Jimmy Panetta

Rep. Panetta Leads Letter Opposing Administration’s Move to End Funding for Drug Test Strips

Position: Rep. Panetta and colleagues oppose the Trump Administration's decision to end federal funding for drug test strips, arguing that test strips are evidence-based public health tools that prevent overdose deaths and that eliminating this funding would force community programs to scale back or shut down, particularly harming rural and underserved areas.

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) authored and led a letter to the Trump Administration strongly opposing its recent decision by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to end funding for illicit drug test strips. In his letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Rep. Panetta and his colleagues emphasized that test strips are bipartisan, science-based tools that are critical to avoiding preventable deaths amid the rise of synthetic opioids and emerging adulterants like xylazine. Rep. Panetta and his colleagues highlighted that Congress, on a bipartisan basis, has repeatedly authorized and funded test strips, including through last year’s reauthorization of the SUPPORT Act. They also underscored that unilaterally limiting funding for drug test strips goes against Congress’s consensus and puts Americans across the country at risk from growing drug threats such as xylazine. “Communities across the country, including those we represent, are facing an increasingly volatile and dangerous drug supply,” wrote Rep. Panetta and his colleagues. “Fentanyl remains the leading cause of overdose deaths nationwide, and the rise of xylazine and medetomidine-adulterated fentanyl has further complicated both overdose response and treatment. Test strips for fentanyl, xylazine, and other substances are proven, cost-effective public health tools to detect lethal adulterants, reduce the risk of fatality from illicit drug use.” “Eliminating federal support for these test strips would have immediate and damaging consequences. State, tribal, and local health agencies rely heavily on SAMHSA funding to distribute these supplies through trusted community partners, first responders, and public health departments,” continued the lawmakers. “Removing this support would force many programs to scale back or shut down, increasing the likelihood of fatal overdoses—particularly in the rural and underserved communities that already experience treatment gaps.” The letter is co-signed by Representatives Judy Chu (CA-28), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Lori Trahan (MA-03), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12). Rep. Panetta is the lead author and sponsor of the bicameral, bipartisan Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. This bill would stem the flow of xylazine while protecting the drug’s legal use by veterinarians, farmers, and ranchers. Full text of the letter is available here and below: Dear Secretary Kennedy: We write to express our strong opposition to the recent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) policy ending funding for illicit drug test strips. At a time when synthetic opioids and emerging adulterants such as xylazine continue to drive unprecedented preventable deaths, the federal government must reinforce, not retreat from, bipartisan, evidence-based tools that save lives. Communities across the country, including those we represent, are facing an increasingly volatile and dangerous drug supply. Fentanyl remains the leading cause of overdose deaths nationwide, and the rise of xylazine and medetomidine-adulterated fentanyl has further complicated both overdose response and treatment. Test strips for fentanyl, xylazine, and other substances are proven, cost-effective public health tools to detect lethal adulterants, reduce the risk of fatality from illicit drug use. While they may not prevent addiction, test strips can lessen its toll and give drug users the chance to survive and recover. Eliminating federal support for these test strips would have immediate and damaging consequences. State, tribal, and local health agencies rely heavily on SAMHSA funding to distribute these supplies through trusted community partners, first responders, and public health departments. Removing this support would force many programs to scale back or shut down, increasing the likelihood of fatal overdoses—particularly in the rural and underserved communities that already experience treatment gaps. Congress has consistently funded test strips in a bipartisan manner, most recently mandating them last year in the bipartisan SUPPORT Act reauthorization, and has worked productively with Democratic and Republican administrations to address the threat of emerging drug threats such as xylazine. Last year, the Trump Administration called on Congress to pass popular legislation to limit the spread of illicit xylazine, and explicitly endorsed test strips. Limiting these funds, especially through a unilateral mandate, undermines this bipartisan consensus and will be felt in Democrat- and Republican-represented congressional districts across the country. We respectfully request that HHS reverse any directive restricting funding for fentanyl or xylazine test strips and promptly clarify to grantees that these supplies remain eligible for federal support. Moving forward, we urge the administration to consult with Congress on this shared priority. Thank you for your continued partnership in the bipartisan fight against the overdose epidemic. ### Issues: Health

Rep. Panetta, Democratic Veterans, Colleagues Introduce No Funds for Iran War Act

Position: The release expresses opposition to ongoing military action against Iran without congressional authorization. The representatives argue that the conflict lacks proper congressional approval, has cost billions in taxpayer funds and American lives, and should be halted unless Congress votes to authorize it through an AUMF or declaration of war.

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined the Ranking Members of the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence Committees, and other Democratic veteran colleagues, including Representative Pat Ryan (NY-18), to introduce a bill to prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars for military action against Iran. The introduction comes after nine weeks of hostilities conducted without Congressional approval, costing at least $25 billion and causing the deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers. The President’s war of choice has inflicted pain on working-class families, including through the rising costs of gas. The No Funds for Iran War Act would prohibit the use of additional taxpayer funds for military action against Iran in the absence of an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) or official declaration of war from Congress. “This Administration’s war of choice in Iran cost American lives and billions of American dollars, and continues to raise costs for working families all across America,” said Rep. Panetta. “Without a coherent strategy, the consent of Congress, or the consensus of the American people, the conflict needs to be contained by Congress before it grows into a broader, prolonged war. This legislation would help by prohibiting the use of additional taxpayer funds for the war barring congressional approval, and allow Congress to take back its constitutional authority to protect our service members and lower costs for all Americans.” “The American people have been clear from the beginning: they want lower costs and no more forever wars. The Trump administration has spent nine weeks conducting an illegal war in Iran that has done the exact opposite – and every American is paying the price,” said Rep. Ryan. “Their recklessness has killed 13 brave servicemembers, wounded hundreds more, cost at least $25 billion in taxpayer money, and sent gas prices skyrocketing here at home. Since Day 1, there has been no strategy or endgame. Not a single dollar more on this ill-conceived war.” “Trump’s war of choice has achieved none of the administration’s stated objectives and has surpassed the president’s initial stated timeline of the conflict, which was supposed to last only a few weeks. Now that the president is moving the goal posts and twisting the 60-day requirements of the War Powers Act, Congress must take action. It is time for it to exercise its constitutional power of the purse,” said Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Trump’s Iran war was never authorized by Congress, and no funds appropriated by Congress should be spent on this illegal conflict,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “The American people don’t want this administration spending billions of taxpayer dollars on a new forever war in the Middle East that is already driving up the costs of everything from gas to groceries. I thank Rep. Ryan for his leadership introducing this bill.” “Donald Trump believes he can continue to wage an unconstitutional war at the expense of American taxpayers, but at the end of the day Congress still holds the purse strings and will be the final authority on our long-term military action overseas,” said Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. “I know that my Republican colleagues are hearing, as I am, from their constituents who are seeing their gas and grocery prices rise by the week, and I hope that they will join us in limiting this illegal spending, restoring Congress’ constitutional authority to declare war and refocusing on delivering lower prices for the American people.” In addition to Rep. Panetta, the legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Smith, Meeks, and Himes and Rep. Panetta’s fellow Democratic veteran Representatives Ted Lieu (CA-36), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Jason Crow (CO-06), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Derek Tran (CA-45), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Mike Thompson (CA-04), and Bobby Scott (VA-03). ### Issues: National Security

Rep. Panetta Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Workforce Housing

Position: Rep. Panetta and Rep. Carey introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a new federal tax credit for middle-income workforce housing, designed to increase the supply of affordable rental homes for families earning between low-income and market-rate thresholds.

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) authored and introduced the Workforce Housing Tax Credit (WHTC) Act. Rep. Mike Carey (OH-15) co-leads this bipartisan bill that would increase the supply of affordable housing for middle-income families who earn too much to qualify for low-income affordable housing and not enough to afford to buy or rent housing. The Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act would help to close that gap between middle and low income housing by establishing the first-ever middle-income housing tax credit, which is estimated to finance approximately 344,000 affordable rental homes. The legislation would also provide flexibility so that states can maximize their resources and best meet community housing needs by allowing housing finance agencies to transfer their middle-income allocation to their Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) allocation when necessary. It also allows buildings to combine the two credits to help make more low-income housing projects financially feasible. “In California’s 19th Congressional District, there are many people who work and support their families but make too much to qualify for low-income housing and too little to buy or rent a home near their workplace,” said Rep. Panetta. “My bipartisan Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act would address that gap by incentivizing investment in the development of workforce housing for middle-income families. This legislation would help ensure that middle-income working families spend time in our communities rather than stuck in their commutes and that people who work here can afford to live here and call California’s 19th Congressional District home.” “I am proud to once again co-lead the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act alongside my Ways and Means colleague, Congressman Panetta,” said Rep. Carey. “Columbus, Ohio has seen incredible population and economic growth, but with this new development comes significant challenges. Given the current shortage of affordable housing, we must continue to do everything we can to incentivize the development of low and middle-income housing, and this bill does exactly that. Stable housing is essential to the success of individuals and families, and I will continue to focus on ensuring people in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District have access to housing.” Highlights of the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act include: Similar to the LIHTC, state housing finance agencies would allocate the tax credits to developers through a competitive process. The tax credits would be provided to developers over a 15-year period, with a 15-year compliance period and 30-year extended commitment. Tax credits are allocated to states based on population, at $1 per capita with a $1.5 million small state minimum. An additional 5% of the allocation would be made available and reserved for middle-income housing developed in rural areas. For new buildings, the credit would equal 50% of the cost of the building over the lifetime of the credit. For rehabilitated buildings and bond-financed buildings, the credit would equal 20% of the cost of the building. More credit could be awarded for buildings in difficult development areas, as designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). However, state housing agencies would only allocate the amount of credit needed to make a housing project financially feasible. To qualify for the credit, at least 60% of the building’s units must be occupied by individuals with area median incomes of 100% or less where the rents are restricted to 30% of the designated income. The affordability restrictions would remain in place for up to 15 years after the compliance period (for a total 30-year affordability period). WHTC also works in conjunction with LIHTC to support low-income affordable housing. First, a state can tailor the allocation to its needs: it can elect to transfer any portion of their middle-income allocation to LIHTC at any point during the year. Second, WHTC can help the financial feasibility of affordable buildings by combining LIHTC and middle-income housing tax credits for different units as long as at least 20% of the total units are middle-income units. “NMHC strongly supports Reps. Panetta and Carey’s introduction of the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act,” said NMHC president Sharon Wilson Géno. “Building on the immensely successful Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, the Workforce Housing Tax Credit would extend critical support to moderate-income households who are struggling with housing costs. Together, both tax credits will help grow the supply of housing across communities nationwide and move us closer to the affordability solutions that American renters urgently need.” “The Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act is a smart, targeted solution to one of the most pressing challenges facing our housing market today, the shortage of homes affordable to middle-income families. By leveraging the proven success of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, this legislation will unlock private investment and expand housing options for teachers, first responders, and other essential workers who are increasingly priced out of the communities they serve. We applaud Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Mike Carey for their leadership in advancing a bipartisan approach that strengthens our housing supply, supports economic mobility, and brings more Americans closer to achieving the dream of stable, attainable homeownership,” said Shannon McGahn, Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer for the National Association of REALTORS®. “The National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) strongly endorses the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act. As the leading voice for affordable housing providers, we recognize that our nation’s housing crisis now extends well into the ‘missing middle,’ impacting the very workers who sustain our local economies. While the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) remains our most successful affordable housing tool for low-income families, a widening gap exists for those earning up to 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Teachers, first responders, and healthcare professionals are increasingly priced out of the communities they serve. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Representatives Panetta and Carey, provides a necessary, market-based extension of the proven tax credit model to meet this specific need. By providing a scalable financing tool, this Act will empower developers and managers to expand the supply of stable, high-quality housing for middle-income earners. NAHMA commends this proactive approach to strengthening the housing continuum. We urge Congress to act swiftly to pass this legislation, ensuring that the American workforce has access to the housing security essential for economic stability and community growth,” said Kristina Cook, NAHMA Chief Executive Officer. “The Mortgage Bankers Association is pleased to support the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act. Expanding the availability of rental housing for middle-income households is critical to addressing the nation’s housing supply challenges. This legislation would help address a significant gap in the market, supporting the development of housing for working families who earn too much to qualify for existing programs but still struggle to find affordable options near where they work or want to live. We appreciate Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Mike Carey for their bipartisan leadership on this important issue,” said Bill Killmer, Senior Vice President, Legislative and Political Affairs at the Mortgage Bankers Association. “I applaud Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Mike Carey for their leadership in introducing and championing the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act. As Harvard’s Joint Center on Housing Studies has regularly documented, renter cost burdens are climbing up on the income spectrum, leaving households in many urban, suburban, and rural communities that earn too much for traditional rental housing subsidies but too little for market-rate rental housing with few or no affordable housing options. This bill provides states with a very flexible rental housing financing tool to address this growing national need,” said Michael Novogradac, Managing Partner at Novogradac & Company LLP. “The Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act takes a proven approach and applies it to the part of the market our housing system is failing to serve,” said Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth and Up for Growth Action. “We have built a strong system to support low-income housing, but there is no comparable tool for middle-income workers who keep local economies running and are increasingly priced out of the communities they serve. This bill makes middle-income housing pencil and gives developers a real path to deliver housing at scale, so people can afford to live near their jobs,” Full text of the bill is available here. ### Issues: Economy and Business Housing and Homelessness

Rep. Panetta, Democratic Veterans Introduce War Powers Resolution to End War With Iran

Position: Representatives Panetta and colleagues introduced a War Powers Resolution to end the ongoing military conflict with Iran, arguing that the President lacks congressional authorization and that the war lacks a clear strategy or endgame.

Monterey, CA – U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined Representatives Seth Moulton (MA-06), Jason Crow (CO-06), and several Democratic Veterans to introduce a War Powers Resolution designed to end the President’s unauthorized, prolonged war in Iran and ensure the Administration remains answerable to the American people and their representatives in Congress. “The President’s war of choice in Iran lacks an endgame plan or strategy, has already taken the lives of 13 American servicemembers, and continues to raise costs across the board for working families, all without any input from Congress. No president should be able to take this country into prolonged conflict without the consent of the American people through their Representatives,” said Rep. Panetta. “Congress must reclaim its constitutional responsibility when it comes to war. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead this War Powers Resolution to permanently bring this conflict to an end.” “As veterans, we know firsthand the cost of war,” said Rep. Moulton. “We also know that military force is not always the answer. Brute force will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. We have already lost 13 Americans in this conflict, and we cannot continue to send our troops into harm’s way without a strategy. We are introducing this resolution because the American people deserve a say in how their military is used, and it is clear that this reckless war of choice must end.” “Congress must end President Trump’s illegal war of choice with Iran. His war has cost the lives of U.S. servicemembers, raised prices for Americans at home, damaged our alliances, and made us less safe,” said Rep. Crow. “The President is spending tens of billions of taxpayer dollars on Middle East conflicts as Americans back home can’t afford gas and are losing their health care. Congress must end this conflict now.” In addition to Rep. Panetta, the resolution is cosponsored by Representatives Pat Ryan (NY-18), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), and Bobby Scott (VA-03). It carries the collective weight of nine Democratic veterans, lawmakers who understand the true cost of military engagement. The coalition will force Republicans to go on the record repeatedly on this failing war of choice for as long as it continues. ### Issues: National Security

Reps. Panetta, Steube, Thompson Announce House Passage of Disaster Tax Relief Bill

Position: The representatives support passage of the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act, which extends tax relief provisions for victims of federally declared natural disasters by allowing deduction of qualified casualty losses and ensuring disaster relief payments are not treated as taxable income.

Monterey, CA — U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Greg Steube (FL-17), and Mike Thompson (CA-04) announced that the House of Representatives has passed the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act. The legislation would extend current law to deliver critical tax relief to Americans impacted by federally declared natural disasters. Under this legislation, victims would more easily be able to deduct qualified casualty losses for federally declared disasters between July 4, 2025, and December 31, 2026. It also ensures certain disaster relief payments are not treated as taxable income. These provisions would ensure disaster victims are not penalized by the tax code as they recover from catastrophic events. Companion legislation is led in the Senate by U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Adam Schiff (D-CA). After passing the House, the bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. “The last thing families and communities recovering from natural disasters should have to worry about is an additional tax burden when they’re trying to get back on their feet,” said Rep. Panetta. “Our bipartisan bill would ensure that wildfire relief payments and hurricane losses continue to qualify for fair tax treatment. The House passage of this bill is a critical step toward providing disaster-impacted Americans the certainty, time, and tools they need to rebuild and move forward.” “Floridians are far too familiar with the devastation and costly aftermath that natural disasters bring to their homes and communities,” said Rep. Steube. “They should not be forced to face additional hardship and uncertainty by navigating a confusing and burdensome tax code after surviving such events. This bill ensures that disaster victims across the country can focus on rebuilding their lives while receiving the relief they deserve. Congressman LaMalfa spent years leading on this issue, and naming this legislation in his honor is a meaningful way to carry that important work forward.” “Californians are all too familiar with the devastation caused by wildfires. In the wake of losing their homes and livelihoods, it is wrong to tax survivors on settlement money that is meant to help them rebuild their lives. Survivors can’t afford to wait around for retroactive relief,” said Rep. Thompson. “Our late colleague Doug LaMalfa knew this well. I was proud to work with him to pass tax relief for fire victims in our communities in 2024, and I am proud we passed this bill now to honor his work and to extend our tax relief so more victims can be compensated.” The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023 previously delivered billions in tax relief to Americans recovering from hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and other federally declared disasters. The Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act builds on that effort by extending these provisions so disaster victims can continue to access relief under the tax code. The legislation is supported by the National Fire Protection Association, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Florida Citrus Mutual, and the Bipartisan Policy Center Action. ### Issues: Environment

Rep. Panetta, Steube’s Taxpayer Privacy Bill Unanimously Passes the House

Position: The representatives support the Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act, which requires the IRS to provide detailed notices to taxpayers and give them time to respond before the agency contacts third parties for information.

Monterey, CA – U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and Greg Steube (FL-17) announced that their bipartisan Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act passed the House unanimously. The bill heads to the Senate, where companion legislation is led by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA). “When gathering information on taxpayers, the IRS is mandated by law to let them know prior to contacting any third parties like banks, employers, or even neighbors. However, those types of notices from the IRS often are vague and fail to give taxpayers a chance to provide any type of defense or details to the IRS. That can leave honest Americans blindsided and put their reputations at risk,” said Rep. Panetta. “The Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act would ensure that taxpayers are informed through carefully tailored, detailed notices, with sufficient time to resolve their issues privately. Taxpayers who have followed the law shouldn’t fear the IRS soliciting sensitive information behind their backs, and I’m glad, and it’s understandable, that my colleagues overwhelmingly passed this bipartisan legislation.” “At its core, this common-sense legislation is a simple due-process idea: before the IRS goes to your bank, your employer, your vendor, or another third party for information about you,” said Rep. Steube. “When you can reasonably provide that information yourself, you should be told what they’re looking for and given a fair chance to respond.” Current federal law requires the IRS to notify taxpayers before reaching out to third parties such as banks, employers, or customers. In many cases, however, those notices lack meaningful details about what information the agency seeks. The Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act addresses this gap by requiring that the IRS clearly identify the information it intends to request and provide taxpayers with reasonable time to respond before contacting third parties. The bill also has the support of the National Taxpayers Union. Issues: Economy and Business

Rep. Panetta and Colleagues Lay Out National Security Approach to Restore America’s Strength, Security, and Status

Position: Rep. Panetta and colleagues oppose the Trump Administration's national security approach, characterizing it as reckless and open-ended, particularly regarding the conflict with Iran. They call for a course correction centered on strengthening alliances, prioritizing China as the primary strategic threat, maintaining military apolitical standards, and restoring congressional oversight of war powers.

Monterey, CA — Just ahead of the 60-day mark in the war with Iran, U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and the rest of the New Democrat Coalition National Security Working Group urged President Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to make an “immediate course correction” on the Administration’s national security approach. “As Members of the New Democrat Coalition National Security Working Group, we write in opposition to the Administration’s approach to national security and to urge an immediate course correction. At a moment of profound global instability, the U.S. needs a strategy that advances our national interests,” wrote Rep. Panetta and the lawmakers. “Instead, the Administration’s current approach–marked by a reckless and open-ended conflict in Iran, chaos within the Department of Defense, and the alienation of our allies–has already resulted in the loss of U.S. servicemembers and continues to place Americans and our global and domestic security at risk.” “Over the past year, this Administration has treated national security as a partisan political matter, rather than a shared national responsibility, and has failed to provide Congress with timely and transparent information on key national security decisions,” continued the lawmakers. “The result of these actions is a national security posture that is neither principled nor sustainable. There is no doubt that our defense is strongest when it is supported by a bipartisan coalition and grounded in our country’s democratic values.” The letter argues that the Administration’s chaotic and reckless approach has endangered both domestic and global security by waging open-ended conflicts without legal justification or clear objectives, alienating our closest allies, emboldening our greatest adversaries, and severely damaging our military readiness. In contrast to the chaos of the Trump Administration’s current posture, the National Security Working Group Members lay out a new direction for American national security that would instead center the path forward around four commonsense priorities: Reversing the damage caused by the alienation of our allies and strengthening the tools that allow the U.S. to counter adversarial influence. Realigning defense planning to focus on the People’s Republic of China, the most serious strategic threat we face today. Reaffirming the military's apolitical nature and ensuring resources are used to support servicemembers. Requiring the Administration to work in good faith with Congress and commit to respecting and restoring institutional checks and balances, especially in matters of war. In addition to Rep. Panetta, the signees include all other Members of the New Dem National Security Working Group, including: Chair Gil Cisneros (CA-31) Defense Task Force Chair Ed Case (HI-01) Diplomacy Task Force Chair Eugene Vindman (VA-07) Veterans Task Force Chair Herb Conaway (NJ-03) Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03) Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06) Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) Full text of the letter is available here and below: As Members of the New Democrat Coalition National Security Working Group, we write in opposition to the Administration’s approach to national security and to urge an immediate course correction. At a moment of profound global instability, the U.S. needs a strategy that advances our national interests. Instead, the Administration’s current approach–marked by a reckless and open-ended conflict in Iran, chaos within the Department of Defense, and the alienation of our allies–has already resulted in the loss of U.S. servicemembers and continues to place Americans and our global and domestic security at risk. Over the past year, this Administration has treated national security as a partisan political matter, rather than a shared national responsibility, and has failed to provide Congress with timely and transparent information on key national security decisions. The result of these actions is a national security posture that is neither principled nor sustainable. There is no doubt that our defense is strongest when it is supported by a bipartisan coalition and grounded in our country’s democratic values. Members of the New Democrat Coalition National Security Working Group believe that there is a better path forward. We urge the Administration to halt the current course and adopt a strategy centered around the following priorities: 1. Reverse the damage caused by the alienation of our allies and strengthen the tools that allow the U.S. to counter adversarial influence. On the campaign trail, President Trump repeatedly promised an “America First” approach, but the actions of this Administration are best described as an “America Alone” strategy. The Administration’s reckless tariff policy has strained relationships with some of our key allies and sent a chilling message that the U.S. is an unreliable economic and strategic partner, which has already pushed several of our allies to align more closely with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). At the end of January 2026, a delegation of Canadian and European leaders traveled to China seeking to deepen their economic ties, which marked the first time a British official visited China since 2018 and Canada’s first visit to the country in over a decade. This is not American strength; it is self-inflicted erosion of U.S. leadership that weakens our leverage and makes it harder to compete with our adversaries. If we are to face today’s global challenges effectively, we must do so in collaboration with our partners, including NATO, European allies, and Indo-Pacific partners through frameworks like Five Eyes, the Quad, and AUKUS. We must be unequivocal in rejecting any alignment with Russia’s war of aggression, ensuring that Ukraine has the support it needs to win the ongoing war with Russia. Otherwise, we risk emboldening an aggressive authoritarian regime and setting a dangerous precedent for dictators around the world to follow. In addition, the U.S. must reinvest in American soft power by restoring programs at the United States Agency for International Development and the United States Agency for Global Media that help build strong public health systems and support resilient democracies worldwide. This reinvestment will ensure we are better able to curb authoritarian and adversarial influence and prevent conflicts and humanitarian disasters before they even begin. 2. Realign defense planning to reflect today’s most serious strategic threat: the People’s Republic of China. This Administration’s escalation of the Iran conflict is fiscally irresponsible. The Penn Wharton Budget Model estimates that the first 32 days of the Iran conflict cost $27-28 billion. In the meantime, Americans continue to suffer the consequences, with gas prices reaching over $4/gallon and unlikely to drop for months. The conflict with Iran has also highlighted the fragility of our defense supply chains and the need to address munitions shortages, which have been further depleted by various campaigns the Administration has carried out, including in Venezuela and Iran. This is a failure of strategy and a costly pattern of engaging in conflicts without a plan, placing American lives and taxpayer resources at risk. U.S. defense planning should prioritize deterring and strategically competing with the PRC. In order to meet this challenge, we need to invest in strengthening the defense industrial base through modernization and innovation efforts, enhancing domestic production capacity, replenishing critical weapons and munitions inventory, and streamlining the acquisition process that’s often too slow and rigid for today’s security environment. In addition, we must encourage small businesses to build, test, and scale new products and technologies by removing barriers to participation and expanding access to land for testing purposes. 3. Reaffirm the military’s apolitical nature and ensure resources are used to support servicemembers. The Administration’s increasing politicization of the military creates serious dangers for servicemembers. The apolitical nature of the military ensures that its loyalty rests solely with the Constitution, not any party or individual. However, the Administration continues to undermine this nonpartisan institution by firing top generals, using uniformed servicemembers as a backdrop for partisan messaging, and deploying national guard members into U.S. cities for political theater. Speaking at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico in September 2025, President Trump suggested he intends to use U.S. cities as “training grounds for our military” to target “the enemy from within.” Using armed forces to advance partisan messaging and domestic political narratives is corrosive to civil-military norms and exposes servicemembers to unnecessary harm. The Administration must take concrete steps to reaffirm the professionalism and apolitical nature of the U.S. military. This includes ensuring servicemembers are never given unlawful orders that could place them in ethical or legal jeopardy and preventing the use of the military against U.S. citizens for political purposes. Just as important is the need to ensure that we are investing our resources to help U.S. servicemembers and their families have the quality of life that they deserve instead of wasting valuable resources on meaningless changes in Department names. The Administration must take steps to address the lack of affordable housing for servicemembers, increase access to childcare, provide support for military spouses, and invest in mental health and primary prevention initiatives. In addition, we need to seriously invest in resources to help servicemembers leaving uniformed service find meaningful civilian employment and skill-matching opportunities. 4. The Administration must work in good faith with Congress and commit to respecting and restoring institutional checks and balances, especially in matters of war. After declaring "Operation Midnight Hammer” a success and affirming that Iran’s nuclear program “was obliterated” in June, Americans awoke on February 28, 2026 to the news that our nation is at war with Iran. Polls show that 63% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s war of choice, a clear reflection of how disconnected this escalation is from the main issues facing Americans today. The Administration has failed to provide a clear objective or end state for this operation. If the goal is deterrence, Iran continues to strike U.S. bases in the region, risking a broader regional war. If the goal is regime change, which the National Defense Strategy explicitly states was not a priority of this Administration, history has already taught us a lesson. The U.S. pursued this goal in Iraq at extraordinary costs: thousands of American lives, billions of dollars, regional instability, and a power vacuum that empowered both adversaries and extremist groups. We cannot afford to repeat that mistake. The war has also cost us the lives of at least thirteen servicemembers, and the Administration failed to evacuate U.S. embassies before launching the strikes, putting Americans in the region at high risk. When President Trump was asked about the lives lost in the early days of the conflict, he stated, “There will likely be more before it ends. That’s the way it is.” American lives are not expendable, and entering another conflict in the Middle East risks enabling another generation of instability and extremism. The Constitution gives Congress the sole authority to declare war, allowing Congress to prevent open-ended conflicts and ensure that any use of force remains lawful and tied to a clear objective. The alternative would be a great disservice to our national security. Our national security is strongest when it’s both principled and lawful and reflects our values and interests. The Trump Administration’s current approach fails on all counts. At a time when we are facing multiple threats on the global stage, we cannot afford to adopt a strategy that undermines our democracy, alienates our allies, and risks entangling our nation in conflicts without a clear end goal that advances the interests of all Americans. We call on the Administration to halt its current approach to national security, adopt this alternative framework, and return to a bipartisan commitment to our national security. ### Issues: National Security

Rep. Panetta’s Statement on the Vote to Fund DHS

Position: Rep. Panetta supports funding for DHS agencies (TSA, Coast Guard, CISA, FEMA) but opposes additional funding for ICE and CBP without meaningful reforms to their training, operating procedures, and law enforcement protocols. He criticizes the administration's mass deportation policies and calls for bipartisan compromise on agency reform before further appropriations.

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) released the following statement on the House passage of a bill to fund Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Coast Guard, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA): “Today, the House of Representatives finally voted to fund TSA, Coast Guard, CISA, and FEMA. Although I’m pleased that Congress passed this legislation to fund those critical agencies under DHS, I’m deeply disappointed that it took so long for Speaker Mike Johnson to bring this bill to the House floor for a vote. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate unanimously and was sent to the House over a month ago. Yet, Speaker Johnson refused to allow Congress to vote on the bill to fund those agencies and properly pay those workers as a way to get more funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) without implementing any meaningful reforms to those troubled agencies. “The purely partisan One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was signed into law last summer injected over $75 billion into ICE and $65 billion into CBP. Since that time, and based on this Administration’s overreaching mass deportation policy driven by Stephen Miller, we’ve seen thousands of untrained ICE and CBP agents sent into communities across our country acting lawlessly, irresponsibly, and with impunity, creating chaos and even causing deaths to American citizens. I and many of my Congressional colleagues refused to provide any more funding through the annual appropriations process to either of those troubled agencies until there were meaningful and commonsensical reforms to ICE and CBP with their training, operating, and law enforcement protocols and procedures. However, instead of reaching across the aisle to work with us on a compromise for such reforms, Speaker Johnson and the Majority refused to deal with Democrats and held out for another purely partisan Republican reconciliation bill that will provide billions more in funding for ICE and CBP without any reforms being implemented. “Instead of reaching across the aisle to find a solution, Speaker Johnson continues to go at it alone and give into this President’s every demand. Now that TSA, Coast Guard, CISA, and FEMA are finally funded after an inexcusably long delay, it’s well past time for the Speaker and his majority party to come to the table and get serious about reforming ICE and CBP. That way, the 119th Congress can finally stand up to this Administration and its dangerous mass deportation policies and live up to our constitutional obligations to protect the American people.” ### Issues: Immigration Law Enforcement Reform National Security

Rep. Panetta’s Bill to Support Early Childhood Educators Passes House

Washington, D.C. – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced that the House of Representatives unanimously passed his bipartisan, bicameral Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-11), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), and David Valadao (CA-22) co-lead this legislation, which now heads to the Senate for consideration. Research shows that educators spend an average of $860 annually on supplies for their students. Yet, under current law, early childhood educators cannot deduct those out-of-pocket expenses. The SEED Act would correct this issue and provide tax relief to the teachers working with America’s youngest learners. The SEED Act would expand the above-the-line $300 educator expense deduction, established for K-12 teachers in 2002, to also include pre-K and early childhood educators. This deduction helps offset the hundreds of dollars teachers spend out of their own pockets each year on classroom supplies, books, and learning materials. “Early childhood educators often reach deep into their own pockets to cover the cost of classroom materials for their students,” said Rep. Panetta. “The SEED Act would allow pre-K teachers to claim the same tax deduction for those costs that is already available to those who teach K-12. My bipartisan legislation would ensure dedicated pre-K educators have the tools they need to help our children succeed. The House passage of the SEED Act is an important step, and I look forward to the work ahead to ensure that our bipartisan, bicameral legislation is signed into law.” “Early childhood educators are teachers in every sense of the word, and today the House took bipartisan action to treat them that way,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “In working with early childhood educators across our community, I have seen the time, care, and dedication they pour into their classrooms, and the personal resources they invest to make sure children have what they need to learn and grow. To give every child a strong foundation, we must make sure the educators helping build that foundation have the support they need, and that is exactly what our effort is about: correcting an unfair gap, supporting the educators who have earned it, and investing in children during the years that matter most. Now the Senate should join us in standing with the teachers of our nation and getting this bill across the finish line.” “Teaching is the ultimate act of optimism and safeguard of our democracy. America’s early childhood educators pour their hearts into their work, and far too often, their own money, just to do their jobs,” said Rep. Goodlander. “These educators deserve the same tax deduction other teachers get, and our commonsense, bipartisan bill will make that happen. Time to right this wrong and get our bill signed into law.” “Central Valley families know how important a strong start is for every child, and that begins in the classroom,” said Rep. Valadao. “Teachers spend on average $860 per year on classroom supplies to ensure their students can succeed, but while K-12 educators can claim the educator expense deduction, those teaching Pre-K and younger cannot. I’m proud to see the House pass this bipartisan bill to help early childhood educators cover classroom costs, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to get it signed into law.” The SEED Act is supported by a broad coalition of education and child advocacy organizations, including the Center for American Progress, the American Federation of Teachers, Teach For America, the First Five Years Fund, and Trying Together. The bill previously became the first Democrat-led standalone bill to receive a markup in the Committee on Ways and Means. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. ### Issues: Education