McGovern, Jim RSS Articles

McGovern and 27 House Members to Trump Administration: Family Members Deserve to Know Whether Their Relatives Are Being Held in Salvadoran Torture Prison

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Today, Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, along with 27 other Members of the House of Representatives, have written a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin demanding information on the individuals sent on deportation flights to El Salvador who are still held incommunicado in the notorious maximum-security torture prison, CECOT, and other prisons.

“We are extremely concerned the U.S. government has denied these individuals the right to challenge these deportations and detentions,” wrote the lawmakers in their letter. “As Members of Congress, it is our moral and official duty to ensure that the United States does not violate international human rights standards by ensuring transparency and accounting of official U.S. acts.”

In March and April 2025, the Trump Administration sent some 30 to 40 Salvadorans, along with more than 200 Venezuelans, to be held in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador. Multiple reports by international human rights monitors have documented horrific conditions in prisons across El Salvador, including in CECOT, including torture.

While the Venezuelans were repatriated to Venezuela, the status of the deported Salvadorans is largely unknown. Family members of those sent to CECOT and other prisons, and their lawyers, are unable to ascertain information about the health and status of their loved ones, or even if they are still alive.

Specifically, the letter asks for the release of the names, nationalities, and immigration file numbers of every individual from these deportation flights still held incommunicado in CECOT and in other prisons. The lawmakers cite legal and administrative precedents for the release of such information, as well as the fact that the White House has already published some of the names, disproving anticipated arguments that the information cannot be released for national security reasons.

“The U.S. government’s refusal to provide information about these individuals to Congress, the public, and especially their families, amounts to acts of enforced disappearance, a human rights violation under international law. Whether their names are part of the public record or not, all the men who the U.S. government deported to El Salvador deserve due process and equitable treatment, regardless of any criminal misconduct or deportation orders in their past,” conclude the Members of Congress in their letter.

McGovern Leads Bipartisan Effort to Strengthen Federal Focus on Link Between Diet and Chronic Disease

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), alongside Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), and Emilia Sykes (D-OH), led a bipartisan letter urging Congressional appropriators to provide essential funding to make healthy food and good nutrition a core pillar of America’s healthcare system as part of the FY 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill.

In the letter to Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the bipartisan coalition emphasized the urgent need to address diet-related disease and rising healthcare costs through “Food is Medicine” initiatives.

“Good nutrition is fundamental for restoring and maintaining health,” the lawmakers wrote, noting that poor diets have “strong ties to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gut health, mental health, cancer, and more.”

The lawmakers’ request for federal funding and an enhanced focus on better nutrition comes amid an ongoing surge in the cost of treating diet-related diseases—an increase which is crushing healthcare systems, federal and state budgets, and private employers. Notably, the combined healthcare spending and lost productivity from poor diets and food insecurity are estimated to exceed $1.1 trillion each year, emphasizing the immediate need for congressional action.

“Further action must be taken to support food is medicine efforts,” the lawmakers concluded. “We have it in our power to save lives, improve nutrition, and lower health care costs by directing more federal resources toward better integrating nutrition into our healthcare system.”

Specifically, the bipartisan coalition is requesting targeted investments to expand research on food is medicine at NIH, additional funding for HHS to bolster ongoing food is medicine work and expand access to medically tailored meals and produce prescriptions, enhanced nutrition support through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and continued efforts to address maternal health by helping clinics provide nutrition services to at-risk mothers.

The full text of the letter is available here.

McGovern Statement on the Passing of Paki Wieland

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) released this statement following the passing of renowned peace activist Paki Wieland:

Paki was an incredible leader. She was a peacemaker in our community, and a fierce advocate for human rights and human dignity at home and around the world.

Paki and I bonded after we learned that each of us had been arrested—multiple times—for civil disobedience. I often turned to her for advice and guidance—strategizing and working together on how to eliminate nuclear weapons, stand up to defense contractors, and fight back against those who seek war and destruction. Occasionally, we disagreed. But in our disagreement, there was genuine admiration. I saw in Paki someone who loved and cared so deeply, and whose passion and energy could ignite and inspire others to action.

Paki was always willing to stand up for a neighbor in need—and the whole world was her neighborhood. She never stopped speaking out, never stopped organizing, and never stopped challenging the rest of us to live up to our values. I so admired her tenacity and her deep, deep desire to bring peace and love into this world.

I pray that her family finds comfort and inspiration in her memory. Paki touched so many lives, and her spirit and legacy will live on in all of us who will continue fighting on her behalf for a more just, compassionate, peaceful future for all.

The world will miss Paki. I already do.

McGovern Delivers $12+ Million in Federal Funding for Community Projects In Second Congressional District of Massachusetts

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, is announcing $12,101,000 in federal funding has been awarded to local projects throughout Massachusetts’ Second Congressional District.

McGovern secured the money through the FY2026 appropriations process, partnering with community stakeholders and local officials to develop strong proposals and bring federal dollars back to the Bay State.

“Every one of these awards is tied to a specific, tangible improvement folks here at home will see and feel—more childcare slots in Whitinsville, safer streets on Route 20 in Shrewsbury, cleaner drinking water in Leicester, a new fire truck for Conway, affordable housing in Worcester, and new resources to address economic injustice in Amherst and Northampton,” said McGovern. “These are concrete things that will make life better for all of us. My team and I worked closely with mayors, town managers, nonprofits, and community leaders before doing the work in Congress to get this funding across the finish line.”

McGovern worked with stakeholders in communities throughout the Second District of Massachusetts to secure funding for the following local projects:

$1,500,000 for Worcester Polytechnic Institute to build a continuous flow reactor to destroy PFAS in contaminated soils and plants in Worcester County.
$1,200,000 for Worcester to support utility separation and lead/asbestos remediation at 128 Providence Street, enabling development of affordable, accessible housing for older adults.
$1,092,000 for Holliston to build wastewater infrastructure in its downtown sewer district, supporting smart growth, environmental management, and local economic development.
$1,015,000 to renovate a historic building and expand childcare capacity at the Whitin Community Center in Whitinsville.
$1,000,000 for Princeton to support construction of a new public safety building for firefighters, police, and EMTs.
$1,000,000 for Colrain to support construction of a shared wastewater disposal system.
$1,000,000 for Amherst to design and construct a 35-bed shelter with supportive housing.
$950,000 for Leicester to build a water interconnection with Worcester, strengthening drinking water reliability and addressing capacity constraints.
$879,000 to expand Stop It Now! child sexual abuse prevention programming in Northampton.
$850,000 for Shrewsbury to advance Route 20 corridor improvements, including design work for traffic safety upgrades, new and improved signals, and shared-use paths.
$700,000 for Conway to purchase a replacement pumper fire truck for its volunteer fire department and strengthen emergency response capacity.
$500,000 for Northampton to create a Community Resilience Hub that provides daily access to shelter, meals, and hygiene facilities.
$250,000 for Ashfield to reconstruct a century-old retaining wall near Sanderson Academy.
$165,000 to support renovations at the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls, helping preserve and improve Franklin County’s only large, publicly owned performing arts venue.

“These are targeted, practical investments that will strengthen public safety, expand opportunity, and improve people’s lives,” added McGovern. “And we’re investing in the next generation by making smart choices now—paying it forward with safer neighborhoods, healthier communities, and the infrastructure and services that our commonwealth needs to grow and thrive for years to come.”

A full list and detailed descriptions of all the projects that McGovern requested federal funding for can be found here.

###

McGovern, Kim lead Bipartisan Group of 10 House Lawmakers Calling on Trump Administration to Make Tibet a Priority

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Today, United States Congressmen Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Young Kim (R-CA) led a bipartisan group of 10 House lawmakers in a letter asking the Trump administration to make Tibet a priority. The letter was addressed to Riley M. Barnes, who was appointed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on February 17, 2026, to serve as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. Barnes is the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

“We know what is possible when the Administration and Congress work together to promote America’s interests regarding Tibet,” wrote the lawmakers in their letter. “We look forward to working with you as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues to implement these laws and appropriations provided by Congress, to advance a renewed and reinvigorated push to peacefully resolve the dispute over Tibet’s future, and to continue the U.S. government’s unwavering support for our Tibetan allies.”

The lawmakers provided eight specific areas where the Trump administration and Congress can collaborate to advance U.S. policy on Tibet consistent with U.S. law, including the 2002 Tibetan Policy Act, the 2018 Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, the 2020 Tibetan Policy and Support Act, and the 2024 Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act:

Promote dialogue between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and representatives of the Dalai Lama or Central Tibetan Administration (CTA);
Defend the right of religious freedom in the Dalai Lama’s succession
Counter PRC disinformation about Tibet;
Promote access to Tibet for foreign diplomats, journalists and tourists;
Continue programmatic support for Tibetans;
Prioritize a solution for Tibetans in Nepal;
Engage with the CTA; and
Support Tibetan broadcasting services.

The full text of the letter is available here.

McGovern: “Republican Farm Bill a Betrayal of MAHA”

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rule Committee and a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, delivered the following opening statement at the full committee markup of House Republicans’ hyper-partisan farm bill:

[As prepared for delivery.]

Mr. Chairman, I want to speak directly to the MAHA movement—to the millions of Americans who voted to Make America Healthy Again.

I’m a Democrat. I know we don’t agree on everything. But I think we share some common ground. Because I share your outrage.

I think it’s wrong that ultra-processed junk is cheaper than fresh food. I’m sick and tired of Big Ag profiting off pesticides while small family farms get squeezed out of business. I’m disgusted by corporations pumping toxins into our air and water—chronic disease and cancer are skyrocketing while our government cheers them on.

And I believe the direction this farm bill is going— the direction this country is going under Republican leadership—is a betrayal of MAHA. I can point to example after example.

PFAS—toxic forever chemicals. They’re linked to endocrine disruption—decreased fertility—lower sperm counts. I’ve been working on eliminating PFAS for years after my constituent got cancer from PFAS in his firefighting gear. MAHA moms and influencers thankfully helped propel PFAS into public debate. And instead of siding with MAHA, what did this administration do? They delayed setting limits for PFAS in our drinking water! Who knows why! Maybe ask the chemical companies—a lot of people don’t know this, but a lot of pesticides have PFAS in them!

How about glyphosate? For years, many of us have been sounding the alarm. It’s another toxic chemical sprayed on our food—it’s the main ingredient in Round Up. There’s dozens of class action lawsuits because we now know that for decades, chemical companies hid the fact that Round Up causes cancer.

Again, many in MAHA have rightly spoken out. So can a single Republican on this Committee tell me why Donald Trump issued an Executive Order to expand production of glyphosate? And now, big surprise: we have a farm bill that doubles down—this bill grants corporate immunity to the chemical companies! Look it up! Title 10, Section 10205.

Section 10206 prevents localities from regulating pesticides. Section 10207 goes on to allow more toxic chemicals to get dumped into our water.

Section after section of this bill—one giveaway after another to the pesticide companies.

What lobbyist asked for that? Was it drafted in the Monsanto boardroom or something? Follow the money! Big Ag and the chemical companies are two sides of the same coin—all part of the same corrupt corporate machine. One makes the chemicals. The other profits from driving family farms out of business. Both sides buy off politicians, and both sides profit when the rules are rigged against the little guys. And that’s exactly what this farm bill does.

And by the way, the chemical giveaways are tied at the hip to a larger, more structural problem with this farm bill. It does nothing to improve our food system.

Let’s move on to nutrition—because I only have five minutes.

Seniors who take pills on an empty stomach wind up in the emergency room. Working people who can’t afford to buy healthy food end up with chronic disease. Kids who are hungry don’t learn. So clearly—clearly—hunger and health are intricately linked. Which is common sense. You can’t be healthy if you’re hungry. But this farm bill—instead of addressing our hunger crisis in this country—42 million Americans who can’t afford food—this bill makes the crisis worse!

Last year Republicans made the largest cut to nutrition assistance in American history—veterans, families with teens, seniors, people aging out of foster care, all kicked off food assistance. In Massachusetts, thousands of people are losing access to food this month because Republicans took their food assistance away in order to give billionaires another tax break! And by the way, when it comes to students—I’ve introduced a bill to boost school meal reimbursement rates. That would mean more scratch cooked meals, more local foods in our cafeterias.

Not a single Republican will cosponsor it. So to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle—never, ever lecture us again about making America healthy.

Your farm bill rewards the same broken system that made America sick in the first place. Your farm bill empowers Big Ag and enables them to keep dumping toxins on our food. Your farm bill tells local farmers to get big or get out. Your farm bill makes food less healthy and more expensive.

In short, your farm bill is a betrayal of MAHA.

And I’m not here to pretend Democrats are perfect on every issue. But when it comes to standing up against Big Ag and chemical companies, combating hunger, and fighting for healthier food—we are a hell of a lot better on these issues. A hell of a lot better.

This farm bill is corporate control with a wellness label slapped on top.

And to be blunt, it sucks.

End the pesticide loopholes. End the cuts to nutrition assistance. And oppose this Republican farm bill—it’s a blank check to those who want to protect the broken status quo, and none of us should be complicit.

McGovern: “People Don’t Need a Two-Hour Lecture From Donald Trump. They Know His Economy Sucks Because They Live It Every Day.”

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

“Tonight, we heard nothing new from Donald Trump—it was a long speech where he said nothing. It was a total regurgitation of the same lies we have heard from him since day one.

“The American people don’t need a two-hour lecture from Donald Trump about the State of the Union. They live it. They see it at the grocery store and every time they open a utility bill. They feel it every day. No amount of demented rambling can cover up the reality that his economic policies are screwing over everyday people so he can take care of his millionaire and billionaire donors. His illegal tariffs are raising the cost of everything, and his economy sucks.

“This Administration always finds time for another tax break, another loophole, another giveaway if you’re rich and powerful. That’s exactly what he did in his Big Ugly Bill. But if you’re a worker trying to keep up with rent, a parent struggling with childcare costs, or a senior deciding which prescription to skip this month—the White House doesn’t care about you at all.

“He claimed he’s lowered health care costs and prescription drug prices. That’s a lie. He's done the opposite—ripping coverage away, gutting Medicare and Medicaid, and pushing costs onto seniors, people with disabilities, and working families who already can’t afford one more hit.

“The President said Americans are safer than we’ve ever been. Another lie. At home, people are watching on social media while American citizens get shot by federal officers. Abroad, our allies can’t trust us, and our enemies are laughing at us.

“Above all, the President spent tonight laying out a dystopian vision for our future: a country where the rich get richer, the economy is rigged for those at the top, and the truth gets buried. He’s turned the presidency into a grift—public power for personal profit—padding his family’s pockets and rewarding the cronies who keep the scheme going. And because that kind of corruption can’t survive real scrutiny, he’s trying to lock in power by rigging the next election via voter suppression.

“He spewed lie after lie after lie. He lied so much, it would make Kim Jong Un blush. And Republicans applauded time after time—because they are in a cult.

“As for transparency and accountability, he did not mention the Epstein files even once, notwithstanding the fact that dozens of survivors were present in the gallery watching his speech. Just like his Attorney General, Pam Bondi, he refused to even acknowledge their presence. This Administration is collapsing under the weight of its ties to a global child rape ring—Trump’s name alone appears over 5,000 times in the Epstein documents we’ve seen so far, and we still do not have answers about what he did, what he knew, and when he knew it.

“The American people need lower costs, safer communities, and a government that works for them. Instead, tonight, the President delivered a self-worshipping propaganda reel—bragging, blaming, and lying to cover up his failures. What a pathetic joke.”

###

McGovern, Pressley, Blumenthal Introduce Bill to Support People Experiencing Medical Hair Loss

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

***Full Text of Bill HERE (PDF)***

WASHINGTON—Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), alongside Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), announced the reintroduction of the Wigs as Durable Medical Equipment Act—a bill to help support individuals affected by alopecia and patients undergoing chemotherapy. Right now, many private insurance plans cover wigs for those undergoing treatments that cause hair loss or who are affected by alopecia areata. Unfortunately, Medicare does not. This bill would allow Medicare to cover wigs, ensuring many more people have access to this important treatment option.

“For people impacted by Alopecia or undergoing cancer treatment, a wig can make a major difference—providing them with the confidence and courage to live as normally as possible during a challenging time,” said Rep. McGovern. “But wigs can cost thousands of dollars, and despite the enormous and clear benefits they provide, Medicare doesn’t currently cover them. That needs to change. This bill is about helping make sure everyone can live their lives with dignity and confidence, regardless of who they are or how much money is in their bank account. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and that is what this bill is about.”

“For many impacted by medical hair loss, unaffordable and inaccessible wigs can deepen an already significant mental and physical burden,” said Rep. Pressley. “As someone living with Alopecia, I know what it feels like to endure a vulnerable transformation not of my choosing. Those experiencing medical hair loss deserve to step into their own beauty and power, and I’m proud to reintroduce this bill with Congressman McGovern and Senator Blumenthal to expand coverage for wigs, relieve financial barriers, and support dignity for all.”

“Our measure ensures patients struggling with hair loss can live their lives with dignity and confidence,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Medicare recipients who are undergoing cancer treatment, living with Alopecia, or suffering from other forms of traumatic hair loss shouldn’t have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars out-of-pocket to look and feel their best. By expanding coverage for medical wigs, our legislation removes the financial burden patients impacted by hair loss face and gives them the self-assurance and comfort they deserve.”

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune skin disease, with no known cause or cure, affecting approximately 6.9 million Americans. The disease disproportionately affects children and Black Americans, particularly Black women. Many individuals affected by Alopecia Areata utilize wigs as there are currently few effective treatment options. Unfortunately, these prosthetics can come with a significant out-of-pocket cost from $100 to several thousand dollars for individuals with low or fixed incomes. This is especially burdensome for children, who often want cranial prosthetics for attending school.

McGovern Introduces New Bill To Repeal U.S. Embargo Against Cuba

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Today, in response to the Trump Administration’s actions to impose a total oil embargo on Cuba, Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, has introduced legislation to repeal the statutory basis for the U.S. embargo on Cuba. H.R. 7521, the United States-Cuba Trade Act, would repeal or amend several laws codified over decades that restrict trade, exchange, telecommunications, and travel with Cuba. A similar bill, S. 136, has been introduced in the United States Senate by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

“America has had an embargo against Cuba for sixty years. And for sixty years, we have been waiting for that embargo to do what politicians in Washington claim it will do—deliver freedom or democracy to the people of Cuba. It has failed,” said McGovern. “It’s time to throw away the old, obsolete, failed policies of the past and try something different. Let’s focus on the people of Cuba—and let’s treat them like human beings who want to live their lives in dignity and freedom. The Cuban people—not politicians in Washington—ought to decide their own leaders and their own future.”

McGovern previously worked with the Obama administration to free political prisoners and help loosen the embargo and promote U.S. diplomacy and engagement—an effort hailed by many experts as a step toward more freedom and democracy in Cuba. The Trump administration’s subsequent rollback of normalized relations was criticized even by Republican lawmakers as misguided and isolationist. A summary of Congressman McGovern's efforts to normalize relations with Cuba is available here.

“The Trump administration says they want to curtail migration, but their own hardline approach only incentivizes migration to the United States by making living conditions worse in Cuba,”continued McGovern. “Not only is the embargo absurdly ineffective—it is counterproductive, hurting the very people it purports to help. It’s not Cuban elites who are harmed by our policies—it’s regular people and families who are denied food, medicine, and basic goods. We ought to use diplomacy and engagement to achieve our goals.”

A copy of the bill can be found HERE. A summary of its provisions is available HERE.

McGovern Condemns Political Violence, Alleged Attempt at OMB Director Vought's Life

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) made the following statement in response to a Maryland man's alleged attempt to kill OMB Director Russ Vought:

"I always have—and always will—condemn political violence in all forms, regardless of whether it’s directed towards the left, center, or right. I’m disgusted by the reported attempt at OMB Director Vought's life. This is not who we are. In America, we solve our differences with peaceful protest, public dissent, and elections—not violence."