Press Releases
Harris, García, Cunningham Welcome Move To Require Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Lawmakers call for passage of their Safe Housing for Families Act WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Congressmen Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04) and Joe Cunningham (D-SC-01) on Friday welcomed reports that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is moving to put in place a federal rule requiring carbon monoxide detectors in public housing. Last month, Harris, Garcia and Cunningham introduced the Safe Housing for Families Act to do just that. The … Continue Reading
April 18, 2019
Harris: Barr Press Conference Proves Mueller Must Testify
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), a member of the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, released a statement Thursday responding to Attorney General William Barr's press conference this morning: "The Attorney General's press conference today should concern us all, filled with political spin and propaganda. He acted more like the president's defense attorney than our nation's Attorney General. "Congress must receive this report in full along with all underlying … Continue Reading
April 17, 2019
Harris Leads Senators in Opposing Funding for Administration’s Cruel Immigration Policies
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Tuesday led a group of her colleagues in a letter urging Senate Appropriators to reduce or reject funding for a range of the Trump administration's immigration policies, including the president's vanity project of a border wall and additional beds in federal detention facilities. "We urge the Committee to reject President Trump's request for funding to hire additional ICE agents at this time," wrote the senators. "Under current … Continue Reading
April 16, 2019
Harris, Feinstein Join Colleagues to Call for Full Funding of the Firefighter Cancer Registry
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on Tuesday joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Deb Fischer (R-NE), along with 31 of their colleagues in requesting $2.5 million to fully fund the Firefighter Cancer Registry, which collects and monitors the prevalence, incidence and types of cancers among firefighters so that doctors and researchers can better understand the relationship between firefighting and the increased risk for the deadly disease. … Continue Reading
April 16, 2019
Harris Joins Court Brief in Support of Planned Parenthood and Health Care in Texas Case
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Monday joined Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Patty Murray (D-WA), along with 15 Senate Democrats, in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the case of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Family Planning and Preventative Health Services, Inc. et al v. Courtney Phillips, in her official capacity as Executive Commissioner of HHSC, et al. Planned Parenthood is challenging Texas' attempt to exclude … Continue Reading
April 12, 2019
Harris, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Senate Resolution Affirming U.S. Recognition of Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), along with 13 of their colleagues, on Tuesday in introducing a Senate resolution to ensure the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning the Armenian Genocide. Carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, the Armenian Genocide resulted in the forced deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians, of whom 1.5 million were … Continue Reading
April 11, 2019
Harris, 16 Senators Introduce Resolution Designating April 11-17 as Black Maternal Health Week
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday, in recognition of International Maternal Health and Rights Day and during National Minority Health Month, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) led 16 of her colleagues to introduce a resolution to designate April 11-17, 2019 as Black Maternal Health Week. Black Maternal Health Week aims to raise awareness about the Black maternal health crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Black mothers in the United States are three to four times more likely … Continue Reading
April 10, 2019
Harris, Colleagues Introduce Medicare for All
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Wednesday joined Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and 13 Democratic colleagues to introduce the Medicare for All Act of 2019 to guarantee health care at far lower cost to working families and the nation as a whole. "Health care should be a right for everyone in this country, not a privilege for the few. No family should be forced to go into debt to pay for the medical treatment of a loved one or the prescription drugs they need to stay … Continue Reading
April 10, 2019
Harris, Feinstein Propose New Protections for Over 1 Million Acres of Land in California
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on Wednesday introduced a package of legislation to restore and expand protections for California's public lands. Together, the legislation proposes new public lands protections for more than 1 million acres of public lands, including nearly 600,000 acres of new wilderness and over 100,000 acres of new national monument. This legislation comes as the current administration continues its years-long campaign to … Continue Reading
April 10, 2019
Harris, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Welcome Refugees to the United States
Legislation would prevent U.S. President from manipulating refugee admissions levels WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Tuesday joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), along with 11 of their colleagues, in introducing the Guaranteed Refugee Admissions Ceiling Enhancement (GRACE) Act, legislation that would prevent a U.S. President from setting a Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions at a level below 95,000 in a given fiscal year. In September 2017, the … Continue Reading
April 09, 2019
TODAY: Harris to Join Bipartisan Commemorative Reading of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1963 Letter from Birmingham Jail
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, April 9, 2019, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) will join a group of bipartisan senators for a reading of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail on the floor of the United States Senate at approximately 3:45pm ET. In April 1963, Dr. King penned the letter from his cell at the Birmingham jail, where he and other protestors were detained for leading a series of nonviolent protests and boycotts in Birmingham to put pressure on the business … Continue Reading
April 09, 2019
Harris Reintroduces Legislation to Provide Relief to Americans Facing Skyrocketing Cost of Rent
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Tuesday reintroduced the Rent Relief Act, legislation to provide much-needed support to middle class and working Americans who are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of rent. The legislation creates a new, refundable tax credit for households whose housing costs exceed 30% of their income, including rent and utilities. Unlike existing tax credits, Americans who qualify would receive the benefits every month. Harris was joined … Continue Reading
April 08, 2019
Harris, Senators Call for Reinstatement of Policy Against Holding Pregnant Women in Immigration Detention
Senators demand answers from ICE and CBP regarding treatment of pregnant women in DHS custody WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Monday joined Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), along with fourteen of their Senate colleagues, in calling for the reinstatement of an Obama-era policy ordering most pregnant women to be released from immigration detention. In a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the senators … Continue Reading
April 08, 2019
Harris: Next DHS Nominee Must Forcefully Denounce Family Separation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), the first senator to call on Kirstjen Nielsen to resign as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, released a statement Monday after Secretary Nielsen announced her resignation: "Kirstjen Nielsen's resignation was long overdue. Under her tenure, children were ripped from their parents' arms and locked into cages, forced to endure inhumane conditions and to suffer trauma that will endure for the rest of their lives. She … Continue Reading
April 04, 2019
Harris, Feinstein Reintroduce Legislation to Block Efforts to Roll Back Fuel Economy Emissions Standards
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) on Wednesday reintroduced the Greener Air Standards Mean Our National Security, Environment, and Youth (GAS MONEY) Saved Act, legislation that would block efforts at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) to roll back strong fuel economy emissions standards. This legislation highlights the benefits of the existing fuel … Continue Reading
April 04, 2019
Harris, Rosen, Blumenthal Announce Legislation to Combat Sexual Harassment in STEM
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) on Thursday announced the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2019, legislation to provide for research to better understand the causes and consequences of sexual harassment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, examine policies to reduce harassment, and encourage interagency efforts in these matters. This bill follows a landmark report from the … Continue Reading
April 03, 2019
Harris, Feinstein Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Earthquake Preparedness Incentives
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) on Wednesday announced the Earthquake Mitigation Incentive and Tax Parity Act, legislation to prevent homeowners from being taxed at the federal level for undertaking measures to protect their homes from earthquakes. Companion legislation will also be introduced in the House by Representatives by Mike Thompson (D-CA). "Homeowners in earthquake-prone areas understand that they need to be prepared for potential … Continue Reading
April 03, 2019
Harris, Colleagues Introduce New Legislation to Narrow College Achievement Gaps
Bill Would Establish Competitive Grant Program for Higher Ed Institutions to Address Inequities WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) on Wednesday joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) in introducing the College Equity Act, a bill that would give colleges and universities funding to address disparities in higher education recruitment, admissions, and support. "The student achievement gap that persists along race and class lines at colleges and universities across the … Continue Reading
April 03, 2019
Harris, Cortez Masto, Durbin Introduce Bill to Lift Ban on DREAMers Working for Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) on Wednesday introduced the American Dream Employment Act, legislation to rescind the current prohibition on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients working or participating in paid internships in Congress. "The giant sign outside my office says 'DREAMers Welcome Here' because we know and value the contributions that these young people have made to their … Continue Reading
March 29, 2019
Harris, Feinstein, Colleagues Honor the Legacy of Civil Rights and Labor Leader Cesar Chavez
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ahead of the 92th birthday anniversary of Cesar Estrada Chavez on March 31, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris and Dianne Feinstein (both D-Calif.), joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) on Friday in introducing a resolution honoring the legacy of Chavez, recognizing him as one of the country's most important civil rights and labor leaders. A similar resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA-29). "At a moment when powerful forces are … Continue Reading
