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Prediction track record
How often we called Ayanna Pressley's passage votes correctly, from their stated positions on each bill's tagged topics. Excludes “unclear” calls and abstentions.
77 predictions on record · none have been resolved by a passage vote yet. Check back as bills move.
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.
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to the withdrawal of the rule relating to "Truth in Lending (Regulation Z); Consumer Protections for Home Sales Financed Under Contracts for Deed".
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Get an AI-narrated read on Ayanna Pressley's full voting record against your stated values — aligned themes, conflicts, notable votes, and what to watch for.
Positions Ayanna Pressley 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.
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A national law should protect access to abortion in every state.
Passage votes where Ayanna Pressley broke ranks with ≥75% of Democrats. Threshold catches substantively partisan splits; unanimous-ish or close votes are excluded.
Pressley Joins Jayapal, Raskin, Thompson, Garcia, Clarke, Casar, 174 Members in Denouncing Raid on Omar’s Home - Ayanna Pressley
Position: Members of Congress, including Rep. Pressley, condemn a Department of Homeland Security raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's home, describing it as politically motivated and calling on DHS and the Department of Justice to refrain from further actions that could affect the upcoming election.
Pressley Has Condemned Baseless Attack on Rep. Omar, Blasted Trump’s Fascist Agenda
BOSTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) joined Ranking Members Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Clarke (NY-09), and Greg Casar (TX-35), alongside 174 Members of Congress, in denouncing the politically motivated Department of Homeland Security (DHS) raid on Representative Ilhan Omar’s (MN-05) home in Washington, D.C.
“This weaponization of law enforcement to harass a sitting Member of Congress 22 days before an election is unprecedented and unacceptable,” wrote the Members. “We stand with Congresswoman Omar and condemn the weaponization of law enforcement against her. You have already disgraced the offices you hold, and we demand you to refrain from taking any further actions that could affect the outcome of the upcoming election.”
The probe into Congresswoman Omar reportedly concerns her late father’s filing of immigration paperwork after she fled Somalia’s civil war at age eight. She has been a U.S. citizen since she was 17. Trump officials have continuously and baselessly asserted criminal activity by Omar, and this is not the first instance of retribution by Trump’s administration, which has made a habit of targeting perceived political enemies.
“Your actions are clearly driven by a pre-determined political outcome rather than an objective pursuit of justice,” continued the Members. “Political attacks should play no role in federal law enforcement, but they have here.”
The full text of the letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Attorney General Todd Blanche can be read here.
The letter is also signed by Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Alma Adams (NC-12), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Ami Bera (CA-06), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Everton Blair (GA-13), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-7), Troy Carter (LA-02), Sean Casten (IL-06), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Herbert Conaway Jr., MD (NJ-03), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Annie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jason Crow (CO-06), Sharice Davids (KS-03) Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Madeline Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Bill Foster (IL-11), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Al Green (TX-09), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Jim Himes (CT-04), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), William Keating (MA-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Greg Landsman (OH-1), Rick Larsen (WA-02), George Latimer (NY-16), Summer Lee (PA-12), Susie Lee (NV-03), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI 02), John W. Mannion (NY-22), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), James P. McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Christian D. Menefee (TX-18), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Joe Morelle (NY-25), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Richard E. Neal (MA-01), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) , Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Stacey E. Plaskett (VI-AL), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Aisha Wahab (CA-14), James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), George Whitesides (CA-27), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).
This month, Congresswoman Pressley condemned Trump’s baseless attacks on Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05) after federal authorities raided her home and denounced his biased targeting of Black women leaders nationwide. Rep. Pressley called out Trump for his fascist agenda, enumerating his attacks on the free press and freedom of speech, and his campaign to terrorize, silence, and traumatize communities.
In January 2026, at the invitation of Rep. Omar (MN-05), Rep. Pressley went to Minneapolis to meet with organizers and community members impacted by ICE’s violent operation in Minnesota, where they have murdered bystanders, terrorized schools and small businesses, and abducted children and parents.
While in Minnesota, the lawmakers met with local businesses providing essential learning services, child and elder support, and culturally conscious food options that are seeing a lack in engagement from community members attributed to fear of going to work, school, shopping, and more. They also toured Karmel Mall, a hub holding over 100 small businesses and community organizations, many of which have reported a significant decline in business since Trump’s Operation Metro Surge began.
During the visit, Rep. Pressley hosted a press conference with Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05) in which she condemned the violence perpetrated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and renewed her calls to abolish ICE, impeach Kristi Noem, and end qualified immunity for ICE agents and other federal law enforcement. The presser followed the horrific ICE murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and comes as the Senate takes up the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, including $28 billion for ICE, which the Congresswoman voted against in the House.
Additionally during the visit, the lawmakers met with parents and neighbors protecting families and students at school drop-off, visited a church and coffee shop providing mutual aid packages, and engaged with Black leaders violently targeted by ICE.
In February 2023, in a House floor speech, Rep. Pressley highlighted Rep. Omar’s impactful contributions as a Congresswoman and member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, affirming her place on the committee.
In December 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Representatives Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Cori Bush (MO-01), Judy Chu (CA-27), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), led their House colleagues in announcing a resolution to remove Representative Lauren Boebert (CO-03) from her committee assignments. Rep. Pressley and House progressives led calls to remove Rep. Boebert from her committee assignments following her Islamophobic comments and incitement of anti-Muslim animus.
NEWS: After Pushback from Pressley & Others, USPS to Keep Fields Corner Post Office Open - Ayanna Pressley
Position: The release applauds USPS's decision to keep the Fields Corner post office open and calls on USPS to stop closing postal facilities in Massachusetts and to reopen the Allston branch.
In a Last-Minute Reversal, USPS Announced It Has Secured a Lease Extension to Allow Fields Corner Branch to Remain Open at 218 Adams Street
Pressley Has Repeatedly Sounded the Alarm on USPS’ Service Cuts in Fields Corner, Allston, and Across the Massachusetts 7th
BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) applauded the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) announcement that it has secured a lease extension to allow the Fields Corner Post Office to remain open at 218 Adams Street in Dorchester. Following pushback from Congresswoman Pressley in partnership with colleagues and community leaders, USPS is canceling a planned closure that was set to take effect next week.
“This welcome reversal by USPS is a testament to public pressure and what is possible when we come together and raise our collective voices to defend our essential postal services. I’m glad the USPS is heeding our calls to keep the Fields Corner branch open and preserve this public good for residents who deserve an accessible and conveniently located post office to do their daily business,” said Congresswoman Pressley in a statement today. “While today is an important victory for our community, we continue to call on the USPS to stop gutting postal services across Massachusetts, and it can start by reopening the Allston branch and restoring daily service to those who need it.”
Congresswoman Pressley has repeatedly sounded the alarm on the USPS’ proposed cuts to service in Fields Corner, Allston, Grove Hall, and other neighborhoods in her district, and urged them to reverse course and preserve this essential public good for residents.
Congresswoman Pressley, along with Mayor Wu, City Councilor Liz Breadon, and community leaders held a rally this month to condemn the USPS’ plans to permanently close the Allston Post Office. Congresswoman Pressley also joined Senator Ed Markey and their Massachusetts colleagues on a letter demanding the USPS cease its campaign of post office closures across the Commonwealth.
Throughout her time in Congress, Congresswoman Pressley has championed for federal resources to support the United States Postal Service and its employees.
On Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day, Pressley, Simon, Randall Call for Disabled Women to be Paid Fairly, Introduce Resolution Recognizing the Need to Close the Wage Gap and Reduce Economic Barriers - Ayanna Pressley
Position: The release supports closing the pay gap between disabled women and nondisabled men and women and reducing economic barriers faced by disabled women, through a resolution recognizing the need for equal pay.
BOSTON – On Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day, Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Emily Randall (WA-06) announced they will introduce the Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day Resolution. This resolution recognizes the persistent pay disparity between disabled women and both disabled and nondisabled men, and it reaffirms the need to reduce systemic, economic barriers and advance economic equity for disabled women.
According to recent analysis from the National Partnership for Women & Families, disabled women continue to face high-wage gap disparities compared to their nondisabled male counterparts, earning 56 cents for every dollar paid to nondisabled men. The pay gap is even greater for disabled women of color, who are paid 46-55 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic nondisabled men. Additionally, working disabled mothers are paid 44 cents for every dollar paid to nondisabled fathers.
"Disability rights are human rights. It is shameful that in 2026, women with disabilities are paid 44 cents for every dollar paid to non-disabled fathers—and that wage gap only widens for working disabled women of color," said Congresswoman Pressley. “Our Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day Resolution makes it clear: We must put an end to this economic injustice and make sure everyone gets equal pay for equal work.”
“Disabled women of color experience some of the largest pay gaps in our nation- impacting their ability to care for themselves and their loved ones,” said Congresswoman Simon. “This is an unacceptable reality, which is why I joined disability champions in Congress, Reps. Pressley and Randall, to introduce this resolution and demand action to undo systemic barriers to equal pay, break down the discrimination that disabled women face, and move towards a future where every individual is valued for their labor without discrimination based on gender, race, or disability.”
“We all deserve to live full lives, to be treated with dignity and respect. All people with disabilities still face huge system barriers, and for disabled women they’re compounded,” said Rep. Randall. “Women with disabilities make less than non-disabled women, and less than disabled men. Government has to do better. As Chair of the Better Pay and Benefits Task Force, I’ll keep fighting for working people everywhere to get the pay and benefits they’ve earned so folks of all abilities can live and thrive in their communities.”
This resolution is endorsed by the Democratic Women’s Caucus, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), National Partnership for Women & Families (NPWF), Disability Culture Lab (DCL), National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), National Disabled Legal Professionals Association (NDLPA), Equal Rights Advocates (ERA), New Disabled South.
Rep. Pressley has been a longtime advocate the disability community and has championed policies that promote disability justice.
WATCH: Pressley Slams Trump, Duffy for Unlawful Cancellation of $20M Grant for Roxbury Transit Improvements - Ayanna Pressley
Position: The release criticizes the Trump Administration's withdrawal of a $20 million RAISE grant for Roxbury street infrastructure improvements and calls for the funds to be reinstated, supporting the City of Boston's lawsuit challenging the cancellation.
“The people of Roxbury have made their priorities clear. They have shown up, spoken up, and helped envision what a safer, healthier, more connected neighborhood can look like. Our responsibility now is to make sure that vision does not get taken away from them. Roxbury has waited long enough.”
Last Month, Pressley, Wu Announced a Lawsuit Against the Trump Admin. to Protect Critical Investment in Roxbury Street Infrastructure
ROXBURY – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) joined Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and local leaders at a press conference to condemn the Trump Administration’s unlawful withdrawal of a $20 million federal grant for critical street infrastructure improvements along three major corridors in Roxbury. In her remarks, Congresswoman Pressley underscored the transformative nature of this project and robust community input from Roxbury residents, who deserve to see this project move forward after decades of divestment and underinvestment in their community.
Last month, Congresswoman Pressley and Mayor Wu announced that the City of Boston is filing a lawsuit challenging the Administration’s illegal withdrawal of the funds, which Rep. Pressley helped deliver to fund safety, transit, accessibility, and traffic flow improvements to essential roadways in Roxbury. The grant, awarded to the City in 2022 under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program, would fund the Roxbury Resilient Corridors project, including state of good repair, safety, transit, accessibility, and traffic flow improvements to Melnea Cass Boulevard, Malcolm X Boulevard, and Warren Street.
A transcript of Congresswoman Pressley’s remarks is available below and the video is available here. For video of the full press conference, click here.
Transcript: Pressley Slams Trump, Duffy for Unlawful Cancellation of $20M Grant for Roxbury Transit Improvements
October 15, 2026
Boston, MA
Well, it is always good to be home, to be in the Massachusetts 7th, to be in the City of Boston, and certainly to be in the historic neighborhood that is Roxbury.
I only wish that I was here for a celebration and not to report a crime. This is theft.
The grant that was awarded after a competitive process was exactly that: awarded.
It was not charity. It was an investment long overdue, and one that was consistent with the visioning of community about what is needed here.
So it feels good to be home. I wish we were coming together for a different reason.
Under this 2.0 version of the Trump Administration, I decided early on that our strategy to combat the lawlessness of this administration would be to combat it with the rule of law, and that we would use litigation, we would use legislation, we would use agitation, we would use organization, we would use mobilization.
And that is what is necessary to resist and do everything we can to ensure that these funds that are owed are reinstated. I am grateful to our mayor for being exhaustive in defense of this federal investment.
I want to underscore the investment part. Every disparate outcome in the Massachusetts Seventh, including and especially where Black folks are concerned, is not naturally occurring.
It is the result of policy choices and federal divestment, and that is why this fight matters.
When we talk about transportation, we are talking about much more than just how to get from point A to point B. What does it matter if we do the work collectively of making a city more affordable, more livable, if you can't navigate it?
This is about whether or not a parent can get their child to school safely. This is about whether or not an elder can get to a doctor. This is about whether or not a worker can get to their job without spending hours in transit. This is about whether or not people can breathe clean air and safely move through their own neighborhood.
There is a statistic that has been ingrained in my mind from my early work on transit justice, beginning on the Boston City Council, and it's why I founded the Future of Transportation Caucus in Washington to fight for federal investment in transportation that centers equity, accessibility, connectivity, and sustainability. But the statistic that stays in my mind is from Livable Streets, and their report that said the average Black Boston bus rider was riding, waiting, transferring an additional 60 hours a year.
Now that might sound nominal, but that means that people are not experiencing a quality of life because they are in limbo. They are riding, waiting, transferring to get to work, to get to healthcare, to get to childcare, to get to church, or any place else they would like to.
And that is exactly why I advocated alongside community and our mayor to secure a $20 million federal investment for the Roxbury Resiliency Corridors project. Transit justice has always gone hand in hand with racial, economic, and environmental justice, and Roxbury knows that history all too well.
Melnea Cass Boulevard, Malcolm X Boulevard, Warren Street–these are some of the most important corridors in the heart of historic Roxbury. But for generations, they have reflected a transportation system that too often only prioritized cars and did not prioritize people enough, which is why you need investments in multimodal infrastructure.
Roxbury has lived with the consequences: unsafe infrastructure, unreliable transit, poor air quality, some of the highest asthma rates in the Commonwealth, and the scars of urban renewal and disinvestment.
So when we secured this funding, what we saw was an opportunity to do something different, to create dedicated bus corridors, safer bicycle facilities, better intersections, and more green infrastructure, more resilient streets.
Pastor Bodrick, Mayor Wu, when you were referencing this unlawful action by Secretary Duffy, you might have indicated that they didn't give a reason. They gave a reason. It's just an unacceptable one.
The reason was because there was anything in here having to do with electric vehicles and electrification because they don't believe in climate change, and they did not want anything that had to do with the Inflation Reduction Act or the Green New Deal, and just because of that addition, they took an unlawful and rogue action to rescind this investment.
But again, at the end of the day, this is about people, not concrete and asphalt. It's about making everyday life safer and more accessible for the people who live and work in Roxbury. And again, the community helped to shape that vision.
So after the federal government had awarded that Boston $20 million, this administration again canceled the funding and left the community to once again contend with the consequences.
So, Roxbury should not have to keep waiting. Roxbury has been waiting. So I stand with Mayor Wu and the City as they challenge the cancelation of this RAISE grant.
We secured these dollars because Roxbury deserves a transportation that works for the people who depend on it. Because communities that have experienced generations of disinvestment should not be the first to sacrifice when resources are on the line.
The people of Roxbury have made their priorities clear. They have shown up, spoken up, and helped envision what a safer, healthier, more connected neighborhood can look like.
Our responsibility now is to make sure that vision does not get taken away from them. Roxbury has waited long enough.
Rep. Pressley has been advocating for federal funding to support the Roxbury Resiliency Corridors Project and submitted a letter of support for the project to DOT in April 2022. In September 2025, Rep. Pressley vehemently condemned the Trump administration’s cancellation of this essential federal grant.
More information about the Roxbury Resiliency Corridors Project and the benefits it would bring is available here.
In July 2025, Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Markey re-introduced the Freedom to Move Act, their legislation to support state and local efforts to establish public transportation as a public good through fare-free services. In August 2025, Rep. Pressley, Sen. Markey, and Mayor Wu announced their continued efforts to implement fare-free public transportation in Boston and across the Commonwealth.
In August 2026, Rep. Pressley and Sen. Markey released a new report, Making Transit Free, Frequent, and Reliable: Massachusetts shows the need for federal investment in fare-free transit, detailing the need for increased federal investments in fare-free transit.
In December 2025, Rep. Pressley led 14 colleagues in sending a letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen urging they prioritize affordability, accessibility, and sustainability in crafting the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill—including by investing in fare-free transit. These priorities reflect the mission of the Future of Transportation Caucus, which reimagines America’s transportation systems to center equity, access, and sustainability.
In October 2019, Rep. Pressley founded the Future of Transportation Caucus, a Congressional caucus focused on centering equity, access, and sustainability in our transportation systems. Rep. Pressley also co-chairs the Congressional Bike Caucus.
Pressley Condemns Attacks on Rep. Omar, Blasts Trump for Fascist, Anti-Freedom Agenda - Ayanna Pressley
Position: The release condemns federal actions and statements targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar and other Democratic officials and Black women leaders, characterizing the administration's conduct as an attack on free speech, free press, and voting access. It urges voters to turn out in upcoming elections.
DHS Raid on Omar's Home is Latest in Trump's Coordinated Attacks on Black Women in Public Office
“If they want to control what you do with your body, if they want to control your access to the ballot, if they want to control what books you read, if they want to degrade free speech and attack the free press because they only want people reading lies and propaganda, then we are actively in a fascist state.”
CAMBRIDGE – During a media availability, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) condemned Donald Trump’s baseless attacks on Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05) after federal authorities raided her home this week and denounced his biased targeting of Black women leaders nationwide. Rep. Pressley called out Trump for his fascist agenda, enumerating his attacks on the free press and freedom of speech, and his campaign to terrorize, silence, and traumatize communities.
A transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks is available below and the video is available here.
Transcript: Pressley Condemns Attacks on Rep. Omar, Blasts Trump for Fascist, Anti-Freedom Agenda
Well, I don't know how many more examples people need that we are living in a fascist state.
This hostile Administration continues to weaponize the Department of Justice against their political enemies.
He has had Representative Omar—who is a very effective Congresswoman, a union member who has fought for, you know, the humanity of all people, but especially workers' rights, delivered school-free. I'm sorry, free school, free lunches to our children.
She's been a leader in so many ways. She's also a dear friend of mine.
But this is so much bigger than Congresswoman Omar.
Again, this Department of Justice has been weaponized against the likes of Tish James, of Lisa Cook, of LaMonica McIver.
It is an Administration, a fascist Administration, that is fearmongering.
They are fearmongering heading into our elections. They are creating, they seek to create, a chilling effect throughout this country.
I think of people like Rümeysa Öztürk, my constituent, who was disappeared and detained simply for writing an op-ed they didn't agree with. That is attacking free speech.
I think about Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, who is being threatened with a 15-year prison sentence. She just gave birth less than three weeks ago, to a baby girl, and she is being threatened with 15 years imprisonment simply for doing her job.
They sought to indict her for conducting Congressional oversight of some of these detention facilities, doing her job.
So, you know, they want people to live in a state of fear. It is an anti-freedom agenda.
If they want to control what you do with your body, if they want to control your access to the ballot, if they want to control what books you read, if they want to degrade free speech and attack the free press because they only want people reading lies and propaganda, then we are actively in a fascist state.
And I need people to vote. I need you to vote as if everything depends on it because it does. You have to vote in force because we know that they're going to challenge those election outcomes because everything has been about the election.
January 6th was about the election. The fact that they didn't sign our bipartisan 21st Century Housing bill into law because Donald Trump said unless you vote on and pass the SAVE America Act, I will not sign this housing bill into law.
This is not an Administration that cares about the working man and woman, that is going to fight for things like fare-free transit to lighten the load for people and make their lives easier.
They're just simply inciting fear. It's just fearmongering.
And I also want to say this of Congresswoman Omar: this raid with more than 20 agents happened at her home. Her children were there.
So the terrorizing of this Administration—just like with the actions of ICE—you can't say that you're doing something in the name of law and order when you are terrorizing families and communities.
They want people to be afraid to vote, to go to work, to go to worship, to just be.
So we are actively—fascism and authoritarianism is not on the way. We are actively living it right now.
And so we have to continue to sound the alarm. And I need people to vote. Vote like you never have before. Vote in force.
Pressley, City of Boston Announce More Than $16 Million to Modernize Fairmount Apartments in Hyde Park - Ayanna Pressley
Position: The release announces more than $16 million in federal, state, and city funding to modernize the Fairmount public housing community in Hyde Park, including energy retrofits, accessibility upgrades, and sustainable infrastructure. The congresswoman states that public housing should be preserved and modernized to reflect current needs in accessibility, resiliency, and sustainability.
Pressley, City of Boston, Sec. Matias, State Rep. Consalvo Announce Initial Phase of Renovations that include Energy Retrofits, Accessibility Upgrades, Sustainable Infrastructure, and Workforce Opportunities
BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), alongside Mayor Michelle Wu, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) Secretary Juana Matias, Representative Rob Consalvo, and Boston Housing Authority (BHA) Administrator Kenzie Bok,joined residents to announce more than $16 million in state, city, and federal funding to modernize the Fairmount public housing community in Hyde Park. This announcement represents the latest investment in the city’s public housing communities.
The funding includes $1M of Community Project Fund investment secured by Congresswoman Pressley and Senators Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren, a $10 million High Leverage Asset Preservation Program (HILAPP) grant from EOHLC, and $5 million in City of Boston capital funding for the Fairmount Modernization Project. The Boston Public Health Commission has granted funds for open space improvements and community garden installations. Together, the funding will create a more accessible and resilient community.
"Residents in the Massachusetts 7th not only deserve a safe, stable place to call home, but also one that reflects modern-day needs in accessibility, resiliency, and sustainability—and this essential funding to modernize the Fairmount Apartments will do exactly that," said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. "This investment is a reflection of community input realized and I'm grateful for every engaged resident who made their voice heard. I'm proud to deliver this funding alongside our city and state partners in Mayor Wu, Secretary Matias, Administrator Bok, Rep. Consalvo, and others to invest in existing public housing and improve livability for our communities."
“Over the last five years, Boston has built nearly 16,000 new units of housing throughout our neighborhoods. In order to make our city a home for everyone, we must also preserve and modernize the affordable homes that already exist,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to all our partners for helping secure funding for this comprehensive, multi-phase renovation of the Fairmount Apartments, and I look forward to working with residents to deliver beautiful, upgraded homes for these families.”
“The Boston Housing Authority is so grateful to our city, state, and federal partners for investing in our public housing communities,” said Kenzie Bok, Administrator of the Boston Housing Authority. “With this funding, Fairmount will remain a welcoming place for families to call Hyde Park home for decades to come.”
The BHA is kicking off a Master Planning process for the Fairmount community, creating an area-wide vision while beginning a first phase of physical improvements. The initial phase of upgrades will focus on modernizing unit interiors, making 5% of apartments fully accessible, electrifying heating and hot water systems, and adding cooling. It will also include building envelope improvements and installing green stormwater infrastructure to support the community’s long-term sustainability and climate resilience.
"Thanks to Governor Healey's Affordable Homes Act, HLC has been able to expand the funding needed to improve the state’s public housing system," said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Juana Matias. "We're not just building new housing, but investing in the homes we already have and the people who live in them. The preservation of Fairmount Apartments is exactly what that commitment looks like."
“I am thrilled that this enormous investment is happening at the Fairmount Housing Development, literally blocks away from my home here in Hyde Park,” said State Representative Rob Consalvo. “This partnership between the State, City, and Federal government will ensure that the residents of this development will be able to live in safe, modern and accessible units now and for years to come.”
An additional federal investment secured by the Congressional delegation is going to support flood mitigation for affordable housing developments, including BHA properties. The city and BHA have collaborated on multi-site stormwater projects serving the Fairmount, Gallivan, and Franklin Field communities, an effort bolstered by this federal backing. The project will fund a community garden and new rain gardens to mitigate stormwater pollution and prevent flooding. Through Boston’s PowerCorps program, local residents will be trained to build and maintain the rain gardens while earning green career credentials.
“As the District 5 City Councilor, Chair of the Boston City Council’s Housing Committee, and someone who grew up in public housing, I know firsthand how important it is for families to have a place they can be proud to call home,” said Councilor Enrique Pepén. “This $16 million investment in the Fairmount Apartments is exactly the kind of commitment our residents deserve, one that strengthens our communities, improves quality of life, and ensures families can continue to thrive in the neighborhoods they call home. I’m grateful to our state and federal partners for their collaboration and commitment to making this important investment possible.”
“This $16 million investment is an exciting step forward in advancing affordable, accessible, and high-quality housing for residents of Fairmount Apartments in Hyde Park,” said Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune. “By investing in our public housing communities, we are strengthening neighborhoods and ensuring that families have safe, stable homes where they can thrive. I look forward to seeing the lasting impact these improvements will have on Fairmount residents for years to come.”
Fairmount Apartments in Hyde Park was constructed in 1951 and includes over 200 units of state public housing.
As a Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance of the House Financial Services Committee (FSC), Rep. Pressley has consistently advocated for policies that affirm housing as a human right and center the dignity and humanity of all people.
In June 2026, the 21st Century Road to Housing Act passed Congress and included four bills led by Congresswoman Pressley that would address the housing crisis and increase pathways to equitable and affordable housing. The bills will address bias in home valuations, expand affordable housing, strengthen oversight of corporate landlords, and help families reach financial stability. The bill became law despite Donald Trump’s refusal to sign it.
Rep. Pressley’s four bills in the housing package include:
Following Trump’s refusal to sign the package into law without advancing his voter suppression bill, Rep. Pressley joined lawmakers in demanding Trump support the housing package and the essential, expanded access to housing it would deliver for Americans.
Pressley Lauds Cambridge EZRide and Success of Fare-Free Transit, Renews Push for Freedom to Move Act - Ayanna Pressley
Position: The release supports fare-free public transit and cites the EZRide shuttle in Cambridge as a successful model. It promotes the Freedom to Move Act, which would provide $25 billion to transit agencies to offer fare-free service.
Rep. Pressley, Sen. Markey Lead the Freedom to Move Act, Federal Legislation to Enact Fare-Free Transit & Close Transit Equity Gap
Video from Media Avail (YouTube) | Photos (Dropbox)
CAMBRIDGE – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) joined the Charles River Transportation Management Association, City of Cambridge, Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, local elected officials, and advocates for a roundtable discussion and ride on the EZRide shuttle—a fare-free shuttle service connecting Kendall Square, Cambridge neighborhoods, and North Station—to highlight the importance and success of fare-free transit.
In Congress, Congresswoman Pressley co-leads the Freedom to Move Act alongside Senator Ed Markey, which would provide $25 billion in funding for transit agencies to offer fare-free service and improve on existing transit service offerings.
“Fare free transit is essential and it is time we invest in public transit as the public good that it is—and that is proof positive by the success of the EZRide shuttle in Cambridge,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “As Massachusetts fare-free systems continue to prove and as riders shared with me today, fare-free transit makes life more accessible, affordable, and safe for workers and families across the country. That’s why I’m fighting for national fare-free transit through our Freedom to Move Act and I’m grateful to Charles River Transportation Management Association, City of Cambridge, Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, and community partners for making this a reality in the Massachusetts 7th.”
“Charles River Transportation Management Association and EZRide appreciates the opportunity today to present the EZRide model for providing fare-free open to the public last mile circulation transit in the corridor between North Station and Eastern Cambridge since 2002. The City of Cambridge committed to climate goals while redeveloping its post-industrial economic corridor along the Charles River, creating a framework for collaboration amongst public and private stakeholders to create an efficient, frequent, affordable transit designed to meet the needs of the riders.” – Charles River Transportation Management Association
"The Cambridge Redevelopment Authority is proud that the KSTEP Fund has been instrumental in launching the expansion of fare-free transit on the EZRide bus route," said Tom Evans, Executive Director of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA). "This type of creative public-private partnership is vital to improve access to the innovation hub of Kendall Square for employees, neighbors and visitors from around the region."
“EZRide has become a leading example of how fare-free public transportation can be successfully delivered through collaboration and creative funding partnerships," said Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang. "By leveraging public investment alongside private and development-related contributions, the program has transformed individual commitments into broad community benefits. The result is a transportation service in Cambridge and Boston that expands opportunity, supports our climate goals, strengthens our economy, and demonstrates a scalable model for improving mobility for everyone.”
Through the Kendall Square Transit Enhancement Program (KSTEP), administered by the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA) in partnership with the City of Cambridge and other public and private stakeholders, approximately $1 million has been committed to support the Charles River TMA, which operates EZRide, in delivering a two-year expansion of service and maintaining its fare-free operation.
Photos from the event are available here and footage from the media availability following the event is available here.
Congresswoman Pressley has long championed fare-free transit in Congress. In July 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senator Markey re-introduced the Freedom to Move Act which would provide $25 billion in funding for transit agencies to offer fare free service and improve on existing transit service offerings.
The Freedom to Move Act would support state and local efforts to promote public transportation as a public good for all by:
In August 2026, Rep. Pressley and Sen. Markey released a new report detailing the success of fare-free transit in MA. The report, titled Making Transit Free, Frequent, and Reliable: Massachusetts shows the need for federal investment in fare-free transit, highlights the need for increased federal investments in fare-free transit.
Rep. Pressley and Sen. Markey originally introduced the Freedom to Move Act in June 2020. Following the bill’s introduction, Senator Markey, Congresswoman Pressley, and then-Councilor Michelle Wu published an op-ed that discussed the bill and the need to fund public transportation as a public good.
In July 2020, the House of Representatives passed the Moving Forward Act that included a fare-free pilot program modeled after the two lawmakers Freedom to Move Act.
In March 2021, Senator Markey and Congresswoman Pressley reintroduced the Freedom to Move Act.
In August 2022, Rep. Pressley and Senator Markey called on the MBTA to make the entire T fare-free for the duration of the Orange Line’s shutdown.
VIDEO: After Memorial Drive Shooting, Pressley Slams Trump Admin for Fueling Gun Violence, Weakening Accountability for Gun Dealers - Ayanna Pressley
Position: Congresswoman Pressley criticizes the Trump Administration for weakening accountability measures for gun dealers who violate federal law, which she argues fuels illegal gun trafficking and contributes to gun violence. She advocates for stricter enforcement against dealers who sell firearms to prohibited individuals.
“The gun lobby is controlling the regulators while our communities are paying the price, burying loved ones and raising children in fear… The shame and sham of it all.”
WASHINGTON – Today, during a House Oversight subcommittee hearing, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) discussed the public health crisis of gun violence and criticized the Trump Administration for weakening accountability for gun dealers who violate federal law, fueling illegal gun trafficking into states like Massachusetts, and defending policies that limit access to data that communities need to combat gun violence. The Congresswoman’s question line follows the shooting this week in which a gunman armed with an assault-style weapon opened fire on random drivers and pedestrians traveling along Memorial Drive in Cambridge.
In her questioning of Robert Cekada, the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Congresswoman Pressley highlighted the communities bearing the lifelong trauma of gun violence, including children, young people, and families, and contrasted them with those the Administration has instead been catering to, the gun lobby.
A transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks during debate on the legislation is available below, and the video is available here.
Transcript: Pressley Slams Trump Admin for Fueling Gun Violence, Weakening Accountability for Gun Dealers
House Oversight Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement
May 14, 2026
REP. PRESSLEY: Director Cekada, gun violence is a public health crisis, and this administration is failing to meet it with the urgency that it demands.
Across our country, including in my district, the Massachusetts 7th, families are bearing the devastating consequences of shootings, trafficking, domestic violence, femicide, suicide and community trauma.
Just this past Monday, a gunman armed with an assault rifle opened fire on random drivers and pedestrians traveling along Memorial Drive in Cambridge, terrorizing people in broad daylight. Constituents in my district and communities across this country should not have to live with the constant fear that their daily commute could become a mass casualty event.
Now, while Massachusetts has some of the strongest gun safety laws in the nation, more than two-thirds of guns recovered from crimes in our Commonwealth originate from out of state. At the same time, communities are demanding accountability.
Director Cekada, your agency has weakened oversight of gun dealers by ending the zero tolerance policy for firearm dealers who violate the law. Mr. Director, yes or no, should gun dealers who willfully sell firearms to prohibited individuals be allowed to continue operating? Yes or No.
DIRECTOR CEKADA: Your statement is a violation of the law, and they should be put out of business if they willfully violate the Gun Control Act.
REP. PRESSLEY: Alright, that's right. These dealers are breaking the law, and previously would have had their licenses to sell revoked, but your agency repealed that policy.
Accountability should not be a radical concept here. Instead, your agency has chosen to weaken enforcement while simultaneously defending policies that limit access to data that communities need to combat gun violence.
This is bad public policy. This is bad for public safety. This is bad for public health.
Survivors of gun violence carry lifelong trauma, especially our children, increasingly so, a childhood is a privilege instead of a right. Young people are growing up internalizing trauma as a normal part of daily life. Active shooter drills, memorials outside of school, parents afraid to allow their children to walk home alone.
Now, all the data supports that exposure to gun violence has profound and lasting impacts on childhood development, mental and physical health and educational attainment. In the full oversight committee, I convened the first ever Congressional hearing on childhood trauma. It was illuminating and devastating.
Children who witnessed gun violence are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and PTSD well into adulthood. These children and their families are the people you should be centering in your work, Director Sakata.
I believe the people closest to the pain should be the closest to the power. But let's look at who you are instead holding close to the power. Not the traumatized children, not the grieving mothers, not the classroom educators who everyday wonder, "Is today the day that I will have to shield my student from a shooter."
Instead, this is a picture from your signing ceremony announcing over 30 changes to end gun safety protections, and standing directly behind you are the leaders of the gun lobby, the NRA, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the National Association for Gun Rights, and others who have spent decades obstructing commonsense gun safety measures.
The gun lobby is controlling the regulators while our communities are paying the price, burying loved ones and raising children in fear.
The shame and the sham of it all.
NEWS: Pressley, Murray, Duckworth Introduce Bicameral Bill to Help Women with Disabilities Access Reproductive Health Care - Ayanna Pressley
Position: The release advocates for legislation to improve reproductive health care access for women with disabilities, addressing discrimination and barriers they face in obtaining timely, informed, and culturally competent care.
Pressley: “With a nationwide assault on reproductive healthcare deeply impacting our siblings with disabilities, this bill is timely, urgent and responsive.”
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, along with Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), reintroduced their Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, legislation to help women with disabilities—who face discrimination and extra barriers when seeking care—get better access to the timely, informed, and culturally competent reproductive health care they deserve.
“Everyone should have equitable access to healthcare. Disability justice and reproductive justice are connected,” said Congresswoman Pressley, Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. “With a nationwide assault on reproductive healthcare deeply impacting our siblings with disabilities, this bill is timely, urgent and responsive. I’m grateful to Senator Murray, Senator Duckworth, and our advocates for their ongoing partnership on this legislation.”
“Every single American woman deserves reproductive health care from a provider that understands her unique needs and treats her with dignity and respect as she makes her personal health care decisions—this is especially true for women with disabilities who often face discrimination and additional barriers to receiving basic health care,” said Senator Murray. “While Republicans do all they can to rip away health care, attack our reproductive rights, and try to ban abortion nationwide, I am continuing to fight back and ensure that all women can access high-quality care from providers who understand their unique needs. This bill will help make a big difference in making sure people with disabilities can get the informed and accessible reproductive health care they deserve.”
“Americans with disabilities have long faced barriers to health care services, equipment and providers—and those barriers have only multiplied under the Trump Administration when it comes to reproductive care,” said Senator Duckworth. “Between the fall of Roe and Republicans passing $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, it’s shameful how Donald Trump has made sure it’s even harder for people with disabilities to access reproductive health care. I’m proud to introduce this bill with Senator Murray to help ensure that Americans with disabilities are not left behind in getting the care we need, when we need it.”
All Americans deserve to decide if, when, and how to start and raise a family—including the roughly one in four adults with disabilities, who report wanting children as much as those without disabilities do. But people with disabilities have long experienced discrimination and barriers when accessing sexual and reproductive health care. They are also less likely to receive contraception counseling and timely prenatal care, experience a higher rate of sterilization, and are at a greater risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. And they face other barriers to accessing reproductive care, such as a lack of accessibility at health care facilities, accessible medical diagnostic equipment, accessible travel, and health care providers trained on how to treat and address the unique, diverse needs of people with disabilities receiving reproductive health care.
The legislation would provide grant funding for training and education programs for health care professionals focused on the reproductive health needs of people with disabilities, help to increase the representation of people with disabilities in the health care provider workforce, and establish a new technical assistance center to provide recommendations and best practices regarding sexual and reproductive health care for people with disabilities, among other things. The lawmakers first introduced the bill in 2022, and reintroduced it in 2023 as well.
The Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act would lower barriers to sexual and reproductive care and help ensure disabled people get timely access to culturally competent health care. Specifically, the bill would:
The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The legislation is endorsed by American Civil Liberties Union, All* Above All, Catholics for Choice, Center for American Progress, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, National Abortion Federation, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, National Council of Jewish Women, National Disability Rights Network, National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, National Health Law Program, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, National Network of Abortion Funds, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Women's Law Center Action Fund, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, and Reproductive Freedom for All.
“The barriers disabled people face when trying to access reproductive health care are real, longstanding, and too often ignored. This bill recognizes that accessibility is not optional when it comes to bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom,” said Mia Ives-Rublee, Senior Director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress. “Everyone deserves the ability to make informed decisions about their own health and future, and that means ensuring care is accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of disabled people.”
“For too long, our health care system has subjected people with disabilities, and especially disabled Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, to discrimination in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care. And while this discrimination often violates federal civil rights laws, it persists,” said Madeline Morcelle, Senior Attorney at the National Health Law Program. “We are proud to endorse the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act because it invests in solutions that will help prevent discrimination before it happens, such as comprehensive provider training and grants to increase disabled representation in the SRH care workforce. Together, these measures will help foster a future in which people with disabilities’ sexual and reproductive autonomy is honored, pain and other symptoms are not dismissed, and SRH care is accessible, trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically appropriate, non-coercive, and delivered with dignity.”
A one-pager on the bill is available here.
The full text of the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act is here.
In her time serving in Congress, Rep. Pressley has fought persistently to protect and advance reproductive justice and ensure fundamental life-saving reproductive health care for all.
WATCH: Pressley Slams Republican Bill that Ignores Unemployment Crisis, Strips Federal Reserve’s Mandate to Maximize Employment - Ayanna Pressley
Position: Rep. Pressley opposes Republican legislation that would remove the Federal Reserve's mandate to maximize employment, arguing that this mandate is essential for economic health, community well-being, and worker dignity.
Pressley Has Repeatedly Sounded the Alarm on Trump’s Unemployment Crisis, Pushout of Black Women from Workforce, Demanded Action from Federal Reserve
“People are looking for jobs. People want to work, but Trump's economy won't let them….Maximizing employment is good for our economy. It's good for our communities. It's good for our families.”
WASHINGTON – Today, during a House Financial Services Committee Markup, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) vehemently opposed Republican legislation that would strip the Federal Reserve's mandate for maximum employment, emphasizing the Fed’s essential role in ensuring economic health, community well-being, and personal dignity in work especially under Trump’s unemployment crisis.
“The Federal Reserve’s mandate for maximum employment is essential to ensuring jobs are available and people are employed—and removing it would devastate our economy and communities,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “While Republicans continue advancing harmful, anti-worker policies, I’ll keep fighting for the dignity of work.”
During debate, Rep. Pressley combatted Republicans’ anti-worker legislation through four amendments affirming the importance of the Fed’s mandate for maximum employment. Rep. Pressley’s amendments would:
In Congress, Rep. Pressley has repeatedly sounded the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States, called on the Federal Reserve to take action, and convened impacted women and economists to renew those calls.
A transcript of the Congresswoman’s opening remarks during debate on the legislation is available below, and the video is available here.
Transcript: Pressley Slams Republican Bill that Ignores Unemployment Crisis, Strips Federal Reserve’s Essential Mandate to Maximize Employment
Like Ranking Member Waters and my Democratic colleagues, I vigorously oppose this legislation to strip the mandate from maximum employment from the mission of the Federal Reserve.
I mean, I never thought that my Republican colleagues would need a lesson on the importance of gainful employment and having a job. Even Ronald Reagan said that he believed the best social program is a job. And yet, here we are.
The best way to support working families is to keep them working, plain and simple.
Maximizing employment is good for our economy. It's good for our communities. It's good for our families. And to deny that truth is to deny reality.
So I'm confident that the American people will see through these baseless talking points and agree with Democrats that everyone should be able to get a job, to work a job, and to earn a living.
Work is, is pride. It's dignity. It's essential to survive, to thrive, to provide, even to dream.
I've been working, I've been employed since I was thirteen, fourteen years old. Many young people pursue jobs, whether it's being a bagger at a grocery store or work in retail, not just for enrichment or for exposure, but because it is essential. I was working at the age of fourteen to contribute to my household income.
Or what of young adults, recent graduates from college or a trade school, who want to save for a house or maybe even start a business one day?
Or, you know, as a mother, I think about what it means to be able to see the light behind my child's eyes when I can provide them with a vacation or some gift that they've been begging for.
And for our elders, increasingly so, under Trump's administration and economy, retirement is farther and farther out of reach, and many of our elders have no choice but to work in order to pay for life saving medication, to keep a roof over their heads.
So all this to say that having a job is not a statistic. It is essential. It is dignity.
The dignity of work is transformational. That's what the Fed's mandate for maximum employment is about.
This mission was not created in a vacuum. It dates back to the Great Depression in recognition that people should be able to earn a living, provide for themselves and their family. There was nearly unanimous support by Republicans and Democrats for maximum employment when the mandate passed Congress.
The Federal Reserve Board of Governors is the only independent agency that works on improving employment. Some argue that this is the role of the Department of Labor, but in Trump's America, the Labor Department is a joke. We don't even have a Secretary of Labor right now.
So the Fed's mandate is essential, and always has been.
During the Great Recession of 2008—massive job loss—the Fed stepped in to maximize employment. During the COVID-19 pandemic and record layoffs, the Fed once again pursued its mandate of maximum employment. And in this moment, we need the Fed to do more, not less.
For months, I've been sounding the alarm about the current unemployment crisis. The unemployment rate has increased to 4.3% due to Trump's reckless policies like firing government workers, attacking small businesses.
And when you analyze the data, Black unemployment specifically is at 7.3%. These are the worst rates we've seen since the pandemic.
Black workers are the canaries in the coal mine. What happens to our community first, happens to everyone next. So folks should take heed.
People are looking for jobs. People want to work, but Trump's economy won't let them.
Just last week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell announced the jobs numbers and said something that Republicans need to hear. There is little hiring going on, and for many Americans, it doesn't feel like a good labor market.
So the solution to the current unemployment problem is not to tell the Fed to abandon the goal of maximum employment. The solution is to empower the Fed to do even more. Recent graduates deserve more.
Having a job and earning a paycheck is a beautiful and essential thing.
So I just want to say this to folks at home, in the midst of all of this, these anti-worker policies against paid leave, child care, supporting tariffs, suppressing wages.
To those who keep applying to jobs but still aren't hearing back,
To those who are wondering how they're going to pay their bills without a paycheck,
To those who are doing everything right but the economy is all wrong,
To those who know and appreciate the dignity of work, I see you. I'm fighting for you.
And that is why I oppose this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
In September 2025, Congresswoman Pressley wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell sounding the alarm on the rising unemployment rate for Black women in the United States and demanding the Fed take immediate action to uphold its mandate of maximum employment for all. The Congresswoman’s letter came amid the Trump Administration’s mass federal workforce layoffs and anti-DEI policies disproportionately impacting Black women and as Donald Trump attempted to seize control of the Fed by illegally firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. A copy of the Congresswoman’s letter is available here.
In December 2025, Rep. Pressley and Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Yvette Clarke followed up to Rep. Pressley’s demands and wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell demanding a briefing for members of the Congressional Black Caucus on how the Federal Reserve is responding to this growing crisis.
In March 2026, Reps. Pressley and Summer Lee (PA-12) introduced the Better Labor Statistics Act, or the BLS Act, legislation that would codify the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ mandate to report unemployment data publicly, online, and at the first Friday of each month to ensure transparency and accuracy in unemployment data collection. The BLS Act would also codify the publication of unemployment data broken down by race and ethnicity, gender, geography, and industry.
In December 2025, Rep. Pressley, along with Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women & Girls, Congresswomen Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), led 19 of their colleagues demanding the Department of Labor (DOL) take immediate action to address the rising unemployment crisis among Black women that has taken shape since the start of the second Trump Administration.
In November 2025, Rep. Pressley convened Black women, economists, civil rights leaders, and community members for an urgent discussion about the unemployment crisis facing Black women and its impact in Massachusetts and beyond.
In September 2025, Congresswoman Pressley convened a press conference with a coalition of Black women activists and civil rights leaders to continue sounding the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States.
Source: GDELT 2.0 GKG, filtered to a curated list of national outlets. Inclusion is not endorsement; opinion pieces and reported news are mixed.
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No disclosed trades on record.
Source: open-data mirrors of the Senate eFD and House Clerk financial-disclosure systems. Disclosure within 30 days of trade is required by law (45 for spouse/dependent trades).
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.AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (PEOPLE)3 contributions$7,500
2.ROOTED IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PAC1 contribution$5,000
3.MACHINISTS NON PARTISAN POLITICAL LEAGUE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTSLabor1 contributionTrade-union PAC of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers — backs candidates supporting union organizing, prevailing wages, and aerospace and manufacturing industry jobs.AI$5,000
4.VISIONARY PAC1 contribution$5,000
5.INSPIRING LEADERSHIP HAS A NAME PAC1 contribution$5,000
6.UA UNION PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS VOTE! POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE1 contribution$5,000
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$5,000
8.INT'L ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE, STRUCTURAL, ORNAMENTAL AND REINFORCING IRON WORKERS (IPAL)Labor2 contributionsTrade-union PAC for ironworkers — backs prevailing-wage protections, infrastructure funding, and project labor agreements.AI$5,000
9.LABORERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA (LIUNA) PACLabor2 contributionsTrade-union PAC for construction laborers — backs prevailing-wage standards, infrastructure investment, apprenticeship programs, and project labor agreements.AI$5,000
10.TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEE2 contributions$3,000
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.SOHOOKD$14,000
2.THE PARTNERSHIP, INC.$10,500
3.THERMO FISHER$10,500
4.JORDAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS$7,000
5.EGERIA ENTERPRISES$7,000
6.UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO$7,000
7.VINSON & ELKINS LLP$7,000
8.ARIEL INVESTMENTS$7,000
9.METROPOLITAN BOSTON HOUSING PARTNERSHI$7,000
10.SHOWCASE COMMERCE$7,000
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.
