Cleo Fields

CONGRESSMAN CLEO FIELDS RELEASES STATEMENT ON THE SUPREME COURT’S LOUISIANA V. CALLAIS DECISION

Position: Congressman Fields opposes the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision, which he argues has narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and made it harder for minority communities to challenge redistricting maps that dilute their political representation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Cleo Fields released the following statement in regard to the Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision: “The Supreme Court’s ruling this morning is a grave setback to voting rights and to the promise of equal political representation for all Americans. The Supreme Court's majority has significantly narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, dismantling decades of settled law that Congress established to ensure that no community's votes could be silenced. Make no mistake: this decision does not reflect some neutral reading of the law. As Justice Kagan's powerful dissent makes clear, Congress explicitly rejected an intent-based standard when it amended Section 2 in 1982, because lawmakers understood that requiring proof of discriminatory purpose would make the law all but unenforceable. Today's majority has resurrected exactly that standard — and the practical effect is to make it far harder for minority communities to challenge redistricting maps that dilute their political voice. This is especially troubling given the persistent reality that minority candidates are rarely, if ever, elected from districts where they are not the majority, underscoring why fair districting remains essential to ensuring equal representation. The Voting Rights Act was born from the blood of the civil rights movement and the sacrifices of generations who fought for the ballot. I have deep respect for the role of the judiciary, but today’s decision underscores the limits Congress faces when the Court reinterprets the scope of its authority under the Fifteenth Amendment. It is important to be clear about what today's ruling does and does not do. The Court ruled on the merits of the current map and remanded further proceedings to the Western District of Louisiana — but it did not require that a new map be immediately drawn. While the Western District has the authority to act, redrawing maps at this stage would not be prudent. Through qualifying, the voters of Louisiana have already made their decisions as it pertains to November’s ballot, and any changes to the map’s configuration would invalidate their choices. The right of every citizen to participate equally in our democracy is not a partisan issue. It is an American one. I will be working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to evaluate all available legislative responses to this ruling and to restore the full protections that Section 2 was always meant to provide.” ###

Congressman Fields Issues Statement on Mall of Louisiana Shooting in Baton Rouge

Position: Congressman Fields expresses opposition to gun violence and commits to working in Congress to address it, though he does not specify particular legislative proposals or mechanisms.

BATON ROUGE, LA – Today, Congressman Cleo Fields released a statement regarding the Mall of Louisiana shooting that occurred this afternoon in Baton Rouge, LA: “My heart goes out to everyone affected by today’s tragic shooting at the Mall of Louisiana. What should have been an ordinary afternoon for families and shoppers turned into a frightening ordeal, and I am keeping all the victims in my thoughts as they receive care. Gun violence has no place in our communities. Not in our malls, not anywhere. I remain committed to working in Congress to address the epidemic of gun violence that continues to devastate families across Louisiana and this nation. ###

CONGRESSMAN FIELDS' STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S THREATS TOWARDS IRAN

Position: Congressman Fields opposes President Trump's threats toward Iran and calls for an immediate House vote on a War Powers Resolution to end military action and restore congressional control over foreign policy.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Cleo Fields shared the below statement following the ultimatum given by President Trump this morning: "This morning, President Trump threatened that 'a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again' -- a direct attack against Iranian civilians that legal experts have condemned as a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The idea of a sitting President openly calling for the destruction of an entire civilian population is not diplomacy. It is dangerous, and it is wrong. I am calling on House Leadership to initiate an immediate vote on the War Powers Resolution so my colleagues and I can take action to end this ear and restore national governance to our foreign policy. Congress will not stand by while this administration issues ultimatums that shock the conscience of the world." ###

CONGRESSMAN FIELDS’ STATEMENT ON THE FIRING OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI

Position: Congressman Fields criticizes the firing of Attorney General Bondi, expressing concern that the President may have dismissed her for failing to weaponize the Justice Department against political opponents rather than for legitimate performance failures. He calls on the Senate to demand transparency about the Epstein files before confirming a successor and insists the next Attorney General must commit to DOJ independence and equal application of the law.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Cleo Fields released the following statement in response to the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi: “Today's news that President Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi is deeply troubling — not because of who is leaving, but because of why. I have been deeply critical of Attorney General Bondi's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. She stood before the American people and falsely claimed that an Epstein client list was sitting on her desk. The Department of Justice (DOJ) later walked that back entirely. That was not a misstatement — it was a failure of transparency that shook public trust at a moment when Americans deserved straight answers. But here is what should alarm every American: reports indicate that Trump's frustration stemmed not from Bondi's failure to uphold the law — but from his belief that she didn't weaponize the Justice Department aggressively enough against his political enemies. Indictments against James Comey and Letitia James were thrown out by a federal judge because they were illegally pursued. That is not justice, that’s an institution being pulled apart by political pressure, and it should concern all of us. The Justice Department is not the President's personal law firm and shouldn’t be used as a tool for retribution. I am calling on the Senate to demand full, public answers about the Epstein files before confirming any new Attorney General. The next nominee must be asked plainly: Will you protect the independence of this institution? Will you release the Epstein files without political interference and commit to the principle that no American — regardless of party — is above the law? The American people deserve a Justice Department that answers to the Constitution, and we will not stop pushing for the truth.” ###

CONGRESSMAN FIELDS CONDEMNS THE DENIAL OF THE AMENDED BUDGET RESOLUTION TO FUND CRITICAL DHS AGENCIES

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Cleo Fields released the following statement after House leadership chose not to vote on the amended budget resolution that would have secured vital funding to end the ongoing DHS shutdown: “Let’s be clear about what this moment is: the President is proposing a quick fix to a problem that Congress created and refused to solve on its own. The Senate gave us the opportunity to restore funding to essential agencies like TSA and FEMA, but instead, House leadership chose to cater to the wants of the administration. The President’s executive order is a makeshift remedy that fails to address the broader concerns of our country. My colleagues who opposed this bill owe everyone affected a solution. The families flying home this week, Louisiana's Sixth District, and communities all over America deserve leadership that puts their priorities first. It is past time we come to an agreement and work our way through this impasse to deliver an outcome that keeps our country moving. I remain ready to work towards a viable path forward. The question now is whether my colleagues are willing to set aside their political posturing long enough to do the same.” ###

CONGRESSMAN FIELDS RELEASES STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP’S STRIKES ON IRAN

Position: Congressman Fields opposes President Trump's military strikes on Iran, arguing that the president violated the War Powers Act by failing to seek congressional authorization before launching the attacks and that this represents an unconstitutional concentration of war-making power in the executive branch.

BATON ROUGE, L.A. – This morning, Congressman Cleo Fields released a statement in response to President Donald Trump’s attacks on Iran this morning: “This morning, the United States, in coordination with Israel, launched strikes against Iran — a significant military action with serious consequences for our national security. While I understand the gravity of the threat, the process here cannot be ignored. Just a few months ago, this president stood before the American people and told them that we had 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear capability — now, here we are again, and that alone raises serious questions that Congress and the public deserve answers to. The War Powers Act exists for a reason: to ensure that no single person can commit this nation to war without accountability to the American people. President Trump had ample time to come before Congress, fulfill his legal obligations, and bring transparency to his decision-making — he chose not to. That is not a procedural oversight; it is a deliberate decision to sideline the legislative branch and concentrate war-making authority in the executive branch. When a president bypasses our constitutional process, he isn't just cutting corners — he is undermining the framework that governs this country. This choice has consequences, and Congress must respond accordingly." ###

Congressman Cleo Fields' Statement on Supreme Court Ruling to Strike Down President Trump's Emergency Tariffs

Position: Congressman Fields opposes the use of emergency executive powers to impose tariffs without congressional authorization. He supports trade policy that protects American workers but insists such policy must be enacted through legislation and congressional action, not unilateral executive action.

BATON ROUGE, L.A. – Today, Congressman Cleo Fields issued the following statement following the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, holding that President Trump's expansive tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unlawful: “Today's ruling by the Supreme Court confirms what many of us have maintained from the very beginning: the President of the United States cannot unilaterally impose taxes on the American people without congressional authorization. We said it then, and the highest court in the land is saying it now. Chief Justice Roberts wrote that the administration 'points to no statute' in which Congress authorized the use of IEEPA for tariff-making. That should come as no surprise. No president in the nearly 50-year history of that law had ever attempted to use it this way — because it was never intended for this purpose. The consequences of this executive overreach fell on hardworking American people. Families across District 6 spent the past year paying higher prices on groceries, automobiles, appliances, and goods of every kind — not because of a foreign threat, but because of an executive overreach that bypassed thepeople's elected representatives. While we warned that would happen, today, the Court vindicated the families who bore those costs. I want to be clear: I support robust, enforceable trade policy that protects American workers and holds bad actors accountable. But that work belongs to Congress, as it always has. It must be done through legislation, through negotiation, and through the rule of law. I call on the administration to comply fully with this ruling, to stop looking for workarounds that would simply recreate what the Court has struck down, and to work with Congress on a legitimate path forward. Americans have always believed that power must have limits and I strongly support the Courts decision today reaffirming that fact.” ### Issues: Congress Economy