119th Congress

“I am heartbroken to hear about the passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly. 

Gerry was a colleague, a mentor, and above all, my friend. His humor, his toughness, and his love for his community and country made him one of the most effective members of Congress.  

In his decades of service to Fairfax County and Northern Virginia, Gerry was the epitome of a selfless statesman, touching so many lives and uplifting the most vulnerable. 

He was a lion of Northern Virginia politics and always a sounding board and partner on the campaign trail. In recent months, his mentorship helped me transition into Congress and onto the Oversight Committee, a committee where his years of leadership has improved the lives of countless federal workers and Northern Virginia families. 

My thoughts are with his beloved wife, Cathy, their daughter, Caitlin, his staff, and all who had the fortune of knowing him.”

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Washington, DC – Yesterday, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) and Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced the bipartisan Accelerating the Growth of Rural Innovation and Tourism Opportunities to Uphold Rural Industries and Sustainable Marketplaces (AGRITOURISM) Act. This legislation would create an Office of Agritourism at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to represent the interests of agritourism businesses in federal policymaking and consolidate federal resources to sustain agritourism businesses, such as loans, grants, and broadband connectivity programs. Congressman Subramanyam is the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Agritourism Caucus along with Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC), who is also supporting the legislation.

“Agritourism is a booming industry and critical to our local economy,” said Congressman Suhas Subramanyam. “Farmers across Virginia would benefit from streamlined access to resources, which is why I’m introducing the AGRITOURISM Act to establish a dedicated Office of Agritourism within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make sure that our local farmers and ranchers have everything they need to be successful.”

“Agritourism is a huge industry in Central Washington, with world-class breweries, wineries, and farmers markets attracting thousands of visitors every year. This legislation gives our local agritourism industries a voice in D.C. and elevates the challenges, and successes, of the industry to the federal level. I commend Rep. Subramanyam for spearheading this effort in support of our local economies,” said Congressman Dan Newhouse. 

“I'm proud to co-lead this bipartisan initiative to strengthen and promote agritourism—a vital part of North Carolina’s economy. Agritourism creates meaningful opportunities for our hardworking farmers to diversify and grow their income, while also offering visitors a firsthand experience of the rich agriculture which defines our state,” said Congressman David Rouzer.

Agritourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the country and has become the lifeblood of many rural local economies. Between 2002 and 2022, income from agritourism businesses rose from $202 million to $1.2 billion. The creation of an Office of Agritourism within the USDA would promote the growth and development of agritourism businesses across the country by giving them a much-needed voice at the federal level, advising the Secretary of Agriculture on agritourism-related policy matters, and ensuring that information about federal resources available to agritourism businesses is easily accessible. 

“Agritourism continues to be a key component of rural economic development and the NAFDMA International Agritourism Association supports the reintroduction of this legislation. We appreciate the awareness it brings to the industry and look forward to USDA's incorporation of agritourism into their service model.  Agritourism is a pathway for saving family farms, and incorporating more generations into a family operation,” said Suzi Spahr, Executive Director of the NAFDMA International Agritourism Association.

The AGRITOURISM Act is supported by Virginia Farmers Market Association, International Agritourism Association (NAFDMA), the Wine Institute, WineAmerica, the Brewers Association, the American Craft Spirits Association, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, the Mount Airy Tourism Development Authority, the Tourism Partnership of Surry County, and Visit Greenville NC.

The legislation is also cosponsored by Representatives Becca Balint (D-VT), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), Josh Harder (D-CA-9), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), and Chellie Pingree (D-MI-1).

The full text of the AGRITOURISM Act can be found here.

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Washington D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11), Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), and Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07), and U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner (both D-VA) wrote to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing their grave concerns about President Donald Trump’s efforts to undermine the mission of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which have resulted in the dismantling of CDC programs aimed at addressing America’s maternal health crisis. In the letter, the members urge the Trump Administration to protect these vital programs and to strengthen the CDC’s public health efforts. 

In 2022, the United States maternal mortality rate was 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. In Virginia, it was 32.7 deaths per 100,000 live births. According to the CDC, more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. 

“The agency has historically played a vital role in promoting quality maternal health care and improving birth outcomes through surveillance, evidence-based awareness campaigns, and federal-state partnerships. Collecting and maintaining data on maternal morbidity and mortality is key to improving this care and targeting interventions,’” the members wrote. “Yet the Trump Administration has terminated or placed on leave senior scientists and staff with deep institutional knowledge, imposed nearly $3 billion in spending cuts, and demanded a complete overhaul and reorganization of the agency’s programming.”   

“These actions have resulted in an abrupt halting of programs critical to maternal health which will set back the progress we have made to protect America’s moms and babies,” the members continued. “…Since the announced [Reductions in Force] (RIF), centers like the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities have been gutted, with most or all staff terminated and most of their maternal health activities stopped or significantly scaled back – putting moms and babies at risk.” 

“Although the Administration previously stated that the RIF and subsequent restructuring at HHS would be aimed toward administrative roles and would increase efficiency, it is clear that the Administration’s actions are already harming America’s moms and babies,” the members wrote. “Under your leadership, these indiscriminate terminations and spending cuts have destabilized the CDC and limited the capability of the agency to provide critical, quality maternal health guidance and surveillance to Americans building families… We urge you to protect these vital programs and to support the strengthening of public health efforts at the CDC, especially for America’s moms and babies.” 

In light of HHS’ harmful actions, the members demanded the Secretary: 

1.                   Provide an official number of terminations across the CDC, including a breakdown by center. Such information should also specify the job title of each employee and a description of the programs they contributed to, including maternal health programming. 

2.                   Provide an updated organizational chart that outlines programs run by each center at the CDC, including which programs will be terminated or shifted to another center as a result of the RIF and reorganization. 

3.                   Provide a list of programs previously run out of the CDC that will be transferred to a new agency or under a new authority and provide the rationale for such a move, including the relevant experience and expertise that the new agency or authority has to run such a program, including as it specifically pertains to the CDC’s maternal and child health programs. 

4.                   Provide a list of all maternal health programs across HHS, indicating which programs have been cut and which programs are duplicative and have therefore been combined. 

5.                   Explain how the administration will ensure continued collection of high-quality data for programs that are being shifted to a new agency or authority while protecting data security—given the CDC has unique data authority and infrastructure to protect sensitive information, ensuring that reported data is not identifiable. Other agencies under HHS do not have the same infrastructure, which the CDC has spent years developing. 

Full text of the letter can be found here and below. 

Dear Secretary Kennedy: 

We write to express our concern regarding recent efforts to undermine the mission of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is the premier public health agency in the country, leading the charge in protecting the health of nearly 350 million Americans through critical public health research, data collection, and evidence-based initiatives to address and prevent infectious and chronic diseases. Yet on March 27, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced massive staffing cuts to align with President Trump’s executive order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.” These cuts – made through Reductions in Force (RIF) at agencies across HHS – include reducing the CDC workforce by 2,400 employees, or 18 percent of its total employment. President Trump’s efforts to undermine the mission of the CDC have resulted in the dismantling of vital CDC programs, including those aimed at addressing America’s maternal mortality crisis.   

Ensuring moms have access to quality health care, including prenatal and postpartum services, is a critical component to supporting moms and addressing pregnancy-related deaths. In 2022, the national maternal mortality rate was 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. In Virginia, it was 32.7 deaths per 100,00 live births. According to the CDC, more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. The agency has historically played a vital role in promoting quality maternal health care and improving birth outcomes through surveillance, evidence-based awareness campaigns, and federal-state partnerships. Collecting and maintaining data on maternal morbidity and mortality is key to improving this care and targeting interventions. Yet the Trump Administration has terminated or placed on leave senior scientists and staff with deep institutional knowledge, imposed nearly $3 billion in spending cuts, and demanded a complete overhaul and reorganization of the agency’s programming.[5] These actions have resulted in an abrupt halting of programs critical to maternal health which will set back the progress we have made to protect America’s moms and babies. 

As directed by Congress, the CDC is statutorily required to carry out multiple activities to address maternal health. Since the announced RIF, centers like the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities have been gutted, with most or all staff terminated and most of their maternal health activities stopped or significantly scaled back – putting moms and babies at risk. This undermining of CDC programs harms public health agencies across the Commonwealth that utilize CDC data and funding to support local initiatives to increase access to care and reduce maternal mortality. 

·                     As required by statute, the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Systems (PRAMS) is a surveillance system designed to reduce infant morbidity and mortality through education and support for moms. Running continuously since 1987, PRAMS is a partnership between the federal government and state and local public health agencies. PRAMS is the only public health survey system that provides state-specific, population-based data from women about their pregnancy and the months after birth. This unique data system is critical for informing efforts to reduce infant and maternal morbidity and mortality through interventions before, during, and shortly after pregnancy. This multi-decade-long program is on an indefinite pause, hurting states, moms, and babies. In Virginia, despite receiving a notice of award for the fifth year of their PRAMS grant cycle, public health officials have not been able to move forward with regular grant activities and may be forced to shut down operations at the end of their grant cycle should additional funding not become available. 

·                     As also required by statute, the CDC monitors pregnancy success rates for Assisted Reproductive Technologies, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF), at clinics across the nation. This program helps ensure families are able to make an informed decision regarding their choice to start or build their family. Yet recent executive actions have resulted in the termination of CDC staff who ran this program, impeding the ability of the CDC to fulfill its congressional mandates and harming American families. Virginia has a long-standing history of supporting access to IVF: the first person born in the U.S. via IVF was born in Virginia over 40 years ago. 

The CDC also coordinates across agencies to administer programs that support the safety and surveillance of maternal health and birth outcomes at a state and local level. The CDC provides valuable resources that enable state and local officials to conduct targeted outreach to improve maternal health outcomes. 

·                     In coordination with the Health Resources and Services Administration, the CDC administers the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program (MCHEP). Through MCHEP, the CDC places senior epidemiologists in state, local, and Tribal public health agencies to support projects to improve maternal health outcomes. These highly qualified and experienced epidemiologists often serve in public health agencies that, without the help of the CDC, would not otherwise be able to support such a position. Historically, 26 states have benefitted from the MCHEP, yet because of actions by the Trump Administration, seven of the current 10 epidemiologists have been placed on leave. The critical work of MCHEP cannot continue without these epidemiologists and any disruption in programs will lead to devastating consequences. 

·                     In coordination with HHS’s Office of Women’s Health, the CDC has historically been a leader in supporting state surveillance on stillbirth incidence. The PRAMS Study of Associated Risks of Stillbirths (SOARS) survey was developed through a partnership between the CDC and the Utah Department of Health. This survey gathered essential data for monitoring stillbirth and other relevant factors while also raising awareness on the prevalence of the issue and combatting the stigma around stillbirth. Prior to the Administration’s recent actions, the CDC intended to expand this work and begin implementation of task force recommendations to address stillbirth. The future of this work is in jeopardy due to the Administration’s actions.  

·                     In coordination with state and local public health agencies, the CDC has historically supported a coordinated response to public health emergencies that could have an impact on pregnant and postpartum women. For example, during the 2016 Zika virus outbreak, Virginia public health officials utilized PRAMS data to target communications and surveillance for pregnant women, as they were recognized as a highly vulnerable population, and report to the CDC’s U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry for future monitoring and follow-up of birth outcomes. The recent reduction in staffing levels will undoubtedly impede the CDC’s ability to coordinate a swift response to future public health emergencies that could impact moms and babies. 

Although the Administration previously stated that the RIF and subsequent restructuring at HHS would be aimed toward administrative roles and would increase efficiency, it is clear that the Administration’s actions are already harming America’s moms and babies. Under your leadership, these indiscriminate terminations and spending cuts have destabilized the CDC and limited the capability of the agency to provide critical, quality maternal health guidance and surveillance to Americans building families. In light of your harmful actions, please respond to the following questions by May 23, 2025: 

1.                   Provide an official number of terminations across the CDC, including a breakdown by center. Such information should also specify the job title of each employee and a description of the programs they contributed to, including maternal health programming. 

2.                   Provide an updated organizational chart that outlines programs run by each center at the CDC, including which programs will be terminated or shifted to another center as a result of the RIF and reorganization. 

3.                   Provide a list of programs previously run out of the CDC that will be transferred to a new agency or under a new authority and provide the rationale for such a move, including the relevant experience and expertise that the new agency or authority has to run such a program, including as it specifically pertains to the CDC’s maternal and child health programs. 

4.                   HHS has justified the RIF and subsequent reorganization by stating that “18% of notices were at duplicative programs, primarily maternal health (and HIV) programs”. Provide a list of all maternal health programs across HHS, indicating which programs have been cut and which programs are duplicative and have therefore been combined. 

5.                   The CDC has unique data authority and infrastructure to protect sensitive information, ensuring that reported data is not identifiable. Other agencies under HHS do not have the same infrastructure, which the CDC has spent years developing. For programs that are being shifted to a new agency or authority, how will the administration ensure the continued collection of high-quality data while protecting data security? 

A healthy nation starts and ends with healthy moms and babies. Recent administrative actions have disrupted maternal health care and will only contribute to the maternal mortality crisis in Virginia and our country. We urge you to protect these vital programs and to support the strengthening of public health efforts at the CDC, especially for America’s moms and babies.   

Sincerely, 

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Washington, D.C. —Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) along with Congressmen Rich McCormick (R-GA) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking him to provide eligible H-1B and other low-risk category visa holders the option to renew their visas within the United States. The State Department ran a highly successful domestic renewal pilot program with 20,000 H-1B holders in 2024. 

This action would increase government efficiency and reduce unnecessary delays and costs associated with requiring visa holders to travel abroad for renewals. It would alleviate the burden on U.S. embassies and consulates, which often face backlogs. Allowing renewals within the country ensures that skilled workers, critical to industries like technology and health care, can continue to contribute to the U.S. economy without disruption, ultimately benefiting American businesses and communities.

“The current process to renew H-1B visas is cumbersome and needs to be modernized,” said Congressman Suhas Subramanyam. “This bipartisan proposal, based on a successful bipartisan 2024 pilot program, will help streamline the H1-B process and avoid unnecessary processing delays.”

“Building upon the 2024 pilot program for domestic visa renewals will demonstrate that we can modernize our immigration system while maintaining security and efficiency,” said Congressman Rich McCormick. “As a fiscal conservative, I believe expanding and formalizing this initiative is crucial. It will alleviate the strain on American businesses, bolster our high-skilled workforce, and cut through the red tape holding back our economic edge. I'm proud to stand with my colleagues in pushing the administration to take this vital step toward a streamlined, future-focused visa process.”

“The 2024 pilot program for domestic visa renewals was a commonsense success, and now it’s time to build on that momentum,” said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. “Expanding and formalizing this program will reduce red tape, strengthen our economy, and help ensure that the United States continues to attract and retain the best and brightest talent from around the world.”

“Reinstating the domestic visa renewals pilot program, expanding it beyond the H-1B visa category, and clarifying the eligibility rules is an important step in the effort to modernize the immigration system,” said Benjamin Johnson, Executive Director for American Immigration Lawyers Association. “It provides an opportunity for the Department of State to alleviate the visa backlog, increase efficiency, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen America's ability to retain talented individuals.”

“The United States is currently relying on an immigration system designed for a different country at a different time. Expanding the domestic visa renewal pilot will allow us to maintain our leadership in the global race for talent, reduce excessive wait times, alleviate processing backlogs, and provide certainty for immigrants working in the U.S. and their employers,” said Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us. “It is in our country's best interest to have a more efficient legal immigration system that improves its ability to attract and retain top talent from around the world and maximizes their contributions in critical industries. We thank Representatives Krishnamoorthi, Subramanyam, and McCormick for their leadership and the 17 members who signed this letter.”

“Domestic visa reissuance has been suspended since 2004,” said Jeremy Neufeld, Director of High-Skilled Immigration Policy at Institute for Progress. “A successful pilot program last year showed that it's time to bring it back. IFP thanks lawmakers for their leadership in working to make visa processing more efficient and less disruptive.” 

“Consular officers stationed across the globe are tasked with vetting new travelers seeking entry into the United States,” said Sam Peak, Policy Manager for the Economic Innovation Group. “However, much of their caseload consists of reviewing visa renewals for professionals who have already been approved and have resided in the country for many years. This reform helps ensure that the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs can provide more efficient and thorough vetting of higher-risk visa applicants. EIG applauds this bipartisan group for championing this effort.”

In the letter to Secretary Rubio, the lawmakers strongly urged the administration to build upon the successful 2024 pilot program for domestic visa renewals and quickly take the necessary steps to formalize and expand the initiative with clear eligibility rules. The pilot program allowed certain eligible H-1B visa holders to renew their visas within the United States, an important first step in modernizing our visa processing system. The lawmakers urged Secretary Rubio to ensure that the program not only continues but is expanded to include additional E, H, I, L, O, and P visas to ease unnecessary burdens on workers and businesses alike.

Up until 2004, the United States allowed E, H, I, L, O, and P visas holders to renew their visas domestically. This practice was discontinued by the State Department in response to the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002. While this change was not legislatively required by Congress, the 2002 law mandated stricter biometric screening for visa applicants. At the time, the State Department had more capacity to collect this information in embassies and consulates abroad than domestically. The 2024 pilot program was limited to those individuals who had already had their biometrics captured overseas and whose biometrics can be reused. Expanding the pilot program and making it permanent would align with the findings of the Secure Borders and Open Doors Advisory Committee, convened by President George W. Bush, that recommended reinstating domestic renewals for low-risk visa categories in 2008.

In addition to Congressmen Subramanyam, McCormick, and Krishnamoorthi, this letter is signed by Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE), Ami Bera (D-CA), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Lou Correa (D-CA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Terri Sewell (D-GA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Marc Veasey (D-TX).

The letter can be read and downloaded here.

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Washington, D.C. — Today, the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs received a bipartisan briefing from senior U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) officials about the crash that occurred between an Army UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on January 29, 2025, that resulted in the deaths of sixty-seven individuals. 

Ranking Member Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) and Chairman William Timmons (R-SC) issued the following statement following the briefing:

“The U.S. Department of Defense, in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, has adjusted procedures around DCA to reduce risk while the investigation continues. The Military and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee plans to continue monitoring the investigation’s progress and ensure that the U.S. Department of Defense strengthens the safety of its operations in the National Capital Region.”

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Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Suhas Subramnayam offered an amendment during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform markup to protect the hard-earned retirement benefits of the federal workforce.

His amendment would strike a provision of House Republicans’ budget legislation that would reduce pay for long-serving federal employees by increasing their required retirement contributions without providing any additional benefits. Under the legislation, federal employees hired before 2014 would be required to contribute up to 3.6% more of their paycheck every month. The Congressman warned that Section 90001 would cause further losses of experienced talent in the federal workforce.

Congressman Subramanyam argued that changing benefits that were agreed to many years ago is unjust, and that there are better ways to make government more efficient without attacking the hard-earned retirement benefits federal employees have been paying into for their entire careers. The Congressman warned this would not only hurt local and national economies, but also undermine recruitment efforts for critical positions in the federal government, erode government effectiveness, increase long-term costs, and damage public trust.

In addition to increasing retirement contributions, the Republican legislation also proposes to eliminate supplemental retirement payments for federal employees who retire before age 62, change the federal retirement annuity formula to lower benefits for federal employees, and force civil servants to contribute an additional 5% towards their retirement each month without any increase in benefits unless they forfeit their merit-based civil service protections.

Congressman Subramanyam’s amendment was defeated on a party-line vote. The overall legislation advanced through the Committee by a one-vote margin, with one Republican joining all Democrats in voting no.

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Washington D.C. – Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam released the following statement on Congressman Gerry Connolly’s announcement that he will not seek re-election and will soon step down as Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

“Gerry Connolly has been a friend and mentor of mine since before my time in Congress. He has helped countless legislators in Virginia and has always been there for Virginia families. Despite his plans not to seek another term in Congress, Gerry’s leadership will always serve as a guiding light.

Gerry is a fighter, and I will be proudly working with him for the rest of this term as he gets healthy and continues to be a champion for all Virginians.”

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