Angie Craig

Rep. Craig Conducts Congressional Oversight of ICE Detention Centers, Visits Constituent Suffering from Ovarian Cyst Being Detained in Texas

Position: Rep. Craig is conducting oversight of ICE detention facilities and calling for the release of a constituent through humanitarian parole, citing inadequate medical care for a detainee with an ovarian cyst.

EL PASO, TX – Today, as part of her continued efforts to get her constituent Andrea Pedro-Francisco released from ICE custody so that she can receive the care that she needs, U.S. Representative Angie Craig traveled to El Paso, TX to visit Pedro-Francisco and conduct oversight of two ICE detention facilities. Pedro-Francisco is currently being held at the El Paso Service Processing Center after having been detained at Camp East Montana. During her visit, Rep. Craig toured both the El Paso Service Processing Center and Camp East Montana, the country’s largest migrant detention facility, which has been mired with reports of inhumane conditions, abuse and a recent measles outbreak. Rep. Craig also had the chance to speak with medical staff and meet with Pedro-Francisco to hear from her directly about her experience in detention. Andrea is living in immense pain, and despite an ultrasound performed by ICE’s medical team last week, which confirmed the cyst, she has still not been given a treatment plan or adequate care. “We need [Andrea] to get the surgery that physicians in Minnesota, and now here, are saying that she needs,” said Rep Craig. “We prayed together, we talked about her hopes and her needs. She doesn't believe that physicians here are going to allow her to get the surgery. I refuse to accept that. I hope that the officials here will look at her most recent ultrasound, will review the massive amount of medical evidence that she needs the surgery and will allow her to get the care that she needs.” Pedro-Francisco, a resident of Burnsville, MN was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on her way to work on February 5th. She was scheduled to have surgery for an ovarian cyst on February 11th, but instead, was sent to El Paso, where she has yet to receive adequate medical treatment. Her condition is worsening by the day and her petition for habeas corpus was recently denied. Despite repeated efforts by Rep. Craig’s office to facilitate her release or, at a minimum, ensure she receives the necessary treatment while in detention, ICE officials have failed to provide Andrea with the proper care prescribed by her doctors in Minnesota. Rep. Craig is calling for Andrea’s release through humanitarian parole. ###

Rep. Craig Statement on Farm Bill Amendment on Rotisserie Chicken SNAP Eligibility

Position: Rep. Craig opposes the farm bill amendment that narrowly expands SNAP-eligible foods to include only rotisserie chicken and bans other hot foods, arguing it does not go far enough. She advocates for the Hot Foods Act, which would expand SNAP eligibility to a broader array of hot food options.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee Angie Craig released the following statement on her vote against a farm bill amendment that would narrowly expand food options for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to include rotisserie chicken. “As someone whose own family needed SNAP at times growing up, I know firsthand how important it is that our food assistance programs meet the needs of working families in this country. It’s why I’ve fought tooth and nail this Congress as the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee to defend SNAP against Republicans’ historic cuts to the program and restore benefits to working Americans. “Yesterday, the House passed an amendment to the farm bill that narrowly expands SNAP-eligible foods to include rotisserie chicken and effectively bans all other hot foods. Along with other members of Democratic leadership, I voted against it to send a message that the amendment does not go far enough to expand SNAP-eligibility, and we will continue to push the Senate to include a further expansion in the final version of the bill. “There is no question that SNAP recipients need access to more hot food options, but this amendment was pushed by big grocers and retailers and the chicken industry. We can do better. “On behalf of SNAP recipients across the nation, I will be fighting for the inclusion of the Hot Foods Act in the final farm bill, which would expand SNAP-eligible foods to include a wide array of hot food options, like soups, hot sandwiches and rotisserie chicken. This legislation has over 100 bipartisan House and Senate cosponsors, is supported by anti-hunger groups across our country and is the true path forward to ensuring that every American has access to a filling meal.” ### Issues:Agriculture & Rural Development

Reps. Craig, Ryan Introduce Legislation to Hold Health Insurance Companies Accountable for Sky-High Denial Rates, Refund Patients for Unfair Health Care Costs

Position: Representatives Craig and Ryan introduced legislation to penalize health insurance companies with denial rates exceeding 25% annually, with penalties returned to affected patients. The bill aims to address high claim denial rates and associated medical debt.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (MN-02) and Pat Ryan (NY-18) introduced their new bill to hold health insurance companies accountable for above-average denial rates and refund patients for medical payments that should have been covered by insurance. The Patient Refunds for Bad Denials Act would create financial penalties for health insurers that deny more than 25% of claims in a given year according to an annual audit by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The penalty would total $10 million plus an additional $2 million for each percentage point above the 25% denial threshold. These penalties would be paid back to affected enrollees. In plan year 2024, the in-network denial rate for qualified health plans (QHPs) sold on HealthCare.gov ranged from three percent to 36 percent, with significant variation by insurer and by state. According to a January 2026 Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll, two-thirds of insured adults believe delays and denials of health care services by health insurance companies are a “major problem" and one-third of insured adults say they have had a health insurance company deny coverage for a service or medication prescribed by their doctor in the past two years. Nearly 40 percent of participants who reported having trouble paying medical bills said that denied claims contributed to their medical debt. “Every Minnesotan knows someone who has been burdened by medical debt, despite being covered by insurance,” said Rep. Craig. “That’s because for too long, massive health insurance companies have been allowed to exploit patients while raking in record profits. That stops now. My bill with Rep. Ryan will finally penalize health insurers for sky-high denial rates and – most importantly, it will put that money back into Minnesotans’ pockets. It’s time to hold Big Insurance accountable, and our legislation will do that.” “For too long, massive insurance companies have been allowed to exploit patients and deny coverage for life-saving care, all while raking in record-breaking profits. It’s a fundamental abuse of their power,” said Rep. Ryan. “This legislation finally holds greedy insurance companies accountable, fining them for their wrongful claim denial rates and returning hard-earned money back to patients across the Hudson Valley. With the Patient Refunds for Bad Denials Act, we’re making sure insurers can’t keep lining their pockets at your expense – because nobody should struggle to afford high quality care while billionaires in boardrooms get richer.” As founding members of the Congressional Monopoly Busters Caucus, Reps. Craig and Ryan have worked together in Congress to take on corporate greed, lower health care costs and expand access to care for folks in rural communities. You can read the full text of the Patient Refunds for Bad Denials Act HERE. ### Issues:Making Health Care More Affordable

Rep. Craig's Bill to Expedite High-Speed Internet Connectivity Projects on Federal Lands Passes House

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig’s bipartisan bill to expedite broadband infrastructure projects on federally-managed lands and connect more Minnesotans with high-speed internet passed the House of Representatives. The Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act, if passed by the Senate and signed into law, would help improve access to high-speed internet in rural and underserved communities, especially in states with large amounts of federal land. The state of Minnesota contains 3.4 million acres of federal land. The bill streamlines the permitting process for broadband projects on federally-managed lands by directing the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to lead an interagency strike force with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to improve coordination, set review goals and hold agencies accountable. The United States faces a persistent digital divide. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), approximately 5.8 million homes and businesses lack access to high-speed internet, while 31 percent of the geographic area of the United States lacks 4G LTE high-speed mobile broadband coverage. Many of these unserved locations are near property owned by the federal government. “From online classes to telehealth to remote work, the ability to get online is changing the way we learn, conduct business and take care of ourselves,” said Rep. Craig. "That’s why it’s so important that folks across Minnesota, from urban and suburban to rural communities, have access to the online resources they need to succeed. We should be making it easier, not harder to expand broadband infrastructure, and that’s exactly what my bill will do. I’m proud to see the House pass this important legislation today and will keep working to get it passed in the Senate and signed into law.” As a co-chair of the Congressional Rural Broadband Caucus, Rep. Craig has led the effort to connect Minnesota’s rural communities to high-speed internet. Last June, Rep. Craig wrote a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urging the Administration to follow through on its promise to deliver high-speed internet to rural communities through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. Last Congress, Rep. Craig led a group of Members in urging Speaker Johnson to take action to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provided 23 million American households – and over 244,000 Minnesota households – with access to affordable high-speed internet. She later introduced the Secure and Affordable Broadband Extension Act to increase funding for federal broadband accessibility programs like the ACP, which expired in June of 2024. In 2024, she secured a $1 million federal investment to improve internet access in Le Sueur County, Minnesota. The Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act was co-led by Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO). You can read the full text of the bill HERE. ### Issues:Communications & Technology

Rep. Craig Joins Push to Prevent Trump Administration from Using Americans’ Personal Data to Carry out Reckless Immigration Agenda

Position: Rep. Craig opposes the Trump Administration's use of surveillance and data analytics tools by DHS and ICE to identify and locate individuals for immigration enforcement operations, citing concerns about mass surveillance, targeting of U.S. citizens, and use against protesters and constitutional observers.

WASHINGTON, DC – This week, U.S. Representative Angie Craig (MN-02) joined 33 Members of Congress in demanding answers from the Trump Administration about its alleged use of surveillance and data analytics tools developed by Palantir to execute the President’s lawless immigration agenda. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, Rep. Craig and her colleagues expressed serious concerns following public reporting that DHS has been using such tools to aggregate personal data for the purpose of identifying and locating potential targets of immigration enforcement operations. “Public reporting regarding DHS’ data analytics tools and software raise serious concerns about Palantir-developed technologies being used to compile, aggregate, and analyze large volumes of personal data and information,” the Members wrote. “These data-compiling systems reportedly allow DHS personnel to link individual profiles to addresses, phone numbers, devices, and other identifying information across multiple datasets in order to generate leads and identify potential locations of persons sought for immigration enforcement actions.” “Even more troubling, Palantir-developed tools are not the only technologies being deployed by your department to fulfill the administration’s mass deportation campaign and daily arrest quotas. Public reporting further indicates that DHS has deployed a range of surveillance technologies that are provided by multiple private contractors,” the Members continued. “These tools contribute to a mass surveillance ecosystem that appears to operate in conjunction with Palantir-developed platforms and ultimately support enforcement operations conducted by DHS, some of which target U.S. Citizens." Rep. Craig and her colleagues also cited evidence of ICE using surveillance tools during Operation Metro Surge to identify protesters and constitutional observers in Minnesota. “During the recent so-called Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, immigration agents used facial recognition technology and other cellphone monitoring tools in public, including instances in which agents scanned the faces of individuals who were either observing or protesting enforcement activities,” they wrote. “The combination of facial recognition tools, social media surveillance, and large-scale data aggregation systems and applications raise serious concerns about the operational use of personally identifiable information that belongs to individuals who are not suspected of any wrongdoing. Specifically, these technologies are seemingly being weaponized against citizens, journalists, and individuals engaged in constitutionally protected activities, which include lawful assembly and protest,” the Members concluded. Finally, Rep. Craig and her colleagues demanded answers from the Administration by the end of the month about how they are using surveillance tools, such as the ones developed by Palantir, to carry out immigration enforcement operations like Operation Metro Surge. You can read the full text of the letter HERE. ###

Rep. Craig Leads Push to Stand Up for LGBTQ+ Foster Youth and Prevent Discrimination in Adoption and Foster Care Systems

EAGAN, MN – This week, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (MN-02), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Gwen Moore (WI-04) Lateefah Simon (CA-12) and Judy Chu (CA-28) delivered a letter signed by 23 House Democrats opposing the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) rescission of a Biden-era rule aimed at ensuring LGBTQ+ foster youth have access to safe and affirming placements. The members urged Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to put forth an alternative rule. Previous designated placement policy required states to maintain an adequate number of foster placements that support and affirm LGBTQ+ foster youth. Rescinding the rule without a replacement removes key protections ensuring access to safe, appropriate placements. LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented in foster care and face higher risks of harm, while evidence shows affirming placements significantly improve their mental health and well-being. Eliminating the rule, in conjunction with other actions limiting LGBTQ+-focused services, undermines agencies’ ability to meet legal obligations and puts vulnerable youth at greater risk. “This move is the Trump Administration’s latest attack on the LGBTQ+ community,” said Rep. Craig. “Every child deserves a loving, supportive and safe home. The decision to rescind the designated placement rule with no clear alternative puts already-vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth at risk of further harm. HHS needs to propose an alternative rule immediately.” “Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable, and loving home. Research overwhelmingly shows that LGBTQ+ foster youth have better mental health and well-being outcomes when placed with affirming caregivers,” said Rep. Chu. “That’s why the Trump administration’s recission of the Designated Placement Rule is so harmful. This rule helped ensure that more LGBTQ+ foster youth get placed in supportive, stable, caring environments where they can thrive. This harmful decision puts the most vulnerable youth in our society at even greater risk, all in service to Republicans’ extremist, anti-LGBTQ+ agenda. It’s cruel, indefensible, and we are fighting back.” "As someone who started my career working with young women, non-binary, and trans youth who were impacted by the juvenile justice and foster care systems, I believe strongly that all foster youth, including LGBTQ+ foster children, deserve the chance to be placed where they will be safe, affirmed, and supported," said Rep. Simon, Vice Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. "No child should fear for their bodily or mental safety. I am united with Representatives Craig, Chu, Davis, and Moore in our strong opposition of the Trump administration's rollback of policy that ensured the safety, security, and protection of LGBTQ+ foster youth." “Every child deserves a safe and loving home, no matter how they identify. In fact, federal law requires the federal government to ensure that all children in foster care receive safe and proper care which this rule helped accomplish,” said Rep. Moore. “LGBTQI+ foster youth are particularly vulnerable to failed foster placements due to a caregiver’s hostility towards their sexual orientation or gender identity. The designated placement rule helps ensure these foster youth are placed in supportive, reaffirming environments in an effort to ensure their safety and prosperity. It is cruel to rescind this rule and we are calling on Secretary Kennedy to reverse his decision and support policy that lifts up LGBTQI+ foster youth.” “Government has a unique responsibility to ensure that each and every child in foster care finds a loving, affirming family,” said Rep. Davis. “The Designated Placement Rule helps ensure that LGBTQI+ foster youth can join supportive environments where they can flourish. The Trump Administration’s rescission of this rule prioritizes prejudice at the expense of the safety and well-being of foster youth. As one who grew up in the segregated south, I understand first-hand the profoundly detrimental effects of discrimination, and I proudly join with my colleagues to fight this injustice.” Rep. Craig has spoken out against prior HHS actions against LGBTQ+ youth and has championed legislation to protect LGBTQ+ foster youth since arriving in Congress. Earlier this Congress, Rep. Craig helped re-introduce the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act, which prevents discrimination in America’s adoption and foster care systems. The bill also improves services for LGBTQ+ and religious minority youth by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and marital status against families and youth in taxpayer-funded child welfare services. Representative Craig was the first LGBTQ+ mother and grandmother in Congress and serves as a co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. She is an original cosponsor of the Equality Act. ###

Rep. Craig Leads Re-Authorization of Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act

Position: Rep. Craig supports reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act to address substandard housing conditions in Indian Country and provide federal housing assistance to Tribal communities.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig – a member of the Congressional Native American Caucus – joined Reps. Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Troy Downing (MT-02) in introducing legislation to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA). NAHASDA was first enacted in 1996 and remains the primary vehicle for providing federal housing assistance to Native American communities through the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) program. Although the program continues to receive annual appropriations, it has not been reauthorized since 2008 – leaving Tribal nations to navigate a growing housing crisis with outdated tools. “Right now, nearly 40% of on-reservation housing is considered substandard and that’s unacceptable,” said Rep Craig. “Without ample housing in Indian Country, Tribal Members have struggled to access the health care, economic opportunities and education they deserve. That’s why I’m leading the effort to re-authorize NAHASDA and provide much-needed federal housing support to Minnesota’s 11 federally recognized Tribal communities.” This legislation has been developed in partnership with the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC), which represents over 475 Tribes and Tribal housing organizations across the country. The bill has received support from the Bipartisan Policy Center Action, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the Native CDFI Network, the Housing Assistance Council and NeighborWorks. This Congress, Rep. Craig requested over $10 million in federal funding for the Native American Relending Demonstration in the Fiscal Year 2027 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service budget. If approved, this funding will help improve homeownership opportunities in rural areas for Native American communities. Rep. Craig is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act to continue funding the State and Tribal Historic Preservation Office, which maintains and protects historic Tribal buildings and landmarks. In 2023, Rep. Craig secured $1.16 million to upgrade the Prairie Island Indian Community’s energy efficiency technology, which provides on-reservation housing with long overdue access to modern, energy-efficient home appliances. Thanks to these critical upgrades, Prairie Island has been able to eliminate over 35,307 pounds in CO2 emissions per year. ### Issues:Housing

Rep. Craig Helps Introduce Legislation to Rein in ICE and Restore SNAP Benefits

Position: Rep. Craig supports legislation to rescind $75 billion in ICE funding enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and restore SNAP benefits that were cut by that same legislation. She opposes the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations and calls them unlawful.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee Angie Craig announced legislation that would rein in President Trump’s out of control Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and ensure families are able to put food on the table. The Feeding Families Not Fear Act would rescind the $75 billion dollar handout to ICE Congressional Republicans enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and reverse their historic cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. “Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ was a slap in the face to Minnesotans,” said Rep. Craig. “As if cutting nearly $200 billion in SNAP food assistance wasn’t cruel enough, Republicans used this bill to write a $75 billion blank check to Trump’s mass deportation machine, which he has used to terrorize our communities. That’s why I’m supporting this critical bill to claw back funding for ICE, restore SNAP food assistance and put working Minnesotans first.” As the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Craig has been at the forefront of the fight to protect SNAP and ensure Minnesota’s kids, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities can put food on the table. Last summer, while the House was debating the OBBBA, she led a two-day markup during which she and her Democratic colleagues offered amendments to stop cuts to food assistance, while Republicans were largely absent or silent. She also testified against the bill’s SNAP cuts before the House Committee on Rules during an overnight hearing that lasted more than 21 hours. In January, Rep. Craig introduced her Farm and Family Relief Act – a response to President Trump’s crushing tariffs and massive unfunded mandate to states through a cost-shift in SNAP. You can see a full timeline of Rep. Craig’s efforts to protect SNAP during OBBA negotiations here. Rep. Craig has also repeatedly called out ICE’s lawless tactics and taken steps to hold the Trump Administration accountable for its reckless immigration operations in Minnesota. She helped lead articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in the House and has repeatedly voted against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill providing funding for ICE. Rep. Craig has also conducted three oversight visits at the ICE detention center at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis and followed up with ICE officials about what she saw during her visit. The Feeding Families Not Fear Act was originally introduced by Reps. Shontel Brown (OH-11) and Jim McGovern (MA-02). You can read the full text of the Feeding Families Not Fear Acthere. ###