Summer L. Lee

Rep. Summer Lee Demands Answers from Dept. of Commerce on Trump Admin Ties to Sanctioned Spyware Firm

Position: Rep. Lee opposes the Trump Administration's relationship with NSO Group, a sanctioned Israeli spyware firm, and demands transparency regarding the company's acquisition by an American firm and potential use by federal law enforcement, citing national security and counterintelligence risks.

Text of Letter (PDF) PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 7, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick demanding answers about the Trump Administration's relationship with NSO Group, the Israeli spyware company long blacklisted by the U.S. government and recently acquired by an American firm. NSO Group has long been subject to government sanctions after its spyware technology was used against political dissidents, human rights advocates, journalists, and American officials worldwide. The company was added to the Commerce Department's Entity List in 2021 for supplying spyware to foreign governments that used it to target activists, journalists, and government officials. "Given these close ties between NSO Group and the Trump Administration, and the serious concerns about how NSO's technology could be used to spy on American citizens, we write to request information regarding the purchase of NSO Group by an American company and the potential usage of NSO Group spyware by federal law enforcement," wrote Rep. Lee. Rep. Lee raised concern about the close ties between NSO Group's new leadership and the Trump Administration. NSO Group's new executive chairman, David Friedman, is President Trump's former bankruptcy lawyer and served as his Ambassador to Israel. Friedman has publicly indicated he expects the administration to be open to considering NSO Group's technologies for government use — a prospect the Biden Administration had explicitly warned would raise serious counterintelligence and national security risks. The letter details the dangerous capabilities of NSO Group's flagship Pegasus software, which can gain full access to a target's phone without the target ever interacting with it. Security researchers have documented its use against journalists, Amnesty International staff, and imprisoned activists in countries around the world. The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto has tracked infections across conflicts and authoritarian crackdowns on multiple continents, and a separate analysis estimated that NSO Group customers may have targeted approximately 50,000 people globally. Despite years of U.S. government restrictions, NSO Group has continued to seek American contracts. The company experienced a severe financial decline following its Entity List designation and has spent heavily on lobbying to rehabilitate its image. In recent court filings, NSO Group argued it is foreseeable that a U.S. law enforcement or intelligence agency will use its Pegasus software — signaling its intent to secure federal business under the current administration. "The Trump Administration appears to be broadly receptive to using commercial spyware to infiltrate cell phones and allowing U.S. investment in sanctioned spyware companies like NSO Group," Rep. Lee continued. Rep. Lee is demanding a briefing by May 20, 2026 covering all deliberations and communications regarding NSO Group, the American acquisition, any potential government use of the technology, and any meetings, communications, or documents with outside individuals including David Friedman. A copy of the letter can be found here. Rep. Lee has consistently framed commercial spyware as not only a national security threat but a direct threat to civil liberties and constitutional rights — particularly for immigrants, communities of color, journalists, and advocates. In October 2025, Rep. Lee led a letter alongside Reps. Shontel Brown and Yassamin Ansari demanding answers from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem after reports revealed that ICE had reactivated a contract with Paragon Solutions, a foreign spyware company whose product "Graphite" uses zero-click exploits to covertly access encrypted messages, photos, and real-time location data on Americans' cell phones without their knowledge or consent. The letter warned that ICE's use of such technology posed serious threats to civil liberties, privacy, and Fourth Amendment protections against warrantless search and seizure. When DHS finally responded in April 2026, it acknowledged ICE was using the tool but refused to provide the legal analyses, target information, or oversight records requested by the Members. Rep. Lee slammed the response as a stonewalling attempt, stating that DHS was "moving forward with invasive spyware technology inside the United States" while refusing to answer serious constitutional and civil rights concerns. Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 3,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.

Rep. Summer Lee Presents $1 Million for Downtown Pittsburgh Housing Conversion Projects

Photos (Dropbox) PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 5, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) joined Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor, local leaders, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) to present $1 million in federal funding secured through Rep. Lee’s Community Project Funding efforts to support the conversion of vacant downtown office buildings into affordable housing. The funding will provide critical construction gap financing for eligible office-to-residential conversion project(s) in Downtown Pittsburgh. These adaptive reuse efforts will help address the region’s affordable housing shortage, reduce commercial vacancy, activate street-level business corridors, and strengthen the local economy. “Every dollar we bring home to PA-12 should be about meeting the real needs of our people,” said Rep. Summer Lee. “I’m proud to deliver this $1 million investment to help turn vacant office space into affordable homes, create good-paying jobs, and bring new life to downtown Pittsburgh. When people have a stable place to call home, they have a foundation to raise their families, stay healthy, pursue education, build careers, and participate fully in their communities. This is about making sure our neighbors can afford to stay, grow, and thrive right here in the place they call home.  In the long term, this work means stronger neighborhoods, more opportunity for working families, and a downtown that reflects and serves the people who live here. We’re building a future where our region works for all of us, not just a select few.” “Partnership has helped build the energy around creating a more vibrant Downtown through investments in housing, public space and the details,” said Mayor Corey O’Connor. “I’d like to thank Congresswoman Lee for being a part of that energy and bringing $1 million to invest in residential conversions for the Downtown community.” “Thank you to Congresswoman Lee for her leadership in securing this critical investment,” said URA Executive Director Susheela Nemani-Stanger. “By advancing office-to-residential conversions, we’re creating a more vibrant, livable Downtown that works for residents across incomes and supports long-term regional economic growth.” The $1 million in federal funding secured through Rep. Lee’s Community Project Funding efforts will: Provide construction gap financing for eligible office-to-residential conversion project(s) Adaptively reuse vacant office buildings to create affordable housing Revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh’s core by bringing new residents and activity into underused spaces Address the region’s severe affordable housing shortage Respond to the surge in commercial vacancy Downtown Strengthen the regional tax base and support local economic recovery Rep. Lee has made affordable housing one of her top priorities in Congress, fighting to bring federal dollars home to address housing insecurity, prevent displacement, and ensure every family has a safe, stable, affordable place to live. In addition to securing this $1 million investment for Downtown Pittsburgh office-to-residential conversions, Lee helped deliver $50 million to revitalize Bedford Dwellings and the Hill District, advocated for a $3 million federal investment for affordable housing in Allegheny County, backed the successful “500 in 500” initiative, which helped house hundreds of people experiencing homelessness, and delivered more than $1 million to combat blight and revitalize North Braddock. Her office has also championed legislative solutions like the Keep Affordable Housing in Forgotten Communities Act, while prioritizing rental assistance, tenant protections, and anti-displacement efforts across PA-12. Through her Community Project Funding efforts, Lee has secured direct investments for community-based organizations, including a $1 million CPF award to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, $450,000 to the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, over $1.5 million in federal support for the Tree of Life rebuilding and healing initiatives, $1 million in Community Project Funding for historic renovations at the Carnegie Library of Homestead, and more than $1 million in federal funding to combat blight and revitalize housing in North Braddock.  These projects are part of more than $24.9 million in Community Project Funding secured during her time in Congress. Rep. Lee’s office has consistently directed federal dollars to historically overlooked communities to ensure equitable access to opportunities and long-term regional growth and stability. To see photos from the event, please click HERE. Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.

Rep. Summer Lee Condemns Mass Layoffs, Union-Busting at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Under New Ownership

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 1, 2026 — Today, on International Workers’ Day, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) condemned the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s new ownership after reports that the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism moved to slash as much as 40–50% of the newsroom, including roughly 80% of former striking workers and nearly every current Newspaper Guild officer. The decision comes just days after Rep. Lee joined local, state, and federal elected officials in sending a letter welcoming the Institute to Pittsburgh while urging its leadership to preserve the Post-Gazette as a union paper, bargain in good faith, protect newsroom jobs, and understand that in Pittsburgh, labor peace and worker dignity are inseparable from public trust. In response, Congresswoman Lee issued the following statement: “Workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have once again suffered betrayal after enduring years of illegal union-busting. New ownership had an opportunity to turn the page, rebuild trust, and invest in the local journalism this region deserves. Instead, they doubled down on the practices that brought this institution to the brink in the first place. They should correct course immediately by reinstating the workers who were unjustly cut, bargaining in good faith with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, and rebuilding a newsroom worthy of this community. Pittsburgh deserves better, the workers deserve better, and we are not done fighting alongside them.” Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.

Rep. Summer Lee Joins Progressive Caucus in Unveiling ‘New Affordability Agenda’ to Lower Costs and Take on Corporate Influence

Position: Rep. Lee and the Congressional Progressive Caucus advocate for a comprehensive legislative package to reduce living costs for working families through drug price controls, utility regulation, childcare affordability guarantees, housing expansion, and paid leave requirements, while restricting campaign contributions to Super PACs to $5,000 annually to reduce corporate influence in politics.

Press Conference Footage WASHINGTON, D.C. – APRIL 29, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) joined members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) in announcing the New Affordability Agenda, a bold legislative package aimed at tackling the rising cost of living for working families across America. Footage of the press conference, including Rep. Lee’s remarks, can be found here. The sweeping agenda includes proposals to lower the cost of prescription drugs, groceries, housing, utilities, gas, and childcare, while also boosting wages, guaranteeing paid time off, and cracking down on corporate price gouging and the growing influence of big money in politics. Rep Lee’s Abolish Super PACs Act is a key pillar of the New Affordability Agenda, targeting the flood of unlimited money that allows billionaires, corporations, and special interests to shape policy at the expense of working families. The bill would cap contributions to Super PACs at $5,000 per calendar year, effectively ending Super PACs as vehicles for unlimited political spending and helping restore a democracy where everyday people, not wealthy donors, set the agenda. “Money in politics touches every aspect of our lives from affordable housing to healthcare to environmental justice,” said Rep. Summer Lee, who leads the bill to abolish Super PACs. “It’s why we have oligarchs in the White House and special interests influencing our democracy at the expense of working families. I’m proud my Abolish Super PACs will help further the New Affordability Agenda to get money out of politics and bring real solutions to the American people. It’s past time we be the party of working people, not the party of corporations.” The New Affordability Agenda directly addresses the biggest expenses facing American families by: Making prescription drugs cheaper by establishing a government program to sell generic drugs at a discount, cutting the price of a vial of insulin from $300 to $50;  Making utilities cheaper by cracking down on for-profit utilities overcharging consumers, saving the average family $500 a year;  Making gas cheaper by charging big oil companies a tax on extra profits because of the war, then refunding that money to consumers. If oil stays at $100 a barrel, most families would get $324 back; Making childcare cheaper by guaranteeing no family pays more than 7% of its income – under $10 a day for most families;  Making housing cheaper by building millions of new homes, offering every first-time homeowner $20,000 in downpayment assistance, and expanding rental assistance;  Making groceries cheaper by cracking down on big grocers who fix prices and on companies that abuse seed patents to make farming more expensive;  Making time off cheaper by guaranteeing every worker two weeks of paid vacation time;  Banning 'Surveillance Pricing,’ where companies use personal data to raise prices with AI;  Putting money in pockets by requiring companies to pay double wages for overtime, as opposed to the current time-and-a-half standard;  Abolishing Super PACs so billionaires can’t buy more policies that makes everything more expensive. The agenda is backed by new polling showing that each proposal is supported by a strong majority of Americans, including nearly 60% of Republicans. The New Affordability Agenda is endorsed by a broad coalition of labor, environmental, and advocacy organizations, reflecting widespread support for policies that lower costs and raise wages. “At a time when Americans are facing not just an affordability crisis but also a deep sense of economic precarity, we need a policy agenda that will deliver real relief and take on corporate abuse,” said former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan. “It’s terrific to see a legislative plan that will address these pain points and steer towards an economy that is more fair and competitive.” "While the Administration continues its policies of self-inflicted wounds to our economy and affordability, the Progressive Caucus' New Affordability Agenda demonstrates what it looks like to have an economic policy agenda focused on making the economy work for working families,” said Gene Sperling, former director of the National Economic Council. “This agenda insists on putting working families first, whether it is ensuring the development of AI does not lead to higher utility bills or data collection that jacks up grocery prices, to ensuring that child care is never a crushing economic burden; to dramatically expanding affordable housing while ensuring hard-working, reliable renters have a viable path to becoming homeowners." “People are frustrated about the cost of living and the Trump Administration's refusal to lift a finger to help them,” said Bharat Ramamurti, former deputy director of the National Economic Council. “The Progressive Caucus offers several simple, tangible, and understandable ideas that would help lower costs and give people more control over their lives.” "The New Affordability Agenda is an important step forward in answering our call for the money we’ve earned, the power to hold corporations accountable, and the respect of a seat at the table,” said Service Employees International Union President April Verrett. “It’s time to stop corporate exploitation and start building an economy where every family can finally get ahead." “The cost-of-living crisis is not an accident,” said Nidhi Hegde, Executive Director at the American Economic Liberties Project. “It's the result of decades of unchecked corporate power that has allowed dominant companies to raise prices on everything from groceries to utilities. The Congressional Progressive Caucus's New Affordability Agenda recognizes that you can't bring down costs without taking on the monopolies driving them up. We're especially encouraged to see protections for independent grocers from price discrimination that drives up food costs, a ban on surveillance pricing that stops corporations from using data to gouge consumers, and reforms to stop ratepayers from subsidizing bloated utility profits. Economic Liberties is proud to support these common sense solutions to save Americans money.” “American Jews want our elected officials to stop funneling billions of dollars into a violent, abusive immigration detention and deportation system, and instead prioritize investment in basic needs that allow communities to thrive,” said Jamie Beran, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action. “The New Affordability Agenda contains exactly the kind of policies members of Congress should be passing to build a country that is safe and thriving for all." “It's great to see the Congressional Progressive Caucus outlining this bold agenda to stop corporations from ripping us off and to put more money in working people's pockets,” said Dan Mauer, Communications Workers of America Director of Government Affairs. “Unchecked corporate greed has left CEOs and billionaires wealthier than ever, while our members pay the price. All members of Congress should support these sorts of real solutions that will help deliver better lives for the working class.” “Families are being priced out of basics—child care, health care, housing, food, utilities—while corporations rake in record profits,” said Dorian Warren, Co-President of Community Change Action. “At the core of the cost of living problem is a power imbalance. The Congressional Progressive Caucus’ New Affordability Agenda flips the script, shifting power from big corporations back to everyday people who actually pay the bills. Affordability isn’t a privilege for a few—it’s a right we must secure for all.” “We are excited to see bold new ideas to support workers and families in the CPC’s New Affordability Agenda, including tackling the cost of prescription drugs, boosting pay, and giving workers the right to take much-needed time off,” said Heidi Shierholz, Ph.D, President, Economic Policy Institute. “Too much of the debate about fixing our economy has focused on prices while ignoring paychecks. But pay is also a policy choice. The CPC’s agenda recognizes that true affordability comes when working people earn enough to cover the costs of living with dignity and security.” “The cost-of-living crisis is squeezing families nationwide and Americans can’t afford for lawmakers to rely on the same old playbook — it just isn’t working,” said Anna Aurilio, Senior Director of Campaigns for Economic Security Project Action. “We know that broken incomes and broken markets are driving the affordability crisis. We applaud the New Affordability Agenda for tackling these root causes to deliver some desperately needed relief.” “Corruption in Washington has a real cost, and working families are paying it every time they fill up their gas tanks, buy groceries, or pick up a prescription,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “This affordability crisis is the predictable result of a political system that puts corporate special interests and billionaires at the center of decision-making in Congress. CPC’s New Affordability Agenda takes direct aim at that broken system by cracking down on the unlimited money that fuels it. When wealthy donors can essentially buy politicians through unlimited contributions to super PACs, we end up with a Congress that’s unwilling to put the needs of working families first.”  “It is disgraceful that leading corporations, including Amazon and Walmart, are paying many of their workers so little that they have to rely on public assistance,” said Tope Folarin, Executive Director, Institute for Policy Studies. “The CPC’s New Affordability Agenda will help ease the strain on working families by doubling overtime pay, providing universal childcare and mandatory paid vacation, and other fresh proposals. Capping PAC contributions would also help unrig a political system that now heavily favors the very rich.” “Working families know the system is rigged against them, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ New Affordability Agenda meets that reality head-on – while Trump and the GOP continue to only pass out favors to corporations and billionaire donors,” said Ezra Levin, Co-Executive Director of Indivisible. “By taking on special interests and wealthy corporations, cracking down on price-gouging, and curbing the corrupting influence of big money in politics, this agenda puts accountability first and will deliver real relief by lowering the cost of families’ biggest expenses, from health care and groceries to housing, childcare, utilities, and gas. These are bold, clear solutions that put money back in people’s pockets and power back in their hands. As we look toward 2027, we need even more policies that sit at the intersection of affordability and accountability, because families shouldn’t have to pay the price for a system that’s been tilted against them for too long.” “The American people are clear about what they want: for life to be more affordable,” said Katie Bethell, Executive Director, MoveOn Civic Action. “This set of proposals from the Congressional Progressive Caucus shows us exactly what it looks like to take our demands for affordability solutions seriously. These policies would make a major dent in the high costs of utilities, prescription drugs, and childcare while also helping people to build a better life by increasing incomes and the ability to buy a first home. These are the issues working people care about and what they are looking for their elected leaders to deliver.” “The New Affordability Agenda is rooted in what families across the country are asking for: lower costs, higher wages, and real economic security,” said Progressive Caucus Action Fund Executive Director Gohar Sedighi. “Taken together, these solutions add up to something bigger: a bold legislative agenda that takes on corporate control and corruption, supports working people, and delivers the kind of durable, structural change our economy needs.”  “Bold, innovative policy will be key for a next governing moment. We need renewed focus and attention on the issues that regular people care about--their livelihoods, their healthcare, their housing, their children,” said Lisa Gilbert, Public Citizen Co-President. “We must deliver on the core promise to make life better, while also fighting the corruption and moneyed influence that perverts policy at the federal level. This battleship agenda will begin to deliver on that precept, and Public Citizen applauds the initiative.” “Across the country, communities are struggling with the cost of living, from the increased costs of food to skyrocketing energy prices,” said Mahyar Sorour, Director of Beyond Fossil Fuels Policy at Sierra Club. “Much of the affordability crisis, especially energy prices, is a self-made disaster driven by policies of the Trump administration. Sierra Club strongly supports the policies laid out in the Congressional Progressive Caucus's agenda to address the root causes of the affordability crisis, including holding polluters accountable for their role in increased utility bills and their massive profiteering at the expense of everyday working people. Sierra Club and its millions of members and supporters are proud to support the CPC’s Affordability Agenda and turn this bold vision into reality.” "The CPC has developed a number of important policy proposals that offer the potential for improving living standards for working people,” said Dean Baker, economist, author of Rigged: How Globalization and the Rules of the Modern Economy Were Structured to Make the Rich Richer. “They do this by increasing worker power and reducing sources of corruption that contribute to inequality." Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.

Rep. Summer Lee Reintroduces Bill to Raise Hazard Pay and Strengthen Protections for Health Care Workers

Position: Rep. Lee advocates for legislation that would provide hazard pay up to $25,000 annually for health care workers during emergencies, supply personal protective equipment, and ensure safe transportation during disasters.

Bill Text (PDF) WASHINGTON D.C. – APRIL 23, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) reintroduced the Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act, alongside Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), legislation to raise hazard pay and strengthen protections for health care workers. The legislation, which was Rep. Lee’s first bill introduced in Congress in 2023, would ensure health care workers are better protected and better compensated when serving on the front lines during public health emergencies and other disasters. “I’m proud to reintroduce the Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act because the health care workers who keep this country healthy and care for our loved ones every single day deserve more than our gratitude. These workers deserve real protection, real support, and pay that reflects the risks they take and the lives they save,” said Rep. Lee. “From nurses and home care workers to environmental services staff, technicians, and every worker who keeps our health care system up and running, these are the people who show up for us again and again in moments of crisis. As extreme weather, public health emergencies, and other disasters become more frequent, we have a responsibility to show up for them too. That means valuing their labor, protecting their safety, and making clear that our health care system does not function without them.” “Our country’s health care workers are on the frontlines of the dual public health and climate crises, serving communities being hit hard by increasingly severe and frequent weather and environmental disasters. These health care heroes are the heart of our health care system, and they need better treatment, higher pay, and stronger protections,” said Senator Markey. “I am proud to reintroduce this legislation with Representatives Summer Lee and Ro Khanna so that we can better serve the workers who show up for us time and time again, as extreme weather and public health emergencies persist.” "Healthcare workers are the backbone of our communities and continue to risk their own safety for care for others. I’m proud of lead the Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act with Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Summer Lee to increase safety measures and ensure fair compensation for healthcare workers,” said Rep. Ro Khanna The Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act would help ensure that health care workers receive the compensation, workplace protections, and support they deserve when responding to dangerous conditions and emergency situations. Specifically, the Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act would: Pay essential workers in health care hazard pay, up to $25,000 a year, for their work during an emergency or disaster declaration; Equip workers in health care with necessary safety measures like personal protective equipment; and, Secure safer, alternative modes of transportation for health care workers, when their commutes are made hazardous by disaster. Health care workers have long served on the front lines of crisis, from public health emergencies to climate-fueled disasters, often while facing unsafe working conditions, chronic understaffing, and inadequate compensation. This legislation recognizes the essential role they play in keeping communities safe and healthy. Rep. Lee has consistently fought for the dignity, safety, and rights of health care workers in Western Pennsylvania and across the country. From standing with hospital workers organizing for better conditions, to pressing for accountability from major hospital systems, to advancing a broader vision of health care as a human right, Lee has made clear that nurses, aides, technicians, environmental services staff, and other frontline workers deserve fair pay, safe workplaces, and the respect their labor demands. The bill is co-sponsored by: André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12). The bill is endorsed by: SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, American Federation of Teachers, American College of Nurse Midwives, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Massachusetts Nurses Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, and Transhealth. To view the bill text, click HERE. Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.

Rep. Summer Lee Calls for Closure of Moshannon Detention Facility After Reports of Hunger Strike Following Abuse and Retaliation

Position: Rep. Lee calls for closure of the Moshannon Detention Facility, citing reports of abuse, retaliation against detainees who speak out, and inadequate oversight of the privately operated immigration detention center. She argues that taxpayer dollars should not fund private detention facilities that operate without meaningful accountability.

WASHINGTON D.C. – APRIL 22, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) condemned conditions at the Moshannon Detention Facility and called for accountability and closure following reports of a hunger strike over food conditions and allegations that detainees were placed in solitary confinement after speaking out. Last year, Rep. Lee attempted to enter the facility as part of a lawful congressional oversight visit but was denied access, raising serious concerns about transparency and conditions inside the privately operated detention center. “Moshannon Detention Facility reflects the cruelty, secrecy, and dehumanization that have long defined the Trump administration’s approach to immigration,” said Rep. Lee. “When I was denied entry during a lawful oversight visit, it raised serious concerns about what ICE and this privately run facility do not want the public to see. Reports of a hunger strike over terrible conditions, of detainees becoming sick because of the food, and of detainees being placed in solitary confinement after speaking out only confirm that without real oversight, abuse and neglect will continue." Rep. Lee confirmed that she plans to make another effort to visit the facility and continue pressing for transparency and accountability. “I plan to make another effort to conduct oversight over the facility to ensure transparency and accountability,” Rep. Lee continued. “Taxpayer dollars should not fund private institutions that inhumanely incarcerate people with little to no oversight or meaningful accountability. At every turn, we have seen private detention facilities brazenly profit off the pain of immigrant communities, while families are left to carry the trauma, fear, and uncertainty that this system creates.” The Moshannon facility, which transitioned from a federal prison to an ICE detention center, has drawn increasing scrutiny over conditions, oversight, and the use of public resources to support private immigration detention. “The people detained at Moshannon, their families, and the surrounding community deserve far better than this,” Rep. Lee said. “Moshannon should be shut down, and we should be investing instead in systems that protect dignity, support families, and strengthen communities.” Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.

Ranking Members Summer Lee and Robert Garcia Demand Accountability for DHS’s Violent and Unlawful Immigration Enforcement

Position: The representatives demand accountability and investigation of DHS immigration enforcement agents for documented abuse and misconduct, and call for an end to what they characterize as unlawful enforcement practices and a culture of impunity within the agency.

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 20, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, joined Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent letters to four Department of Homeland Security (DHS) oversight entities demanding accountability for the agency’s violent and unlawful immigration enforcement tactics. The letters were sent to the DHS Office of Inspector General, the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Professional Responsibility, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Professional Responsibility. These internal watchdogs are supposed to ensure that DHS obeys the law, and to hold wrongdoing accountable. “For too long, DHS agents have brutalized immigrants and even U.S. citizens with the expectation that no one will stop them and no one will make them answer for the harm they cause. That impunity was built by design and it was fed by officials who have excused the violence, hidden the truth, and treated human beings like they are disposable. These letters make clear that we are done accepting cruelty as policy and lawlessness as business as usual. Every person terrorized, beaten, disappeared, or stripped of their rights deserves accountability, and every official who helped create this culture of abuse must be investigated. The era of unchecked abuse must end here,” said Ranking Member Summer Lee. “Oversight Democrats have documented hundreds of incidents of abuse and misconduct by DHS immigration enforcement agents, and every single one of them deserves a full investigation. We are demanding answers from every oversight body within DHS, and we will not stop until there is real accountability for every incident we have documented. All those who hurt innocent people, including American citizens, will be held accountable, and so will those who enabled these crimes. We are just getting started,” said Ranking Member Robert Garcia. In the letters to the oversight entities, Ranking Members Lee and Garcia wrote, “This conduct has not occurred in a vacuum. Since January 20, 2025, ICE, CBP, and other DHS officers and agents have taken these egregious actions in pursuit of the Trump Administration’s mass deportation campaign and at the encouragement of White House and DHS leadership. White House and DHS officials have stated that DHS personnel have “absolute immunity;” lied about this misconduct to the public, Congress, and the courts; reflexively defended personnel who have engaged in misconduct while smearing their victims; and allowed officers and agents to operate with masks and without identifying information. This culture of impunity must end.” Rep. Lee has consistently led oversight efforts to expose and challenge abusive immigration enforcement practices at DHS. As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, Lee has pressed DHS over ICE’s reported use of foreign spyware against people in the United States, demanded answers about masked agents and unmarked vehicles used in immigration raids, and launched a congressional inquiry into the detention of a Brentwood asylum seeker with a valid work permit and no criminal record. She has repeatedly used her platform on the Oversight Committee to demand transparency, defend civil liberties and due process, and hold DHS and ICE accountable for policies and practices that terrorize immigrant communities and violate fundamental rights. Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.

VIDEO: Rep. Summer Lee Presses HHS Secretary RFK Jr. on Black Maternal Health

Position: Rep. Lee opposes the Trump administration's cuts to Black maternal health research funding, elimination of the Healthy Start program, and restrictions on diversity and equity initiatives in federal health programs, arguing these policies undermine efforts to address preventable maternal mortality disparities affecting Black women.

(Watch the full video here)  WASHINGTON, D.C. – APRIL 17, 2026 — Today during Black Maternal Health Week, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) sharply questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a House Committee on Education and Workforce hearing titled “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Health and Human Services”, pressing him on the Trump administration’s attacks on Black maternal health research, community-based maternal health programs, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives, and his alarming statements about re-parenting Black kids. During the hearing, Rep. Lee pressed Secretary Kennedy on the devastating reality that Black women are at least three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, despite the fact that the vast majority of those deaths are preventable. She raised alarm over reported cancellations of NIH grants researching Black maternal health, the administration’s proposed elimination of the Healthy Start program in its FY27 budget, and efforts to restrict how federal programs, schools, and institutions address racial disparities in healthcare. “This is ‘Black maternal health week,’ so I’ll start there,” said Rep. Lee. “Secretary Kennedy, I’m sure you’re aware that Black women are at least three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. The vast majority of these deaths are preventable. Black women in my district are more likely to die during pregnancy than their peers in 97% of U.S. cities.” Rep. Lee also pressed Secretary Kennedy repeatedly on whether educating future doctors and public health professionals about the Black maternal mortality crisis would be treated by his administration as “illegal DEI.” She also challenged him on rhetoric and policies that undermine evidence-based public health and maternal care, including directives that discouraged the use of words like “Black” in funding applications and broader efforts to dismantle federal diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policies. “Your agency told programs to remove a list of nearly 200 words and phrases from their funding applications, including the word ‘Black,’” Lee said. “How are we going to solve the Black maternal mortality crisis if we cannot say ‘Black’?” Rep. Lee’s exchange with Secretary Kennedy comes as Black Maternal Health Week draws renewed attention to the racial disparities that persist across the U.S. healthcare system and the urgent need for sustained federal action to address them. Rep. Lee is a member of the Mama’s Caucus and has been a consistent advocate for addressing the Black maternal health crisis in Congress. In 2023, she joined House Oversight Committee members and Black Maternal Health Caucus leaders in releasing a new report on the maternal health crisis and access to midwife care, highlighting barriers to midwifery care and calling for greater investment in coverage, education, and workforce support. She has also strongly backed the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, a comprehensive legislative package to confront the disproportionate maternal health risks facing Black women through investments in community-based care, workforce diversification, better data collection, maternal mental health, and other supports. To see the full video, please click here. Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.

Rep. Summer Lee, Senator Martin Heinrich Introduce Bicameral Bill to Help Schools Reenvision & Build Vibrant Outdoor Learning Spaces

Position: Rep. Lee and Sen. Heinrich support federal grant funding to help schools transform schoolyards into green, nature-rich outdoor learning spaces that improve student health, mental well-being, and access to nature, with priority given to under-resourced and Tribal communities.

Bill Text (PDF) WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 15, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and a former outdoor educator, announced the introduction of the Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act, legislation to help schools from Pennsylvania to New Mexico and nationwide transform schoolyards into vibrant, nature-rich spaces for learning, play, and community use. For many kids, the closest outdoor space is an asphalt schoolyard, offering little opportunity for safe play, shade, or connection to nature. The Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act helps address this by providing grants to schools and districts to transform their schoolyards into dynamic outdoor learning environments. “Growing up in the Mon Valley, I’ve seen how our environments shape what our children believe is possible,” said Rep. Lee. “For too many students, especially in under-resourced communities, schoolyards are just concrete and heat and not a place that invites curiosity, creativity, or connection. The Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act is about investing in our kids’ health and futures by transforming these spaces into green, vibrant environments. Every child deserves access to nature and safe, inspiring spaces, no matter their zip code.” “As a father, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is for kids to have outdoor spaces where they can learn, play, and grow,” said Sen. Heinrich. “I’m proud to lead legislation in the Senate that will help New Mexico schools turn schoolyards into greener spaces where students can garden, conduct outdoor science experiments, and connect with nature.” Specifically, the Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act will: Establish a grant program through the U.S. Department of Education to support the transformation of schoolyards into green, community-centered spaces. Fund schoolyard renovations, prioritizing communities with the greatest need, including Tribal schools. Boost kids’ physical and mental health, learning, and access to nature. Help schools grow healthy foods, trees, and pollinator plants. Support schools' conservation of water, create wildlife habitat, and increase climate resilience. Open schoolyards to communities after school hours, expanding access to safe places to play. The full text of the bill is here. The legislation is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers, Green Schoolyards America, Trust for Public Land, National Education Association, and more. A full list of endorsers is here. “Representative Summer Lee recognizes that access to safe, green outdoor spaces is essential for children’s education and for their physical and mental health. At schools like Greenfield Elementary in Pittsburgh, we’ve seen how transforming asphalt into green space can create cooler, healthier places for students and families. However, many children—especially in urban communities—still lack access to nature where they learn and play every day. The Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act is a vital step toward addressing that disparity by investing in schoolyards that serve entire communities,” Carrie Besnette Hauser, President & CEO Trust for Public Land. "The Revitalizing America's Schoolyards Act is a monumental step towards realizing vital outdoor environments that enhance children's health, well-being, and academic success. We've seen firsthand how green schoolyards transform asphalt into vibrant learning ecosystems, fostering hands-on discovery, social connection, and joy. We particularly applaud the bill's prioritization of funding for communities most in need, ensuring this investment builds more resilient and equitable futures for all,” said Sarah Milligan-Toffler, President & CEO, Children & Nature Network "Schoolyards are among the most ubiquitous, easily accessible public spaces throughout all types of U.S. communities. They are also, in many cases, ecologically degraded and underused by both the school and surrounding community. The Revitalizing America's Schoolyards Act would move the nation toward a future where school-community connections are deepened, more Americans have increased, low-barrier access to nearby natural spaces, and local health is improved for both people and the environment. The Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative fully supports this legislation and a world in which all students and their families in the U.S. have meaningful, everyday opportunities to learn, play, connect, explore, and pursue healthy lifestyles in natural outdoor spaces in their communities,” said Caleb Carlton, President & CEO, Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative “We are failing our children’s education needs. Creating meaningful, experiential learning opportunities for every child is more important than ever. These experiences provide vital opportunities for our children to connect what they are reading and hearing in the classroom to the world around them, allowing for critical learning,” said Megan Karch from Islandwood. “The Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act is a powerful step toward building a more equitable and inclusive outdoor future. By transforming schoolyards into vibrant, nature-rich spaces designed with and for the community, this legislation advances access to the outdoors, supports the well-being of youth, and honors the leadership of those most impacted by environmental injustice. Justice Outside proudly supports this effort to ensure every child—regardless of zip code—can learn, play, and thrive in healthy outdoor environments,” said Rena Payan from Justice Outside. “I applaud Sen. Heinrich’s extraordinary leadership on the issue of revitalizing schoolyards to support the educational, recreational, and public health goals our kids need to meet to develop into happy and healthy adults. For nearly thirty years, KABOOM! has been working with school districts to transform their schoolyard playgrounds. This legislation will allow us to expand our work to build innovative playspaces that meet children’s many needs, as we have successfully done in places like Oakland, CA, through the creation of engaging schoolyards that connect kids to nature and become central to their daily lives,” said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM! “Science has shown that kids are happier and healthier when they spend time in nature, whether it’s a national park or a schoolyard. Those benefits are blunted, however, when those schoolyards are blacktop patches instead of green fields. The Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act will help ensure kids have a direct connection to trees and green spaces at their school and strengthen ties between our youth and the ecosystems that surround them,” said Robert Scott, Deputy Director of Federal Policy with Sierra Club. “So much of our learning takes place outside the classroom as well as within it. For students, access to outdoor spaces that are on school grounds, especially those that incorporate nature and hands-on learning, is essential to their mental and physical well-being. That’s why we’re proud to support the Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act and applaud Senator Heinrich for introducing this important legislation, which promises to have positive impacts that extend far beyond the playground,” said Paul Sanford, Director for Equitable Access Policy Advocacy, The Wilderness Society. Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.