Press Releases
Harris Introduces Bill to Waive Fees for Disaster Victims Replacing Immigration Documents, Passports and Designate Child Care as Critical Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris today introduced the Disasters Victims Passport and ID Relief Act, legislation to create a blanket waiver for replacement fees of critical documents for individuals and households who qualify for FEMA Individual Assistance as a result of a major disaster, and reclassify child care as a critical service. This reclassification will provide child care facilities with the funding they need to operate following a disaster. This legislation follows … Continue Reading
June 11, 2018
Harris, Velázquez Call for Probe into Disaster Death Counts
Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Study How Fatalities are Determined after Natural Disaster WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) have introduced new legislation to establish federal procedures for counting fatalities following a natural disaster. Introduced in both chambers of Congress, their legislation, the Counting Our Unexpected Natural Tragedies' (COUNT) Victims Act, comes on the heels of disturbing reports … Continue Reading
June 07, 2018
Harris Speaks Out Against Judicial Nominees with Discriminatory Records Against LGBTQ Community
WASHINGTON, D.C. - At a Senate Judiciary Committee business executive meeting today, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris spoke out against the Trump Administration's pattern of nominating judicial nominees with discriminatory records towards the LGBTQ community. In her statement, Harris also acknowledged LGBTQ Pride Month and the community's continued fight for civil rights. "This is LGBTQ Pride Month-the month where we recognize and lift up many contributions of LGBTQ Americans," Harris said. "It … Continue Reading
June 07, 2018
Harris Introduces Bill to Increase Resources for Quantum Computing and Research to Benefit National Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, in an effort to increase the United States' competitiveness in a critical new technology, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris introduced the Quantum Computing Research Act, which would create a central coordination and research entity to support the development of quantum information science (QIS). The bill would establish a Department of Defense Quantum Computing Research Consortium to spur the development of a competitive edge for America in quantum computing by providing … Continue Reading
June 06, 2018
Harris Introduces Bill to Ensure Access to Affordable Clean Water for Working Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris introduced the Water Affordability Act of 2018, legislation that would help low-income families across the country pay for rising sewer and water bills. As municipalities work to comply with The Clean Water Act, the cost of compliance is placing a high burden on low-income families who pay for sewer and water utilities. The Water Affordability Act would direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a pilot program, named … Continue Reading
June 05, 2018
Harris, Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Curb Workplace Harassment and Increase Transparency and Accountability
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced the Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace harassment through Education and Reporting Act (EMPOWER) to address the ongoing issue of workplace harassment and the pervasive culture of fear that has resulted from those in power silencing their victims. While recent accusations and reports of sexual harassment have highlighted its pervasiveness across states and across industries, this issue … Continue Reading
May 25, 2018
Following Push from Harris, Murray, Warren, Democratic Colleagues, Education Department Agrees to Phase Out Private Debt Collectors in Federal Student Loans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Education filed a motion this week announcing a plan to phase out the use of private debt collectors contracted to pursue defaulted student loan borrowers, and instead rely on current loan servicers. Private debt collectors aggressively pursue defaulted student loan borrowers while profiting from taxpayer dollars. This announcement follows a January 23 letter sent to Secretary Betsy DeVos by U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), … Continue Reading
May 23, 2018
Harris Remarks on Trump Administration’s Efforts to Separate Families
Video of Harris' Remarks (Begins at 2:05 mark) WASHINGTON, D.C - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris joined Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), parents, advocates, and caregivers at a press conference today to demand the Department of Homeland Security stop separating children from their families at the border. During her remarks, Harris also highlighted how the Administration has changed a policy that will … Continue Reading
May 23, 2018
Harris, Feinstein, Colleagues Call on Sessions to Uphold Protections for LGBTQ Asylum Seekers Fleeing Persecution
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) led a group of their senate colleagues in a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging that the Justice Department uphold a ruling by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) that provides protections for LGBTQ asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution. In the letter, the senators highlight the increasing threat of violence LGBTQ individuals face in many parts of the world. "LGBTQ individuals' access … Continue Reading
May 22, 2018
Harris, Leahy & Hirono Lead Colleagues in Legislation to Protect Civil Rights of All Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Harvey Milk Day, U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), members of the Judiciary Committee, and their Senate colleagues, introduced legislation to amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), the Do No Harm Act. Since its 1993 inception, the original intent of the RFRA has been misappropriated and used to discriminate and harm others such as LGBTQ individuals, women, and children. The Do Not Harm Act ensures that RFRA can … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
On Brown v. Board of Education Anniversary, Harris Opposes Nominee Who Refused to Acknowledge Whether Ruling was Correct
Video of Harris' Statement WASHINGTON, D.C. - At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris spoke out against Wendy Vitter, nominee to be U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana with a history of extensive advocacy against women's reproductive healthcare. In her statement, Harris also cited Vitter's inability to acknowledge whether the landmark 1954 ruling against segregated schools in Brown v Board of Education was decided correctly. "I … Continue Reading
May 16, 2018
Harris Questions Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower on Stolen Data used to Suppress African American Votes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris questioned former Cambridge Analytica employee and whistleblower Christopher Wylie on reports that Cambridge Analytica may have used the misappropriated data from 87 million Facebook users to target African Americans to suppress their votes. Additionally, Harris raised broader issues of privacy that were highlighted by the incident. "Mr. Wylie, in particular you've mentioned there's been a lot of … Continue Reading
May 16, 2018
Harris Presses DHS Secretary on Separating Immigrant Families, Detention Conditions
Video of Harris' First Round of Questioning Video of Harris' Second Round of Questioning WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris pressed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on reports that federal agents will now forcibly remove children from their parents when apprehended at the border in order to deter illegal immigration. "Secretary Nielsen, as I sit here today I'm … Continue Reading
May 16, 2018
Harris Statement on Vote Against Haspel to Lead CIA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris released the following statement today on her vote in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence against Gina Haspel's nomination to be the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: "Every day, the men and women of the Central Intelligence Agency work to keep Americans safe, often at great sacrifice and with no recognition of the critical importance of their remarkable service. The next CIA Director must honor that workforce and the … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Harris, Jayapal Introduce Bicameral Bill to Place Moratorium on Immigration Detention Facilities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) today introduced the Detention Oversight Not Expansion (DONE) Act, which would increase oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers, and halt funds for construction or expansion of new facilities. Over the last two decades, the federal immigration system has undergone a dramatic expansion that has led to a 400% increase in detained non-citizens with an increasing … Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
Harris Introduces Legislation to Promote Diversity and Inclusion at Federal Reserve
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris introduced the Diverse Leadership Act, legislation to ensure that at least one minority and one female candidate are interviewed for each vacancy for the presidency of a reserve bank at each of the twelve reserve banks in the Fed (San Francisco, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and Dallas). Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kirsten … Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
Harris Speaks out Against Denial of Blue Slip Rights for Democratic Senators
Video of Harris' Statement WASHINGTON, D.C. - At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris spoke out against the recent moves by the committee's majority party to ignore the objections by Democratic senators to nominees for judicial appointments in their home-states. Traditionally, judicial appointments are processed when both home-state senators indicate their support of the nominee through a "blue slip." "The blue slip process was put in place to protect … Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
Harris Cosponsors Landmark Bill to End Federal Prohibition of Marijuana
Marijuana Justice Act seeks to reverse decades of policy that has disproportionately impacted communities of color, low-income communities WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) today became the fourth U.S. senator to cosponsor Senator Cory Booker's (D-NJ) landmark bill to end the federal prohibition on marijuana. The Marijuana Justice Act would remove marijuana from the list of controlled substances, making it legal at the federal level. Harris announced her support of the … Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
At Intelligence Hearing, Harris Repeatedly Asks Haspel for Views on Torture
Video of Harris' Questioning WASHINGTON, D.C. - At a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing today, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris pressed Gina Haspel, nominee to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), to assess the morality of the CIA's use of enhanced interrogation techniques, like waterboading. Harris asked Haspel four times whether she believes the enhanced interrogation program was immoral, and whether she agrees with President Trump's assertion that "torture … Continue Reading
May 08, 2018
Harris Statement on Trump Violating the Iran Nuclear Deal
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris released the following statement today on President Donald Trump's announcement to withdraw the United States from the Iran nuclear deal and violate the terms of the agreement: "Today's decision to violate the Iran nuclear deal jeopardizes our national security and isolates us from our closest allies. This nuclear deal is not perfect, but it is certainly the best existing tool we have to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and avoid a … Continue Reading
