Press Releases
KENNEDY, TRANS TASK FORCE DEMAND MEETING WITH TRUMP CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICIALS
Washington, D.C. - As Chair of the Congressional LGBT Caucus’s Transgender Equality Task Force, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today requested a meeting with the Trump Administration’s top civil rights officials. Raising concerns about the unconstitutional transgender military ban, the elimination of protections for transgender students, and the creation of rules targeting trans health care, Kennedy and his colleagues on the Task Force requested a response by February 23, 2018. “The Trump … Continue Reading
February 13, 2018
KENNEDY, BROOKS, UPTON, DINGELL DEFEND LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Washington, D.C. -- As co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Access to Civil Legal Services Caucus, Congressman Joe Kennedy III (D-MA), Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks (R-IN), Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) today raised concerns about President Trump’s proposal to eliminate the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). For the second consecutive year, the President’s budget request proposed eliminating the nation’s largest single funder of civil legal aid for … Continue Reading
January 25, 2018
KENNEDY TO DELIVER DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE TO STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
Newton, MA - U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that Congressman Joe Kennedy III will deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress next week. “From health care to economic justice to civil rights, the Democratic agenda stands in powerful contrast to President Trump's broken promises to American families," said Congressman Kennedy. "Our vision for this union is guided by a … Continue Reading
January 11, 2018
KENNEDY STATEMENT ON MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENT WAIVERS
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joe Kennedy III today released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s guidance encouraging work requirements for Americans covered by Medicaid. “In the midst of an opioid epidemic and mental health crisis in this country, this malicious guidance by the Trump Administration will put lives at risk. Imposing work requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries is demeaning, ineffective, and dangerous. For families struggling to make ends … Continue Reading
January 11, 2018
KENNEDY, WARREN INTRO BILL TO STRENGTHEN MENTAL HEALTH PARITY LAWS
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joe Kennedy III and Senator Elizabeth Warren today reintroduced the Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act, which will hold health insurers accountable for providing adequate mental health benefits and increase transparency for consumers seeking coverage for mental illness and substance use disorders. According to a National Alliance on Mental Illness report, insurers denied authorization for mental health care at nearly twice the rate they did for … Continue Reading
January 11, 2018
KENNEDY STATEMENT ON VOTE AGAINST WARRANTLESS SURVEILLANCE
Washington, D.C. - After voting against a six year extension of the NSA’s warrantless surveillance program, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today called for new measures to strengthen privacy protections. Kennedy voted for two amendments to the bill that would have imposed privacy reforms. “Balancing the delicate scales of privacy and security for the American people is Congress’s most solemn responsibility. Reauthorizing this surveillance program provided an overdue opportunity to ensure … Continue Reading
December 19, 2017
KENNEDY STATEMENT ON GOP TAX BILL
Washington, DC - Congressman Joe Kennedy III today released the following statement following the passage of the GOP tax bill. “The strength and success of our nation should be judged by the strength and success of all Americans, not just the privileged few. Investing in the working Americans who build our economy should have been the absolute priority of any true tax reform. Instead, the GOP tax bill systemically raises their taxes, attacks their health care, and erodes their economic … Continue Reading
December 14, 2017
KENNEDY STATEMENT ON FCC NET NEUTRALITY RULING
Washington, DC - Congressman Joe Kennedy III today released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission voted to overturn net neutrality protections. After the partisan FCC vote, Kennedy joined Democratic colleagues to announce their intention to introduce a resolution that would reverse the decision. "Locking the Internet with keys owned by major corporations will restrict economic equity and crush free speech. If President Trump and Chairman Pai refuse to … Continue Reading
December 12, 2017
KENNEDY BILL PROTECTING RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS PASSES HOUSE
Washington, D.C. - As hate crimes motivated by religion continue to rise in the United States, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today applauded the bipartisan passage of the Combating Anti-Semitism Act of 2017. Led by Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN) and Congressman Derek Kilmer (D-WA), the legislation was introduced in response to more than 100 bomb threats and other threats of violence that had been made against 81 Jewish Community Centers earlier this year. “A nation free of bigotry and … Continue Reading
November 15, 2017
KENNEDY STATEMENT ON GOP REJECTION OF EITC AMENDMENT
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joe Kennedy III released the following statement today after House Republicans rejected his amendment to extend the Earned Income Tax Credit to working childless adults by simply maintaining the estate tax. "This proposal offered my GOP colleagues a simple choice: wealthy heirs or working Americans? By rejecting an effort to bring real, immediate tax relief to millions of American workers, they doubled down on a tax plan that unapologetically prioritizes … Continue Reading
November 14, 2017
KENNEDY OFFERS AMENDMENT TO RETAIN ESTATE TAX; GIVE WORKERS A RAISE
Washington, D.C. - As Congressional Republicans rush to give a massive tax cut to wealthy corporations, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today offered an amendment that would extend the Earned Income Tax Credit to working childless adults by maintaining the estate tax. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the federal tax code currently taxes roughly 7.5 million childless adults into or deeper into poverty, while only 5,460 individuals with estates valued at more than $5.5 … Continue Reading
October 26, 2017
KENNEDY: EMPTY RHETORIC ON OPIOID EPIDEMIC WILL ONLY LEAD TO HOLLOW RESPONSE
Washington, DC - Congressman Joe Kennedy III today released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s speech on the opioid epidemic. “Any family left with a gaping hole in their lives caused by the opioid epidemic can tell you that this is a national emergency. Empty rhetoric will only lead to a hollow response. To adequately address this crisis, we need to invest in proven treatment options, expand access to Medicaid, sharpen mental health parity laws, and … Continue Reading
October 12, 2017
KENNEDY STATEMENT ON TRUMP HEALTH CARE EXECUTIVE ORDER
Washington, DC - Congressman Joe Kennedy III today released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order to systemically dismantle the Affordable Care Act. “Segregating the sick and suffering from the wealthy and healthy will not only cause physical, mental and emotional pain, it will bankrupt families facing unexpected tragedies. With his unilateral action today, President Trump alone has obliterated the promise of protection for preexisting conditions … Continue Reading
September 15, 2017
KENNEDY, PALLONE INTROUDCE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT SANDY GASOLINE RESERVE
Washington, DC - With gas prices soaring across New England due to recent hurricanes, Congressman Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) introduced legislation to create in law a Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve. Along with fifteen of their northeastern colleagues, the lawmakers wrote the bill in response to the Trump Administration’s proposal to eliminate the Reserve that is critical to ensuring that the region is protected from a disruption in the supply of … Continue Reading
August 29, 2017
KENNEDY, McEACHIN, JAYAPAL URGE TRUMP TO REVERSE TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joe Kennedy III along with Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04), Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and more than 140 of their colleagues today sent a letter to President Trump urging him to reverse his intolerant, unconstitutional transgender military ban. As Chair of the Transgender Equality Task Force, Kennedy has been an outspoken opponent of the President’s attacks on transgender servicemembers. “By reflecting our nation’s diversity and decency, … Continue Reading
July 26, 2017
KENNEDY SLAMS TRUMP ATTACK ON TRANSGENDER SOLDIERS
Washington, D.C. - This morning Congressman Joe Kennedy III took to the House Floor to condemn President Trump’s bigoted attack on transgender soldiers and announcement that they will no longer be allowed to serve in the United States military. Kennedy currently serves as Chair of the Congressional Transgender Equality Task Force. “When our bravest men and women raise their hand and volunteer to defend our nation, they defend all of her people,” Kennedy said. “Rich and poor. Young and … Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
KENNEDY STATEMENT ON ANTI-TRANSGENDER AMENDMENT
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joe Kennedy III, Chair of the Congressional Transgender Equality Task Force, today released the following statement after House Republican Leadership allowed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would deny medically necessary health care to transgender service members. “Bigotry is the last thing this country should offer any brave man or woman who volunteers to defend us,” said Congressman Kennedy. “By inserting Congress into the … Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
Kennedy, Scott Reintroduce Amendment to Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Washington, D.C. - With the support of leaders from the civil rights, social justice and faith communities, Congressman Joe Kennedy III (MA-04) and Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, today reintroduced legislation to amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The Do No Harm Act would clarify that no one can seek religious exemption from laws guaranteeing fundamental civil and legal rights. It comes in response to continued … Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
KENNEDY STATEMENT ON REVISED SENATE TRUMPCARE BILL
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joe Kennedy III released the following statement in response to the Senate’s most recent version of TrumpCare. “A health care system that segregates the sick and suffering ignores the most basic human truth that none of us are invincible. We cannot predict when it will be our parent diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, our child with autism, or our spouse with cancer. So we fortify a system strong enough to catch any one of us when we fall to our knees. A great nation … Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
KENNEDY STATEMENT ON FAILURE OF ANTI-TRANSGENDER AMENDMENT
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joe Kennedy III, Chair of the Congressional Transgender Equality Task Force, today released the following statement after the bipartisan rejection of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would deny medically necessary health care to transgender service members. “Our soldiers do not discriminate. They do not offer to pay the ultimate sacrifice to protect some lives and not others. Their country owes them that unwavering protection in … Continue Reading