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Positions Mary Gay Scanlon 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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Federal Title IX protections should explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Congresswoman Scanlon led House floor debate on critical legislative victories, including the Equality Act”
Passage votes where Mary Gay Scanlon broke ranks with ≥75% of Democrats. Threshold catches substantively partisan splits; unanimous-ish or close votes are excluded.
Congresswoman Scanlon Introduces Corporate Accountability Bill to Ban Executive Handouts During Bankruptcy
Position: Rep. Scanlon introduced the No Bonuses in Bankruptcy Act of 2026, which would prohibit companies in bankruptcy from paying bonuses or incentive-based compensation to employees earning $250,000 or more and would allow the U.S. Trustee to claw back bonuses paid six months before bankruptcy if they would not have been allowed during bankruptcy.
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today introduced the No Bonuses in Bankruptcy Act of 2026, legislation to enact reforms for the bankruptcy process by prohibiting companies in bankruptcy from paying a bonus or other incentive-based compensation to employees making $250,000 or more.
In Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Section 503(c) of the Bankruptcy Code restricts retention bonuses for executives and, to a lesser extent, executive and non-executive incentive bonuses during the bankruptcy process. Debtors must obtain court approval to pay employee bonuses during bankruptcy — a process that gives creditors an opportunity to raise objections. However, the Bankruptcy Code generally does not have oversight of retention bonuses paid before a bankruptcy filing, known as pre-bankruptcy bonuses. The No Bonuses in Bankruptcy Act would reform this part of the bankruptcy process by prohibiting companies from paying a bonus to employees making $250,000 or more, and give the U.S. Trustee the authority to claw back bonuses made six months before bankruptcy if the bonus would not have been allowed during bankruptcy.
“Executives should not be giving themselves a pat on the back for laying off workers and closing facilities,” said Rep. Scanlon. “The bankruptcy structure has long provided a loophole to reward executives for their negligence while leaving working-class Americans without jobs and pay. I’m proud to introduce No Bonuses in Bankruptcy to end a bad incentive structure that pads the pockets of executives, instead of holding them accountable.”
In September 2021, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report detailing the leniency of bankruptcy judges approving dozens of multi-million-dollar executive compensation packages to firms in bankruptcy. In recent years, companies like Spirit Airlines, Purdue Pharma, and Saks Global Enterprises LLC have sought bonuses for their executive teams through the bankruptcy process while laying off employees and closing operations. Locally, executive members of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery were awarded $4.5 million in bonuses in September 2019 following mass layoffs of employees with no severance or extended medical benefits.
"The American people are frustrated with a system that rewards corporate incompetence and malfeasance, especially when they leverage systems largely inaccessible to everyday working Americans. This bill rests on a basic principle: executives should not be rewarded financially when they bankrupt their companies. It just makes sense,” said Joshua Miller, Director of Congress Watch at Public Citizen.
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PA-05 Deep Dive: Community Project Funding for Local Projects in Our District
Position: The release highlights securing Community Project Funding for local projects in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, including a warning system for a low-clearance bridge in Prospect Park, and describes the CPF program's eligibility rules and recent House changes to it. It criticizes the House Republican majority's narrowing of the program and its cuts to awards for agencies serving the LGBTQ community.
Everybody in Delco knows about the “truck eating” bridge on Route 420 in Prospect Park - it even has its own Facebook page! For years, local businesses and residents have had to deal with traffic jams and disruptions whenever big rigs get stuck under the low-clearance bridge for Amtrak and SEPTA trains on Lincoln Avenue.
So it was a big win for the community when I was able to secure $425,000 in Community Project Funding (“CPF”) in the FY 2026 federal budget so that Prospect Park can install additional warning and detection devices to warn and divert oversized trucks before they hit the bridge.
The new Prospect Park Bridge warning system is one of more than a dozen CPF projects, totaling over $11 million, that my office was able to secure for Pennsylvania’s Fifth Congressional District in the FY26 budget. Others include:
A complete list of CPF awards we have secured for PA-05, this year, and in prior years, can be found here. They can also be found on this map.
As your representative in Congress, I’ve been able to work with local officials and community organizations to secure funding for 10 to 15 CPF projects for our district during each budget cycle, for a total of more than $51 million.
The vast majority of federal funding flows through grants to states and agencies, rather than directly to local projects. However, each year, members of Congress can nominate a limited number of projects in their districts for inclusion in the federal budget through the CPF program. While demand for CPF awards far exceeds available funding, my staff and I work hard to secure funding to meet a diversity of needs across PA-05.
Only nonprofit organizations or government agencies that meet specific guidelines, and have significant community support, are eligible for CPF awards, and the program is subject to strict transparency and conflict of interest rules. The criteria for eligibility for CPF funds are slightly different in the U.S. House and Senate, and those eligibility rules change from year to year, depending upon who holds the majority in each house.
In recent years, the House Republican majority has narrowed the House CPF program substantially, restricting the categories of funding available, eliminating eligibility for nonprofits, and, notably, cutting CPF awards for agencies that serve the LGBTQ community.
At a time when it can be challenging to get Congress to act on nonpartisan measures, the CPF program has allowed us to get some big wins for projects in communities across PA-05. I really enjoy working with our local governments and nonprofits to secure funding that helps to revitalize our communities, invest in our future, and improve quality of life across PA-05.
Restoring the historic Lansdowne Theatre to become an anchor for community economic redevelopment.
Adding after school programs to a child care center in Upper Darby.
Addressing flooding in Eastwick.
Improving water quality on the Schuylkill River with the Ecosystems Education Center at Bartram's Garden.
Funding affordable housing at Grace Manor in Chester.
Supporting workforce development projects at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Bellwether District, DCCC, and George Hill Correctional Facility.
Funding a successful gun violence prevention program in Philadelphia.
Supporting structural upgrades at Media VFW Post 3460.
Building a playground at Bregy Elementary School in Southwest Philadelphia.
Expanding mental health and opioid misuse treatment in Chester and Delco generally.
Helping local food bank, Share Food, expand services in PA-05.
Renovating Senior Community Services Schoolhouse Center in Folsom.
Reconstructing a 140-year-old quay wall connecting Broad Street to the Navy Yard, and repairing the lift bridge providing direct access to the Philly Shipyard.
Transforming public libraries in Haverford, Darby and Upper Chichester to meet the needs of the 21st century.
Renovating ACLAMO Community Center in Norristown.
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Congresswoman Scanlon Introduces Bill to Fund High-Quality Civic Education and Engage Youth in the Democratic Process
Position: Introduces legislation to create a $400 million civic education and service learning grant program in K-12 public schools, establish an Office of Civic Education within the Department of Education, and require NAEP civics and history assessments in grades 4, 8, and 12.
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today introduced the Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act, legislation to promote and expand high-quality, evidence-based civic education and service learning programming in K-12 public schools. The bill is introduced as federal and state funding and programs for civic education have dwindled in recent years.
According to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, funding for K-12 civics education increased from $7.75 million to $23 million between 2022 and 2024 to support teacher professional development, curriculum development, and student programming. However, recent budget proposals would cut $12 billion from K-12 education programs, including grants to increase access to civic education.
The Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act will create a Civic Education and Service Learning Grant Program to encourage the implementation of high-quality, evidence-based civic education and service learning programming in K-12 public schools. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $400,000,000 for the Civic Education and Service Learning Grant Program. It will also establish an Office of Civic Education within the Department of Education to promote civic education throughout the United States.
“High-quality civic education is critical to having an informed and engaged electorate, able to participate in a functioning democracy,” said Rep. Scanlon. “Expanding civic education helps young people understand their roles and responsibilities as citizens and empowers them to participate in our government and communities. I’m proud to introduce the Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act to expand civic education in our public schools for our next generation of leaders.”
The Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act will:
Establish the Civic Education and Service Learning Grant Program to award grants to eligible entities for promoting and expanding civic education in public elementary and secondary schools.
Create the Office of Civic Education within ED to promote civic education throughout the United States.
Requires the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in civics and history to be administered in grades 4, 8, and 12, and to publish assessment data in the aggregate for the United States and separately for each state.
Establish an annual Excellence in Civics Award to highlight excellence in the development and teaching of civic education and service learning.
Support the development and distribution of educational materials and teaching resources related to civic education and effective citizenship by the Library of Congress, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the National Archives.
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Scanlon, Welch, Blumenthal, Min Initiate Probe into Improper Influence of Cabinet Members in Trump Pardons
Position: The release announces a congressional investigation into whether cabinet members improperly influenced presidential pardons, and questions the use of executive clemency in specific cases. It states that the pardon power appears to deviate from its traditional purpose.
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited Government, today joined Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on The Constitution, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and Congressman Dave Min (CA-47), Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ Anti-Corruption Task Force, in raising questions about the role of cabinet members in securing presidential pardons, as part of their ongoing investigation into executive clemency actions since January 20, 2025.
The bicameral group of lawmakers are looking into whether U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin used their access to inappropriately influence President Trump’s decision to grant full presidential pardons to convicted felons Trevor Milton and Troy Lake.
“Public reports of high-profile individuals—including yourself—appealing directly to the President on behalf of pardon recipients risk subversion of the established pardon review processes by financial influence and political access,” write the lawmakers. “Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution authorizes the President to ‘grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.’ The U.S. Supreme Court has characterized executive clemency as ‘an act of grace’ exercised for the ‘public welfare.’ President Trump’s use of this authority appears to deviate from this traditional purpose.”
The lawmakers conclude: “Congress has a compelling interest in ensuring that the constitutional pardon power is exercised with fairness and transparency. Given these circumstances, we are seeking additional information to better understand the extent to which influence and access have overridden the standard pardon review process.”
In their letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the lawmakers request answers about Secretary Kennedy’s reported role in President Trump’s decision to pardon convicted fraudster Trevor Milton, who defrauded and misled investors regarding technology and products related to his company, Nikola Corporation. The victims of Mr. Milton’s fraud include individuals who lost their retirement savings and others who had never invested in the stock market before. President Trump’s pardon eliminated Milton’s obligation to potentially pay $660 million in court-ordered restitution to his victims. Milton did not serve any of his four-year prison sentence.
“According to public reporting, you personally appealed to the President to grant Mr. Milton a pardon, arguing that he had been unfairly prosecuted by the previous administration’s Justice Department. Days before granting Mr. Milton’s pardon request, President Trump reportedly told him to call you and thank you for convincing the President to grant him a pardon,” write the lawmakers. “Your reported involvement in this matter is particularly troubling, given that Mr. Milton reportedly donated $750,000 to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Political Action Committee (PAC), which was launched in late 2024 by senior members of your presidential campaign to unite your supporters behind President Trump. Public reporting also indicates that Mr. Milton and his wife donated approximately $1,800,000 to President Trump’s 2024 reelection campaign a month before the election.”
In their letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin, the lawmakers demand answers about the administrator’s reported role in President Trump’s decision to grant a full presidential pardon to Troy Lake, and a subsequent corporate pardon to Lake’s company, Elite Diesel Service Inc. Lake’s conviction arose from allegations that he and his company disabled the monitoring components of emissions control systems on hundreds of heavy-duty commercial trucks.
The lawmakers write: “According to public reporting, two friends of Mr. Lake petitioned you in an August 2025 email, urging you to reach out to the President to request a pardon. Mr. Lake’s wife publicly attributed progress on her husband’s pardon efforts to your subsequent intervention. Such progress included a phone call with Sean Hayes, a White House attorney who works closely on pardons.”
The lawmakers’ letters seek information from HHS Secretary Kennedy and EPA Administrator Zeldin regarding:
The nature of their relationships with the pardoned felons;
The process by which clemency requests were initiated and considered;
Whether intermediaries, lobbyists, or advocates were involved;
Any contacts with Trump Administration officials or associates;
Their role in any other clemency decisions made by the Trump Administration;
Whether financial contributions or payments were made in connection with clemency efforts; and
The extent of third-party advocacy supporting the requests.
Read the lawmakers’ full letters to HHS Secretary Kennedy and EPA Administrator Zeldin.
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Congresswoman Scanlon Introduces Bills to Improve Access to Ballot Amid Trump White House Voter Suppression Efforts
Position: The release announces introduction of the Accessible Voting Act, which would create an Office of Accessibility within the Election Assistance Commission and related grant programs, and the Dropbox Access Act, which would require states to provide county-level ballot drop boxes at a minimum ratio of one per 20,000 voting-age residents. The sponsor expresses support for expanding voter access and criticizes administration efforts it characterizes as voter suppression.
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) yesterday introduced a package of bills designed to improve support for state and local election offices to improve voting access for Americans in future elections. The Accessible Voting Act will support state and local efforts to expand voter access, while the Dropbox Access Act will create a new standard by which localities must provide ballot dropboxes.
“Our democracy thrives when every eligible voter is able to participate, and these bills will remove barriers that all too often make it more difficult for Americans to cast their ballots. I’ve seen how expanding accessibility and access to ballot boxes has improved voter turnout and engagement in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Scanlon. “I’m proud to introduce these bills to advance more equitable and just voting policies for all Americans.”
The Accessible Voting Act, which Scanlon co-leads with Reps. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Lateefah Simon (CA-12), would support state and local election efforts through the establishment of the Office of Accessibility within the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Specifically, the bill would ensure through the Office of Accessibility that state and local election officials are taking steps to obtain, deploy, and maintain voting systems, expand the number of options to cast a ballot in federal elections for older voters and voters with disabilities, and establish an online national resource center on accessible voting. The bill would also create a new state grant program through the Office of Accessibility for the improvement of accessible voting options, and reauthorize and expand grants through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve voter accessibility for older Americans and people with disabilities.
The Dropbox Access Act, co-led by Reps. Simon and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), would require each state to provide county-level secure drop boxes where individuals may drop off their completed ballots for federal elections. Specifically, the bill would prevent states from restricting voters’ access to drop boxes by requiring counties to provide, at minimum, one drop box per 20,000 voting-age residents, ensure that drop boxes are available 24 hours a day beginning 45 days before each election, and create more accessible options near public transit and for individuals with disabilities or with limited English-language proficiency, and for voters living in rural communities and tribal lands.
Scanlon introduced the voting accessibility bills package as the Trump administration has issued a series of executive orders and legislative proposals apparently designed to suppress voter turnout ahead of November’s midterm elections. Those proposals largely have been rejected by the courts. According to Scanlon, “now more than ever, it’s important that our elections reflect the will of the people, and that we challenge efforts by the current administration to undermine our election integrity.”
Recently, Congresswoman Scanlon convened hearings in her congressional district, at Widener University, and at the U.S. Capitol, to counter efforts by the Trump administration to spread disinformation about elections and disenfranchise voters with voter roll purges and by restricting access to mail-in voting. At both hearings, Members of Congress heard from election protection experts on voter protection and election security. Those experts expressed confidence in the safeguards and resiliency of our elections, and the importance of expanding access to the ballot box. Recordings of those hearings are available here: at Widener University, Chester PA and in Washington, D.C.
“American democracy works best when all citizens can participate and vote, no matter where they’re from, what language they speak or whether they live with a disability,” said Rep. Raskin. “Our Accessible Voting Act strengthens access to the ballot box and addresses a wide range of systemic deficiencies, so no eligible voter is left alone to overcome barriers to casting a ballot.”
“Our elders fought for our voting rights with blood, sweat, and tears – and yet too many people, particularly older Americans and Americans with disabilities, still face barriers to voting such as inaccessible polling locations or access to voter information. Both the Accessible Voting Act and Dropbox Access Act will improve voter accessibility for requesting mail-in ballots, accessing voter registration info, and when showing up to the ballot box,” said Rep. Simon. “As the first congenitally blind Member of Congress, improving accessibility to ensure that all Americans can equally access resources and participate in society is a top priority of mine. I am proud to lead on these bills with Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon to ensure ALL individuals can equally participate in local and federal elections to make their rightful voices heard.”
“The ability for everyone to have their voice heard is central to our American ideals—yet too often people with disabilities face unnecessary barriers in both registering to vote and casting their ballots, preventing them from fully participating in our democracy,” said Rep. Dean. “This legislation will help improve registration processes and eliminate barriers to voting, including by reauthorizing grants to improve voting accessibility for older Americans and those with disabilities. By breaking down these barriers, our communities can be better represented by every voice. I'm thankful to partner with Congresswoman Scanlon and Congressman Raskin to pass these essential bills.”
“We should be making it more accessible for Americans to vote, not harder,” said Rep. Garcia. “But the Trump administration and its Republican allies continue to attack voting rights and put up new barriers to the ballot box. That is why I am proud to once again co-lead the Dropbox Access Act, a practical bill to make sure voters have fair, accessible options to return their ballots. We should be protecting the right to vote, not suppressing it.”
Find the full text for the Accessible Voting Act here.
Find the full text for the Dropbox Access Act here.
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Scanlon Introduces Bill to Lower Costs of Meat and Poultry and Target Corporate Greed
Position: Rep. Scanlon supports the Packers and Stockyards Improvements Act, which would expand USDA enforcement tools and prohibit anti-competitive conduct in the meat and poultry industry to address consolidation and rising consumer prices. She criticizes the Trump administration's rescission of prior USDA competition rules.
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) last week introduced the Packers and Stockyards Improvements Act, legislation to address rising meat and poultry prices due to corporate mergers and takeovers. The bill would improve the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) enforcement tools under the Packers and Stockyards Act and prohibit anti-competitive behavior in the meat and poultry industry.
“As mergers and corporate takeovers have consolidated power in the meat and poultry industry, consumers and producers have paid the price. The Packers and Stockyards Act has been crucial for enforcing compliance, but lacks sufficient tools to protect Americans from paying outrageous costs,” said Rep. Scanlon. “The Trump administration’s deregulation of the industry will only help his corporate buddies to maximize profits while continuing to hurt ranchers, farmers, and American families. I’m proud to introduce the Packers and Stockyards Improvements Act to lower costs for consumers and strengthen protections for our ranchers and farmers.”
In recent years, the meat and poultry sector has undergone a drastic shift with just four major corporations - Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef - controlling about 85% of the U.S. beef packing, 67% of the pork market, and 60% of poultry processing, resulting in skyrocketing prices for consumers. The Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 was passed to promote fair competition and trade practices, but has been unable to prevent increasing consolidation and subsequent price increases. This has further exacerbated the cost of living crisis as working class Americans struggle to put food on the table. In August 2026, the cost of ground beef reached a record high of $7.158 per pound. Beef prices have risen more than 22% since January 2025, as the Trump administration continues to pursue trade wars and failed to prevent a screwworm outbreak.
To address major changes from the first Trump administration, including the weakening of Packers and Stockyards protections, the USDA released a study entitled Agricultural Competition: A Plan in Support of Fair and Competitive Markets as part of President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy to use existing authorities to promote competition and protect ranchers and farmers from abusive meatpacker practices. Based on the report’s findings, the USDA implemented two rules and proposed a third. However, in July 2026, the Trump administration announced that it was rescinding those rules.
To address these insufficiencies, the Packers and Stockyard Improvements Act would:
Add poultry growers to administrative litigation authority under USDA.
Allow the Packers and Stockyards Division to have regular access to Livestock Mandatory Reporting Data to better monitor for violations.
Give USDA civil investigative demand authority for potential violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act.
Provide a standard whistleblower protection for employees and contractors of regulated businesses who report suspected violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act.
The Packers and Stockyards Improvements Act would further strengthen our ability to combat contemporary anticompetitive practices in meat and poultry markets, and add a new list of per se violations to address commonly used practices that lessen competition and punish suppliers, growers, and farmers.
The bill is endorsed by the American Economic Liberties Project, Campaign for Contract Agriculture Reform, National Farmers Union, Farm Aid, National Family Farm Coalition, RAFI, and Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance.
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Scanlon Leads PA Dems to Demand Answers About Private Detention Center Financials
Position: The release calls for transparency and congressional oversight of ICE's financial arrangements with GEO Group and Clearfield County regarding the Moshannon Valley Processing Center detention facility, including the contract terms and billing details before a new contract is awarded.
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today led her Pennsylvania Democratic House colleagues in pressing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the GEO Group, Inc.(GEO), and Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, for transparency on their intentionally opaque financial relationship with Moshannon Valley Processing Center, the largest immigration center in the Northeast. The push comes following Rep. Scanlon’s unannounced oversight visit to Moshannon Valley Processing Center on July 29, 2026.
The letter is signed by Reps. Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Chris Deluzio (PA-17).
“As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to conduct oversight of government spending and executive action. GEO has reported record profits driven by this administration’s mass deportation and immigrant surveillance campaigns. As part of these efforts, ICE and Clearfield County have both funneled Pennsylvanians’ taxpayer dollars to GEO. More importantly, our constituents have been detained at Moshannon. It is incumbent on us, as their elected representatives, to investigate the contract terms that peg their detention to GEO’s profit,” the members wrote.
ICE recently issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit contract bids that would extend immigration detention at Moshannon for another 10 years. The current five year contract is due to expire this month. The RFP sets an expedited timeline — just two weeks of visibility for the public from the time it was posted online (August 28, 2026) to when the Phase 1 Proposal(s) were due (September 11, 2026). This timing is in line with other attempts by the administration to rush government contracts and obscure how taxpayer funds are being spent.
Both Congress and the public must be able to evaluate the financial impact of the current agreement governing Moshannon before a new contract is awarded. Currently, an Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) between ICE and Clearfield County provides for the operation of the Moshannon facility and services related to the detention of persons in ICE custody, with GEO as the approved private contractor delivering those services. This contracting structure thwarts oversight because it delays the availability of crucial financial details. When Congresswoman Scanlon visited Moshannon in July, onsite managers of the facility claimed that they could not provide the Congresswoman with a copy of the contract or other current billing details.
The IGSA agreement requires that the County submit an itemized operating fee to ICE on a monthly basis, which ICE then reviews and approves for payout. According to recent reports, the monthly fixed rate includes a monthly operating fee, which began as $2.95 million per month and may have adjusted over time, a per diem fee of $10 per day for 1 through 800 detainees and $40 per day for 801 to 1876 detainees, reimbursement of one dollar per day for the detainee work program, transportation fees, and fees for guards.
“We request that you provide us with any and all monthly invoices for services provided pursuant to the IGSA and all communications regarding such invoices and payments made for such services at Moshannon from January 1, 2025, to present, by and among ICE, GEO, and Clearfield County,” the members continued. “We also request all invoices, payments, and communications by and among the parties and detainees regarding payments for and operation of the “detainee work program,” from January 1, 2025, to the present.”
“Finally, to the extent that additional agreements exist directly between GEO and Clearfield County, we request such agreements, corresponding contracts, any amendments or modifications, payment receipts, invoices, and supplemental documentation,” the members concluded.
In the letter, the members have requested a number of materials by September 25, 2026 — prior to the expiration of the current IGSA between ICE and Clearfield County, which is set to expire on September 28, 2026.
Find the full text of the letter here.
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Scanlon and Congressional Colleagues Host Hearing on Protecting American Democracy and the Right to Vote at Widener University
Position: The release opposes proposals by Republicans and the Trump Administration to restrict voting, including the SAVE America Act and limits on voting by mail, and to allow federal takeover of state elections. It frames the hearing as a means to protect election security and voting rights.
Chester, PA – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) and Ranking Member Joe Morelle (NY-25), Committee on House Administration, today hosted a shadow hearing with Reps. Norma Torres (CA-35), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) featuring presentations from experts about protecting American democracy, including election security, electoral reforms, voting rights, and anti-corruption efforts.
Experts at today’s shadow hearing included:
Omar Noureldin, Senior Vice President of Policy and Litigation, Common Cause
Amy Widestrom, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
Lauren Cristella, President and CEO, Committee of Seventy
Marian Schneider, Adjunct Professor of Law, Villanova University and former PA election official
This shadow hearing takes place amid widespread concerns over proposals by Republicans and the Trump Administration to restrict voting and allow federal takeover of state elections. Proposals include the SAVE America Act, which could potentially disenfranchise hundreds of millions of American citizens, and efforts to restrict voting by mail.
“Our democracy ultimately depends on Americans choosing to participate in it. When the White House sows propaganda and injects chaos in our elections, it suppresses voter participation,” said Rep. Scanlon. “Americans should have confidence that when they cast a lawful ballot, that ballot will be counted. I’m grateful to the experts who joined today’s hearing to provide truthful information about our elections, and the various ways that every American can participate in and be an ambassador for our democracy.”
“The President and his allies want to take over this election,” said Ranking Member Morelle. “Our planned, targeted responses include litigation, effective community organization and mobilization, and promoting early voting. This work is ongoing every day. It’s iterative, and there’s still a long road ahead, but I’m confident that through this work we will be more prepared than ever this fall and beyond.”
Watch a recorded livestream of the event here.
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Ranking Member Scanlon’s Opening Statement Blasting Republicans for Trying to Strip American Children of Their Constitutional Right to Citizenship
Position: Ranking Member Scanlon opposes efforts to restrict birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented immigrants or visa holders, arguing the 14th Amendment guarantees such citizenship and that the Supreme Court has affirmed it.
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, today delivered opening remarks at a hearing on Republicans’ continued efforts to undermine the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship, even after the Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s attempt to strip citizenship from children born in the United States.
Below are Ranking Member Scanlon’s remarks at today’s hearing.
WATCH Ranking Member Scanlon’s opening statement.
Ranking Member Mary Gay Scanlon
Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government
Hearing on “‘Subject to the Jurisdiction Thereof’: Birthright Citizenship and the Fourteenth Amendment, Part II”
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It seems that my Republican colleagues believe that no matter how false or bizarre a claim, repeating it over and over again will somehow make it true. What else can explain the hearing that they’ve scheduled for today?
As I explained last time the majority swung and missed on this topic, the text and legislative history of the 14th Amendment clearly establish that, aside from rare exceptions, a person’s birth in the United States guarantees citizenship in the United States. To suggest otherwise is nothing more than a disingenuous attempt to rewrite our nation’s history and the very words of the Constitution.
And you don’t have to take my word for it. The Supreme Court resoundingly agreed just two and a half months ago in its decision on this issue in Trump v. Barbra: the 14th Amendment guarantees that “all persons born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” That plain text is about as clear as the law can be. The Supreme Court and our Constitution only recognize two very narrow exceptions for children of foreign diplomats and children of an occupying army’s soldiers—situations where U.S. law cannot be applied. Simply tweeting that there is “an invasion” of immigrants is nothing more than a desperate and bigoted attempt to fabricate an end run around birthright citizenship, and doesn’t meet either of those exceptions.
The American children of undocumented immigrants and the American children of visa holders are persons born here in America at the moment of their birth. They’re subject to the same laws of the United States as me or you or the Chairman here with an undeniable constitutional claim to the rights, duties, and protections of that reciprocal relationship. In other words: citizenship.
So why are Donald Trump and our Republican colleagues continuing to question the plain, long-settled meaning of the 14th Amendment? Why are they peddling obviously unconstitutional proposals to end birthright citizenship, even after the Supreme Court settled the matter? Once again, it’s because Donald Trump and his Republican flunkies think they can profit at the polls if they strip away from an entire group of our American neighbors their rights, their votes, and their identities, and turn them into a permanent underclass. These Republicans want to pick and choose who is worthy of citizenship, based solely upon who someone’s parents are and where their parents are from.
In our country, where the Founders banned noble titles and declared that no man is guilty for his father’s sins, there’s nothing less American than that. In short, the people who want to end birthright citizenship are proposing to resurrect the infamous Dred Scott decision, which tried to make bloodline the mark of citizenship. Thankfully, most Americans reject this bigoted view, one that is diametrically opposed to our nation’s long-standing history and ideals. Patriotism requires us to resist the backsliding and injustice that the president and his allies are pushing. Our history, our quest for a more perfect union, has always been about opening up opportunity and civic participation, not ripping it away. Expanding our electorate has been an important part of that progress—enfranchisement, not disenfranchisement.
We passed constitutional amendments that guarantee citizenship and access to the ballot box, no matter a person’s race or sex. In doing so, we’ve made our country and its government more representative, more fair, and, slowly but surely, more perfect. That’s a vision shared by patriotic Americans and rooted in fundamental American ideals. Any attempt to radically reinterpret the citizenship clause only serves the schemes of right-wing extremists and limits who can have a political voice in this country.
Donald Trump’s unconstitutional executive orders to end birthright citizenship, not to mention copycat legislation by our Republican colleagues—even after the Court’s Barbara decision—would drag us backwards. Their efforts would upend the promise of America and consecrate a government that’s not for “the” people, but for “some” people.
It’s been nearly 160 years since the 14th Amendment rebuked the Dred Scott decision and reestablished birthright citizenship as the law of our land. In that time, the U.S. has been made better by Americans born here to immigrants, regardless of their parents’ birthplace or citizenship status. Countless prominent Americans are U.S.-born children of immigrants, including the Chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressman Greg Casar, the Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, Congressman Andy Harris, and for the region I represent, one of the greatest Eagles players of all time, Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik.
If you’re looking for prominent Americans who’ve benefited from birthright citizenship, you can look no further than senior officials in the Trump Administration like Marco Rubio or Nikki Haley, who were born to non-citizens and received their U.S. citizenship at birth.
Defending birthright citizenship is a moral as well as a constitutional imperative. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote in its Trump v. Barbara amicus brief that “ending birthright citizenship denies the innate dignity and freedom of the person.” The moral imperative, historical evidence, legal arguments, and U.S. Constitution are apparently no obstacle to our Republican colleagues, however.
As they persist in conjuring up all kinds of nonsense to justify limiting birthright citizenship, we’ve already heard some of our colleagues’ hallucinations about “birth tourism” and anchor babies. The claim that nefarious, expectant mothers enter the country on tourist visas just to give birth. Setting aside the fact that the Republicans own witnesses cannot show actual proof that birth tourism happens on any meaningful or widespread basis, any congressional response certainly does not involve upending constitutional fundamentals about the meaning of American citizenship. In fact, birthright citizenship is about as American as apple pie. Americans overwhelmingly back birthright citizenship, and extremists like Stephen Miller know they don’t have the votes or the public support to pass a constitutional amendment to repeal it.
So instead, they’re trying to do an end run by obliterating more than a century and a half of legal analysis and forcing a tortured reading of the English language, which the Supreme Court just rejected again.
Finally, let’s be abundantly clear. The through line that links this attempt to end birthright citizenship and every cruel immigration policy propped up by this administration serves the same goal: turning our melting pot democracy into a white nationalist ethnostate. And we will do everything in our power to fight that vision as a Congress, as a government, as a nation.
We should not be in the business of turning back the clock and allowing our country to backslide into the most shameful parts of its past. Instead, we should be passing laws that shepherd it towards a brighter future, where the promise to form a more perfect union rings true for all, rather than just a titled few.
Policies that bring us toward this vision of a more, just, more fair America, guided by all Americans, are exactly what I and my Democratic colleagues will use this Committee to fight for, and with that, I yield back.”
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Scanlon, Deluzio, Dean, Lee, Evans Introduce Bill to Expand Congressional Oversight at ICE Facilities
Position: The release announces the introduction of the Oversight Access Act of 2026, which would allow members of Congress to bring one staff member into ICE facilities during unannounced oversight visits without prior notice, and criticizes current administration rules requiring prior approval for staff such as interpreters.
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) yesterday joined Reps. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Dwight Evans (PA-03) in introducing the new Oversight Access Act of 2026.
This bill would allow for Representatives to bring one member of their staff inside Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities when conducting oversight, without prior notice. This would allow for additional translation services and more capacity to conduct oversight. Under a current Trump Administration rule, Members of Congress can enter the facility unannounced but interpreters and other staff must receive prior approval, defeating the purpose of unannounced oversight visits.
“When a Member of Congress visits an ICE detention facility to conduct congressional oversight, they must be able to do so effectively,” said Rep. Scanlon. “That includes being able to bring an essential staff member or interpreter to support this critical duty. I am proud to lead the Oversight Access Act with Reps. Deluzio, Dean, Lee, and Evans to ensure that future unannounced oversight visits include a staff member.”
“Moshannon officials blocked my staff from joining our oversight visit this May, and it limited the conversations we could have with people detained inside. Unannounced congressional oversight visits to federal facilities are powerful and important accountability measures,” said Rep. Deluzio. “However, unannounced oversight would be far stronger if Members of Congress could be accompanied by a staff member who could provide translation services, legal guidance, or policy expertise. I’m introducing the Oversight Access Act to make this fix and expand congressional oversight at ICE facilities.”
“Congress has a solemn duty to conduct oversight at ICE facilities in Pennsylvania and across the country, but ICE’s arbitrary rules have made that more difficult. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I care deeply about ensuring that any facility receiving federal dollars lives up to the highest standards of care, decency, and safety,” said Rep. Dean. “I am grateful to Congressman Deluzio, Congresswoman Scanlon, Congresswoman Lee, and Congressman Evans for their partnership on this critical legislation, which would strengthen Congressional oversight and make it easier for members of Congress and our staff to visit ICE facilities unannounced.”
“Congressional oversight works when Members of Congress have the proper tools they need, and our staff play a critical role in that work, from providing translation services to bringing legal and policy expertise to the table,” said Rep. Lee. “It’s been made clear abuse, neglect, and inhumane conditions have plagued detention centers. Members of Congress have a constitutional responsibility and right to conduct oversight, and we must be able to do our jobs without obstruction or intimidation. No administration is above accountability.”
“Over the past year and a half, we have seen numerous reports of inhumane, even deadly conditions of ICE detention facilities,” said Rep. Evans. “I’m proud to join this effort to demand more transparency and oversight of the Trump-Vance Administration’s actions.”
Rep. Scanlon joined her House colleagues in introducing this bill after she conducted an unannounced oversight visit of ICE’s largest detention center in Pennsylvania, the Moshannon Valley Detention Center. At the site, the Congresswoman was not permitted to bring congressional staff inside the facility. ICE blocking congressional staff from entering the facility limited the ability to communicate with people detained inside Moshannon.
Remove the requirement of prior notice for a Member or an employee to enter any facility operated by or for the Department of Homeland Security.
Prohibits temporary modification in any such facility that would alter what is observed by a Member of Congress while conducting oversight.
Prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from preventing Members of Congress and congressional employees accompanying a Member from entering a facility with the purpose of conducting oversight.
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Articles from a curated list of national outlets that mention Mary Gay Scanlon.
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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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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.MATSON, INC. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMITTEE2 contributions$10,000
2.INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (IBEW PAC)2 contributions$10,000
3.UNITED STEEL WORKERS POLITICAL ACTION FUND2 contributions$10,000
4.SHEET METAL & AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS' NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, INC PAC (SMAC PAC)4 contributions$10,000
5.AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO4 contributions$10,000
6.CENCORA, INC. PAC4 contributions$10,000
7.THE VANGUARD GROUP COMMITTEE FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT5 contributions$8,500
8.OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 542 PAC2 contributions$7,500
9.AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AAJ PAC)3 contributions$7,500
10.AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION PACLabor3 contributionsTrade-union PAC for commercial airline pilots — backs candidates supporting pilot workplace protections, collective bargaining rights, and aviation safety standards.AI$7,500
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.SELF$21,543
2.BALLARD SPAHR LLP$12,750
3.BALLARD SPAHR$9,750
4.UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA$8,990
5.COZEN O'CONNOR$7,590
6.BEECHTREE CAPITAL PARTNERS, INC.$7,000
7.L&L KILN MFG. INC.$6,300
8.BARRACK RODOS & BACINE$4,600
9.VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY$4,200
10.THE ELEEMOSYNARY GROUP$3,500
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.
