Balint, Becca RSS Articles

Rep. Balint Statement on Voting YES on Lebanon War Powers Resolution

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today released the following statement after voting in favor of a War Powers Resolution to cease U.S. involvement in Netanyahu’s deadly war in Lebanon.

“Americans don’t want their taxpayer dollars to fuel Netanyahu’s attacks in Lebanon that have killed hundreds of civilians and displaced over a million people, just as they do not want to fund Trump’s war of choice in Iran. Both Netanyahu and Trump have continued to double down on chaos and conflict, leaving the American people to foot the bill at a time when they can’t even afford the basics—rent, groceries, prescriptions, or gas. Congress must draw the line.”

Rep. Balint has consistently warned that continued spending on overseas conflicts comes at the expense of investments Americans need here at home, including lowering costs, expanding affordable housing, strengthening health care, and supporting working families.

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Rep. Balint Statement on House Passage of War Powers Resolution to End War in Iran

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted 215–208 to pass a War Powers Resolution directing the President to end U.S. military involvement in Iran without explicit authorization from Congress. Four Republicans joined Democrats in the vote, marking a rare bipartisan rebuke of the administration.

“When I introduced a War Powers Resolution in April, it was because Congress cannot continue to sit on the sidelines while our country is dragged into an unauthorized war. Today’s vote is a long-overdue step toward reasserting our constitutional authority and ending a conflict that has already cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.

“The President has never explained the war and never received authorization from Congress, yet our service members are being put in danger and families across the country are bearing the cost of higher gas prices, rising costs of living, and the diversion of critical resources away from urgent domestic needs. That is unacceptable. While this resolution does not immediately end military operations, it makes clear that Congress will not be sidelined. The Senate must now act to bring our troops home and stop this madness.”

Rep. Balint originally introduced her War Powers Resolution on April 30, 2026, as part of a coordinated effort with members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus to force Congress to vote on ending U.S. military involvement in Iran and reassert its constitutional war powers authority. Rep. Balint has been vocal in her opposition to the war since its beginning, including when she slammed Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought in a Budget Committee hearing for the President’s request of $350 billion of additional funding for the war – the same cost of extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits for another ten years.

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Rep. Becca Balint Votes to Advance Bipartisan Housing Package to Address Affordability Crisis

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), a consistent and outspoken advocate for building affordable housing, voted in favor of H. Res. 1299, amended legislation to strengthen and advance the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644), a comprehensive package to expand housing supply, improve affordability, and strengthen protections for renters and homeowners.

“For so many Vermonters, renting or owning a home is simply unaffordable right now. That’s why expanding access to affordable housing for Vermonters is one of my top priorities in Congress and I’m committed to leading on solutions that meet the scale of this crisis,” said Rep. Balint. “This bill strengthens housing supply and affordability, but our work cannot stop here—I will keep pushing for bold change for working families in our state and across the country.”

The United States is currently facing a severe housing shortage, with an estimated 4.7 million home gap nationwide. Rising housing costs have placed increasing pressure on families, with millions of renters and homeowners spending a significant portion of their income on housing and a growing number at risk of foreclosure or displacement.

H. Res. 1299 takes a comprehensive approach to addressing these challenges by:

Expanding financing and support for new housing development, including multifamily, manufactured, and rural housing;
Removing barriers that slow down housing construction and limit supply;
Strengthening protections for renters, including the creation of a renter resource center and dispute hotline;
Supporting community financial institutions that play a key role in financing housing and local development;
Encouraging innovative housing solutions, including modular construction; and,
Improving federal programs aimed at reducing homelessness.

The legislation also includes provisions to limit excessive corporate ownership of single-family homes while ensuring continued housing construction and avoiding policies that could lead to widespread evictions.

Rep. Balint has consistently emphasized the need for bold, practical solutions to bring down housing costs and ensure that more Americans have access to safe, stable, and affordable homes. As a part of that work, Rep. Balint introduced the Community Housing Act, a comprehensive plan to invest in housing supply, support renters, and ensure that affordable homes remain accessible for generations to come. In addition to supporting investments in housing supply, she also introduced the End Rent Fixing Act to stop corporations from using price-fixing algorithms to raise rents on working families.

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Balint, Dean, Salazar, Blackburn, Coons, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Protect Americans from AI Deepfakes

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) reintroduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill to federally protect individuals from AI-generated deepfakes. The Support the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act clearly defines a person’s right to control their voice and likeness. The NO FAKES Act would address the rampant spread of unauthorized AI-generated deepfakes without stymieing innovation or censoring free speech.

"Artists, creators, and anyone who uses the internet must have the basic right to control digital replicas of their own voice and image. AI is moving fast, and we need to make sure these guardrails are in place now, not later,” said Rep. Balint. "The NO FAKES Act is a commonsense, bipartisan, and essential bill. I am proud to join Representatives Dean and Salazar in introducing this legislation to protect Americans' right to control their own identity online.”

“The use of AI is only growing, and Congress must catch up with common sense, common ground regulations,” Rep. Dean said. “By granting every person a clear, federal right to control digital replicas of their own voice and likeness, the NO FAKES Act will empower victims of deep fakes; defend against sexually explicit deepfakes; and safeguard human creativity and artistic expression. We must support technological innovation while preserving the privacy, safety, and dignity of all Americans.”

“In this new era of AI, bad actors are quickly and easily profiting from the creativity of others. Our laws must catch up,” said Rep. Salazar. “The NO FAKES Act is simple and sacred: you own your identity—not Big Tech, not scammers, not algorithms. Deepfakes are digital lies that ruin real lives, and it’s time to fight back.”

“No one should have to worry about their likeness being stolen and used in a fake video without their consent,” said Rep. Morelle. “A.I. is moving fast, and the harm is already real, from explicit deepfakes to scams, fraud, and the theft of artists’ work. I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan NO FAKES Act to make sure honest Americans, not scammers or algorithms, stay in control of their own identity.”

"The NO FAKES Act protects every American's fundamental right to their own voice and likeness while preserving the innovation and creative expression that makes AI a powerful tool. It holds platforms accountable while preserving First Amendment freedoms for creators—shining a light for industries and individuals that have operated in regulatory darkness" Rep. Moran said.

U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

“Whether they’re Tom Hanks or an 8th grader in Wilmington, no one should worry about someone stealing their voice or likeness,” Sen. Coons said. “We’re reintroducing a stronger NO FAKES Act after working with stakeholders from across the country to make the protections in our bill more robust without compromising Americans’ free speech rights. I am proud that NO FAKES is the most advanced piece of AI legislation before Congress right now with the broadest network of supporters. Americans can’t afford to wait any longer for Congress to pass this bill and send it to the president’s desk.”

“AI should empower innovation – not give scammers and online predators a free pass to exploit someone’s voice and visual likeness without permission,” Sen. Blackburn said. “From artists and songwriters to students and everyday Americans, people deserve meaningful protections against deceptive deepfakes and digital impersonation. The NO FAKES Act would establish clear guardrails that protect the creative community in Tennessee and nationwide, and we are grateful to have more support than ever before for this bipartisan and bicameral legislation.”

The NO FAKES Act would:

Recognize that every individual has a federal intellectual property right to their own voice and likeness—including an extension of that right for the families of individuals after they pass away;

Empower individuals to take action against bad actors who knowingly create, post, or profit from unauthorized digital copies of them;

Protect responsible media platforms from liability if they take down offending materials when they discover them; and

Ensure innovation and free speech are protected.

“RIAA proudly endorses the NO FAKES Act of 2026, a widely supported consensus bill developed through a bipartisan, bicameral process and championed by American AI developers, the creative community, child safety groups, conservative groups, labor unions, and free speech advocates. Polling confirms that 92% of Americans are concerned about the impact of AI deepfakes on our neighbors and culture and reveals near total support for a Federal law that protects voice and likeness. NO FAKES provides those important protections while securing freedom of expression, reducing litigation and achieving the full promise of American AI technology. We applaud the efforts of Senators Coons and Blackburn alongside Representatives Salazar and Dean, along with their bipartisan colleagues, on crafting this legislation that has also been recommended by the White House’s National AI Framework. This is an example of communities coming together to solve an important issue, and we are closer than ever to NO FAKES becoming the law of the land this year,” Mitch Glazier, RIAA Chairman & CEO said.

“The Human Artistry Campaign stands for fully prioritizing human creativity as AI evolves, expanding imagination, not replacing it, and opening possibilities rather than closing doors," Dr. Moiya McTier, Senior Advisor, Human Artistry Campaign said. “Preserving everyone’s fundamental right to their own voices and images is a critical and immediate need. The NO FAKES Act protects that right, while also supporting free speech rights and promoting responsible, ethical AI development. Senators Blackburn and Coons, Representatives Salazar and Dean have shepherded bipartisan agreement among their colleagues for this landmark legislation. Every American deserves a right to their own identity. As highly realistic AI voice clones and harmful deepfakes become more pervasive, this bill stands ready for passage and the time to act is now.”

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Reps. Balint, Salinas Lead Lawmakers Demanding Answers from HHS on Reported Plan to “Deprescribe” Psychiatric Medications

Tue, 19 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Andrea Salinas (OR-06), led a group of 14 lawmakers in sending a letter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), expressing opposition to the agency’s reported plans to promote the “deprescribing” of psychiatric medications.

The lawmakers warn that Secretary Kennedy’s campaign to “deprescribe” psychiatric medications undermines access to evidence-based mental health care for patients who rely on psychiatric medications. They urge the administration to ensure that any guidance remains grounded in science and centered on patient safety.

“Secretary Kennedy’s attacks on psychiatric medications are dangerous and wrong," said Rep. Balint. "Mental health care is health care. People deserve access to treatment that’s grounded in science and guided by their doctors - not by the Secretary’s personal opinions, politics, stigma, or misinformation.”

“The decision for a patient to stop taking an SSRI should be between the patient and their doctor. End of story,” said Rep. Salinas, Co-Chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus. “SSRIs and other psychiatric medications are life-sustaining care for millions of Americans, and any federal guidance on mental health treatment must be rooted in science, not stigma, ideology, or one man’s personal experience. Secretary Kennedy’s approach risks confusing patients, undermining trust in public health, and disrupting care for people who need support. HHS must clarify its plans, protect access to evidence-based treatment, and ensure these deeply personal decisions remain between patients and their doctors.”

“We write with serious concern and vehement opposition to your stated intent to promote ‘deprescribing’ of psychiatric medications to reduce what you have mischaracterized as an overuse of antidepressants,” the letter states.

They emphasized that psychiatric medications, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro, are some of the leading treatments for depression and anxiety and are approved for psychological treatment by leading medical organizations.

“Psychiatric medications like antidepressants and other evidence-based treatments are, for many Americans, not ‘optional interventions.’ These treatments are essential, life-sustaining care,” the lawmakers wrote.

The letter challenges recent public statements Sec. Kennedy has made that encourage medication tapering, which undermines trust in public health guidance and can harm patients’ health and safety. Efforts to “deprescribe" psychiatric medicines creates confusion among patients, increases stigma around mental health, and disrupts treatment that is critical for those with mental and behavioral health issues.

“These are unequivocally false and destructive claims, and they undermine trust in our nation’s public health institutions,” the letter states.

“Encouraging Americans to ‘deprescribe’ risks patients abruptly stopping their medication, which can cause relapse, withdrawal complications, or increased suicide risk,” they wrote.

The members urged HHS to focus on reforming structural challenges in mental health care to improve treatment access, instead of oversimplifying our nation’s mental health crisis by solely emphasizing medication reduction.

“The Health and Human Services Department should focus on the systemic drivers of our nation’s mental health crisis, which are persistent barriers to care, workforce shortages, and unaffordable access to comprehensive treatment,” the letter reads.

Lawmakers asked HHS to detail safeguards for patients, including protections against inappropriate pressure to discontinue treatment and assurances that clinical decisions remain between patients and providers.

They concluded by calling for transparency and collaboration with clinicians, patients, and Congress to ensure continued access to mental health care.

“I urge the administration to clarify its approach and work with clinicians, patients, and Congress to ensure that all Americans have access to the mental health care that they need,” the lawmakers wrote.

Representatives Balint and Salinas were joined by signers Representatives Beyer (VA-08), Cleaver (MO-05), Elfreth (MD-03), Garcia (CA-42), Goldman (NY-10), Kelly (IL-02), Moulton (MA-06), Ramirez (IL-03), Thanedar (MI-13), Tlaib (MI-12), Tonko(NY-20), Underwood (IL-14), Velazquez (NY-07), Watson Coleman (NY-12).

The full text of the letter can be viewed here.

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Vermont Congressional Delegation Announces Over $20 Million in FEMA Funding to Help Vermont Rebuild and Recover from 2023 Floods

Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), today announced the delivery of $20.83 million in federal funding, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to support the Vermont Agency for Transportation (VTrans) and the City of Montpelier to repair damage caused by severe storms, flooding, and washouts in July 2023.

The federal funding will deliver nearly $12 million in long-overdue funding to support permanent repairs to Montpelier’s City Hall, Fire Department, Police Department Buildings, and Fire Department Sidewalk and Ramp. VTrans will receive an additional $9 million to help rebuild portions of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and the Washington County railroad.

“The 2023 floods were brutal, causing long-lasting damage for Vermonters and Vermont communities. This newly released federal funding, totaling more than $20 million, will help repair Montpelier’s hard-hit municipal buildings and state rail and trail infrastructure. Much of this funding was delayed by FEMA for years—it never should have taken so long to get to Montpelier, and is a glaring example of how this agency needs reform. We will continue to fight for the FEMA funding our state needs, and will work with new leadership at the agency to deliver the assistance Vermonters need to fully rebuild and recover,” said the Vermont Delegation.

The federal funding grants announced include:

$11,782,017 to the City of Montpelier to repair severe damage the capital’s City Hall, Fire Department and fire station concrete ramp/sidewalk, and Police Department buildings as a result of severe flooding in July 2023. This funding will help restore these facilities back to their pre-disaster design, capacity, and function utilizing current codes and standards, including repairing damage to windows, interior and exterior doors, drywall, insulation, flooring, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, stairs, and more. The project includes a hazard mitigation proposal (HMP) to reduce the risk of future damage by adopting multiple wet and dry floodproofing measures.
$6,168,905.58 to the Vermont Agency for Transportation (VTrans) to repair a culvert on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that was washed away by floodwater in July 2023.
$2,880,995.41 to the Vermont Agency for Transportation (VTrans) to rebuild railroad ballast and associated embankments along the railroad in Washington County, which was damaged by flooding in July 2023.

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Balint, Welch Host Roundtable on Election Integrity with Vermont Secretary of State Copeland Hanzas and Vermont Town Clerks

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

SHELBURNE, VT – U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, alongside U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committees, today hosted a roundtable discussion at the Shelburne Town Offices with Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas and Town Clerks to defend the integrity of free and fair elections in Vermont.

“Our town clerks are the backbone of our democracy,” said Rep. Balint. “At a time when there’s widespread misinformation about elections, it’s especially important for Vermonters to hear directly from the people who administer our elections. They are dedicated public servants who do their work with care, transparency, and integrity. I appreciated the opportunity to hear from our state and local officials today about the safeguards already in place and the challenges they’re addressing. I know Vermonters want us all to keep working together to keep our elections free, fair, and secure.”

“The SAVE America Act is a scam—it’s a bill in search of a problem. Representative Balint and I know it, and so do Vermont’s leaders, town clerks, and voters. In Vermont, our town clerks are on the front lines of protecting our democracy, and their hard work is essential to continuing our state’s proud history of high voter participation and secure elections. This bill would jeopardize that legacy by endangering the rights of thousands of eligible Vermonters to exercise their right to vote,” said Senator Welch. “President Trump and Republicans’ push for this bill—which would disenfranchise millions of voters right before the 2026 midterm elections—is no accident. We’re doing everything in our power to kill this bill, keep the integrity of Vermont’s elections strong, and ensure that every eligible voter can exercise their fundamental right to have a say in our democracy.”

Town Clerks from Burlington, St. Johnsbury, Winooski, Brattleboro, Morrisville, and Shelburne attended to discuss the voting process and share the many steps taken to ensure fair, secure elections in Vermont. Diana Vachon, Shelburne Town Clerk, is the President of the Vermont Municipal Clerks’ and Treasurers’ Association (VMCTA).

View photos from the event here.

The Vermont Congressional Delegation opposes to President Trump’s executive orders on voting and Republicans’ Save America Act, which threaten to block millions of U.S. citizens from voting—disproportionately impacting women, people of color, seniors, and rural voters—and make it harder to register and vote by disrupting online registration and eliminating universal mail-in voting.

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Rep. Becca Balint Votes No on House Farm Bill, Citing Cuts to Nutrition Assistance and Missed Opportunities for Rural Housing and Working Families

Tue, 05 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) voted against a partisan Farm Bill that fails to meet the needs of rural communities and working families. Rep. Balint offered two amendments related to affordable housing and both were rejected by House Republicans.

Every five years, Congress reauthorizes the Farm Bill, which impacts both farmers and families across the country. But the bill passed by House Republicans last week locks in cuts to SNAP that take food assistance away from millions, while failing to deliver meaningful relief for small and midsize farmers facing rising costs. It also cuts conservation funding and undermines investments in rural communities.

“As written, this bill did not meet the moment,” said Rep. Balint. “It weakens food assistance at a time when too many families are already struggling with the cost of groceries, and it falls short in addressing the long-term challenges facing rural communities. We should be lowering costs, strengthening local agriculture, and expanding opportunity—not moving in the opposite direction.”

Rep. Balint offered two amendments to the bill that would have advanced investments in rural housing stability and homeownership opportunities that are urgently needed in Vermont and across the country. Republicans rejected the amendments.

Her proposals included:

Balint Amendment 199 - which would have strengthened pathways to homeownership by investing in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) homeownership program and the USDA Section 502 Direct Loan Program, helping renters and rural residents build long-term housing stability and equity.
Balint Amendment 203 - which would have permanently authorized the USDA Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization (MPR) program to protect and preserve affordable rural rental housing, while also addressing the growing crisis of expiring USDA rental assistance contracts that put low-income residents at risk of displacement.

Rep. Balint is commitment to advancing legislation that better supports farmers of all sizes, protects nutrition assistance, strengthens conservation programs, and invests in the long-term stability of rural communities.

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Rep. Balint Introduces War Powers Resolution to End War of Choice in Iran

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today introduced a War Powers Resolution to bring an end to Trump’s illegal war of choice in Iran that has cost American taxpayers an estimated $25 billion since its start.

“Americans don’t even know why we are in this war, and neither does Congress,” said Rep. Balint. "This unauthorized war is yet another example of the Trump administration’s brazen and illegal attempts to consolidate power. At a time when Americans have told us everything is too expensive, it is shameful that we are wasting upwards of a billion dollars a day on this. We need it to end, to bring our servicemembers back to safety, and to get Congress and this administration to focus on lowering the cost of living here at home. Today, I introduced a War Powers Resolution which would direct the President to stop the use of U.S. Armed Forces in Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war from Congress. It is essential to hold every member of Congress accountable for allowing this war to continue and put them on record for the American people to see.”

Rep. Balint joins the efforts of Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) members, including Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), John Garamendi (CA-08), and Chuy Garcia (IL-04), who are working in coordination to force votes in Congress on bringing the war in Iran to an end. War Powers Resolutions are privileged in the House of Representatives, meaning that this resolution will get a vote on the House floor in the coming weeks.

Congresswoman Balint has been vocal in her opposition to the war since its beginning. Most recently, she slammed Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought in a Budget Committee hearing for the President’s request of $350 billion to continue funding the Iran war – the same cost of extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits for another ten years. In the two months since the beginning of the war, gas prices in Vermont have increased by 34%, and have reached their highest peak nationally in four years.

The text of the War Powers Resolution can be viewed here.

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Balint Leads CPC Task Force Hearing on Taxing Corporate Greed, Calls for Fairer Tax Code

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Ending Corporate Greed Task Force, convened a shadow hearing this week on “Visions of an Affordable Life: Taxing Corporate Greed,” bringing together lawmakers and policy experts to examine how the current tax code fuels corporate profiteering and deepening inequality, and to outline potential solutions to ensure the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share.

At the hearing, Members and witnesses underscored how rising costs for working families are being driven by a tax system that rewards corporations and billionaires while leaving everyday Americans behind.

“As a former history teacher, I often mention that we are in a second Gilded Age. And we have a responsibility to do things differently because it doesn't end well. The tax code is at the center of this problem,” said Rep. Balint. “If we're serious about making life more affordable and more manageable, which I am and which everyone here today is, then we have to make sure that taxes are a way to even the playing field for Americans.”

“I think it is on us as Democrats, on our side of the aisle, to say no we understand this has been a long time in coming. This is a problem that we have not tended to enough and that's how we got here,” Balint continued. “It doesn't make any sense for us to get the gavels back if we don't use that power to make this a more fair and equitable economy...you shouldn’t have to be super wealthy and well-connected to have a good life in this country."

Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02), Co-Chair of the Task Force, emphasized the role of corporate influence in shaping tax policy.

“My Republican colleagues hear what we hear when we do town halls, yet we see these policies move forward that totally ignore what [the witnesses] just talked about today,” said Rep. McGovern. “My view is that is it not that they are ignorant about what the realities are, it is that they’re bought and they’re owned by corporate special interests. It’s the money in politics.”

Rep. Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Co-Chair, highlighted how the current tax code reflects misplaced priorities.

“A tax code is a statement of our values, and our values are completely upside down right now,” said Rep. Dexter. “It needs to create a stable foundation for families and communities to have what they need. Instead, our current system has rewarded the wealthiest Americans and corporations, short-changes workers, as we've heard, and concentrated wealth and power at the top.”

Witnesses provided data and firsthand perspectives on the consequences of an inequitable tax system.

“Americans are deeply frustrated with the tax code, not because taxes exist, but because the system feels rigged. They see corporations posting record profits while paying effective rates well below what a teacher or a nurse pays. They see billionaires treating the tax code like a game that they always win while their own costs for housing, healthcare, and childcare keep climbing,” said Elizabeth Wilkins, President and CEO of the Roosevelt Institute. “That sense of unfairness is corrosive. It doesn't just make people angry about taxes, it erodes their belief in their government and that their government works for them at all.”

Kristen Crowell, Executive Director of Families Over Billionaires, spoke to the lived experiences of working families.

“The decisions that are made here in Washington, D.C. don’t stay here in Washington. They land on our kitchen tables, in community health clinics, and in the lives of ordinary people all across the country,” said Crowell. “This is not Democrats and Republicans from a voter perspective. That is over. It is class warfare. And that's what it feels like to families. They feel under attack.”

Zorka Milin, Policy Director at the FACT Coalition, outlined how corporations exploit loopholes.

“We analyzed this treasure trove of fresh tax data and found that 40 major American corporations reduced their tax bills by more than $11 billion through tax havens last year alone,” said Milin. “These findings confirm that our tax code fails to stop big corporations from moving their profits offshore at enormous costs to our federal revenues and domestic jobs. This isn't America first. It's corporations first, Americans last.”

Corey Husak, Director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress, pointed to structural inequities in the tax system.

“Voters say the rich aren't paying their fair share, and they're right,” said Husak. “Wall Street investors already have access to low capital gains rates. Why do they need exemptions from even paying that? Many pass-through business owners, like the president, are billionaires. Why do they need a pass-through deduction giving them lower marginal tax rates than their own workers?”

Elizabeth Watson, Director of Federal Government Affairs at AFSCME, emphasized the broader impact of inequality.

“Wealth inequality in America just reached a 30-year high. Today, one-third of wealth in the US is held by 1% of Americans,” said Watson. “These rich Americans have a powerful lobby in Congress fighting to rig the tax code in their favor. They're fighting to make it nearly impossible for working people to collectively bargain for their fair share.”

Together, members and witnesses made clear that fixing the tax code is central to lowering costs, restoring fairness, and rebuilding trust in government.

Background

The CPC Ending Corporate Greed Task Force is focused on developing and advancing policies to hold corporations and billionaires accountable, including efforts on tax fairness, antitrust enforcement, price gouging, money in politics, and financial regulation.

The full livestream of the hearing can be viewed here.

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