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Prediction track record
How often we called Judy Chu's passage votes correctly, from their stated positions on each bill's tagged topics. Excludes “unclear” calls and abstentions.
32 predictions on record · none have been resolved by a passage vote yet. Check back as bills move.
Pending vote119-hr-5340
To prohibit the disclosure of records by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of individuals for the purposes of immigration enforcement, and for other purposes.
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Crossing the aisle
Passage votes where Judy Chu broke ranks with ≥75% of Democrats. Threshold catches substantively partisan splits; unanimous-ish or close votes are excluded.
Rep. Chu Expresses Disappointment in FEMA’s Final Denial of Supplemental Funding for Wildfire Survivor Case Management
Position: Rep. Chu expresses disappointment that FEMA denied California's appeal for supplemental Disaster Case Management Program funding for Eaton and Palisades Fire survivors, and states that the federal government should close the funding gap rather than relying on charitable support.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, FEMA upheld its denial of California’s appeal for supplemental funding for the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP), with no further opportunity to appeal. The program connects survivors of the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires with case managers who help them navigate insurance claims, find housing, and access federal assistance. The supplemental funding would have sustained DCMP through the full 24-month timeframe that FEMA itself approved.
The State of California has confirmed that the American Red Cross will continue funding DCMP services through Catholic Charities of California once the remaining federal funds are exhausted. The State anticipates that this funding will extend services through mid-2027, depending on when federal funds run out and how much the services are used.
Rep. Chu, who has led congressional efforts to secure federal disaster assistance, tax relief, and long-term recovery resources for Eaton Fire survivors, repeatedly pressed FEMA to release the outstanding DCMP funds. In September 2026, she led Rep. Sherman and Sens. Schiff and Padilla in successfully pressuring FEMA to release all installments of the original previously approved funding for the DCMP.
Rep. Chu released the following statement:
“I am deeply disappointed that FEMA has denied California’s appeal for additional funding for the Disaster Case Management Program. Nearly two years after the Eaton Fire, thousands of survivors are still displaced and still working to come home, and case managers are the people who help them get there. I am grateful that the American Red Cross is stepping in to keep these services available, but our communities should not have to rely on charity to fill a gap the federal government has a responsibility to close. I will keep working with the state and our local partners to make sure every survivor still has the resources they need to recover.”
Reps. Chu, Miller-Meeks Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Close Medicare Coverage Gap for Breast Cancer Survivors
Position: The release supports reintroduced bipartisan legislation, the Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act, to extend Medicare coverage to custom-fabricated breast prostheses for mastectomy patients, citing a coverage gap relative to traditional prostheses and reconstructive surgery.
WASHINGTON, D.C.– As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, Representatives Judy Chu (CA-28) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) reintroduced the bipartisan Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act to close a critical gap in Medicare coverage for breast cancer survivors who have undergone mastectomies. While Medicare covers traditional breast prostheses and surgical breast reconstruction, custom-fabricated breast prostheses are not covered in the same way, leaving survivors without access to an important nonsurgical option. The legislation would address this disparity and help ensure that patients can choose the post-mastectomy care that best meets their individual needs.
More than 4 million women in the United States have a history of breast cancer, and an estimated 321,910 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2026. For the more than 100,000 women who undergo mastectomies each year, the decision about whether and how to restore their breast shape is deeply personal. While some women choose reconstructive surgery, others cannot undergo additional surgery or simply do not want to. Yet Medicare's current coverage leaves survivors with limited options: traditional off-the-shelf prostheses that may not adequately fit their bodies, or invasive reconstructive surgery. The Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act would help close this gap by expanding coverage for custom-fabricated breast prostheses, which are designed to match each patient's unique anatomy, size, and skin tone. This would give survivors greater freedom to choose the care that best meets their individual needs, without having to undergo another surgery.
“Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a reminder that our commitment to women battling breast cancer cannot end when their treatment does. After fighting breast cancer, every survivor deserves the freedom to make the decisions about their own body and recovery that are right for them,” said Rep. Chu. “But right now, Medicare covers traditional breast prostheses and major reconstructive surgery while leaving women without the same access to custom-fabricated prostheses that may better meet their needs. Women have many valid reasons for choosing to not undergo another surgery, and they should not face additional financial barriers because of that decision. I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan bill to close this unfair gap in coverage and ensure that breast cancer survivors have the dignity, choices, and care they deserve.”
“Breast cancer survivors who have undergone a mastectomy deserve access to affordable, high-quality reconstructive options. During an already difficult time, women should not have to worry about whether their insurance will cover the care they need," said Rep. Miller-Meeks. "The Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act expands Medicare coverage for custom-fabricated breast prostheses, helping ease the financial burden on patients and ensuring women have greater access to the reconstructive options they deserve, regardless of income.”
The legislation is endorsed by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Society of Breast Surgeons, Brem Foundation, Cancer Nation, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Moffitt Cancer Center, and Susan B. Komen.
Read the full bill text HERE.
Issues:CongressHealth Care
Rep. Chu's Statement on Allegations of Chinese Spying Targeting Taiwan's President's Family in the United States
Position: Rep. Chu condemns alleged Chinese government spying on the family of Taiwan's president in the United States and cosponsors H.R. 4829, the Transnational Repression Policy Act, which would establish U.S. policy to protect people from foreign government harassment and require a State Department-led strategy to counter transnational repression.
PASADENA, CA - Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) released the following statement in response to the FBI's October 4th arrest of an individual accused of spying on the son of Taiwan's President, Lai Ching-te, in Seattle, Washington, at the direction of the Chinese government.
"I am deeply troubled by allegations that the Chinese government conducted a spying operation here in the United States targeting the son and family of President Lai Ching-te. Such behavior is clearly intended to intimidate not just President Lai's family, but all Taiwanese Americans whose political views are opposed by the Chinese government.
This is why I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 4829, the Transnational Repression Policy Act, in Congress. This legislation would establish clear U.S. policy to protect people from foreign government harassment, hold perpetrators accountable, and require the State Department to lead a comprehensive government strategy to counter transnational repression."
Rep. Chu Leads 29 Members of Congress Demanding Answers on Barriers to Release from ICE Detention
Position: Members of Congress request answers from DHS and DOJ about rising immigration bond denials, higher bond amounts, and whether immigration judges retain independence in making bond determinations. The release criticizes the trends as alarming and raises concerns about possible interference with judicial independence.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) led 29 Members of Congress in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mullin, Attorney General Blanche, and Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Acting Director Owen demanding answers about rising immigration bond denials, increasingly unaffordable bond amounts, and concerns about the independence of immigration judges under the Trump administration.
Immigration bond allows eligible individuals to be released from immigration detention while their cases proceed, subject to certain conditions, including appearing for future court proceedings. But since President Trump took office, bond denials have increased substantially, while individuals granted bond are increasingly being required to pay amounts that many families cannot afford.
According to data cited in the letter, immigration bond requests more than doubled from 34,845 in 2024 to 80,130 in 2025, an increase of approximately 130 percent. Meanwhile, the percentage of bond requests denied by immigration judges rose from approximately 36 percent in 2024 to 43 percent in 2025, reaching 55 percent in the first three months of 2026. The national median bond amount, which stood at $6,000 between January 2024 and November 2025, rose to $7,500 after November 10, 2025, with the average reaching $9,211.
These trends are particularly alarming at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, which Rep. Chu has fought to close for more than a decade. Since November 2025, immigration judges have denied 57 percent of bond requests from individuals detained at Adelanto, compared to 39 percent during the preceding period. The median bond amount at Adelanto has also climbed to $10,000, well above the national median. In one particularly troubling case, a man who had lived in the United States for 25 years, maintained steady employment, supported a family, and had no criminal record was assigned a $50,000 bond, an amount an amount immigration practitioners say has traditionally been reserved for exceptional cases.
The Members also raised serious concerns about potential interference with immigration judges' ability to make independent bond determinations. Following reports that judges were being required to provide written justifications to supervisors when granting bond, EOIR released heavily redacted records in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, leaving critical questions unanswered about what instructions or guidance immigration judges may have received.
In their letter, the Members wrote:
"Taken together, these developments paint a disturbing picture. The sharp increase in bond denials and bond amounts, coupled with unresolved questions regarding potential directives and supervisory practices governing immigration judges, raises serious concerns about whether immigration judges retain sufficient independence to make individualized bond determinations based on the facts and applicable law."
“Everyone deserves a fair shot at freedom while they fight their case,” said Rep. Chu. “But under this administration, more people are being denied bond, and those who are granted it are facing amounts their families simply cannot afford. Immigration judges must be free to make decisions based on the facts and the law, not political pressure. The Trump administration owes the American people answers about whether immigration judges are being pressured to deny bond rather than make independent decisions based on the facts and the law.
“This sharp increase in bond denials shows yet again how the Trump administration is manipulating the court system to advance its anti-immigration agenda while jeopardizing the independence of judges and due process for families caught in the system,” said Kel White, Associate Director, Public Education & Training at Acacia Center for Justice. “The few people who do receive bonds are told to pay an exorbitant amount and in cash. Not only is this unheard of, especially for people with no criminal record, it is nearly impossible for a parent to do. Courts must rely on facts and the law, not an out of control anti-immigrant agenda, otherwise this is a slap in the face of meaningful due process.”
"The widespread use of bond denials and excessive bonds, regardless of the individual facts of a case, underscores why our immigration courts must be truly independent. Immigration judges should be empowered to independently interpret the law and weigh the facts of each individual case, not be reduced to rubber stamps for the administration’s detention policies. The growing practice of denying bond or imposing exorbitant bonds on people with no criminal history comes at a significant cost to not only the individuals caught in the web of injustice, but there is a cost to American taxpayers. At a time when families are struggling with affordability and rising healthcare costs, taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill for the unnecessary detention of people who have lived in our communities for decades and have no criminal record," said Benjamin Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
The letter was signed by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Juan Vargas (CA-52), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), and Maxine Waters (CA-43).
The letter is endorsed by Acacia Center for Justice, ACLU, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE), Advocates for Immigrant Rights, AfghanEvac, African Communities Together (ACT), AFT, Al Otro Lado, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), American Immigration Council, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Americans for Immigrant Justice, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asylum Clinic KC, Ayuda, BINATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, Borderlands Resource Initiative, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, Center for Law and Social Policy, Children’s Legal Center, Church World Service, Community Immigration Law Center, Community Lawyers, Inc., Criminal Law & Justice Center, Defender Association of Philadelphia, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Envision Freedom Fund, Estrella del Paso, Frontera Federation, Hands United, HIAS Pennsylvania, Human Rights First, Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef), Immigrant Legal Defense, Immigration Center for Women and Children, Immigration Equality, Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy (ISLA), Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, Inspiritus, International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), Jalloh’s Upright Services of North Carolina, Jesuit Refugee Service USA, Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, Just Detention International, Justice in Motion, Kids in Need of Defense, Kino Border Initiative, La Raza Centro Legal, San Francisco, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Lawyers for Good Government, Legal Aid Justice Center, Life Span, Miami Valley Immigration Coalition, Midwest Immigration Bond Fund, Minnesota 8, Mountain State Justice, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Partnership for New Americans, Neighborhood Justice Center, New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children, New York Immigration Coalition, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Oasis Legal Services, Open Immigration Legal Services, Pangea Legal Services, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA), Pathways to Citizenship, Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York, Public Counsel, Raksha, Inc., RISE for Immigrants, Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, Safe Passage Project, Self retired, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), So Cal Immigration Project, Social Justice Collaborative, Sonoma Immigrant Services, Tahirih Justice Center, Atlanta Office, Task Force on United Methodist Immigration Ministries of Ohio, Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors, The Advocates for Human Rights, The Resurrection Project, The Workers Circle, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, UFW Foundation, VECINA, Vera Institute of Justice, VIDAS, and Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights.
Read the full letter HERE.
Issues:CongressImmigration
Rep. Chu Commends FEMA Release of Final Installment of Wildfire Survivor Case Management Funding
Position: Rep. Chu welcomed FEMA's release of the final installment of Disaster Case Management Program funding for Eaton and Palisades Fire survivors and urged FEMA to approve California's supplemental funding request to sustain the program for 24 months, and urged full federal funding of Governor Newsom's disaster supplemental request without conditions.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released the fourth and final installment of $3.3 million in previously approved funding for the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP), completing the release of federal funding previously awarded to support survivors of the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires
On September 30, 2026, following sustained pressure from Reps. Chu and Sherman and Sens. Schiff and Padilla, FEMA released the second and third installments of DCMP funding, totaling $6.6 million, on the same day the program was set to face a major funding cliff.
Rep. Chu, who has led congressional efforts to secure federal disaster assistance, tax relief, and long-term recovery resources for Eaton Fire survivors, repeatedly pressed FEMA to release the outstanding DCMP funds. She has also urged FEMA to approve California’s separate request for supplemental funding needed to sustain the program and ensure survivors can continue receiving case management services.
Rep. Chu released the following statement:
“I am relieved that FEMA has finally released the full amount of previously approved funding for the DCMP. This money was already approved and set aside for survivors. There was no reason to withhold it and jeopardize critical recovery resources for thousands. Now, Californians can keep getting help navigating temporary housing and loan assistance without fear of being left to fend for themselves mid-process. And hundreds of case managers can keep supporting survivors without worrying about losing their jobs. However, FEMA must do the right thing and approve the State of California’s appeal for additional supplemental funding to sustain DCMP through the full 24-month timeframe that FEMA itself approved.
Further, President Trump must still fully fund Governor Newsom’s disaster supplemental request with no strings attached so our communities get the full federal recovery support they have waited far too long to receive. I will keep fighting until every survivor gets every dollar they are owed to rebuild and recover.”
Position: Members of Congress oppose a proposed HHS Head Start rule that would mandate English-only instruction and eliminate language-access protections, and urge HHS to withdraw the rule in its entirety.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), CAPAC Chair Grace Meng (NY-06), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), and Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52) sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. opposing HHS’s proposed Head Start rule which would mandate English-only instruction and eliminate longstanding language-access protections for children and families.
Head Start is a critical program that provides high-quality early childhood education and comprehensive support services for low-income children and their families. While the Members urge HHS to withdraw the proposed rule in its entirety, their letter focuses specifically on its harmful changes to language-access protections. Nearly 40 percent of children enrolled in Head Start are dual-language learners, representing almost 290,000 children nationwide, and 30 percent of enrollees come from families whose primary home language is not English.
In the letter, the Members explain that dual-language instruction helps children learn English and prepare for school:
“We share the goal of ensuring that every Head Start child develops strong English-language skills. But requiring English-only instruction is not supported by the evidence and risks undermining that very goal. For many children, Head Start is their first experience in a classroom. Providing an environment in which young children can understand, communicate, and participate supports their ability to learn and successfully transition into school.
The Members also warn that the proposed rule conflicts with Congress’s explicit directives in the Head Start Act:
“Congress directed the Secretary to establish standards ensuring that children with limited English proficiency make progress toward acquiring English while simultaneously making meaningful progress in other developmental domains, including through “culturally and linguistically appropriate instructional services” (42 U.S. Code § 9836a(a)(1)(B)(x)). Congress further directed the Secretary, when revising Head Start standards, to ensure that revisions do not eliminate or reduce the quality, scope, or types of educational, parental-involvement, health, or other services required under longstanding Head Start standards (42 U.S.C. § 9836a(a)(2)(C)). And the Head Start Act explicitly requires agencies to ensure teachers receive literacy training “in methods to promote vocabulary development and phonological awareness (including phonemic awareness) in a developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate manner and support children’s development in their native language” (42 U.S. Code § 9843(d)(2)(B)). Eliminating longstanding language-access protections appears directly at odds with these congressional directives, and the Department has not adequately explained how its proposal can be reconciled with them.”
The Members detail how eliminating bilingual staffing requirements could undermine parents’ ability to participate in their children’s education and jeopardize accurate developmental screenings and assessments:
“Congress recognized that informed and engaged parents are essential to children’s success and required Head Start programs to conduct family needs assessments and communicate with parents, to the extent practicable, in a language they understand (42 U.S. Code § 9836(d)(2)(J)(vii); 42 U.S. Code § 9836(d)(2)(K); 42 U.S. Code § 9836a(f)(2)). Eliminating language-access staffing requirements without providing an adequate alternative could make it more difficult for parents to understand their children’s progress, participate in their education, communicate with teachers and staff, and access the comprehensive services Head Start provides.
We are particularly concerned about the consequences for developmental screenings and assessments. The Head Start Act requires measures used by Head Start programs to be developmentally, linguistically, and culturally appropriate; valid and reliable in the language in which they are administered; administered by appropriately trained staff; and accompanied by appropriate accommodations for children with limited English proficiency (42 U.S. Code § 9836a(b)(2)). These protections are critical. A screening or assessment administered in a language a young child does not sufficiently understand risks mistaking normal second-language development for a developmental delay or, conversely, failing to identify a genuine disability or developmental concern. Either outcome could delay appropriate early intervention at precisely the age when it can make the greatest difference.”
Finally, the Members warn that the proposal would impose significant disruption and costs on Head Start providers while weakening services for hundreds of thousands of children:
“The scale of the disruption caused by the proposed rule’s language-access changes would be substantial. Almost 290,000 dual-language learners nationwide could be affected […] Although the proposal is titled Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs, affected programs could be forced to change curricula, replace classroom materials, and retrain or replace teachers, resulting in an estimated $99 million in costs.”
“HHS should not reverse decades of evidence-based practice, impose new costs on providers, and weaken language-access protections for hundreds of thousands of children without a compelling evidentiary or legal basis for doing so. Accordingly, we strongly urge HHS to withdraw the proposed English-only instruction requirement and retain the longstanding language-access protections that allow Head Start programs to effectively serve dual-language learners and their families. Congress expressly directed Head Start to support English-language acquisition through culturally and linguistically appropriate services, and HHS should uphold, not undermine, that mandate.”
Read the full letter HERE.
Issues:Congress
Reps. Chu and Cisneros Introduce Bill to Fund Clean Drinking Water
Position: Introduces legislation to reauthorize the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund at $250 million, remove its funding cap, and support completion of groundwater cleanup in the San Gabriel Basin.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA-31) introduced the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund Reauthorization Act, which would remove the funding cap for the ongoing groundwater treatment by the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, reauthorize funding at $250 million, and support the completion of the ongoing water restoration project. The San Gabriel Basin provides drinking water for over 1.5 million residents in the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County, including the cities of Alhambra, Arcadia, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead, Sierra Madre, and South Pasadena.
“The San Gabriel Basin provides drinking water to more than 1.5 million people across our region, but it still carries contamination left behind by industries of the past,” said Rep. Chu. “For decades, the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund has powered the Water Quality Authority’s work to clean up our groundwater, and this bill would provide the long-term federal support needed to finish the job. I’m proud to join Congressmember Cisneros in leading this effort, building on our work securing federal Community Project Funding for this project. Families across the San Gabriel Valley deserve a safe, reliable, and sustainable source of drinking water for generations to come.”
“The San Gabriel Valley relies on the clean drinking water provided by the San Gabriel Basin,” said Rep. Cisneros. “Since 2000, the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund has supported the Water Quality Authority’s work to clean and restore contaminated groundwater in our region. This legislation would remove funding hurdles and provide the support needed to bring this decades-long project across the finish line. Earlier this year, I worked with Congresswoman Chu to secure critical federal Community Project Funding for the restoration fund, and we’re committed to passing this legislation to further accelerate groundwater cleanup. Clean drinking water is a fundamental human right, and every family in the San Gabriel Valley deserves direct, affordable, protected access to it.”
Full text of the bill can be found HERE.
Issues:Congress
Rep. Chu, Sen. Whitehouse Reintroduce Legislation to End Billionaires’ Tax-Free Giveaways to Dark Money Groups
Position: The release supports legislation to close a tax loophole that lets donors avoid capital gains taxes by transferring appreciated assets to 501(c)(4), (5), and (6) organizations, arguing this subsidizes dark money in elections.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) reintroduced the End Tax Breaks for Dark Money Act, legislation to close a tax loophole that allows billionaires to avoid capital gains taxes by donating appreciated assets to dark money groups, effectively subsidizing the flow of secret money into American elections.
Since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010 opened the floodgates to unlimited political spending, dark money has exploded in American elections. Political spending by groups that do not disclose their donors has surged from $103 million in the decade before the ruling to more than $1 billion in the decade after. In 2024, a record $1.9 billion in dark money flooded federal races, the most ever spent in a single U.S. election cycle. These groups have poured millions into campaigns that spread misinformation on issues from COVID-19 to climate change, all without ever telling the public who funds them.
The tax code gives some of these wealthy donors another advantage. Normally, when millionaires or billionaires sell assets that have increased in value, they owe capital gains taxes on that increase. And Congress has already made clear that donors cannot avoid those taxes simply by transferring appreciated assets to Section 527 political organizations, including PACs.
But a glaring loophole remains: that same rule does not apply to organizations organized under Sections 501(c)(4), (5), and (6) of the tax code. That means billionaires can pour highly valuable stock and other assets into dark money groups without paying a dime in taxes on their gains.
The End Tax Breaks for Dark Money Act would close that loophole. The bill would apply the same tax treatment to transfers of appreciated property to 501(c)(4), (5), and (6) organizations that already applies to transfers to Section 527 political organizations. Simply put: billionaires would not get a special tax break for pouring their wealth into dark money groups and corrupting our political system.
“Dark money has exploded since Citizens United, from under $5 million in 2006 to nearly $2 billion in the last election cycle alone, and it’s already flooding this year’s midterms. Billionaires already have outsized power over our politics. Even worse, they can secretly funnel their wealth into dark money groups and get a tax subsidy for it, an advantage traditional political donors don’t get,” said Rep. Chu. “That’s why I’ve partnered with Senator Whitehouse to reintroduce the End Tax Breaks for Dark Money Act. Our bill would close this loophole by applying the same tax rules we already apply to gifts to political organizations, so billionaires don’t get a free ride for bankrolling our elections in the shadows.”
“Billionaire donors attempting to wield influence from the shadows should not be rewarded with giant tax write-offs,” said Sen. Whitehouse. “My legislation with Rep. Chu would end taxpayer subsidies for dark money donations and limit the flood of toxic dark money slime that’s corrupting our political system.”
“We welcome the introduction of the End Tax Breaks for Dark Money Act. For years, the ultra-wealthy have exploited and rigged our broken tax system to their advantage, funneling billions into political campaigns while collecting hundreds of millions in tax breaks,” said Jodie Rubenstein, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness. “This bill is a practical first step in taking on the power of dark money in our politics. It closes a tax loophole that allows wealthy donors to sidestep capital gains taxes by giving appreciated assets to politically active groups rather than paying taxes on the profit. To have a functioning democracy, we can’t incentivize or reward billionaires who seek to force their will on the political system.”
“Until Congress finally gets around to outlawing Dark Money contributions altogether, the least it can do is ensure everyday taxpayers don’t subsidize Dark Money contributions from the super-rich,” said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen. “Sen. Whitehouse and Rep. Chu’s End Tax Breaks for Dark Money Act is common-sense legislation that should win support from every single member of Congress.”
“There is no justifiable reason why rich people like me should be allowed to dominate our political system by donating massive sums of money to dark money political groups while also claiming a tax break in the process. When our tax code allows super-rich people to manipulate the levers of government while paying almost no taxes, it enables millionaires and billionaires to circumvent the democratic process and rewards them financially for doing so,” said Morris Pearl, Chairman of the Patriotic Millionaires and a former Managing Director at BlackRock. "Our democracy is not for sale. If Congress allows the influence of the ultra-rich to go unchecked, we can only expect America to continue to tip further and further into an oligarchy. The Patriotic Millionaires applaud Rep. Chu, Sen. Whitehouse, and all their congressional colleagues for standing up against billionaires attempting to buy our democracy and be rewarded for it."
“This Act is a critical tool that will help address runaway inequality by closing a tax loophole exploited by the ultra-wealthy and reducing the influence of oligarchs over our society,” said Nabil Ahmed, Senior Director of Economic Justice at Oxfam America.
The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Danny Davis (IL-07), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Summer Lee (PA-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).
The End Tax Breaks for Dark Money Act is endorsed by AFL-CIO, Common Cause, the Excessive Wealth Disorder Institute (EWDi), Demand Progress, End Citizens United / Let America Vote, the Economic Policy Institute, the Institute for Policy Studies’ Program on Inequality, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Oxfam America, Patriotic Millionaires, Public Citizen, Americans for Tax Fairness, United Steelworkers (USW).
Read the full bill text HERE.
Following Sustained Push from Reps. Chu, Sherman, Sens. Schiff, Padilla, FEMA Releases $6.6 Million for Wildfire Survivor Case Management
Position: The release announces that FEMA obligated $6.6 million in previously approved funding for the Disaster Case Management Program serving Eaton and Palisades Fire survivors and states that lawmakers had urged the agency to release the funds. It also notes that a fourth installment remains pending.
Lawmakers had repeatedly pressed FEMA to release already-approved funding as critical recovery program faced funding cliff
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, following weeks of sustained pressure from Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-32), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $6.6 million in previously approved funding for the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) serving survivors of the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires.
The funding represents the second and third installments of FEMA’s original DCMP award and comes on September 30, the same day the program had been facing a major funding cliff. A fourth installment of already approved funding remains pending. The DCMP helps survivors navigate critical recovery resources, including temporary housing, FEMA and SBA loans, insurance claims, and long-term rebuilding plans. Without this funding, the DCMP would have expired a year early today, September 30, 2026, leaving thousands of Californians without their case managers in the middle of their recovery, and over a hundred case managers without a job.
Last week, the State of California also announced an amended agreement with case management providers allowing the program to extend until October 31st. However, additional federal funding is still needed for reimbursement and to ensure the program’s approved 24-month time frame is completed.
Rep. Chu, who has led congressional efforts to secure federal disaster assistance, tax relief, and long-term recovery resources for Eaton Fire survivors, repeatedly pressed FEMA to release the outstanding DCMP funding, including through direct calls to the agency.
September 3, 2026: It is announced that DCMP would be forced to terminate on September 30, 2026, over a year early, due to lack of FEMA funding.
September 10, 2026: Reps. Chu, Sherman, Sens. Schiff, and Padilla sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton demanding the agency immediately release the pre-approved DCMP funding.
September 24, 2026: After FEMA failed to respond to the lawmakers’ first letter and separately denied California’s request for supplemental DCMP funding, Reps. Chu, Sherman, Sens. Schiff, and Padilla sent a follow-up letter again demanding FEMA release the outstanding installments to stop the DCMP from shutting down.
September 30, 2026: FEMA obligated $6.6 million in previously approved funding, representing the second and third installments of the original DCMP award.
Throughout this period, the lawmakers also personally called FEMA officials to press for the release of the outstanding funding and prevent an interruption in services.
"I'm relieved FEMA finally released this funding at the eleventh hour. This is a real win for the thousands of wildfire survivors in Southern California who depend on these case managers to navigate the red tape standing between them and rebuilding, and it is exactly what my fellow California colleagues and I have been demanding for weeks,” said Rep. Chu. “FEMA approved this funding because survivors needed it, yet millions of dollars sat unreleased while critical services hung in the balance. We pushed FEMA again and again to act, and today, $6.6 million is finally moving to California. But our work is not finished. Another approximately $3.3 million installment remains outstanding, and FEMA has still not acted on California’s appeal for the additional funding needed to sustain this program. I will keep pressing FEMA for every dollar our survivors need, and I will keep fighting until our families can rebuild and come home.”
“Pleased to see that FEMA is paying California the money it owes to the state for providing caseworkers for fire victims through September 30. It is now time for FEMA to approve and fund keeping this program open at least through May of next year,” said Rep. Sherman. “Losing one’s home in a horrendous fire is extremely difficult on families. Working through the morass of governmental and insurance issues without a caseworker would be horrendous for many families.”
"Californians are still rebuilding and recovering after the devastating 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. I'm glad FEMA has finally heeded to our calls to release urgently needed financial assistance through the Disaster Case Management Program,” said Sen. Schiff. “These families, who have already lost so much in these fires, deserve to have the resources and aid they need to rebuild and recover stronger than before.”
“Californians recovering from devastating wildfires and other natural disasters deserve meaningful support to rebuild their lives and communities,” said Sen. Padilla. “That’s why I fought to secure this federal funding for disaster case management services across California, including communities in Los Angeles County. But this is just one step toward recovery. The work doesn’t stop here, and I’ll keep fighting for the federal resources California needs to recover, rebuild, and prepare for the next disaster.”
Long-Term Federal Disaster Recovery Funding Still Outstanding
While today’s release of previously approved DCMP funding is an important step, it does not resolve the broader federal funding shortfall facing communities devastated by the Eaton and Palisades Fires. California has repeatedly requested long-term federal disaster recovery funding to rebuild homes, schools, small businesses, and critical infrastructure. That funding remains outstanding.
“I welcome today’s release of funding for Eaton and Palisades Fire survivors, but let’s be clear: this is funding FEMA had already approved and that we have been demanding the agency release for weeks,” said Rep. Chu. “And while today is progress, President Trump still has not delivered the long-term federal disaster recovery funding Los Angeles communities need to rebuild. Eaton Fire survivors have waited long enough. President Trump must fulfill California’s disaster funding request, with no strings attached, so our families can rebuild and come home.”
Issues:Congress
Reps. Chu, Takano, Meng and Sen. Hirono Recognize Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions Week
Position: The release recognizes AANAPISI Week and supports continued federal funding for Minority-Serving Institutions, criticizing the Administration's decision to terminate and redirect MSI grant funding.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41), and Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of CAPAC, introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Week, from September 27 – October 3, 2026. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
This week honors the vital role of AANAPISIs in expanding access to quality higher education for American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students. Since its authorization under the 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the AANAPISI program has provided grants to institutions with high populations of AANHPI students, helping colleges expand their capacity to serve all students. These institutions have played a crucial role in opening the door to higher education for minority students, especially those who are low-income or first-generation. Today, AANAPISIs enroll over 40 percent of all AANHPI undergraduate students in the United States, and award nearly half of all associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees attained by all AANHPI college students across the country.
This resolution comes days after the Trump Administration diverted an additional $235 million in federal funding that Congress had designated for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges (TCUs). Instead of increasing investment in HBCUs and TCUs, this Administration has chosen to take money and resources from schools serving historically underserved students, including AANAPISIs, Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (NHSIs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Congressional Tri-Caucus condemned the decision and urged the Administration to restore the funding Congress appropriated to support MSIs.
Last year, the Trump administration also recklessly decided to end Congressional-approved funding for MSIs, calling them unconstitutional. AANAPISIs alone have had over $23 million in annual grant funding terminated since the beginning of the Trump Administration, which will force many to gut support services for students and lay off staff. These cuts will destabilize the education of thousands of students and ultimately harm our nation's economic future.
“As a former community college professor, I’ve seen what happens when students get real support. They don’t just graduate, they can transform their families and their communities for generations. AANAPISIs make that possible for students who need it the most, including first generation, and low-income students of color, by breaking down barriers and making sure all students have an equal shot at higher education,” said Rep. Chu, CAPAC Chair Emerita. “That’s why the Trump administration’s decision to terminate MSI funding, and now redirect $235 million of it to HBCUs and tribal colleges, is so disappointing. Every MSI deserves full investment, but pitting them against each other isn’t the solution, it is a step backward. This AANAPISI Week, I remain committed to fighting for these institutions and for every student’s right to the education they deserve.”
“Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, their funding, and their success are vital to our nation’s future and competitiveness,” said Rep. Takano. “I am proud to represent the University of California, Riverside, which has held AANAPISI status since 2018, and to fight the Department of Education’s dismantling and weaponization of Minority Serving Institution grants. These programs make higher education attainable for students from diverse backgrounds, bringing more talent, expertise, and knowledge to our workforce.”
"Far too often, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are treated as a 'model minority'—a harmful stereotype that hides the educational barriers facing our diverse communities. That is why Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions are so important. For decades, they have expanded access to higher education and opened pathways to economic mobility for millions of underserved AANHPI students. I am proud to introduce this resolution with my CAPAC colleagues to recognize AANAPISI Week and fight back against the Trump administration's efforts to terminate federal funding for these institutions. We will not stop until the next generation of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders is more successful than the last," said Rep. Meng, Chair of CAPAC.
“In Hawaii and nationwide, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions help students thrive in the classroom and prepare them for success after graduation. As the Trump regime continues its ideological attacks on Minority-Serving Institutions, supporting AANAPISIs and the communities they serve is critical,” said Sen. Hirono. “By establishing AANAPISI week, this resolution celebrates diversity in education and recognizes these institutions and the services they provide.”
“During this AANAPISI Week, APAHE extends our deepest gratitude to CAPAC for their steadfast leadership in defending the federal AANAPISI designation amid ongoing efforts by the Department of Education to dismantle these critical programs. AANAPISIs are vital to educational equity and AA&NHPI student success, and we must aggressively defend this essential resource from being stripped away,” said Dr. Rowena M. Tomaneng, President, Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE).
The full resolution text is available HERE.
The resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Ed Case (HI-01), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Lou Correa (CA-46), Danny Davis (IL-07), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Kimberlyn King-Hinds (CNMI), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Norma Torres (CA-35), Dina Titus (NV-01), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).
Issues:Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander CommunityCongressEducation
Source: GDELT 2.0 GKG, filtered to a curated list of national outlets. Inclusion is not endorsement; opinion pieces and reported news are mixed.
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Top PAC donors · 2026 cycle
Political action committees that gave the most to this rep's principal campaign committee this cycle. PAC giving is direct organizational support — industry, ideological, or leadership.
1.AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR PACAgriculture2 contributionsAgricultural company PAC — backs candidates supporting sugar-industry subsidies, tariff protections, and farm-friendly trade and regulatory policies.AI$10,000
2.AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS COPELabor2 contributionsTrade-union PAC for the American Federation of Teachers — backs candidates supporting public education funding, teacher compensation, and collective-bargaining rights.AI$10,000
3.PSYCHOLOGY PAC OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION PRACTICE3 contributions$10,000
4.AFSCME PEOPLE4 contributions$10,000
5.SMALL BUSINESS INVESTOR ALLIANCE-PAC2 contributions$7,500
6.PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS PAC3 contributions$7,500
7.NAT'L ASSN. OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL ADVISORS PAC (NAIFAPAC)4 contributions$7,000
8.MACHINISTS NON-PARTISAN POLITICAL LEAGUELabor1 contributionTrade-union PAC of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers — backs candidates supporting union organizing, prevailing wages, and aerospace/manufacturing jobs.AI$5,000
9.INT'L UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 12Labor1 contributionTrade-union PAC for operating engineers — backs candidates supporting prevailing-wage standards, infrastructure investment, and union organizing rights.AI$5,000
10.EAST WEST BANCORP INC PAC1 contribution$5,000
Source: OpenFEC (api.open.fec.gov) Schedule A receipts where contributor type is “committee.” Aggregated by contributing committee. Self-transfers from joint-fundraising / victory committees are excluded.
Top individual contributors · 2026 cycle
Itemized individual contributions over $200 to this rep's campaign committee, aggregated by donor employer. PAC giving is shown above; this section is people, not organizations.
1.SELF$13,200
2.MANHATTAN HOTEL GROUP$10,000
3.BAKER BOTTS LLP$7,000
4.ALEXANDRA PARKER$7,000
5.SEAN N PARKER FOUNDATION$7,000
6.WAH HUNG GROUP$5,300
7.TREELINE REALTY & INVESTMENTS INC.$5,000
8.FELIX YIP$5,000
9.BUSINESS FINANCE CAPITAL$5,000
10.AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE$5,000
Source: OpenFEC Schedule A receipts where contributor type is “individual,” aggregated by the donor's self-reported employer. This is a geographic / industry correlation, not a corporate endorsement.
