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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez official portrait

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

D

house · NY-14

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Read the record. Not the rhetoric.

See how Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's votes line up with your values.

DeepSyte scores Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's record on the issues you care about — not party, not press releases. Take the 2-minute values quiz to see your personal alignment.

Alignment with your views

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Prediction track record

How often we called Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's passage votes correctly, from their stated positions on each bill's tagged topics. Excludes “unclear” calls and abstentions.

100%
Accuracy
3
Correct
0
Incorrect
374
Pending
  1. Right119-hr-5587

    HEATS Act

    Predicted NO
    Actual NO
    Bill
  2. Right119-hr-4216

    Made-in-America Defense Act

    Predicted NO
    Actual NO
    Bill
  3. Right119-hconres-68

    To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.

    Predicted YES
    Actual YES
    Bill
  4. Pending vote119-sjres-123

    A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.

    Predicted YES
    Bill
  5. Pending vote119-hr-5340

    To prohibit the disclosure of records by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of individuals for the purposes of immigration enforcement, and for other purposes.

    Predicted YES
    Bill
  6. Pending vote119-sjres-184

    A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.

    Predicted YES
    Bill

Consistency insights

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez · statement ↔ vote record

84
Consistency score

Based on 6 data points across public statements and recorded votes · AI analysis of public records

  • 119-hconres-93Consistent

    Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.

    95/100

    What they said

    Feb 28, 2026

    Representative Ocasio-Cortez opposes the Trump Administration's military operations in Iran, characterizing them as unlawful, unnecessary, and unconstitutional. She argues that diplomacy was available and that Congress, not the President, has constitutional authority to authorize war, and she commits to voting for a War Powers Resolution to halt the operations.

    What they did

    Sep 16, 2026

    Voted Yea on Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.

    AI analysis

    Ocasio-Cortez's statement opposes the Administration's military operations in Iran and commits to voting for the Khanna-Massie War Powers Resolution to halt them. H.Con.Res. 93 directs removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, and she voted yes on its passage, matching her stated commitment. The bill's allowance for defensive operations is a narrow qualification that does not contradict her position on offensive operations.

  • 118-hr-6285Consistent

    Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023

    92/100

    What they said

    Apr 23, 2026

    The lawmakers oppose the Department of Energy's reallocation of Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund money away from solar and battery projects for vulnerable populations toward fossil fuel infrastructure, and demand transparency and congressional briefing on the fund's use.

    What they did

    May 1, 2024

    Voted Nay on Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023

    AI analysis

    Ocasio-Cortez's statement opposes reallocation of renewable energy funds toward fossil fuel infrastructure and demands transparency in energy policy decisions. Her no vote on Alaska's Right to Produce Act—which mandates oil and gas leasing in ANWR and limits presidential authority to cancel such leases—is directly consistent with her stated opposition to fossil fuel projects and advocacy for renewable energy prioritization. Both the statement and vote reflect opposition to fossil fuel expansion.

  • 118-hr-4366Consistent

    Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

    85/100

    What they said

    Apr 23, 2026

    The lawmakers oppose the Department of Energy's reallocation of Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund money away from solar and battery projects for vulnerable populations toward fossil fuel infrastructure, and demand transparency and congressional briefing on the fund's use.

    What they did

    Jul 27, 2023

    Voted Nay on Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

    AI analysis

    Ocasio-Cortez opposed the reallocation of Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund money away from solar and battery projects toward fossil fuel infrastructure, and voted against the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which includes the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill. The vote against a broad appropriations package that funds DOE operations is directionally consistent with her stated opposition to DOE's misuse of the ERF fund. However, the appropriations bill is a bundled measure covering multiple agencies and programs, so the 'no' vote may reflect objections to other provisions beyond the ERF issue, creating some ambiguity about whether the vote was primarily motivated by the ERF concern.

    medium confidence
  • 118-hr-1Consistent

    Lower Energy Costs Act

    85/100

    What they said

    Apr 23, 2026

    The lawmakers oppose the Department of Energy's reallocation of Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund money away from solar and battery projects for vulnerable populations toward fossil fuel infrastructure, and demand transparency and congressional briefing on the fund's use.

    What they did

    Mar 30, 2023

    Voted Nay on Lower Energy Costs Act

    AI analysis

    The statement opposes DOE's reallocation of Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund money away from renewable energy (solar/batteries) toward fossil fuel infrastructure. The Lower Energy Costs Act promotes fossil fuel development, hydraulic fracturing, and petrochemical refinery expansion—policies directionally opposed to the renewable energy priorities expressed in the statement. The rep's NO vote on the bill aligns with opposition to fossil fuel-focused energy policy.

    medium confidence
  • 118-hr-6544Consistent

    Atomic Energy Advancement Act

    75/100

    What they said

    Apr 23, 2026

    The lawmakers oppose the Department of Energy's reallocation of Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund money away from solar and battery projects for vulnerable populations toward fossil fuel infrastructure, and demand transparency and congressional briefing on the fund's use.

    What they did

    Feb 29, 2024

    Voted Nay on Atomic Energy Advancement Act

    AI analysis

    Ocasio-Cortez opposed reallocation of Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund money away from solar and battery projects toward fossil fuel infrastructure, and voted against the Atomic Energy Advancement Act. However, the bill focuses on accelerating nuclear energy deployment and licensing efficiency, not on the specific Puerto Rico fund reallocation or solar/fossil fuel trade-offs that animated her statement. Her no vote aligns directionally with clean energy advocacy (opposing nuclear as an alternative to renewables), but the bill does not directly address the fund misuse or fossil fuel pipeline concerns she raised.

    medium confidence
  • 119-hconres-68Consistent

    To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.

    72/100

    What they said

    Feb 28, 2026

    Representative Ocasio-Cortez opposes the Trump Administration's military operations in Iran, characterizing them as unlawful, unnecessary, and unconstitutional. She argues that diplomacy was available and that Congress, not the President, has constitutional authority to authorize war, and she commits to voting for a War Powers Resolution to halt the operations.

    What they did

    Jan 22, 2026

    Voted Yea on To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.

    AI analysis

    The statement opposes unauthorized U.S. military operations abroad and insists Congress must authorize war, which aligns with a resolution directing removal of U.S. forces from Venezuela absent congressional authorization. The statement concerns Iran rather than Venezuela, so the specific country and operation differ, though the constitutional war-powers principle is the same and the YES vote matches it.

    medium confidence

Pairs with ambiguous language and high uncertainty are withheld until more data is available. Procedural, cloture, and amendment votes are excluded — they don't cleanly signal substantive support or opposition.

Pro analysis

AI rep analysis — Pro

Get an AI-narrated read on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's full voting record against your stated values — aligned themes, conflicts, notable votes, and what to watch for.

Campaign promises

Positions Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took during their campaign, scored against their subsequent record — public statements cross-checked with related votes. “Kept” means 80%+ of those statement-vs-vote pairs aligned; “Broken” means 30% or fewer.

2 kept0 broken6 mixed23 no action yet
  1. MixedSupports

    The government should fund more electric vehicle charging stations.

    “we will dramatically expand and upgrade our renewable power sources...invest heavily in zero-emission manufacturing and infrastructure”

    1 / 8 pairs alignedSource
  2. MixedSupports

    Medicare should be allowed to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.

    “A national healthcare system has stronger buying power and can negotiate lower prices for drugs and medical equipment”

    0 / 8 pairs alignedSource
  3. MixedSupports

    The government should set legally enforceable limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

    “The Green New Deal aims to reach this target by bringing the U.S. to net-zero emissions by 2030”

    7 / 55 pairs alignedSource
  4. MixedSupports

    The government should stop subsidizing oil and gas companies.

    “The Green New Deal calls for a just transition for the millions of workers currently employed in the fossil fuel... industries”

    7 / 41 pairs alignedSource
  5. MixedOpposes

    The U.S. should spend more on the military.

    “the Pentagon's budget for 2018 is $700 billion dollars, all to continue fighting an endless War on Terror”

    1 / 10 pairs alignedSource
  6. MixedSupports

    The federal minimum wage should be raised.

    “A Federal Jobs Guarantee would create a baseline standard for employment that includes a livable wage (pegged to inflation)”

    0 / 1 pairs alignedSource
  7. KeptSupports

    The government should spend more building affordable housing.

    “Alexandria has called for $70 billion in funding to fix our nation's crumbling public housing system... build new affordable housing”

    1 / 2 pairs alignedSource
  8. KeptSupports

    The government should invest in expanding passenger rail, including high-speed rail.

    “we will build clean, affordable transit systems connected by high-speed rail.”

    1 / 2 pairs alignedSource
  9. No action yetSupports

    Access to contraception should be guaranteed by federal law in all states (Right to Contraception Act).

    “all women deserve equal access to workplace safety, equal pay, paid parental leave, full access to healthcare, and more”

  10. No action yetSupports

    All gun sales — including private ones — should require a background check.

  11. No action yetSupports

    Non-compete clauses in employment contracts should be banned at the federal level.

  12. No action yetSupports

    Washington, D.C. should be granted statehood.

  13. No action yetSupports

    Federal antitrust laws should be strengthened to break up dominant technology platforms.

  14. No action yetSupports

    Civilian ownership of AR-15-style rifles should be restricted.

  15. No action yetSupports

    A national law should protect access to abortion in every state.

    “full access to healthcare, and more. She wants to create a society in which women...are free and able to care for and nurture their families”

  16. No action yetSupports

    The expanded child tax credit (refundable, paid monthly) should be made permanent.

    “A Federal Jobs Guarantee would create a baseline standard for employment that includes...child and sick leave for all”

  17. No action yetSupports

    Marijuana should be legal under federal law.

    “decriminalizing activities that are byproducts of poverty and homelessness (such as sex work and drug use)”

  18. No action yetSupports

    Section 8 housing voucher funding should be increased substantially.

    “Protect current occupants, repair public housing, and build new affordable housing”

  19. No action yetSupports

    Federal funding to replace lead water pipes nationwide should be expanded.

    “guarantee clean air and water, healthy food, quality healthcare and affordable housing”

  20. No action yetSupports

    SNAP (food stamp) eligibility and benefit levels should be expanded.

    “access to any retirement, welfare, health, disability, public or assisted housing, postsecondary education, food assistance, and unemployment benefit”

  21. No action yetSupports

    The government should provide healthcare for everyone.

    “Alexandria is calling to provide Medicare access... Medicare for All uncouples healthcare from your job.”

  22. No action yetSupports

    People who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children should have a path to citizenship.

    “make undocumented individuals full members of the country they call their home... Embrace Act”

  23. No action yetOpposes

    The U.S. should do more to enforce immigration laws and secure the border.

    “It is past time to make them full members of the country they call their home and abolish ICE.”

  24. No action yetOpposes

    The U.S. should bring more troops home from overseas bases.

    “Alexandria believes that we must end the "forever war" by bringing our troops home”

  25. No action yetSupports

    Federal minimum sentences for non-violent drug crimes should be reduced or eliminated.

    “ending mandatory minimum sentences, decriminalizing activities that are byproducts of poverty”

  26. No action yetSupports

    Federal law should allow individuals to sue police officers for civil-rights violations even when officers claim qualified immunity.

    “ending 'qualified immunity' (which shields police from liability for their illegal or unconstitutional acts)”

  27. No action yetSupports

    Cities should have to ease their zoning rules to qualify for federal infrastructure money.

    “offering additional funds to local governments that... streamlining permits and timelines to accelerate the building of affordable housing”

  28. No action yetSupports

    Federal labor law should make it easier for workers to form unions (PRO Act-style reforms).

    “We need to repeal the Taft-Hartley Act, which limits the power of workers and unions to fight and push for better working conditions.”

  29. No action yetSupports

    Gig-economy workers should be classified as employees with full labor protections by federal default.

    “Prevailing wages, project labor agreements, no arbitration clauses, employees not contractors, and collective bargaining”

  30. No action yetSupports

    The government should forgive some federal student loan debt.

    “through the Student Debt Cancellation Act, we will forgive outstanding federal and private student loans”

  31. No action yetSupports

    The federal government should require employers to provide paid family and medical leave.

    “These jobs would also provide adequate family and medical leave, paid vacations, and retirement security.”

  32. No action yetSupports

    Federal Title IX protections should explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity.

    “Support LGBTQIA+ Rights: Expand protections for LGBTQIA+ people of color and end the criminalization of LGBTQIA+ identities”

  33. No action yetSupports

    Supreme Court justices should be bound by a binding code of ethics enforceable by Congress.

  34. No action yetOpposes

    States, not the federal government, should decide who gets Medicaid and what it covers.

    “Medicare for All uncouples healthcare from your job. It allows everyone to receive quality care...”

  35. No action yetSupports

    Federal enforcement of mental-health insurance parity (equal coverage to medical care) should be strengthened.

    “It will cover primary, mental, dental, vision, women's health, and emergency room care”

  36. No action yetOpposes

    The federal government should send more money to local police departments.

    “we must divest from policing as a one-stop-solution to community problems and instead invest in healthcare, housing”

  37. No action yetSupports

    Tax breaks for homeowners — like the mortgage interest deduction — should stay.

    “Alexandria supports extending tax benefits to working and middle-class homeowners so that they too can secure housing.”

  38. No action yetOpposes

    Parents should be able to use public funds — through vouchers — to send their kids to private or charter schools.

    “Our historic public school system should never be on the chopping block”

Crossing the aisle

Passage votes where Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez broke ranks with ≥75% of Democrats. Threshold catches substantively partisan splits; unanimous-ish or close votes are excluded.

20
Cross-aisle votes
  1. 119-hr-4216·Sep 2, 2025·91% of D voted YES

    Made-in-America Defense Act

    Rep voted NO
    Bill
  2. 118-hr-5349·Dec 6, 2024·81% of D voted YES

    Crucial Communism Teaching Act

    Rep voted NO
    Bill
  3. 118-hr-7073·Sep 24, 2024·90% of D voted YES

    Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act

    Rep voted NO
    Bill
  4. 118-hr-1157·Sep 9, 2024·94% of D voted YES

    Countering the PRC Malign Influence Fund Authorization Act of 2023

    Rep voted NO
    Bill
  5. 118-hr-6572·May 15, 2024·78% of D voted YES

    Deploying American Blockchains Act of 2023

    Rep voted NO
    Bill
  6. 118-s-546·May 14, 2024·96% of D voted YES

    Recruit and Retain Act

    Rep voted NO
    Bill

+ 14 more in the record

Recent votes

Recent statements

October 13, 2026House press release

Ocasio-Cortez, McClain Delaney, Beyer, Mfume, Subramanyam, and Elfreth Lead Calls to Pause FAA’s AI Tool at Washington-Area Airports

Position: The release urges the FAA to pause deployment of its AI-enabled SMART air traffic management tool at three Washington-area airports until the agency publishes safety testing, consults air traffic controllers, and clarifies implementation and oversight.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Don Beyer (VA-08), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), and Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) are leading a congressional letter urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pause use of its new artificial intelligence-enabled air traffic management tool until the agency answers questions about safety testing, implementation, and oversight. The letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford raises concerns about the September 21 deployment of the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories (SMART) tool at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. “Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration surprisingly launched an AI tool to help control air traffic over three major National Capital Region Airports, with plans to expand nationwide in the following 90 days. They did so without publishing a safety evaluation or sufficiently consulting air traffic controllers and safety experts. We are urging Transportation Secretary Duffy and FAA Administrator Bedford to stop the rollout until we have answers. This administration may treat Big Tech companies with impunity, but air traffic control leaves zero margin for error,” said Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “When Maryland families board a plane, they deserve to know that every system guiding their flight has been thoroughly tested and that the people keeping them safe have the training they need,” said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. “After the devastating crash over DCA that took 67 lives, the FAA owes this region answers. I support modernizing our aviation systems, but passenger safety must come first. I’m calling on the FAA to pause this rollout, show us the safety testing, and explain who is accountable when something goes wrong.” The FAA’s rush to deploy a system that could affect the lives of millions of Americans is especially concerning for residents of this region, who are still grappling with questions about air safety following last year’s fatal crash at DCA. Before deploying its AI-enabled SMART air traffic control tool, the FAA must demonstrate, through air traffic controller feedback and independently verified testing, that this technology is safe and reliable, and it must clearly communicate those findings to the public,” said Congressman Don Beyer. "Families across Baltimore count on BWI to get them where they’re going safely. Yet the Trump Administration recklessly rolled out an untested AI air traffic tool there without publishing a safety evaluation or adequately consulting the air traffic controllers who keep us safe. There is no room for error in our skies. I am proud to co-lead this letter calling for public transparency and answers from Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford on how this system was tested, who was consulted, and how it will be evaluated. Until they provide answers that ensure that this technology is safe, the FAA must pause its use," said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “The airspace in the DC region is incredibly complicated and demands the highest standard of safety and reliability from Air Traffic Control. We need to be extremely cautious about implementing AI tools into the systems responsible for the safety of our skies. I urge the FAA to prove that the system does not pose a risk to the public before allowing its use," said Congressman Suhas Subramanyam. “Every day, our airports and their staff ensure tens of thousands of worldwide travelers are safe and secure – including here at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Maryland’s Third District. While we fully recognize the need to modernize our air traffic control systems, we cannot pursue modernization at the expense of public safety, especially when it comes to implementing new technologies like AI,” said Congresswoman Elfreth. “As AI safety concerns are top of mind for our neighbors, this is another instance where we cannot afford to miss the moment on regulating this technology. I also am determined to continue to work with my colleagues to ensure our hardworking air traffic controllers have every resource they need to do their jobs and ensure the safety of our passengers.” At a time when AI safety concerns are sky high, the lawmakers warn that the FAA has not provided sufficient transparency around its decision-making process prior to deployment, nor the functioning of SMART’s underlying AI systems. Congress, and the public, deserve to know how AI systems were tested and how they will influence decisions before being deployed in safety critical systems. The letter also raises concerns about reports that frontline aviation safety workers received only days of notice, or no notice at all, before deployment. With air traffic controllers already facing staffing pressures, the lawmakers stress that new technology must be introduced with adequate training and clear procedures for human oversight. The lawmakers request answers in three areas: Safety testing: What evaluations were completed before deployment, how the system performs during severe weather or outages, and whether any safety review requirements were waived during the contracting process. Consultation and training: What input the FAA sought from airport authorities, air safety workers, and airlines; what training personnel received; and how the tool should influence decision-making. Evaluation and accountability: How the FAA will measure performance during the initial 90-day evaluation, what standards must be met before nationwide expansion, and who is responsible if a recommendation contributes to a safety incident. The letter calls for a pause until lawmakers can better understand the FAA’s decision-making, rollout process, and evaluation plan. The co-leads emphasize that modernizing air traffic control must prioritize safety, transparency, and the expertise of the people responsible for keeping our skies safe. ### Issues:Public Safety

TechnologyInfrastructure
Source
October 8, 2026House press release

Ocasio-Cortez Statement on ICE Shooting in Marble Hill

Position: Calls for a full independent investigation of a federal immigration agents' shooting in Marble Hill, immediate release of body camera footage, and an end to Target's Bronx properties serving as ICE staging sites. States that ICE should be abolished.

NEW YORK – Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) released the following statement tonight after federal agents shot and injured a New Yorker in Marble Hill on Thursday. “Today in Marble Hill, ICE agents fired multiple shots at a man in his vehicle while his 5-year-old child was in the back seat. “ICE’s already unwelcome presence in our city has been growing more escalatory and dangerous by the day. Today’s shooting is a grave development that requires a swift and immediate response to protect the safety of all New Yorkers. “First, we must have a full and independent investigation of this incident. “There must also be a full and immediate release of all body camera footage of the incident. “In addition, the Target Corporation must stop offering their Bronx properties as private staging sites for ICE, in compliance with requests from New York officials. Target opening up large, active retail parking lots for paramilitary activity is unacceptable and places the entire community at risk. “ICE is a rogue, lawless paramilitary and surveillance agency. It does not belong in New York City and it should not exist in the United States of America. Abolish ICE.” ### Issues:Immigration

Immigration
Source
October 2, 2026House press release

NEWS: Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders, Merkley Unveil Ban Flock Act to Protect Americans’ Right to Privacy

Position: Representatives and senators introduced the Ban Flock Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from using automatic license plate readers and block federal funding to state and local governments that use the technology, citing privacy and surveillance concerns.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the Ban Flock Act, legislation to put an end to the rise in AI-powered surveillance cameras that track Americans across the country. The Ban Flock Act would prohibit federal agencies from using automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) and block federal funding from state and local governments that use this technology. “Across the country, Big Tech companies like Flock Safety have built a mass surveillance system to harvest Americans’ private and personal data without their consent. AI-powered cameras are keeping track of our every move and weaponizing this data against working people to make record profits. The widespread integration of this technology into American society is unconscionable,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “I am proud to introduce the Ban Flock Act with Senator Sanders to enforce our constitutional right to privacy and protect Americans from both corporate and government surveillance.” “At a time of growing concern about the unchecked power of artificial intelligence, Flock is eviscerating the very notion of privacy by installing tens of thousands of cameras in communities across America without their consent,” Sanders said. “Going to the doctor? Flock knows. Dropping your kid off at school? Flock is tracking you. Flock is always watching. We cannot allow America to become a surveillance state where a handful of AI oligarchs profit by giving the government the power to track our every movement.” “Your right to privacy includes the freedom to move around your community without every move being monitored,” Merkley said. “Right now, Flock is selling its cameras nationwide, laying the groundwork for a surveillance state while enriching corporate executives. No one should have this unchecked surveillance power at their fingertips, which is why I’m teaming up with Senator Sanders to rein in this dangerous technology.” Flock is the largest vendor of automatic license plate readers in the United States, with more than 120,000 cameras across the country that scan and record 20 billion vehicles every month. Newer Flock cameras do not just record vehicles — they record people. Flock’s AI system can combine images of you and your vehicle with databases of phone numbers, relatives and court records to find out who you are, where you're going and why. The company also operates a national lookup tool, so agencies that contract with Flock can access data generated by cameras in another city or state. The national lookup tool searches can turn up massive amounts of information, including physical descriptions, records of an individual’s online accounts and lists of their relatives. The mass surveillance capabilities enabled by Flock and other automatic license plate reader companies have threatened the civil liberties of everyday Americans: Flock has shared state information with federal immigration officials; Law enforcement officials have pulled Flock data to investigate activists and logged searches corresponding to protests against ICE raids, in support of Palestinian rights and for ‘No Kings’ demonstrations; and Officers have used plate readers to track wives, girlfriends, exes and women they wanted to meet without their consent. So far this year, at least 56 municipalities have deactivated, cancelled, or rejected contracts with Flock. Congress must act to stop the mass surveillance of citizens. The Ban Flock Act would do this by: Prohibiting the federal government from using automatic license plate readers or accessing the information they collect; Stopping federal grant funding from flowing to state or local governments that use automatic license plate readers or contract with automatic license plate readers companies; Allowing Americans to sue the federal government for violation of their rights through the use of automatic license plate readers. Read the text of the bill here. ###

TechnologyCriminal Justice
Source
October 1, 2026House press release

Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Schumer Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Restore Health Coverage for 450,000 New Yorkers

Position: The release supports legislation to restore federal funding for the New York Essential Plan and reinstate health coverage for roughly 450,000 New Yorkers who lost it under H.R. 1, and opposes the H.R. 1 provisions that removed that coverage.

Because of Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, over 450,000 New Yorkers lost Essential Plan coverage. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led the entire New York Democratic delegation in the introduction of the Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act. The Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act would restore health coverage to the nearly 450,000 New Yorkers who were kicked off of the Essential Plan under the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “Congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act represents the largest loss of healthcare in American history. Apart from cutting nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid, this bill specifically targeted New York by gutting the Essential Plan and stripping almost half a million New Yorkers of their health insurance. We must take immediate steps to repeal the harmful impacts of H.R. 1 on New York” said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. “Today, I am introducing the Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act alongside Senator Schumer and the entire New York Democratic Delegation to reinstate federal funding for the New York Essential Plan and ensure that New Yorkers can once again access this critical health program.” “Make no mistake, the ‘Big, Ugly Bill’ has been a disaster that has left American families sicker, poorer, and less safe,” said Leader Schumer. “Republicans promised lower health care costs, but they delivered soaring premiums, sky-high deductibles, and coverage ripped away from millions – all to give billionaires and big corporations a tax cut. In an act of political retribution, Republicans specifically targeted New Yorkers, kicking nearly half a million people off their coverage. Leaving working families with no affordable alternatives isn’t policy; it’s punishment. And it undermines public health and the health of our vital hospitals and community health centers. We must work to pass this legislation, reverse this cruel policy, and restore health insurance to all New Yorkers.” “H.R. 1 decimated New York’s Essential Plan, ripping health insurance coverage from hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and weakening the finances of every hospital in the State. That’s why the Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act is so critically important. It would repeal this terrible HR 1 policy and establish a permanent option for expanded basic health plan coverage. New York’s hospital community is deeply grateful to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and the New York delegation Democrats for championing this effort to expand health insurance and strengthen New York’s health care safety net,” said Kenneth E. Raske, President, Greater New York Hospital Association. “Losing coverage can force patients to delay care, skip medications, or make impossible choices between their health and other basic needs. Community health centers care for everyone who walks through their doors, whether they have insurance or not, and as more New Yorkers lose coverage, the strain on CHCs and their patients grows,” said Rose Duhan, president and CEO of the Community Health Care Association of New York State. “Ensuring New Yorkers have coverage helps patients get the care they need, when they need it, from providers they know and trust. CHCANYS is proud to support the Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act.” “HANYS strongly supports the Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act, which would reverse H.R. 1’s harmful limitations on New Yorkers’ eligibility for this affordable health insurance option and provide states the flexibility to extend this coverage to individuals with incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty line,” said Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., PhD, president and CEO, Healthcare Association of New York State. “Affordable health coverage is becoming out of reach for many New Yorkers, and H.R. 1 threatens to leave even more people uninsured. HANYS applauds Senate Minority Leader Schumer and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez for introducing this important bill and for their ongoing dedication to protecting and improving all New Yorkers’ access to healthcare coverage and care.” “This legislation would reverse some of the worst harms of H.R. 1 and allow more New Yorkers to access affordable health insurance coverage,” said Mitchell Katz, MD President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “Our health care system is grateful to Senator Schumer and Representative Ocasio-Cortez for their leadership and commitment to keeping New Yorkers connected to care.” The legislation would repeal the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s premium tax credit eligibility restrictions, fully restoring funding for the Essential Plan. In addition to restoring the program, the legislation would provide all states with the option to expand health coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s Basic Health Plan. This legislation is cosponsored by the entire New York Democratic delegation including: Senator Gillibrand (D-NY), Leader Jeffries (NY-08), and Representatives Clarke (NY-09), Espaillat (NY-13), Gillen (NY-04), Goldman (NY-10), Kennedy (NY-26), Latimer (NY-16), Mannion (NY-22), Meeks (NY-5), Meng (NY-6), Morelle (NY-25), Nadler (NY-12), Riley (NY-19), Ryan (NY-18), Suozzi (NY-3), Tonko (NY-20), Torres (NY-15), and Velázquez (NY-07). The full bill text is available here. A one-pager of the bill is available here. ### Issues:Healthcare

Healthcare
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September 24, 2026House press release

Ocasio-Cortez, Markey Reintroduce Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice to Rebuild America

Position: The release supports reintroducing the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act, which would create a federally administered program placing 1.5 million Americans in paid service projects on clean energy, climate resilience, conservation, and related infrastructure, with education benefits and union jobs.

Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) reintroduced the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act, legislation that would establish a Civilian Climate Corps (CCC), administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service within AmeriCorps, which follows in the footsteps of the New Deal-era Civilian Conservation Corps, with important equitable updates. The CCC would provide good-paying service opportunities to a diverse group of 1.5 million Americans over five years to complete clean energy, climate resilience, environmental remediation, conservation, and sustainable infrastructure projects, while providing transformational educational benefits and career pathways in good union jobs. “The impacts of the climate crisis are being felt across our country, with extreme weather events taking lives and causing billions in devastating losses. We need a massive public investment to combat the toll of wildfires, floods, and hurricanes. That is why I am proud to reintroduce the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act alongside Senator Ed Markey, which puts 1.5 million people to work forging climate-resilient communities. The urgency of this moment requires us to respond with robust and reliable solutions,” said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. “As Americans face frequent extreme weather disasters, a job market disrupted by the expansion of artificial intelligence, and other economic challenges, the Civilian Climate Corps presents an opportunity to support meaningful job opportunities and efforts to combat the climate crisis,” said Senator Markey. “I am proud to work with Representative Ocasio-Cortez to continue to fight for this program, which would provide an opportunity for more than a million Americans—especially young people—from every walk of life to earn a good wage while serving their communities and working toward a climate-resilient future.” The Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and in the House of Representatives by Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Summer Lee (PA-12), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Jasmine Crockett (TX-30). Senator Markey and Representative Ocasio-Cortez first introduced the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act in April 2021. This CCC proposal, and others like it, inspired the Biden administration to launch the American Climate Corps in 2023. Trump dismantled the American Climate Corps on his first day back in office. This legislation is endorsed by: AFSCME; Appalachian Mountain Club; Evergreen Action; Food & Water Watch; the Forum for Youth Investment; Grid Alternatives; Indivisible; Louisiana Green Corps; Partnership for the Civilian Climate Corps; SEIU; Sierra Club; Sunrise Movement; Union of Concerned Scientists; United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE); WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “America’s workforce has tremendous potential to fight climate change and build a safer future. The Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act will help unlock that potential by creating pathways to good-paying jobs to boost our economy while building pollution-free communities across the country,” said Evergreen Action Executive Director Lena Moffitt. “With the support of this legislation, the next generation of the energy and climate workforce will have the skills they need to withstand climate disasters and to lead the clean energy transition.” “Young people are desperate for good-paying, meaningful jobs that allow us to build a future worth living in. We’ve spent a summer choking on wildfire smoke and watching our communities flood, while housing and food become increasingly unaffordable. Now, as AI threatens to upend entire industries, young people are spending years in college preparing for jobs that may not even exist. We need jobs that provide stability, purpose, and a livable future. We need a Civilian Climate Corps, now,” said Aru Shiney-Ajay, Executive Director of the Sunrise Movement. “This is timely legislation as communities across the nation are struggling with worsening climate impacts and rising energy costs and urgently need policymakers to help protect them by boosting resilience and clean energy. Investing in a civilian climate corps is a huge opportunity to create good paying jobs with on-the-job training while advancing the solutions frontline communities need and deserve,” said Rachel Cleetus, Interim Program Director for Climate & Energy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. ### Issues:Climate

EnvironmentEconomyEducation
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September 24, 2026House press release

Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley, Bera, Senators Murray, Hirono, Cortez Masto, Reintroduce Bill to Expand Coverage of Birth Control in America

Position: The release announces reintroduction of the Affordability is Access Act, which would require insurers to cover over-the-counter birth control and all FDA-approved contraceptives without cost sharing, and criticizes Trump administration actions on reproductive care and contraception.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Ami Bera (CA-06), and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) reintroduced their bicameral Affordability is Access Act. The Affordability is Access Act would require insurers to fully cover over-the-counter birth control without any fees or out-of-pocket costs, once it’s FDA-approved. The legislation also includes a new provision to require health insurance to cover every FDA-approved contraceptive drug or drug-led combination product without cost sharing unless the health plan also covers a therapeutically equivalent generic without cost sharing—this would significantly eliminate barriers that some patients face in accessing contraceptives prescribed by their provider. This reintroduction comes as the Trump administration continues their senseless attacks on reproductive care, family planning, and contraception. Throughout the press conference, speakers discussed the administration’s moves to cancel teen pregnancy prevention grants, their attempts to decimate Title X, and their attacks on contraception—including the State Department’s extremist decision to falsely label birth control products as abortifacients. “I am proud to reintroduce the Affordability is Access Act alongside Representative Ayanna Pressley and Senator Patty Murray, which will make birth control widely accessible and affordable without a prescription,” said Rep Ocasio-Cortez. “As this administration continues to attack bodily autonomy, we will continue to fight to ensure that people everywhere have access to reproductive care.” "While Trump and his Republican co-conspirators attack our bodily autonomy and make life less affordable, we’re fighting hard to protect reproductive freedom, lower costs, and ensure contraceptives are affordable nationwide," said Rep. Pressley. “Our bill would make over-the-counter birth control accessible to all who need it, without the burden of prescriptions or out-of-pocket costs. Reproductive justice means protecting and expanding reproductive healthcare, and I'm proud to partner with Senators Murray, Cortez Masto, and Hirono, alongside Reps. Bera and Ocasio-Cortez, and our colleagues to make that a reality for all.” “When it comes to birth control, the challenge we face isn’t just to stop Trump from setting up new barriers. We have to tear down the barriers that have been standing for far too long—like cost,” said Senator Murray. “We have to put forward our own vision for the future—not just reject Trump’s far-right dystopia. That’s why we are re-introducing the Affordability is Access Act. This bill would require insurance to fully cover safe, over-the-counter birth control for patients. And this year we made a big update: our bill will also make sure all other FDA-approved forms of contraception are covered for patients. No fees. No hurdles. No out-of-pocket costs. This is especially important because, as of March 2024, there is an over-the counter birth control pill that women can buy at pharmacies and grocery stores. Trump has made his vision painfully clear, he wants to take women’s rights away, he wants to set birth control on fire. Well, this bill is our vision as Democrats. We want to protect women’s rights. And we want to protect your birth control.” “As the Trump regime continues to attack reproductive freedom, fighting for contraception access has never been more important,” said Senator Hirono. "FDA approval of over-the-counter birth control is a major step forward, but approval alone does not guarantee access. By requiring insurance companies to cover over-the-counter contraception at no cost and without a prescription, this legislation will help to ensure women nationwide have the power to control their bodies and their lives." “Congress must pass the Affordability is Access Act to expand Americans’ reproductive freedoms even as this Administration tries to shrink them,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Birth control has helped thousands of Nevadans and millions of Americans live healthy lives. It’s past time we made sure every woman who wants it has an affordable over-the-counter option they can buy.” “Birth control is essential healthcare that everyone, no matter their insurance or income, should be able to get when they need it,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “This act is a crucial first step in removing cost barriers and expanding access to contraception. As anti-reproductive health lawmakers continue to do everything in their power to restrict access to care, we’re grateful to Sen. Murray for reintroducing this bill.” “Contraception is a fundamental part of reproductive health care and autonomy— it gives people the power to shape their own futures,” said Daria Neal, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights. “Everyone who needs contraception should be able to access and afford it. Yet the Trump Administration has repeatedly put that access at risk, from subverting the federal family planning program and ending teen pregnancy prevention grants, to letting millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded contraceptives go to waste overseas. We're grateful to Senator Murray and her colleagues for standing up for reproductive rights and supporting this critically important legislation." “With the sudden termination of AccessMatters’ teen pregnancy prevention initiative, over 2,500 adolescents in Philadelphia immediately lost access to everything this program provided over the last three years – including evidence-based education programming, parent workshops, connections to local healthcare providers, assistance setting up medical appointments and accessing contraceptives, and leadership opportunities for the Youth Advisory Board,” said Audrey Ann Ross, Senior Manager of Communications and Policy at AccessMatters. “This loss of access coupled with the shifts in Title X program priorities further underscore the need for policies that support access to contraceptives and sexual and reproductive health care and information. We urge Congress to pass policies like the Affordability in Access Act and to also demand that HHS immediately restore this funding so that adolescents nationwide can continue benefitting from these programs.” Under the Affordable Care Act, all private health insurance plans are required to fully cover — without copays or out-of-pocket costs — prescribed U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, granted, or cleared methods of contraception. The Affordability is Access Act would change this to apply to over-the-counter birth control that women can get without a prescription. The Affordability is Access Act would also maintain the FDA’s sole authority to determine the safety and efficacy of drugs and make them available over the counter without a prescription, and ensure retailers provide contraception without a prescription. The legislation states that any retailer that stocks contraception that the FDA has approved, granted, or cleared without a prescription may not interfere with a consumer’s access to or purchase of such contraception. The bill is endorsed by: Contraceptive Access Initiative (CAI), National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Upstream USA, Reproductive Health Access Project, Physicians for Reproductive Health, National Partnership for Women & Families, Healthy Teen Network, Jacobs Institute of Women's Health, Reproductive Freedom for All, Power to Decide, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, The Center for Biological Diversity, National Council of Jewish Women, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, National Women's Law Center Action Fund, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Advocates for Youth, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, AIDS United, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, National Network of Abortion Funds, Center for Reproductive Rights, National Organization for Women (NOW), Religious Community for Reproductive Choice, The Guttmacher Institute, Population Connection Action Fund, American College of Nurse Mid-Wives, and Ibis Reproductive Health. Read the full text of the Affordability is Access Act HERE. ### Issues:Healthcare

HealthcareAbortion
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September 17, 2026House press release

Ocasio-Cortez Secures $351 Million for Flood Prevention in The Bronx and Queens

Position: The release describes House passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, which authorizes $351 million for flood control and stormwater projects in The Bronx and Queens, and states support for strengthening flood infrastructure and climate resilience.

Funding is a $161 million increase from the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) announced the House of Representatives’ passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA), which includes a provision she requested with her New York Delegation colleagues to authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to spend $351 million to combat flooding in The Bronx and Queens. The funding authorizes projects that would directly improve water and wastewater infrastructure, including new flood control and stormwater infrastructure projects in New York’s 14th District. “In 2021, Hurricane Ida devastated New York City, taking the lives of 13 community members in flash floods and causing extensive damage to homes in The Bronx and Queens. Since then, the climate crisis has increased the prevalence and intensity of severe weather events,” said Alexandria Representative Ocasio-Cortez. “I am very proud to have secured $351 million in the House-passed Water Resources Development Act of 2026. This funding will allow us to strengthen our existing flood infrastructure, protect our community from future weather events, and help communities better engage with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.” In 2024, Representatives Ocasio-Cortez and Grace Meng (NY-06), along with Senator Schumer (D-NY), secured $190 million to combat flooding in Queens. This year’s funding increase adds to that amount. In addition to funding for flood management, Representative Ocasio-Cortez and her colleagues secured the creation of a new Office of Technical Assistance and Community Outreach and support for oyster restoration projects in the East River, Flushing Bay, and the Bronx River. The impacts of climate change are being felt across our communities, particularly in The Bronx and Queens. By the end of the century, it’s estimated that sea levels could rise by seven feet along the United States coastline. The Water Resources Development Act of 2026 provides the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the authority to carry out development projects and studies that improve water resources infrastructure, including for rivers and harbors. This legislation will now be reconciled with the Senate version of the Water Resources Development Act before being signed into law by the President. ### Issues:Climate

EnvironmentInfrastructure
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September 16, 2026House press release

Ocasio-Cortez, Warren, Hoyle, Wyden, Merkley, Subramanyam Introduce Bill to Ban the Corporate Practice of Medicine

Position: Introduces federal legislation, the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, to ban corporations and private equity firms from owning physician practices, modeled on an Oregon law. Also calls for banning noncompete agreements for healthcare workers.

The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act would ban corporations and private equity from owning physicians. The bill is modeled on the landmark Oregon law that physicians have already used to successfully challenge corporate takeovers. WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act to ban the corporate practice of medicine. “Across the country, private equity firms and corporate conglomerates are buying up American physician offices. To increase shareholder profits, these entities often cut corners, leading to patients paying more for significantly worse care,” said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. “I’m proud to co-lead the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act to get Wall Street out of Americans’ doctors’ offices and ban predatory noncompete agreements for healthcare workers.” “Patients want to know that decisions about their health are being made by their doctors, not by Wall Street investors,” said Senator Warren. “If we’re going to lower costs and un-rig the health care system, we need to stop the corporate takeover of medicine.” “Billionaire corporations are using sick patients to turn healthy profits, and Americans are fed up,” said Senator Merkley. “In Oregon, we passed one of the most comprehensive corporate practice of medicine laws in the country, standing up for patients and health care providers. It’s time we take on corporate greed in health care at the federal level by passing our Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, cracking down on these takeovers that are destroying our health care system.” “Americans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctor, not dictated by corporate actors and private equity firms focused on maximizing profits,” said Senator Wyden. “I’m proud of Oregon’s pioneering state law that has been used by doctors to protect their independence, and it’s time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians.” “80% of doctors in the U.S. are employed by corporate entities, up from 62% in 2019,” said Representative Hoyle. “Healthcare should not be a line item in a spreadsheet. The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will ensure proper protections are in place, so our healthcare systems serve the best interests of our patients, not corporations.” “Americans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctors, not dictated solely by the pursuit of maximizing profits. States have passed laws to protect the independence of physicians, and it’s time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians,” said Representative Subramanyam. “With big bipartisan majorities, Oregon passed the strongest ban on the corporate practice of medicine in the country,” Oregon House Majority Leader Ben Bowman said, the author and chief sponsor of Oregon Senate Bill 951 (2025). “Oregon has shown that it’s possible to stand up to corporate profiteering in healthcare and win. Now it’s time to take that fight nationwide.” Over 80 percent of doctors in the United States are employed by corporate entities—including private equity firms and insurers—up from 62 percent in 2019. Despite prohibitions on the corporate practice of medicine in over thirty states, private equity firms, insurers, and other corporate entities have exploited legal loopholes that allow them to circumvent these restrictions to the detriment of clinicians and patients. Management services organizations (MSOs) have become vehicles for exercising corporate control over physicians. MSOs contract with physician practices to handle ostensibly purely administrative tasks, but these actors often challenge the autonomy of acquired physicians once in control. For example, corporate entities often assume control over clinical operations, management and staffing decisions, and billing and coding practices—all of which can exert pressure on physicians to change care delivery. The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act ensures health care decisions are made by physicians—not private equity firms, insurance companies, or other corporate actors. The legislation: Bans the corporate practice of medicine by making it illegal for private equity funds, insurance companies, and other for-profit corporations to own or control medical practices; Closes the “friendly physician” loophole that has allowed investor-backed corporations to evade state-level bans on the corporate practice of medicine and control medical practices through MSOs; Prohibits an MSO from controlling a medical practice through a “friendly” or “captive” physician, or by taking over business, administrative, and clinical functions such as hiring and firing, work schedules, compensation, disbursement of revenue or setting of revenue targets, billing practices, contracting, and other services; Ensures that physicians retain ultimate control of medical practices by requiring that physician owners are meaningfully engaged in providing medical care in the state in which their practice is located; and Protects physician independence by prohibiting corporate interference with clinical decisions and banning restrictive contract terms, such as non-compete agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and non-disparagement agreements. The bill is modeled on a landmark law in Oregon that physicians have already used to successfully challenge corporate takeovers in the state. Most recently, Eugene Emergency Physicians beat back efforts by Peace Health to replace local physicians with a private equity-backed staffing company. This legislation is also supported by Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fl.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Az.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and has been endorsed by the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), Coalition for Patient Centered Care, Bull Moose Project, Center for Health and Democracy, OrthoForum, Alliance of Independent Dentists, Private Equity Stakeholder Project, and Association for Independent Medicine. "The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) believes that local physician ownership of their practice is the best arrangement for the physicians, the medical staff, the hospital and, most importantly, for the patient,” said Vicki Norton, MD, FAAEM, President of the AAEM. “That’s why the AAEM strongly supports the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026. The bill would prohibit the corporate practice of medicine and allow physicians to work unencumbered, focusing on patients. There is no greater policy imperative for AAEM than protecting patient safety and quality of care in emergency departments through efforts such as this bill.” "The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will strengthen long-standing bans on the corporate practice of medicine, ensuring clinical decisions are made by licensed professionals sworn to care for patients, not corporations beholden to shareholders," said Emma Freer, Senior Fellow for Health Care at the American Economic Liberties Project. "It's an essential step toward breaking up Big Medicine, which drives costs up, quality down, and independent practitioners out of business." "States established prohibitions against the corporate practice of medicine a century ago for a simple reason: when corporations start making medical decisions instead of doctors, everyone loses. Care gets worse and more expensive for patients, working conditions get worse for doctors and their staff, and communities lose the unique benefits of high-quality, independent care," said Joe Van Wye, Policy Director at Coalition for Patient-Centered Care. "We commend the sponsors of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act for introducing today’s legislation, which will enshrine our nation’s strongest and most effective protections against the corporate practice of medicine into federal law for the benefit of all Americans, and hope it is enacted quickly." “Patients are best served when clinical decisions and practice operations remain under the control of licensed healthcare professionals, not private equity firms or management companies whose primary obligation may be to investors, says Dr. Jill Tanzi, President of the Alliance of Independent Dentists. "The threats posed by corporate consolidation are not unique to medicine; dentists and their patients deserve these same protections. This bill’s protections against corporate control and interference are critical safeguards for both clinicians and patients, and we commend its sponsors for working to protect independent medicine." “Private equity firms and other corporate investors should not get to decide how doctors practice medicine. When investors dictate staffing levels or how much time doctors can spend with patients, they are directing patient care. Doctors need the authority to make those decisions based on what their patients need. We support the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act and urge Congress to put enforceable limits on corporate control of medical practices,” said Michael Fenne, Senior Policy Coordinator at the Private Equity Stakeholder Project. "Our health care system is perfectly designed to concentrate wealth and power into corporate entities and increasingly badly designed to actually care for patients. The Oncology Practices of ONCare Alliance are dedicated to helping oncologists remain independent of private equity and other corporate structures that pull needed resources away from patient care into their profit margins," said Barbara McAneny, Co-Chair of the OnCARE Alliance. "We strongly oppose the corporate practice of medicine and commend the sponsors of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act for introducing this important bill that will help doctors design our practices to make the best treatment plans with our patients." You can read the full text of the bill here. A one-pager of the legislation is available here. ### Issues:Healthcare

Healthcare
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September 2, 2026House press release

Ocasio-Cortez on Opposition to the BUSES Act: “What I am requesting is for us to preserve our freedom to protect our children. If you want to do this to your kids, that's your business. But I will not allow this to be done to mine.”

Position: Opposes a bill that would bar enforcement of 15-minute bus engine idling restrictions and eliminate a program allowing residents to report idling, arguing such policies protect children's air quality and health.

WATCH HERE Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) strongly opposed a bill at an Energy and Commerce Full Committee Markup that would prevent policies or enforcement of engine idling restrictions under 15 minutes for buses, and eradicate a program that lets residents report idling they see in their own neighborhoods, directly targeting New York City. New York City has one of the highest rates of childhood asthma and faces some of the worst air quality in the country. This bill would establish a federal standard that would reverse commonsense policies put in place by cities and states across the country to protect access to clean air. Find Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks as delivered below: “I find it fascinating sometimes when there's a lot of discourse here, about one size fits all policies and about how folks in urban areas shouldn't dictate how people in more rural areas live, which makes complete sense. But I don't understand- what I don't understand is why the opposite doesn't apply here. The Congressman is not from New York City, so I represent “Asthma Alley,” the South Bronx, kids whose lungs have been choked with smog for decades. And my own nephews, my own family can't get through a day of school without a nebulizer. A 15-minute idling restriction is extraordinarily high in concentrated city streets. And what might be okay in a different area is very much not okay when it comes to kindergartners trying to get on their way to school. High CO2 outputs have statistically shown to reduce cognitive performance by 15 to 50%. And in fact, when we look at kids’ standardized test performance, we're looking at a 10 to 15% difference with kids who are trying to learn in areas with polluted air. These idling provisions make a massive difference. And one of the most important things that I do in my work is to fight for kids in the South Bronx. 1 in 5 kids in the South Bronx in these neighborhoods have asthma. And I want to be very clear that the provisions in this bill target New York City and my community specifically and uniquely. No other municipality in the United States has a reporting program like New York City's. And this provision is targeting our municipality’s ability to protect our children. These commonsense provisions, all of these things that are talking about how people will be penalized for helping a kid in a wheelchair, is a fairy tale. That does not happen. There are already commonsense exemptions in the law for safety, for conditions. We're not letting people freeze in the dead of winter, and we're not reporting people who are trying to safely load someone with a disability. But what we are trying to do is prevent kids from developing further disabilities like asthma, further disabilities and diseases, because this is one of the most underserved areas in the United States. And I will not sit here and allow them to be trampled on and ignored and talked about in this way. Municipalities and communities have and should have the ability to regulate according to the realities of their local backyard. New York City is doing that. It has the right to do that, just like any other community in the United States. And so, my amendment that I am proposing today is that this act shall not take effect until the administrator of the EPA certifies that its implementation will not increase children's exposure to air pollution. Because I will not sit here and allow my kids to get choked with smog, because people do not understand the realities of what this does to their brains. And with that, I yield back.” Representative Ocasio-Cortez continued: “Once again, you know, the Congressman is not from New York City and is characterizing a program that he is not familiar with. We are attempting to communicate that you are mistaken in your characterization of the program. There are exceptions to load children, for safety inspections for these types of operations to load kids onto school buses. So these scenarios that you are describing are incorrect, not factual, do not exist and are not supported by any evidence. What I find strange about this conversation is that when presented with that, there is a continuation to perpetuate something that is not true. Read the statute. There are exceptions for kids. All of these things that you're alleging happen do not comport with city policy. And so a public mischaracterization of this law that does not comport with reality is being used to justify passage of a law that is going to make kids sick. For what reason? I simply do not understand why we are not telling the truth about this, and why we are trying to advance and target a provision for a district from which the Congressman respectfully does not represent, and it will hurt children. The thing about this is that when you represent an area like the South Bronx, you have to fight and scrap for every tiny thing so that every child can get a 1% chance, a 5% chance at improving at any small outcome that they have. This idling provision makes a difference. We're talking about the difference of 10 to 15% points on a standardized test score. That's the difference between a kid getting a 60 on a state test and a kid getting an 85. The number of pollution and smog that they are being choked with that surrounds that school. So what I am requesting is for us to preserve our freedom to protect our children. If you want to do this to your kids, that's your business. But I will not allow this to be done to mine. And with that, I yield back. ” ### Issues:Committees and Caucuses

EnvironmentInfrastructureHealthcare
Source
May 1, 2026House press release

Ocasio-Cortez, Gillibrand, Schumer, Espaillat, Torres Lead Call For Trump Administration To Release $156.5 Million In Bronx Stations Accessibility Upgrade Funding

Position: The members call on the Department of Transportation to release $156.5 million in previously awarded All Stations Accessibility Program grant funding to the MTA for Bronx subway station accessibility upgrades, citing the critical importance of ADA compliance and concerns that the funds remain unobligated under a new internal review process.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Charles Schumer (D-NY), along with Congressmen Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Ritchie Torres (NY-15) called on U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy to swiftly complete the agency’s review for an All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) grant that the MTA was selected for to improve accessibility in Bronx subway stations so individuals can continue to safely use New York’s world-class public transportation system. The MTA was selected for the grant nearly two years ago and remains the only grant awardee that has yet to receive the funds. In the letter to Secretary Duffy, the members underscored the critical importance of releasing the ASAP grant funding, “The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that public transportation be accessible to people with disabilities. However, infrastructure built before the passage of the ADA in 1990, like much of the New York City subway system, must be retrofitted to be fully accessible to people with disabilities.” The ASAP grant’s central purpose is to fund state and local capital projects to meet or exceed ADA accessibility standards at train stations, which remain low in New York City with only 32% of train stations being fully accessible. While this grant for $156.5 million was announced nearly two years ago, the money “remains unobligated and in limbo under the new internal grant review process DOT imposed upon itself at the start of this Administration to review already announced and awarded, but not yet obligated, grants to ensure compliance with its new policies and executive orders,” the members wrote. The members closed by urging a swift review of the grant, underscored by the fact that “DOT recently issued a third Notice of Funding Availability (NOFO) for ASAP, making $686 million in FY 2025 and FY 2026 IIJA advance appropriations funding available. The NOFO states that ‘if more funding becomes available for the program before projects are selected, FTA may add it to the total funding available for award under this NOFO.’ We are concerned this caveat leaves the door open for DOT to cancel the FY 2024 award MTA successfully competed for and provide it to another recipient applying for the new NOFO.” The full letter can be found HERE. ###

Infrastructure
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Top PAC donors · 2026 cycle

Political action committees that gave the most to this rep's principal campaign committee this cycle. PAC giving is direct organizational support — industry, ideological, or leadership.

  1. 1.AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS COPELabor1 contributionTrade-union PAC for the American Federation of Teachers — backs candidates supporting public education funding, teacher compensation, and collective-bargaining rights.AI$5,000
  2. 2.MACHINISTS NON PARTISAN POL. LEAGUE OF THE INT'L ASSN. OF MACHINISTS & AEROSPACE WORKERS1 contribution$5,000
  3. 3.AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL ACTION1 contribution$5,000
  4. 4.THE NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN & PUBLIC EDUCATIONLabor2 contributionsPAC of the National Education Association, the largest U.S. teachers' union. Backs candidates supporting public education funding, teacher compensation, and collective bargaining rights.AI$4,000
  5. 5.ENGINEERS POLITICAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE1 contribution$2,500
  6. 6.CHRISTOPHER STREET PROJECT PAC (CSP PAC)1 contribution$2,500
  7. 7.SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION)Labor1 contributionTrade-union PAC for the Service Employees International Union — backs candidates supporting union organizing, collective bargaining, prevailing wages, and worker protections.AI$2,500
  8. 8.COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA - COPE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEELabor1 contributionTrade-union PAC for telecommunications and media workers — backs candidates supporting union organizing, collective bargaining, and worker protections in the communications industry.AI$1,500
  9. 9.LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS ACTION FUND1 contribution$50

Source: OpenFEC (api.open.fec.gov) Schedule A receipts where contributor type is “committee.” Aggregated by contributing committee. Self-transfers from joint-fundraising / victory committees are excluded.

Top individual contributors · 2026 cycle

Itemized individual contributions over $200 to this rep's campaign committee, aggregated by donor employer. PAC giving is shown above; this section is people, not organizations.

  1. 1.GOOGLE$43,264
  2. 2.MICROSOFT$17,986
  3. 3.APPLE$13,824
  4. 4.NVIDIA CORPORATION$12,043
  5. 5.AMAZON$11,584
  6. 6.COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY$9,608
  7. 7.META$9,395
  8. 8.NYU$9,329
  9. 9.UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA$8,424
  10. 10.HOSPITAL$8,194

Source: OpenFEC Schedule A receipts where contributor type is “individual,” aggregated by the donor's self-reported employer. This is a geographic / industry correlation, not a corporate endorsement.