s proposed rule. “HUD’s commitment to Fair Housing remains as steadfast as ever before, and this…
Partisan “Clarification” Called Disrespectful and Hypocritical Washington, D.C. – Pushing back on lawmakers who compare impeachment proceedings to the Civil Rights Movement and the fight against Jim Crow discrimination, members of the Project 21 black leadership network are calling liberals’ rhetorical tactics – particularly ones by U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries – both incorrect and hypocritical….
Washington, DC—Yesterday, President Trump signed into law H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158, two legislative packages to provide government funding for fiscal year (FY) 2020. The funding bills included two key provisions offered by Rep. Pete Aguilar. The first was added by Rep. Aguilar to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill and encourages the…
Nearly 650 residents and businesses in small, remote communities will gain high-speed internet access JOHN DAY, Ore., Dec. 3, 2019 — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director John Huffman today announced that USDA is providing $6 million to expand high-speed broadband infrastructure that will provide e-Connectivity for nearly 650 new customers in…
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (D-CA) published an op-ed exclusively with CNN today holding Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, accountable for his role as the architect of the Trump Administration’s family separation policies. In the article, Rep. Torres, the only Central American immigrant serving in Congress, reveals new details of the…
Program Expanding, Futons Subject to Recycling Fee as of Jan. 1, 2020 ALEXANDRIA, Va. – As of Jan. 1, 2020, futons will be added to the mattress recycling program in California and will be subject to recycling fees. The $10.50 fee and recycling obligations apply only to the futon mattress, not to the futon frame…
Investments will Benefit 1.5 million Residents and Businesses WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $1.4 billion in projects in 21 states (PDF, 143 KB) to build and improve rural electric infrastructure. “Modern and reliable electric infrastructure has been a…
Congresswoman Beatty calls out Facebook over discrimination lawsuits WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the House Financial Services Committee conducted a hearing to scrutinize Facebook and its previous and future business practices. During the “An Examination of Facebook and Its Impact on the Financial Services and Housing Sectors” hearing, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Chair of the House Financial…
Grant is part of $4.25 million to universities on heels of memo from Administrator Wheeler to prioritize Agency efforts to reduce animal testing Riverside, Calif. – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $849,811 to University of California Riverside as part of a total of $4.25 million in funding to five universities to research the…
WASHINGTON, July 18, 2019 – Acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley today encouraged farmers, rural small businesses and agricultural producers to apply for financing in a key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides loan guarantees to help rural small businesses lower their energy costs. “Under the leadership of…
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that 44 organizations — including nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and entrepreneurship-focused organizations — from 28 states and two territories will receive grants totaling $23 million to create and expand high-growth entrepreneurship and increase access to capital for communities across America. The grants are made…
Washington, D.C.—Today, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued the following statement in response to the FBI’s abandonment of its “Black Identity Extremism” designation. In testimony from FBI Director Christopher Wray during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Director Wray indicated that the “BIE” designation had been eliminated. Wray also indicated that the Bureau…
Washington, D.C. – In response to the Justice Department’s decision to not pursue federal charges against a New York City Police Officer in the death of Eric Garner, Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, issued the following statement: “The tragic killing of Eric Garner was recorded…
According to a 2018 California State University-San Bernardino report, commuting costs for San Bernardino and Los Angeles County residents averaged $11,138 per year WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (CA-35) announced House passage of more than $305 million in federal funding she requested for transportation and infrastructure improvements in the Fiscal Year…
Scheduled to open on Memorial Day in May 2020 at site near the Buffalo waterfront (Black PR Wire) NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE) — HSBC Bank USA, N.A., (HSBC) today announced a $50,000 grant to the African American Veterans Monument, the nation’s first-ever memorial dedicated solely to honoring the military service of African-American veterans and service members….
The bill honors Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a 22-year-old pregnant member of the Spirit Lake Tribe who was tragically murdered in 2017 Savanna’s Act addresses the disturbing increase in murdered and missing Native American women WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), and Deb Haaland (D-NM) reintroduced Savanna’s Act, a bill named…
This paper from the Coalition for Fair Drug Prices outlines bold recommendations for how Congress can rein in prescription drug prices for America’s families. Congressional committees have advanced initial measures to address prescription drug costs. However, their work to date has not focused on the significant policy changes needed to meaningfully lower drug prices. To…
Lawsuit Seeks to Expose Former CFPB Director’s Ties to Payday Lending Industry Washington, D.C. – Today, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the White House Office of Management and Budget. The lawsuit seeks the release of public records related to…
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and have reintroduced bicameral legislation designed to strengthen students’ ability to hold for-profit colleges accountable in court for their misconduct. The Court Legal Access & Student Support (CLASS) Act prohibits any school receiving Title IV student aid funding from placing restrictions on…
There is currently no guarantee in place to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from using DACA applicant data for deportation purposes California’s 35th congressional district is home to 6,700 DREAMers; Texas’ 16th congressional district is home to nearly 9,000 DREAMers WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX) introduced…