Holding the President Accountable

Articles of Impeachment
Today, the House Judiciary Committee voted to approve two articles of impeachment to hold President Trump accountable: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. No one is above the law, not even the President of the United States.

Over the past few weeks, the American people have heard the facts, and those facts are uncontested: The President abused his power for his own personal and political benefit at the expense of our national security, by withholding military aid and a crucial Oval Office meeting in exchange for an announcement of an investigation into his political rival.

The President's actions have seriously violated the Constitution – especially when he says and acts upon the belief, ‘Article II says, I can do whatever I want.' His wrongdoing strikes at the very heart of our Constitutional system of checks and balances, its separation of powers and the rule of law.

No other President in history has ever used the power of Presidency to cheat our democracy and corrupt our elections. Jeopardizing America's national security to help win elections is wrong. The President's continued solicitation of foreign interference in a U.S. election presents a clear and present danger that the President will continue to use the power of his office for his personal political gain.

Our Democracy is what is at stake. The President leaves us with no choice but to act. His actions are in defiance of the vision of our Founders and the oath of office that he takes ‘to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.'

As the House honors our responsibility to protect the republic, we will also honor our responsibility to achieve progress in the lives of the American people.

Congresswoman Pelosi and Committee Chairs hold a press conference to announce Articles of Impeachment.

Honoring Farmworkers
On Wednesday, House Democrats were proud to pass H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, in a 260-165 vote. This bipartisan legislation honors the two million farmworkers who are the backbone of our economy and country: powering our farm economy and producing the food on our tables, even as they persevere through harsh working conditions and low wages.

H.R. 5038 honors workers' dignity and supports the farm economy with smart, strong reforms. It provides a path to legalization for currently undocumented farmworkers. No one who works to feed our country should be condemned to permanent second-class status. The bill also secures the agricultural workforce of the future by updating, expanding and strengthening the H-2A initiative to ensure that farms have stable, secure workforces. And, critically, it demands fair, humane treatment for farmworkers, following the lead of legislation in California, including by:

• Securing fairness in pay
• Improving access to quality housing
• Ensuring robust safety and heat illness protections

This legislation is a critical step forward for workers, for growers and for the farm economy, but our work is not done. House Democrats will continue to work to stabilize the farm economy, protect workers and their families and maintain America's proud agricultural preeminence in the world, and as we do so, we remember the words of late Cesar Chavez. He said this, ‘To make a great dream come true, the first requirement is a great capacity to dream. The second is persistence.'

Congresswoman Pelosi Announces Appointment to Public-Private Partnership Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking
This week, Congresswoman Pelosi announced the appointment by the White House of Esta Soler of San Francisco, California to serve on the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking:

The persistent scourge of human trafficking remains a challenge to the conscience of the world. Whether as a brilliant social worker or founder of Futures Without Violence, Esta Soler has been on the front lines in the fight to protect women and families from violence and abuse for nearly 50 years. From promoting lifesaving criminal justice reform that protects the victims of domestic violence to helping pass the landmark Violence Against Women Act, Esta's tireless, committed energy and advocacy have been instrumental in delivering transformative progress for American women. It was an honor to recommend Esta for appointment to the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking where her vision and persistent, dissatisfied leadership will be critical to advancing bold solutions to end human trafficking once and for all.

Created by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017, the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking works to review federal policies and initiatives designed to combat human trafficking and provide advice and recommendations to address the continuing threat. Members of the Advisory Council are appointed to serve a two-year term.

Help needed: U.S. Census Bureau
The U.S. Census Bureau is currently hiring Census Takers to work in their own communities. You can make a difference, help your community and earn extra income for doing it. Those interested can apply online at 2020census.gov/jobs.