Jennifer L. McClellan

Joint Statement from Reps. Jennifer McClellan and Emilia Sykes on Mifepristone Ruling and Ongoing Legal Uncertainty

Position: Representatives McClellan and Sykes affirm that mifepristone is safe and effective, express concern about legal uncertainty surrounding its access, and commit to fighting for continued access to medication abortion nationwide.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Chair of the Abortion Rights and Access Task Force of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Chair of the Reproductive Justice Task Force of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, released the following joint statement: “As Chairs of task forces within the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, we are closely monitoring the case Louisiana v. FDA. Regardless of what lies in the fine print, let us be clear about one thing: mifepristone was safe and effective when the FDA first approved it over 25 years ago, and it has remained safe and effective for the millions of people who have used it to end their pregnancies and manage their miscarriages since. This is true in health care settings, and it is true at home. “Though the Supreme Court has temporarily reinstated access to mifepristone, questions remain about how long this decision will stand and what might change going forward. We cannot allow this uncertainty to continue. “We are deeply concerned about the lasting impacts this decision may have not only in Louisiana, but nationwide. As additional details become clear in the coming hours and days, we will continue fighting for access to reproductive health care, including medication abortion, for all people.” Issues:Health

McClellan Statement on Republican Farm Bill

Position: Congresswoman McClellan opposes H.R. 7567, the Republican farm bill, arguing it fails to provide adequate assistance to family farmers recovering from tariff-related losses, does not fund programs for new or underserved farmers, ignores specialty crop relief requests, and cuts SNAP nutrition funding.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement on H.R. 7567, an omnibus, multiyear farm bill led by House Republicans that governs an array of agricultural and food programs: “As the number one private industry in the Commonwealth, Virginia boasts a flourishing agricultural sector. We rely heavily on our farms, 90% of which are family-owned, to keep families fed and ensure our local economies and communities thrive. Since coming to Congress, I’ve met with farmers all across my district to hear their concerns for the future, where they’ve expressed anxiety over their finances, upended by rising costs and an economic crisis caused by the Trump Administration’s senseless tariff war. “As the backbone of our economy, our farmers deserve action from Congress that doesn’t take them for granted. Yet this latest Farm Bill spearheaded by House Republicans does little to address this uncertainty. As family farmers struggle to recover from the $54 billion in losses they’ve suffered under this Administration, this bill does not provide any additional farm assistance to help them offset the damage done from tariffs, rising input costs and low commodity prices. It does not provide any additional funding for programs serving new or underserved farmers or rural small businesses, and it ignores the request from specialty crop farmers for $5 billion in economic relief. “This bill also undermines public health by cutting funding for conservation and protecting the devastating $187 billion in cuts to SNAP and other nutrition programs made in the Big Ugly Law — condemning families and children to go hungry. For these reasons, I voted against this Farm Bill until we put forth a bill that addresses these persistent issues. “Our farmers face a series of new challenges with the climate crisis and rising costs, in an industry that already operates on tight margins. Until Republicans stop playing partisan games and work with Democrats to develop a bill that gives our farmers the resources and opportunities they asked for, I will continue to stand against House Republicans’ misplaced priorities.”

McClellan Statement on Louisiana v. Callais SCOTUS Decision Gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act

Position: Congresswoman McClellan opposes the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision, which she argues has gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by making it nearly impossible to enforce protections against racial discrimination in voting. She calls on Congress to restore VRA protections weakened since Shelby County v. Holder.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement on the decision reached by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in Louisiana v. Callais gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by making it virtually impossible to enforce: “When my great-grandfather registered to vote, he was forced to take a literacy test and find three white men to vouch for his character. My father and grandfather were forced to pay poll taxes to register to vote. My family has felt the weight of voter suppression for generations. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) changed that for the better when Section 2 banned such voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race or language. “While the 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais upholds the constitutionality of Section 2, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court leaves it powerless to address racial discrimination in our electoral system and opens the door for a new wave of unbridled racial gerrymandering. This devastating blow is the latest step in the Roberts Court’s campaign to erode key protections of the VRA, beginning with the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision. Today’s ruling makes it nearly impossible to ensure minority voters have a fair opportunity to elect the candidate of their choice and threatens Black representation across the country. These ongoing attacks pull us farther away from the ideals upon which our nation was founded and undermine generations of progress to achieve fair participation and representation in a government by, of and for the people. “I’ve fought to expand voting rights for decades, championing legislation in 2021 that made Virginia the first state in the South to adopt its own Voting Rights Act. Now, we must continue to stand against new challenges to these efforts, and Congress must act to restore the VRA protections gutted since Shelby County v. Holder. “I condemn all efforts to roll back the progress we have made over the past century. These attacks cannot go unchecked. I’ll continue working alongside lawmakers, advocates and public officials to pursue all avenues to strengthen and defend the protections that allowed millions of people, including my family, to exercise their constitutional right to participate in our democracy.”

McClellan Statement on Vote on FISA Reauthorization

Position: Congresswoman McClellan voted against S.1318 to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, opposing the reauthorization without reforms to protect privacy rights and prevent warrantless surveillance of American citizens.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after she voted against S.1318 to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: “When Congress enacted Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 2008, lawmakers intended to expand the government’s ability to conduct surveillance on suspected foreign terrorists. Since then, Section 702 has been exploited to spy on American citizens. Protestors, journalists, campaign donors and government officials have been subjected to baseless backdoor searches that violate the original intent of the legislation and their civil liberties. Additionally, loopholes and a lack of comprehensive privacy legislation allow federal agencies to purchase the data of private citizens from data brokers and conduct searches without warrants, circumventing the Fourth Amendment. “Despite opposition from both sides, Speaker Mike Johnson sought to jam a three-year reauthorization of FISA through the House without any reforms to protect Americans’ right to privacy. Last week, he tried to force a five-year reauthorization for a vote in the middle of the night and failed on a bipartisan basis. Today, he tried again. I voted no because the bill fails to provide critical measures to stop the widespread surveillance of Americans’ private communications data and does nothing to stop the ongoing abuse of FISA. “The language of the Fourth Amendment clearly protects the people from unreasonable searches and seizures. Instead of upholding our constitutional rights, Speaker Johnson chose to bend the knee to the Trump Administration’s goals of conducting widespread, unchecked surveillance of the public. The vast majority of Americans across the political spectrum do not want FISA to be reauthorized in its current state. I oppose authorization without reforms to protect privacy rights and civil liberties from an Administration that seeks to weaponize these tools to target its political enemies.”

McClellan, Matsui, Neguse, Cohen Lead Resolution to Commemorate Earth Day 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), co-chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) led a group of 56 total lawmakers in introducing a resolution that recognizes recent historic environmental actions that have improved the health and well-being of our planet, while reaffirming the work that still needs to be done to secure a livable future for the next generation. “As the climate crisis exacerbates natural disasters, extreme weather events and more, I often think of my children and the world they will inherit long after I am gone,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “We cannot afford to sit back and do nothing as future generations look to us to fight for a healthy, livable planet. While the Trump Administration continues to roll back environmental protections and neglects our duty to invest in clean energy and energy efficiency programs, I join Reps. Matsui, Neguse and Cohen to recommit ourselves to working towards a clean and sustainable future — because there is no Planet B.” “Earth Day is about people as much as it is about the planet. It is about the air our children breathe, the water families drink, and the future we leave for our children,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “We have made real progress to reduce pollution, expand clean energy, and build healthier communities – and those gains are making a difference in people’s lives. But while the Trump Administration is rolling back environmental protections, we cannot afford to lose ground. This resolution honors how far we have come and renews our responsibility to keep fighting for the next generation.” “On Earth Day, communities across the country reaffirm their commitment to protecting the environment and our treasured public lands,” said Congressman Neguse. “And for me, as a proud Coloradan, the fight to ensure future generations can enjoy the outdoors the same way we have is deeply personal. Which is why I’m proud to join my colleagues in continuing to charge forward in Congress with efforts that prioritize protecting our planet.” “Addressing the climate crisis is necessary to save lives and protect generations yet unborn. I am proud to join my colleagues including Representatives Matsui, Neguse, and McClellan to fight the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle safeguards, abandon proven conservation practices, cancel clean energy projects, and further entrench dependence on fossil fuels,” said Congressman Cohen. “On this Earth Day, I hope the people of this planet will take a moment to reflect on the image of a blue marble in infinite space that our astronauts on Artemis just gifted us as they flew home from the moon, and renew a commitment to making our world more healthy in both large and small ways.” Over the past year, the Trump Administration has made repeated attacks to unravel climate action and environmental protections. The Administration has revoked the Endangerment Finding, which found that greenhouse gases are a threat to public safety and is the legal foundation for federal regulation of climate pollution under the Clean Air Act. They have also weakened pollution restrictions, narrowed clean water protections, expedited fossil fuel projects past normal review, and retreated from global climate commitments. Read the full resolution HERE.