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What They’re Saying: Broad Coalition Lauds Bipartisan FRONTIER Act

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Less than a week after Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) and Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) introduced the Frontier Risk Oversight, National Transparency, Independent Evaluation, and Reporting (FRONTIER) Act, a broad coalition of stakeholders is praising the bipartisan legislation that would establish a federal risk-based framework governing the development and deployment of the most advanced artificial intelligence models.

The FRONTIER Act would establish a tiered, risk-based national framework for oversight of the most advanced AI models, requiring the largest developers to publish safety frameworks, submit to independent third-party audits and verification, and report critical safety incidents to a new Under Secretary of Commerce for AI Security. It is an updated version of the Commerce-focused portions of the lawmakers’ Great American AI Act (GAAIA) discussion draft, reworked over seven weeks of stakeholder feedback to narrow its preemption of state law and sharpen its auditing and reporting provisions.

“Not too long ago, a bipartisan bill this good and serious would have been a pipe dream. But things change quickly. This is by far the best AI safety bill ever introduced, in any jurisdiction,” said Charlie Bullock, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Law & AI. “There are still some flaws that I would like to see fixed, and some improvements to be made, but overall I'm very impressed with how well Reps. Trahan and Obernolte did on this. The next step is actually *passing* this kind of legislation, which unfortunately still seems like a pretty heavy lift. But this is a very promising first step.”
“AI governance keeps running into the same wall. The technology is hard to measure and it moves faster than any law can keep up with,”said Andrew Freedman, Co-Founder and CEO of Fathom. “Trying to write the perfect rules and freezing them in place won’t work. What will work is a competitive market of independent verifiers who are accountable for real-world outcomes and who the government can actually count on. The FRONTIER Act shows we can move fast and still get this right.”

“The latest version of the bipartisan Obernolte–Trahan framework, FRONTIER Act, is a serious step forward. It's one of the strongest efforts yet to establish a federal AI framework that protects Americans while preserving America's leadership in AI,” said the Alliance for a Better Future. “The bill gets several things right. Frontier developers would publish safety frameworks, file transparency reports before deployment, report serious safety incidents, and provide rapid notification when an imminent threat emerges. It also establishes meaningful emergency response authority and independent oversight for the most advanced AI systems. That's a targeted, risk-based approach that puts oversight where it's actually needed.”

“Rep. Lori Trahan and Rep. Jay Obernolte's bipartisan FRONTIER Act deserves a lot of credit here; they are clearly engaged with stakeholders and civil society across the spectrum and have incorporated extensive feedback,” said Caleb Knapp, Senior Policy Manager and Secure AI Now. “In an ideal world, federal standards for frontier AI model pre-deployment would have crossed the finish line a year ago. Strongly addressing these issues is even more imperative as the technology develops further. We are seeing more instances of AI misalignment with OpenAI/Hugging Face, Kimi, and otherwise. Is the bill perfect? No. But it is the strongest federal frontier bill to date and builds on all the great work occurring at the state level in CA, NY, IL, and elsewhere.”

“The FRONTIER Act is a meaningful bipartisan effort to strengthen oversight of the most advanced Al systems, and it's the strongest federal proposal to date. It builds on state regulations in many ways and incorporates a lot of the feedback that various stakeholders gave on the earlier discussion draft,” said the AI Verification & Evaluation Research Institute (AVERI). “There are some remaining areas for improvement, including making sure that state laws are not preempted until their federal replacements are ready and clarifying some of the auditing provisions. But this is undoubtedly a step in the right direction and we look forward to working with Representatives Trahan and Obernolte, their staff, and other members of Congress to strengthen this proposal and advance effective oversight of frontier Al.”

“Like a lot of people on [Twitter], I had some concerns regarding the initial federal framework discussion draft that Reps. Lori Trahan and Jay Obernolte released a couple weeks ago. I am happy to say that, after substantial engagement and feedback, they’ve crafted the strongest ai safety proposal to date in the FRONTIER Act. There’s still some improvements I’d like to see in the text, and I look forward to continued conversation with the sponsors. But! The narrower preemption and strong auditing provisions should inspire confidence that congress is evolving their approach quickly and worth engaging,” said Nat Purser, Director of U.S. Policy at AVERI.

“The revised FRONTIER Act is meaningfully better than GAAIA, the earlier draft from Representative Trahan and Representative Obernolte. They deserve credit for engaging constructively with stakeholders and taking feedback seriously,” said Nathan Calvin, General Counsel Encode AI. “Overall, this is very much a step in the right direction. Some important issues remain, but we’ll continue engaging with the authors and appreciate the work they’ve put into improving the bill.”

“It's a good bill—actually worth going for, I think,” said Anton Leicht, a Fellow with the Carnegie Endowment’s Technology and International Affairs team. “[Especially] after the past few weeks, federal third-party evaluation seems like a very good way to build capacity beyond exec branch scrambles fast, and to get actual insight into labs-as-entities and their internal deployments.”

“The FRONTIER Act gets the AI regulatory balance right: focus transparency and oversight on the handful of companies pushing the frontier through a coherent federal standard, and leave the rest of the ecosystem alone. Rather than micromanaging model development, it builds audit-and-disclosure infrastructure so that Congress, courts, and the American people can stay informed. Independent verification organizations make the framework adaptive in a way static rules never could, letting oversight evolve as fast as the technology. This is what right-sized AI governance looks like: light-touch with dynamic, third-party oversight where the risks are greatest,” said Samuel Hammond, Chief Economist & AI Policy Director at the Foundation for American Innovation.

“Seven weeks from discussion draft to introduced legislation is fast for Congress on anything; for AI, where the complaint is that they’ve been asleep at the wheel, it’s astounding. This wasn’t a panic bill scribbled over a weekend; the revision shows seven weeks of actual work, with gaps closed, clocks tightened, and new teeth added. The sponsor statements make it clear that they were watching the same news as the rest of us,” said Daniel Parshall, Ph.D., Founder and Director of the Canary Institute for AI Policy.

A copy of the legislation introduced last week can be accessed HERE.

A section-by-section summary can be accessed HERE.

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Trahan, Obernolte Introduce Bipartisan FRONTIER Act to Strengthen Oversight of Advanced AI

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) and Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23), alongside Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Scott Franklin (R-FL-18), Suhas Subramanyan (D-VA-10), and Erin Houchin (R-IN-09), introduced the Frontier Risk Oversight, National Transparency, Independent Evaluation, and Reporting (FRONTIER) Act. introduced the Frontier Risk Oversight, National Transparency, Independent Evaluation, and Reporting Act, or the FRONTIER Act. The bipartisan legislation, which was developed as part of the broader Great American AI Act framework, establishes a national, risk-based framework governing the development and deployment of the most advanced artificial intelligence models.

The FRONTIER Act establishes tiered requirements based on the size of a frontier AI developer, including model cards, risk-management frameworks, independent audits, incident reporting, and ongoing assessments. It also creates a uniform national standard for transparency, auditing, and reporting of catastrophic risk to prevent a patchwork of state regulations.

“As AI systems grow more capable, Americans deserve confidence that the most powerful models are being developed responsibly,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The bipartisan FRONTIER Act delivers commonsense transparency and independent oversight for the largest AI developers while giving them a single, clear national standard to build on. This is how we protect the public from catastrophic risks without slowing the innovation that keeps America competitive.”

"Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, and Congress must ensure our regulatory framework keeps pace without undermining American innovation,” said Congressman Obernolte. “The FRONTIER Act focuses oversight on the largest developers and most advanced models, requiring transparency, independent evaluation, and timely reporting of serious safety incidents. This legislation will protect Americans from catastrophic risk, provide developers with clear rules of the road, and ensure the United States remains the global leader in AI.”

“The window to get AI policy right is closing, and Congress can't afford to miss it,” said Congressman Peters. “I supported Representatives Trahan and Obernolte's initial draft so we could develop a better bill that reflects how this technology works and where it's headed. Thanks to input from researchers, experts, and civil society advocates, that process worked. The FRONTIER Act is a targeted bill with clear, uniform transparency, and safety standards, instead of a fifty-state patchwork. I'm glad to support this bipartisan effort so that Congress acts before this technology outruns us.”

"The FRONTIER Act recognizes that not every AI developer should be regulated the same way. It takes a targeted approach by focusing only on the handful of companies developing the most powerful frontier AI models, not the startups and innovators driving America's AI ecosystem,” said Congressman Franklin. “By tying coverage to substantial AI research and development investments and requiring transparency and independent assessments from those developers, the bill avoids one-size-fits-all mandates and allows smaller innovators to spend their time building new technologies instead of navigating unnecessary federal red tape."

“This is a four-alarm fire. We need to take action now. These frontier models could have the power to create serious chaos and harm without adequate regulations. This bill, while not perfect, is an important, bipartisan step in the right direction. We need a bill like this that can actually pass this Congress and get signed into law. But this is only the first step, and more action needs to be taken to protect people from the harm these models can cause,” said Congressman Subramanyan.

"America must lead the world in artificial intelligence, and we can do that while being clear-eyed about the risks,” said Congresswoman Houchin. “Just this week, one of the most advanced AI systems in the country broke out of its own developer's testing environment, reaching systems it was never supposed to touch. This is exactly the kind of incident that shouldn't stay behind closed doors. The FRONTIER Act delivers transparency and accountability from the largest AI developers. Innovation and guardrails are not opposites—both are necessary to stay ahead of our adversaries."

A copy of the legislation introduced today can be accessed HERE.

A section-by-section summary can be accessed HERE.

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Trahan, DeLauro, Larsen, Walkinshaw, Gillen Introduce Right to IVF Act

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Representatives Lori Trahan (MA-03), Rosa DeLauro (CT-01), Rick Larsen (WA-02), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), and Laura Gillen (NY-04) led the introduction of the Right to IVF Act of 2026. Introduced ahead of World IVF Day on July 25th, the sweeping legislative package that would make it easier to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) for the millions of hopeful parents who depend on it to build their family. This pro-family legislation would establish a nationwide right to access IVF, lower the costs of IVF treatment, expand IVF coverage for military families and require all employer-sponsored insurance programs to cover IVF.

“Like so many people in our country facing fertility challenges, my husband and I turned to IVF as our last hope to have kids. After years of appointments, injections, and setbacks, and thanks to our remarkable physicians, we have two beautiful daughters,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “No one should lose the chance to start or grow a family because of their zip code. The Right to IVF Act guarantees the right to family-creating fertility care in every state and puts it within reach for the millions of families who need it.”

“There are few experiences as hard as wanting to start a family and not being able to,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “That is why I am fighting to ensure Americans have access to IVF treatments when they want to start one. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Right to IVF Act – because building a family in the United States should never be difficult.”

“For many Americans, fertility treatments like IVF are essential to start families of their own,” said Congressman Larsen. “This comprehensive legislation will guarantee access and expand coverage for IVF and other fertility services. The legislation also includes my bill with Senator Murray, the Veteran Families Health Services Act, to ensure fertility treatments are included in servicemembers’ and veterans’ health benefits. I will keep working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate to make sure that women and men in uniform and working families do not have to sacrifice their dreams of having a family.”

“Deciding when and how to build a family is a deeply personal choice that belongs to families, not politicians,” said Congressman Walkinshaw, Co-Chair of the Federal Workforce Caucus. “For millions struggling with infertility, IVF offers hope and a path to parenthood. I’m especially proud the Right to IVF Act includes my legislation requiring IVF coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, ensuring the federal government leads by example. I’m honored to join Senator Duckworth, Congresswoman Trahan, and this coalition to protect IVF nationwide and expand access for servicemembers, veterans, federal employees, and working families.”

“I am proud to help lead this critical bill ensuring millions of Americans can access IVF to build their families, no matter where they live,” said Congresswoman Gillen. “Families struggling to conceive go through indescribable heartbreak and stress. The last thing they should worry about is legal challenges to IVF delaying or outright halting procedures. Infertility is not a partisan issue. I will continue to work across the aisle in Congress to protect access to IVF and adjacent reproductive technologies that have helped countless individuals experience the joy of parenthood.”

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, fertility care has been threatened in states where sloppily written laws, including Republican abortion bans, have swept up standard medical practice. In some states, lawmakers and judges have moved to redefine legal personhood to include frozen, extrauterine embryos, turning standard IVF practice into potentially criminal activity. In 2024, IVF services were halted in Alabama after a state court ruled that embryos lost before implantation could trigger the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, effectively exposing IVF providers to wrongful death liability. Care only resumed after lawmakers rushed through an emergency fix to a mess of their own making.

The Right to IVF Act of 2026 is comprehensive, bicameral legislation that would establish an enforceable nationwide right to access and provide IVF and other fertility treatments and ensure every family can receive affordable insurance coverage of fertility care. Specifically, the bill:

Creates a statutory right for an individual to access, a provider to provide, and an insurer to cover assisted reproductive technology (ART), including IVF and intrauterine insemination (IUI), without prohibition, limitation, or interference.
Ensures coverage for ART, including IVF and IUI, for servicemembers, veterans, government employees, and people with employer-sponsored insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and ACA plans.

“Every person deserves to build their family on their terms. For millions, including several Members of our caucus, that journey includes use of fertility care,” said Representative Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Reproductive Freedom Caucus. “Across the country, extreme Republican legislators are doubling down on dangerous abortion bans, and the consequences only continue to grow. But these bans were never going to stop at abortion. The truth was put on display for all to see in Alabama: that they will not stop until they eliminate access to all reproductive health care, including birth control and IVF. The Reproductive Freedom Caucus is proud to support this critical bill and to stand with Representative Trahan in the fight to safeguard your right and access to the fertility care you need.”

A Senate companion bill was introduced by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

“Almost two years after promising free IVF for all Americans if he were elected, Donald Trump has still failed to deliver,” said Senator Duckworth. “Trump and Republicans’ ‘support’ for IVF is nothing but lip service. They want us to have more babies, yet they’ll do nothing to actually help make it easier for the millions who struggle with infertility to start and grow their families. The Right to IVF Act would immediately make IVF treatment more affordable for millions of hopeful parents across the country. From middle class families, to our brave servicemembers and Veterans, to federal employees and more—every American deserves the right to access the treatment and tools they need to build the family of their dreams without burning through their savings. If Republicans really support IVF, then let’s get this done. No more delays.”

“Republicans are not pro-family and they won’t lift a finger to help families get IVF—the Texas Republican Party just recently made banning IVF a part of their official party platform,” said Senator Murray. “I have fought for a long time to make sure at least servicemembers and veterans , especially wounded warriors, can get the IVF care they need to build a family. But the reality is that we have a Republican Speaker of the House who believes an embryo should have the same rights as an adult woman with children who count on her. America’s pro-IVF majority should wake up to the fact that Trump could not care less about IVF—he broke that promise and he is happy to let Republicans attack IVF and all of our reproductive rights. Meanwhile, Democrats are standing with families and fighting to make sure can access and afford health care to build their families.”

“No one chooses infertility,” said Senator Booker. “It’s a medical condition that leaves too many families and individuals feeling alone long before they ever seek treatment. When people turn to IVF, they’re choosing hope. They’re choosing the chance to build the family they’ve always dreamed of. But that hope comes with a price tag that is simply out of reach for far too many. The medications, procedures, and cycles can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Families and individuals already carrying the emotional weight of infertility are then hit with financial barriers that no one should have to face trying to bring a child into this world. We have to change that. We have to remove those barriers and make IVF affordable and accessible to everyone who needs it. Because the ability to build a family should not be reserved for the wealthy or the lucky, it should be within reach for us all.”

“For millions of American families, IVF isn’t politics—it’s hope,” said Leader Schumer. “Donald Trump ran on a promise that he would make IVF free, and yet he has done nothing but attack women’s reproductive rights and undermine access to fertility care—another lie in his long list of broken promises to American families. Our Right to IVF Act is essential to putting a deeply personal health care decision back in the hands of American families. While Donald Trump and Republicans erect barriers between hopeful parents and IVF, Democrats will never stop fighting to protect access so that every family can build the future they dream of.”

The legislation introduced today was cosponsored by 119 House members and 46 Senators. A copy of the bill can be accessed HERE.

The Right to IVF Act is supported by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association, Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD).

“The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) welcomes the bicameral reintroduction of the Right to IVF Act, which would achieve accessible and affordable fertility care for all Americans,” said ASRM Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer Sean Tipton. “This visionary and comprehensive effort would protect patients' ability to build their families through safe, evidence-based treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF). By safeguarding access to assisted reproductive technology (ART), preserving the physician-patient relationship, and expanding coverage for the individuals and families who need it most, this legislation reflects the standard of care that all patients deserve.”

“No one should have to wonder whether they'll be able to access the care they need to build their family,” said Danielle Melfi, CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association. “By safeguarding the right to IVF and expanding insurance coverage for veterans, federal employees, and the individuals and families who need it most, this legislation reflects a comprehensive commitment to helping more people build the families they dream of. RESOLVE applauds Senator Duckworth and the bill's sponsors for continuing to put patients and families first.”

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Trahan’s Bipartisan App Store Freedom Act Featured in Legislative Hearing

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) touted her App Store Freedom Act (H.R. 3209) during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on “Legislative Proposals to Strengthen Consumer Protection in a Changing Marketplace.” The bipartisan bill, introduced alongside Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03) last year, would open up the mobile app marketplace to real competition.

“Smartphones are the front door to modern life, but Apple and Google control that door. Together, their operating systems power more than 99 percent of U.S. smartphones. Apple controls all native iOS app distribution in this country, while Google controls roughly 90 percent of Android app distribution,” Congresswoman Trahan said. “That’s not a competitive market, it’s a duopoly. Apple and Google can force developers into their payment systems, charge commissions of up to 30 percent, block customers from hearing about lower prices, and give their own apps an edge. That means consumers pay more for less choice and less innovation.”

During the Committee hearing, Trahan spoke about the importance of the legislation. Footage of her remarks can be accessed HERE or by clicking the image below. A transcript is embedded below.

During her remarks, Trahan pointed out that just two companies – Apple and Google – control almost all of the app distribution on iOS and Android devices. Together, they have taken steps to eliminate competition, allowing them to set their own rules, charge extreme fees to app developers, and copy, punish, or outright block apps that they view as conflicting with their own business priorities.

The App Store Freedom Act would ensure that consumers have the ability to install third-party app stores, sideload apps, and delete pre-installed ones they don't want. It would also give developers free, equal access to the tools they need to compete and stop dominant app stores from forcing developers into proprietary payment systems or punishing them for offering better deals elsewhere.

“H.R. 3209 does not set prices or pick winners,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “It makes powerful gatekeepers compete, so consumers – not corporations – decide which apps and services work best for them.”

The bipartisan bill is backed by a broad coalition of small and medium sized developers and pro-consumer and pro-competition advocacy groups.

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Congresswoman Lori Trahan

Remarks as Delivered

House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on “Legislative Proposals to Strengthen Consumer Protection in a Changing Marketplace”

July 22, 2026

Well. Thank you, Ranking Member Schakowsky, I also want to thank the Chairman. Today I’m so glad to see H.R. 3209, the bipartisan App Store Freedom Act, on today’s agenda, and I’m grateful to my co-lead Congresswoman Kat Cammack for her tireless work on this bipartisan legislation.

Smartphones are the front door to modern life, but Apple and Google control that door. Together, their operating systems power more than 99 percent of U.S. smartphones. Apple controls all native iOS app distribution in this country, while Google controls roughly 90 percent of Android app distribution. That’s not a competitive market, it’s a duopoly.

Apple and Google can force developers into their payment systems, charge commissions of up to 30 percent, block customers from hearing about lower prices, and give their own apps an edge. That means consumers pay more for less choice and less innovation. A new economic analysis published this week quantifies the harm. Americans spend $52.3 billion annually through Apple and Google’s app stores. If competition pushed down app store fees, consumers could save about $8.9 billion each year.

The App Store Freedom Act targets only the largest gatekeepers and offers a pro-market fix.

It lets consumers choose alternative stores and default apps, install apps outside the dominant stores, and remove unwanted preloaded apps. It stops forced payment systems and gag rules, and it gives developers fair access to operating-system features so they can compete on merit.

Opponents say exclusivity is the price of security. It’s not. They argue that opening app distribution and alternative app stores will invite malware, scams, and threats to children. And sure, alternative distribution can create risks if poorly managed, but the status quo is already unacceptable. Documented scams and unsafe apps like nudify apps routinely slip through Apple’s and Google’s security reviews. The answer is strong safeguards, not permanent monopoly control.

To be absolutely clear, nothing in this bill forces someone to use an alternative app store. Apple and Google can keep operating and vetting their own stores. It does not require them to provide support for third-party apps, and it preserves intellectual-property and national-security safeguards.

We know openness and security can coexist. Google’s Play Protect scans Android apps from outside its store and Apple secures software outside the Mac App Store. Competition could also produce safer choices, including stores designed specifically for families and children.

Security is an engineering challenge, not a monopoly entitlement.

H.R. 3209 does not set prices or pick winners. It makes powerful gatekeepers compete, so consumers – not corporations – decide which apps and services work best for them.

Chairman Guthrie, Chairman Bilirakis today is an important first step. I urge the committee to continue to work with Congresswoman Cammack and myself to break the duopoly and allow competition in the mobile app space. American consumers have waited long enough.

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Trahan Opposes GOP Bill to Protect Trump’s Stock Trading, Suppress Voting Rights

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of House Democratic Leadership, voted against a partisan measure combining H.R. 7008, the so-called Stop Insider Trading Act, with H.R. 9368, the Voter ID Act, a provision carved out of the broader SAVE America Act.

Despite Republican claims, H.R. 7008 is not a stock trading ban. It would let Members keep owning and selling stocks, and in some cases buying them, while leaving untouched the ability to trade equity in privately held companies on the strength of nonpublic information. Additionally, by only limiting the bill’s jurisdiction to members of Congress, it exempts the executive and judicial branches entirely, including the President, Vice President, and federal judges.

H.R. 9368 would require voters to produce one of a narrow set of documents to cast a ballot, in person or by mail. The list is more restrictive than any voter ID law currently on the books in any of the 50 states. It leaves out hunting and firearm licenses, fishing licenses, and student IDs. And because mail voters would have to send in copies of their ID, the bill would effectively end Americans’ ability to vote-by-mail as it exists today.

"House Republicans wrote a corruption bill that carefully avoids the most obvious corruption in Washington," said Congresswoman Trahan. "It exempts the President. Days before Trump talked up dozens of companies online, he was buying their stock. Now his media company is preparing to sell Wall Street a faster line to those posts. Republicans looked at that and wrote him an exemption.”

“Then they used the cover of a fake stock trading ban to jam through the most extreme voter suppression bill this Congress has seen – harsher than any voter ID law in any of the 50 states and the end of vote by mail as Americans know it,” continued Congresswoman Trahan. “This is the worst kind of politics. Shield the corruption, lie about the reform, and grab power at the expense of the most basic right Americans have.”

Trahan is a cosponsor of the HONEST Act, bipartisan legislation that would ban stock trading by Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President. More than 70 percent of Americans support a ban across party lines. Last year, she called for Congress to take up legislation to ban members of Congress, the President, and Vice President from being able to profit off their public service.

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Trahan Backs Bipartisan Bills to Protect Ratepayers from Data Center Price Hikes

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) supported the passage of two bipartisan pieces of legislation to protect ratepayers from increased utility costs caused by data centers during a House Energy and Commerce Committee markup. Both bills, the Ratepayer Protection Act and the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act, are now eligible for consideration on the House floor.

“It’s our job to make sure that when data centers are built, they're built on terms that work for the families who live nearby,” Congresswoman Trahan said. “That's what this legislation gets right. It says something simple. If you build the data center, you pay for the data center. The construction costs, the utility costs – those fall on the company, not the family down the street. This bill gives states a strong standard to make sure large load developers foot that bill themselves.”

During the Committee markup, Trahan spoke in favor of both pieces of legislation. Footage of her remarks can be accessed HERE or by clicking the image below. A transcript is embedded below.

Data centers are the fastest-growing source of new electricity demand in the country, and the grid upgrades needed to serve them are not free. Someone has to pay for the new power plants, transmission lines, and substations, and too often that cost gets spread across everyone's monthly bill, leaving families and small businesses to subsidize the energy needs of some of the largest corporations in the world.

To combat this problem, the Ratepayer Protection Act gives state utility regulators clear standards to ensure large-load customers, meaning any new data or information storage facility drawing 100 megawatts or more, cover the full cost of the infrastructure they require. It requires those customers to recover the full incremental cost of grid upgrades over time and to provide financial assurances, so ratepayers stay protected even if a data center scales back or leaves entirely.

Similarly, the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to convene major stakeholders to examine how to shield residents from these rising costs, and it requires FERC to deliver a report with concrete recommendations and best practices so the energy costs tied to AI data centers are not passed on to ordinary consumers.

During her remarks, Trahan pointed out that both bills are important first steps in protecting families from bearing the burden of increased utility costs caused by data centers. She argued that Congress must go further, including by passing a provision in her bipartisan Great American AI Act discussion draft released last month to improve data center efficiency and reduce their environmental footprint.

“Both of these bills are good first steps, Mr. Chairman, but we should also be honest about what they don't do. They don't fully address the water these facilities draw from our communities. They don't answer the concern back home that when the grid is stretched, families worry they'll be deprioritized,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “People in the district I represent are raising these questions, and they deserve answers. That's exactly why, when Congressman Obernolte and I drafted the Great American AI Act, we included provisions to make data centers more efficient and lessen their environmental footprint. Because the smarter we build these facilities, the less strain they put on the grid, on our water, and on the families who live nearby.”

Both bills passed unanimously and now move to the House floor for consideration by the full House of Representatives.

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Congresswoman Lori Trahan

Remarks as Delivered

House Energy and Committee Markup

July 21, 2026

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I too support the Ratepayer Protection Act and look forward to advancing this bipartisan legislation to the House floor today.

Right now, families across our country are afraid to open up their electric bills. The number keeps climbing, and their paycheck isn't keeping pace. They're doing the math at the kitchen table, wondering what they might have to cut next just to keep the lights on.

That fear is real, and too many families have stopped believing that anyone in Washington is listening. They watch prices rise at the pump and at the grocery store. They sit through weeks of brutal heat and run the air conditioning that they can barely afford. And now they read that a data center is coming to their community, and they are told not to worry about what that means for their bills.

Well, to be clear, data centers aren't going away. So it’s our job to make sure that when data centers are built, they're built on terms that work for the families who live nearby.

That's what this legislation gets right. It says something simple. If you build the data center, you pay for the data center. The construction costs, the utility costs – those fall on the company, not the family down the street. This bill gives states a strong standard to make sure large load developers foot that bill themselves. That's a real move toward keeping these costs off our constituents' bills.

I'm also glad H.R. 6529, the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act, is part of today's markup. It's another effort to make sure surging demand from these massive projects doesn't land on the backs of residential ratepayers.

Both of these bills are good first steps, Mr. Chairman, but we should also be honest about what they don't do. They don't fully address the water these facilities draw from our communities. They don't answer the concern back home that when the grid is stretched, families worry they'll be deprioritized.

People in the district I represent are raising these questions, and they deserve answers. That's exactly why, when Congressman Obernolte and I drafted the Great American AI Act, we included provisions to make data centers more efficient and lessen their environmental footprint. Because the smarter that we build these facilities, the less strain they put on the grid, on our water, and on the families who live nearby.

So, these bills can't be where our work ends. AI is spreading through every corner of our economy, and hardworking Americans cannot be an afterthought while that happens.

I commend the sponsors and Committee staff for their work on this legislation. It really matters. And I look forward to continuing this track record of bipartisan work on AI in the weeks and months ahead.

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Trahan Joins 110 Democrats in Demanding Dilley Trailer Prison Be Shut Down

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined a group of 111 Democratic members of Congress in a nationwide call to end family detention and shut down the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas. Led by Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the lawmakers sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin highlighting the brutality of family detention and the lasting trauma inflicted on children.

The lawmakers outlined the conditions at the facility leading to lasting trauma, writing, “Parents describe horrendous conditions at Dilley, leading to severe depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation amongst their children. Children have reported that their food is often contaminated with worms and mold and that they feel sick after drinking tap water. Families also report not being able to sleep at night because the lights are kept on in their rooms throughout the night….Medical care provided by CoreCivic staff is delayed, denied, and in many cases outright dismissed, even when children are suffering life-threatening medical emergencies.”

The lawmakers highlighted DHS’s violations of court-ordered protections of children’s rights, writing, “Despite this cruelty, your agency violates the Flores Settlement Agreement by routinely detaining children and families past the general 20-day detention limitation governed by the Flores Settlement Agreement (FSA). The FSA requires that children in immigration custody must be held in the least restrictive setting appropriate to their needs and be detained no longer than 20 days in unlicensed facilities. The Trump Administration consistently and systematically violates these requirements.”

The lawmakers called on DHS to terminate its contract with CoreCivic and shut down the facility, writing, “Many kids cannot comprehend why their lives suddenly went from spending their days at school learning and playing with their friends to being imprisoned at Dilley with no end in sight. We demand that you terminate CoreCivic’s contract to operate the Dilley facility and shut down the Dilley Immigration Processing Center immediately.”

BACKGROUND:

The Biden Administration shut down Dilley in June 2024 after several human rights violation concerns were raised, such as inhumane conditions inflicting trauma on children, women, and families.

In addition to Trahan and Castro, the letter is co-signed by Representatives Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Ami Bera (CA-06), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Lou Correa (CA-46), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Al Green (TX-09), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Pablo Hernández (PR-AL), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), John Larson (CT-01), George Latimer (NY-16), Summer Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), James McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Richard Neal (MA-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Darren Soto (FL-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

Read the full letter HERE.

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Trahan, Moulton Request Federal Support for Haverhill Sewage Emergency

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) wrote to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin requesting additional federal support in response to the ongoing Haverhill wastewater emergency.

“As communities across the Commonwealth continue recovering from the recent sewer main failure in Haverhill, it is increasingly clear that local governments, even those acting responsibly and proactively, cannot shoulder the costs of long-term infrastructure modernization without stronger, more reliable federal partnership,” the lawmakers wrote.

ollowing intense rainfall last month, a main sewer line in Haverhill broke, resulting in the significant discharge of untreated wastewater into the Merrimack River. Despite state and local efforts, harmful bacteria made its way down the river, impacting communities across the Merrimack Valley and even forcing the temporary closure of multiple North Shore beaches.

In their letter, the lawmakers cite the City of Haverhill's aging combined sewer system, which collects both sewage and stormwater runoff into the same network of pipes. During significant precipitation, these systems can become overwhelmed and lead to combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into nearby bodies of water. Haverhill, like many communities along the Merrimack River, has been working for years to complete expensive sewer system upgrades with little to no federal investment.

“For nearly a decade, Haverhill has been working closely with the EPA under a 2016 consent decree that requires substantial upgrades to its sewer system and treatment plant. The City has acted in good faith, investing heavily in planning, engineering, and permitting to overhaul a decades-old system and reduce the risk of pollution and public health crises,” the lawmakers continued.“However, despite the city's long-standing efforts to modernize its aging wastewater infrastructure, the lack of sustained federal investment has left the infrastructure still vulnerable to incidents like this.”

In their letter, the lawmakers requested that the EPA work with Congress to identify long-term federal funding streams for communities replacing aging water infrastructure, including the establishment of rapid-response dollars for emergencies like the one in Haverhill and the restoration of robust grant funding for combined sewer upgrades. They also warned that the administration's Fiscal Year 2027 budget request would cut federal water infrastructure funding by roughly 90 percent, slashing the Clean Water State Revolving Fund from approximately $2.5 billion to just $155 million.

“Underfunding these programs forces communities to defer essential repairs, leaving systems vulnerable to catastrophic public health failures like the one Haverhill just experienced,” the lawmakers concluded. “We urge you to work with our offices to identify long-term federal funding streams to ensure cities like Haverhill are not continually overburdened by the growing costs to replace aging water infrastructure.”

Trahan and Moulton have repeatedly advocated for increased federal funding for combined sewer upgrades. In addition to supporting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has delivered more than $600 million in federal investments for wastewater improvement projects across the Commonwealth, the lawmakers have also worked to increase funding for the EPA's Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant (OSG) Program. When Trahan first took office in 2019, the grant program was entirely unfunded. Following the lawmakers' efforts, the OSG program saw modest increases year over year, but that growth has stagnated in recent years. Trahan also introduced the bipartisan Stop Sewage Overflow Act to expand and improve the OSG program.

A copy of the letter sent today can be accessed HERE.

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WHAV: Trahan, Moulton Request Federal Aid for Haverhill Sewage Emergency

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Lori Trahan and Congressman Seth Moulton this morning appealed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help pay for Haverhill’s recent forced main sewer collapse.

Trahan and Moulton this morning asked EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in a letter for additional federal support in response to the ongoing Haverhill wastewater emergency.

The federal legislators noted the city’s 2016 consent decree requires substantial upgrades to its sewer system and treatment plant. They point out “the city has acted in good faith, investing heavily in planning, engineering and permitting to overhaul a decades-old system and reduce the risk of pollution and public health crises.”

However, Trahan and Moulton said, “the lack of sustained federal investment has left the infrastructure still vulnerable to incidents like this.” They explained, “Emergency repairs alone require significant resources, while permanent replacement of aging mains, expanding treatment capacity and completing sewer separation require tens of millions of dollars. Small cities like Haverhill simply do not have the financial capacity to absorb these costs. They instead are forced to rely on a patchwork of limited federal dollars, state loans and strained local budgets to advance projects that are essential for long-term public health and economic development.”

In their letter, the lawmakers requested the EPA work with Congress to find federal money for communities replacing aging water infrastructure, including the establishment of rapid-response dollars for emergencies like the one in Haverhill and the restoration of robust grants for combined sewer upgrades.

They warned that the administration’s budget request for the year starting Oct. 1 would cut federal water infrastructure money by roughly 90%, slashing the Clean Water State Revolving Fund from approximately $2.5 billion to just $155 million.

“Underfunding these programs forces communities to defer essential repairs, leaving systems vulnerable to catastrophic public health failures like the one Haverhill just experienced,” the lawmakers concluded. “We urge you to work with our offices to identify long-term federal funding streams to ensure cities like Haverhill are not continually overburdened by the growing costs to replace aging water infrastructure.”

As WHAV reported initially, most of Haverhill’s sewage began flowing into the Merrimack River after an about 50-year-old, 42-inch, concrete main collapsed following torrential rains late at night, June 26. Ahead of expectations, and at a cost of about $2.5 million, the city built the first of two, 24-inch bypass mains by Wednesday, July 1, ending the discharge of untreated sewage.

Gov. Maura Healey and top state officials called attention to high cost of infrastructure,

“Aging water infrastructure is under increasing stress from more frequent extreme weather. I’m asking for assistance with federal funding for the infrastructure that we need along the Merrimack River,” she said.

The Merrimack River Watershed Council said this morning, “bacteria levels in the Merrimack River downstream of the repair appear to be back within normal ranges.” The organization noted tests last Friday and Saturday still showed elevated readings three to four times the safety limit at the West Newbury test site that were likely attributable to the Haverhill break as that site was the slowest to flush out. Elevated results in Newburyport Harbor were called “more likely a repeat of elevated mid-summer readings documented in 2025 and not a lingering impact of the recent Haverhill sewer break.

In their letter, the lawmakers cited Haverhill’s aging combined sewer system, which collects both sewage and stormwater runoff into the same network of pipes. During significant precipitation, these systems can become overwhelmed and lead to combined sewer overflows into nearby bodies of water. Haverhill, like many communities along the Merrimack River, has been working for years to complete expensive sewer system upgrades with little to no federal investment.

Trahan and Moulton said they have also worked to increase money for the EPA’s Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program, but growth has stagnated in recent years. Trahan also introduced the bipartisan Stop Sewage Overflow Act to expand and improve the program.

Trahan, Markey, Warren Introduce Legislation to Provide Grants for Local Water Infrastructure Emergencies

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize emergency assistance and grants for clean water and drinking water infrastructure.

When severe rainstorms in June caused a sewer pipe to break in Haverhill, Massachusetts, millions of gallons of untreated wastewater flowed into the Merrimack River, endangering public safety and resulting in economic losses from beach and fisheries closures. This legislation would provide technical and financial support to water treatment facilities during emergency situations in order to prevent and mitigate threats to public health, such as exposure to contaminants.

“Haverhill showed us what happens when a century-old system fails and the federal government is nowhere to be found. Cities were left to fight sewage flowing into the Merrimack with local dollars and borrowed time,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Our bill fixes that. It puts real federal money on the table the moment an emergency like this hits, so no community has to face it alone.”

“Water system emergencies spell disaster for their communities—they’re expensive, bad for business, and dangerous to public health. Our communities deserve clean water and quick access to support in response to emergency situations that put their health and economies in danger,” said Senators Markey and Warren. “The federal government should be able to provide emergency grants for emergency situations. This legislation would authorize grants for clean water and drinking water, so we can spend more time keeping our communities safe and local businesses open and less time hiking rates and fighting pollution.”

The Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act would create a new emergency grant program under the Clean Water Act, funded at $50 million annually, to help communities respond immediately to failures in their wastewater systems, including combined sewer overflows and other critical system failures that threaten public health. The program would also make emergency funding and technical assistance available for other threats to water systems, including cybersecurity breaches that pose a substantial risk to public health. Additionally, the bill would reauthorize and expand the existing emergency grant program for drinking water systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act, increasing annual funding from $35 million to $50 million.

Last month, a main sewer line in Haverhill broke following intense rainfall, discharging untreated wastewater into the Merrimack River, forcing the temporary closure of multiple North Shore beaches, and halting local shellfish operations. The city moved quickly to install an emergency bypass, but it did so with little federal support. Had the bill introduced today been in place, Haverhill could have received federal emergency funds to support its immediate response, including the bypass installation.

The Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act builds on Trahan's ongoing efforts to secure federal support for communities along the Merrimack River. Yesterday, she led a request to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin requesting rapid response funding for water emergencies, long-term investment in replacing aging infrastructure, and restored grant funding for combined sewer upgrades. Trahan also introduced the bipartisan Stop Sewage Overflow Act to grow federal investment in combined sewer overflow projects to $500 million annually, and has secured direct community project funding for CSO work in Haverhill, Methuen, and Lowell. Emergency response funding would complement the long-term federal investment needed to complete wastewater system upgrades like the one underway in Haverhill for nearly a decade.

Full text of the can be accessed HERE.

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WINTERFEST FEB. 21 - 22, 2020

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT

Lowell's annual Winterfest weekend in downtown Lowell is a fun event featuring everything from a carousel and ice-skating to an all-you-can-eat chocolate festival.

Click here to learn more