119th Congress

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Subramanyam sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding that the Department of Justice release the Epstein files to the public immediately and without redaction. Earlier today, Elon Musk made claims that President Trump's name is included in said files.

Congressman Subramanyam also sent the letter to James Comer, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Anna Paulina Luna, Chairwoman of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, given their commitment to government transparency and the serious nature of the allegations.

In the letter to Attorney General Bondi, Congressman Subramanyam wrote: 

“As Attorney General of the United States, you have the power to release sensitive documents to provide transparency and accountability in government to the American people. Today, Elon Musk alleged that President Trump is in the Epstein files, and that this is the reason they have not yet been released publicly. 

This allegation raises serious questions about President Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and the American people have a right to this information. 

This administration and the Republican party trusted Musk with access to highly sensitive and classified data. He and his DOGE cronies spent months invading government systems, firing federal workers, and amassing Americans’ data. It is well within the realm of possibility that this included access to the Epstein files. 

As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I take this issue incredibly seriously. The American people have a right to know whether, and to what extent, their President was involved in the crimes of a sexual predator.”

A copy of the letter can be found here. 

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Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) introduced a resolution to designate May as PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) Awareness Month. Congressman Subramanyam’s mentor and predecessor, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton, was diagnosed with PSP in September 2023. 

In honor of May, which is often recognized as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) Awareness Month, Congressman Subramanyam introduced this resolution in Congress to spread awareness of PSP, recognize people who have been diagnosed with the disease, and celebrate those working hard to find treatments and cures.

“PSP is a heartbreaking condition that thousands of Americans, including my dear friend Congresswoman Wexton, suffer through,” said Congressman Subramanyam. “We must support all research to improve treatments and ultimately find a cure. I am proud to have the support of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in recognizing this month and the importance of unlocking a cure.”

“I know personally how scary and devastating a condition PSP can be for those battling it and our loved ones,” said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. “Since my diagnosis, I’ve done all I can to use my platform to bring greater attention to this disease which impacts tens of thousands of Americans, and push for greater investments to prevent, improve treatments, and ultimately cure this terrible disease. I’m proud that so many of my former colleagues from both sides of the aisle have joined Congressman Subramanyam and me this week to raise awareness of what PSP is and the urgent need to step up our fight against it.” 

PSP is a neurodegenerative condition that progresses because of a damaging build-up of a protein in the brain called tau. This disease is particularly harmful to parts of the brain that control speech, balance, coordination, and eye-movement, and can have incredibly scary impacts on the quality of life and life expectancy for patients. Most people who suffer from PSP will become dependent on care in just three to four years.

Despite the aggressive nature of PSP, and its impact on over 30,000 individuals and their families, most people have never heard of PSP. It is believed to be as common as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but it does not receive the same type of recognition or funding for research. Right now, there are no known disease-modifying treatments or a cure for PSP. Congressman Subramanyam’s resolution aims to increase awareness, encourage research, and ultimately, help find a cure. 

Original cosponsors of this resolution include Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-4), Don Bacon (R-NE-2), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-9), Julia Brownley (D-CA-29), Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MI-5), Steve Cohen (D-TN-9), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-1), Valerie Foushee (D-NC-4), Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), Doris Matsui (D-CA-7), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-4), Jim McGovern (D-MA-2), Mike Quigley (D-IL-5), Mark Pocan (D-WI-2), Pat Ryan (D-NY-18), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-6), Mary Scanlon (D-PA-5), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-3), David Scott (D-GA-13), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-28), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-4), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12). 

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Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Don Beyer (D-VA-8), and Gabe Amo (D-RI-1) led 16 of their colleagues in requesting that the Department of Transportation (DOT) facilitate an independent review of Washington, DC airspace as part of the Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2026 transportation funding bill. Such a review is warranted following the collision 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. The request asks for the review to be conducted by an independent panel and that the results of that review be released and made available to Congress. 

“We’re deeply grateful to Congressmen Subramanyam, Beyer, and Amo, along with their colleagues, for advancing this bipartisan request to help ensure DCA is safer for the public. Our family group developed this independent review of DCA as one of our seven reform priorities because we believe that public trust can only be rebuilt through transparency, accountability, and a willingness to learn from the systemic failures that led to the January 29 crash,” said Families of Flight 5342, a group formed by family members of those lost aboard Flight 5342 to advance aviation safety reform. “We strongly urge the Subcommittee to adopt this request. It represents a critical step in the broader effort to honor the loved ones we lost and make our skies safer for all.”

The members highlighted that the airspace above and around our nation's capital is highly complex, with large volumes of commercial, law enforcement, and military aircraft operating in close proximity. DCA has the busiest runway in the country, and the members specifically requested that the review evaluate DCA’s current total flight volume.

They emphasized that the review should be conducted by an independent panel of experts in aviation safety, airspace operations, and civil-military coordination selected by the Department of Transportation in consultation with the National Transportation Safety Board, and the relevant congressional committees.

Their request asked the review assess: historical and ongoing risks associated with DCA airspace design and usage, including historical incidents relevant to current protocols and whether DCA's current flight volume exceeds the airport's operational capabilities within normal operating hours; the adequacy of coordination protocols between the FAA, Department of Defense, and other entities involved in or affected by airspace coordination; patterns of near-miss incidents involving military aircraft; and structural, cultural, or procedural barriers to risk identification and accountability.

In the letter, the Members wrote: “While the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) investigation into the collision is ongoing, there are other sources of expertise that can contribute to the safety of this airspace, military service members, and the traveling public. We believe that an independent review of the airspace, coordination between civil and military air traffic, and operational safety, including whether DCA's current total flight volume exceeds the airport's operational capabilities within normal operating hours, could provide valuable insight to Congress and the relevant federal agencies as they develop policies to improve airspace safety.”

The panel’s findings and recommendations would be required to be published online and shared with the relevant congressional committees within 180 days of the panel’s formation.

The letter was signed by Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Rick Larsen as well as Reps. André Carson, Sharice L. Davids, Cleo Fields, Steny H. Hoyer, Glenn Ivey, John B. Larson, Seth Magaziner, Jennifer L. McClellan, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jamie Raskin, Shri Thanedar, William Timmons, Jill Tokuda, and Paul Tonko.

The letter can be read and downloaded here.

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“I am proud to have rejected the Tax Scam bill. By supporting this bill, House Republicans and this Administration broke their promises to the American people.

They promised they wouldn't cut Medicaid, yet this bill takes away access to care and dignity for 13.7 million Americans. They promised they would address waste, fraud, and abuse yet this bill makes it easier to fire the very people in the federal government who prevent it and who make government efficient. They promised to lower the national debt, yet this bill increases it by $4 trillion. And they promised they would support working families, but this bill will strip $300 billion in SNAP benefits from kids and families. 

The only promise they fulfilled is to mortgage our country's present and future to fund giveaways to their billionaire and corporate donors, who will receive the majority of the benefit from these policies that have failed time and time again. 

I urge the Senate to reject these misguided policies and work on a bipartisan way to address the health, safety, and prosperity of our country.” 

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“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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