U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02) today was named the Democratic Ranking Member on the House Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Nutrition. The Subcommittee’s jurisdiction includes policies and statutes relating to nutrition, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and domestic commodity distribution and consumer initiatives. The Republican Chair of the Subcommittee is U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski of Indiana. Read more »
Today marks the five-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s dreadful Citizens United decision, in which the Court ruled that corporations have the same right to free speech as people. Despite the ruling in Citizens United, the Constitution was never intended to give corporations the same rights as the American people. My amendment clarifies that corporations, whether they are for-profit or non-profit entities, are not people with constitutional rights. Read more »
Tonight the President laid out a bold – but achievable – agenda to increase prosperity for all Americans. We continue to see strong economic growth as we recover from the worst recession since the 1930’s. But too many middle class families – and those trying to get into the middle class – have not fully benefited from that growth. That has to… Read more »
The recent news out of Nigeria is appalling, with Boko Haram murdering thousands of innocent civilians. The government of Nigeria and its regional neighbors must increase and coordinate their efforts to stop the violence against defenseless villages. The international community, including the United States, should do all it can to protect and provide humanitarian assistance to the Nigerian people – especially those who have fled or escaped Boko Haram. The U.S., in particular, should help northeastern Nigeria establish early warning systems and other proven methods that help local communities avoid violent attacks. And even though other events may dominate the news, I call on every person of conscience to keep the people of Nigeria in their thoughts. Read more »
I’ve come to the floor today to give a voice to those who are hungry, to share their struggles and to challenge my House colleagues to take meaningful action to #End Hunger Now. Last week, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a troubling new report estimating that roughly 1 million unemployed Americans will be cut off from SNAP benefits over the course of 2016. The report anticipates that those affected will lose between $150 - $200 per person per month in food benefits, cuts that will cause serious hardship.This is shameful. We should be working to end hunger now, not making it worse. Read more »
Today is a historic, long-overdue day. At long last, the Cold War policies of the past five decades are almost over. I look forward to working with the President to consolidate and advance the measures announced today, and I commend him and his Administration for choosing to create a better future for the people of the United States and the people of Cuba.
Read more »
The Senate Intelligence Committee’s report is deeply disturbing. The United States should never use torture. Period. It’s morally wrong, it’s ineffective and it puts our own troops at risk. We should do whatever it takes to make sure this sad chapter in American history is never repeated. Read more »
In a victory for Rhode Island families and advocates for environmental protection and historic preservation, the U.S. House of Representatives today approved legislation to make the Blackstone River Valley National Historic Corridor a unit of the National Park System. U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) introduced the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park Establishment Act along with co-sponsors Richard E. Neal (D-MA), James McGovern (D-MA), and James Langevin (D-RI) to preserve the natural and historical significance of important sites along the Blackstone River Valley National Historic Corridor. This legislation was also introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). Read more »
I support President Obama's courageous and necessary action to unify families, strengthen communities and local businesses, and help fix our broken immigration system. It brings many of our hard-working neighbors out of the shadows so they can work legally, pay taxes and no longer be victimized by unscrupulous employers. It helps our police and law enforcement officers concentrate their resources on serious criminals and real security threats. It’s also the morally right thing to do. Read more »
The following are the remarks given by U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (MA02) during a panel, The Legacy of the Jesuits on U.S. Foreign Policy toward El Salvador and Central America and on the Society of Jesus, at University of Central America José Simeón Cañas on Saturday, November, 15, 2014. Read more »
