Congresswoman Katherine Clark

Whip Clark Secures Over $4 Million To Improve Climate Resiliency, Accessibility in MA-5

Fri, 128 May 2026 12:00:00 EST

MALDEN, MA – Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined state and local leaders to celebrate more than $4 million in federal investments that she secured for accessibility and climate resilience projects across MA-5.

In Arlington, she met with Town Manager Jim Feeney, Director of Planning and Community Development Claire Ricker, and other local leaders to highlight funding that will help construct a 1.7-mile shared-use path along the Mystic River and Lower Mystic Lake to improve safety and accessibility for MA-5 residents.

Whip Clark later joined Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Malden Mayor Gary Christenson to celebrate a federal investment that will help build a climate-resilient riverfront park in the Malden Department of Public Works yard. The new park will protect against rising sea levels and serve as a community gathering space.

“A more accessible, inclusive, and climate-resilient future is well within our reach. And I’m privileged to have the opportunity to work with leaders on the local, state, and federal level to bring home transformative investments that will bring that future closer,” said Whip Clark. “Thanks to their steadfast service and collaboration, we are beating back against the chaos of this administration to make life in our Commonwealth better for working people.”

“I’m proud to have worked with Senator Warren, Congresswoman Clark, and Mayor Christenson to secure this funding for Malden to develop a public, climate-resilient park on the banks of the Malden River. Growing up, my mother warned me: ‘Eddie, whatever you do, don’t swim in the Malden River.’ Used as a dumping ground by chemical and coal companies, the polluted river was a textbook environmental injustice,” said Senator Markey. “Now, I can say proudly that kids in Malden today will have the opportunity to make use of a very different river than the one I avoided growing up. With this funding, we move from cleaning up the river into making it the community space it always should have been. We must continue our efforts here in Malden and in the push for just, accessible green space nationwide, regardless of your race, income, or zip code.”

“We are grateful that the Malden River Works project is nearing completion and that would not have been possible without the support of Senators Markey and Congresswoman Clark. The $3.8M they were able to secure has helped this climate resilient waterfront park become a reality," said Mayor Christenson.

“This ambitious project will provide the missing link and bring together the heavily utilized Minuteman Bikeway, a regional gem, and a network of highly popular multi-purpose greenways. The resulting network will have countless and wide-ranging benefits on area communities," said Arlington Town Manager Jim Feeney. "We wouldn’t be here today without the unwavering support of Congresswomen Katherine Clark and her team for securing funding to move this project from vision to a reality.”

“With this important funding, we are able to move forward this project that prioritizes safety, comfort, and ADA accessibility for all users," said Arlington Director of Planning and Community Development Claire Ricker. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with the MyRWA, MassDOT, and community stakeholders to deliver a project that reflects the Town’s commitment to sustainability, accessibility, environmental resilience, and high-quality public spaces.”

To view photos of the events, click HERE. To view the second press conference, click HERE.

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Whip Clark Statement on the Virginia Supreme Court Decision

Fri, 128 May 2026 12:00:00 EST

MALDEN, MA — Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court of Virginia struck down the state’s new, voter-approved Congressional map:

“Last month, the citizens of Virginia approved a new Congressional map to ensure our elections are free and fair. Today, the Virginia Supreme Court struck down the will of the people by unilaterally overturning an entire election.

“Voter suppression is the core of the Republican strategy to keep power by whatever means necessary — all so they can continue to line their own pockets while driving up costs for everyone else. Even as they disenfranchise Virginians, they are also attempting to racially gerrymander across the South after Trump’s judges gutted the Voting Rights Act. MAGA extremists believe they can steal the midterm elections by robbing the American people of their vote, but they are sorely mistaken.

“Our fight is not over. We are using every tool at our disposal to reverse this decision and stop the GOP’s efforts to rig the system in favor of the billionaire class. House Democrats are going to win back the House in November and deliver an agenda that working families deserve: to lower costs, protect health care, and fight corruption."

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Following Emergency Stay, Clark Leads 250+ Democrats in Supreme Court Fight to Protect Mifepristone Access, Women’s Health Care, and FDA Authority

Tue, 125 May 2026 12:00:00 EST

Yesterday, more than 250 House and Senate Democrats filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court urging them to overturn a Fifth Circuit decision that would upend the FDA approval process and restrict access to life-saving mifepristone.

Yesterday, more than 250 Senate and House Democrats—led by House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5); House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8); Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (NY); Senators Patty Murray (WA), Dick Durbin (IL), and Ron Wyden (OR); and Representatives Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-6), Diana DeGette (CO-1), Jamie Raskin (MD-8), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-7)—filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court urging them to overturn a Fifth Circuit decision that would upend the FDA approval process and restrict access to mifepristone. This brief follows emergency appeals from the manufacturers of mifepristone; the Supreme Court issuing a temporary stay of the decision Monday morning until next Monday, May 11; and the announcement that the Court has ordered briefing on the stay by this Thursday, May 7.

The lawmakers argued that mifepristone already undergoes a rigorous FDA approval process, and the medication has repeatedly been found to be safe and effective. For a court to overturn this decision not only limits who is able to receive this vital and life-saving medication, putting lives at risk, but it also undermines the longstanding, congressionally mandated, and evidence-based decision-making process at the FDA.

“For more than a quarter century, FDA has repeatedly and consistently affirmed that mifepristone is safe. Over seven million patients in the U.S. have safely used mifepristone. And as with other drugs, FDA continues to monitor the post-marketing safety data on mifepristone—data confirming that mifepristone is safe without regard to how it is dispensed,” the members wrote.

The lawmakers also argued that the Fifth Circuit ruling was clearly not based on the merits of the distribution method of mifepristone, or the scientific backing of the medication, but rather a desire to limit the ability of individuals to receive abortion medication. The emergency stay is necessary to ensure that Louisiana is not able to deny medically appropriate care to patients far beyond the state’s borders.

“Decades after FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone and years after the in-person dispensing requirement was eliminated, the Fifth Circuit on an ‘emergency’ basis ordered FDA to re-impose this onerous nationwide restriction on all Americans. Allowing that decision to remain in place undermines the science-based statutory framework Congress commands and threatens patient access to reproductive health care,” the members continued. “As has been well publicized, many U.S. residents in states where abortion is legal live far from any reproductive health care provider. Reinstating an in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone exacerbates an already significant reproductive health crisis by limiting access to the most common method of early abortion.”

The members argued that this is a clear case of judicial overreach by a lower district court.

“Preserving evidence-based access to mifepristone, including when dispensed by mail or retail pharmacy, is necessary to mitigate the imminent harm facing members of the public. Women deserve access to mifepristone for reproductive health care, and all Americans deserve integrity in the congressionally mandated, evidence-based process for FDA’s drug regulatory decisions,” the members concluded.

In the Senate, the amicus brief was signed by all 47 Democratic U.S. Senators.

In the House, the brief was signed by 212 Democratic U.S. Representatives.

The lawmakers’ amicus brief to the Supreme Court can be read in full HERE.

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Whip Clark on MS NOW: Americans Deserve Better Than What They're Getting

Thu, 120 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined MS NOW’s The Weeknight, where she slammed Donald Trump and Republicans for breaking their promises of lower costs, safer communities, and no new wars. Below are excerpts from the conversation:

On Republicans’ Affordability Crisis:

“It’s not only that he has gone completely back on his promise to lower costs, to not start a new war. But it is this attitude of: ‘My family is making billions. We’re busy building ballrooms. But you? You, who can’t afford groceries. Who’s seen the price per gallon go up over $1.30. Who is struggling already to meet and pay their electric bills and find housing you can afford. You just somehow have to grin and bear it.’

“And all of this started by taking away people’s fundamental health care in order to give tax breaks to the billionaire class. Layer on tariffs, and we have a mess and true despair for American families.

“We know that 84% of families are giving up something, just like the person in the video clip said: ‘You can’t have it all. I can’t fill up my tank and put food on the table for my family.’ These are the choices that Americans are making.

“And Donald Trump and his supporters in Congress are completely deaf to the cries for help that we are hearing.”

On the GOP's Complicity and Refusal to Stand Up for Americans:

“Our message is very clear to Americans at home, to American voters: you deserve better than you’re getting. You deserve to have a lower cost of living so that you can afford housing, groceries, and to pay your electric bills. You deserve health care where and when you need it. And you deserve a government that is working for you. Not one that is working for self-enrichment, like we are seeing from the president of the United States.

“And it is this absolute disconnect between Republicans who know that Donald Trump and these failed policies aren't working for the people who sent them to Congress…But they would rather have his approval than work for the people.

“I don't want to know what your personal feelings are about how these policies are impacting hardworking Americans, and that you may have a private conversation that you don't think this war was a good idea. That gas prices have to come down. That we have to do something about the housing crisis and child care crisis in this country, when every time you come to the floor of the House, you vote against it. And you won't come and work with us to make our work centered around the American people.”

On Families Struggling to Make Ends Meet:

“What I'm hearing from small businesses in my district [is] that this is a harder time right now than the pandemic.

“I hoped I would never hear that from small restaurants and bakeries and car detailers. But they literally are showing me their books. That customers are down because you don't go by the bakery when you're unable to fill up your tank and pay for your medication. You don't go have your car detailed and go out to dinner when you're unable to feed your family nutritious meals that you can afford.

“And all of this has this ripple effect. You add on the tariffs that raise prices everywhere, and then you go back to another lie that you mentioned at the top: that all of this would be solved by deporting the ‘worst of the worst.’ What we have seen [is] a mass deportation that is primarily going after law-abiding immigrants.

…

“This absolute disregard for what American families are going through is not only going to be their political undoing, but what about families? And how do they make sure that they are having voices in Washington that are fighting for them?”

On Democrats’ Fight for Fair and Secure Elections:

“We are absolutely going to use every single tool we have. And that means we are going to litigate, we're going to legislate, and we're going to organize.

“If they think — as they did when they started this by doing redistricting in Texas — that Democrats are just going to fold up our tent and say, ‘this is a terrible decision for the future of this country, and we'll just have to wait and see what Republicans do,’ they are deeply mistaken.

“We know what we want in this country. We want people to continue to have fair and secure elections and to be able to elect their politicians of choice. Not to have their politicians choose them.

“What you saw when this decision came out were top Republican officials say: ‘This is the way we lock in a permanent majority in the House.’ That is so outrageous.

“This country? Sometimes we win elections, sometimes we lose them. That is the way our system is designed. We go out, we compete for ideas. But they know that Donald Trump has taken them down a road where the midterms are not going to go well for them. So they are trying every tool in the toolbox to cheat and to rig these elections. And we have been successful in meeting them on all their mid-Census gerrymandering tricks. And we are going to fight this with everything we have.

“The American people deserve to be able to choose who they send to Congress, and we are not going to stand by and let them take that fundamental right away from people at home.”

To watch the full interview, click HERE.

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Whip Clark Statement on the Supreme Court's Undermining of the Voting Rights Act

Wed, 119 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court released its ruling in Louisiana v. Callais:

“The protections secured by the Voting Rights Act were earned through the blood, sweat, and sacrifice of trailblazers in the Civil Rights Movement, including my friend and mentor John Lewis.

“Today, Donald Trump’s right-wing Supreme Court has delivered a blow to that hard-won progress by disenfranchising Black Americans and empowering states to conduct racial gerrymandering with near impunity. This decision coincides with Republicans’ unprecedented attacks on our democracy and attempts to ‘nationalize’ our elections, silence the voices of millions of voters, and rig our electoral system in their favor.

“While this decision is a setback, it does not mark the end of our fight for free and fair elections. As we approach the midterms, House Democrats will deploy every tool at our disposal to ensure the American people’s votes are secure in November. Our mission remains the same: empowering every eligible voter to cast their ballot and elect the leaders of their choice.”

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Whip Clark Urges Passage of Bipartisan War Powers Resolution

Thu, 106 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) spoke on the House Floor and called for House Republicans to reject blind loyalty to Donald Trump and vote to rein in his reckless war of choice in Iran. Below is a transcript of her remarks:

"Six weeks ago, Democrats brought a War Powers Resolution to this House Floor. We called on Republicans to join us and bring this conflict to an end. They refused.

"Mike Johnson declared with pride that Donald Trump's mission 'is nearly accomplished.'

"Well, six weeks later, what are Americans seeing? Gas prices out of control. Grocery prices going up. A fertilizer shortage that is threatening to drive prices even higher. Americans are seeing hundreds of casualties in a war that no one has given them the respect to explain.

"But one thing is clear: Americans are being asked to foot the bill. With the lives of their sons and daughters. And with the $2 billion a day that we are spending on this conflict that could be going to help Americans afford to go see a doctor. Or help feed our seniors and hungry veterans. To help drive down and help Americans who are working hard and not making it afford the rising cost of gas and housing and groceries being driven ever higher by this conflict.

"Before this war, we were in a position of strength. Iran was weakened. The Strait of Hormuz was in no danger of being closed. But now, Donald Trump and his enablers have marched us into a position of far more weakness. Our goal now, of this conflict, is to return to the status quo before this conflict? But who is paying the price? Who is paying the price for this? It's the American people.

"And don't take my word for it. President Donald Trump told us: because of this war, 'it is not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare' Imagine that.

"That's an 'American working family last' doctrine.

"Today, Republicans have a choice. Are you going to continue to enable him and his madness? Or are you going to prioritize Americans, the working families of this country — and vote yes for this resolution?"

To watch the full speech, click HERE.

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Whip Clark on Haiti TPS Bill: Give Our Neighbors “The Protections They Deserve”

Wed, 105 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-4), Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-9), Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), and advocates from across the country in support of the bipartisan legislation to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants. Below is a transcript of her remarks:

"We are one step closer to protecting Haitian communities with Temporary Protected Status.

"Right now, Haiti is in the grips of a humanitarian crisis. One that grows more violently unstable by the day.

"Instead of answering the call of compassion for those in search of safe harbor, Donald Trump is risking the lives of over 350,000 Haitian TPS holders — 45,000 of whom live in Massachusetts — sending them back into the chaos that they legally fled and turning his back on a community in need.

"And for what? The advancement of a twisted, anti-immigrant agenda.

"Since the start of this administration, we’ve witnessed one attack after another on law-abiding immigrants. We’ve watched families be torn apart. And we have felt that ripple of fear throughout our communities.

"We are not talking about some abstract policy here. We’re talking about our neighbors. In Massachusetts and across the country, Haitian TPS holders are parents. They are most definitely caregivers. They're small business owners, health care providers, construction workers. They are the essential threads in the fabric of our communities. And they deserve far better than the cruelty they have been handed.

"The legislation that my colleagues have championed provides us an opportunity to not only save lives but to grow opportunity and grow our economy. I urge every Member of the House to join us today and stand and vote in support of this bill, and hand our neighbors the protections they deserve."

To view photos of the event, click HERE. To watch the full press conference, click HERE.

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Whip Clark Statement on the Resignations of Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales

Mon, 103 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) issued the following statement:

"All survivors of sexual assault deserve justice. The resignations of Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales are an initial step in that direction. Their actions are unacceptable of anyone, anywhere — certainly not members of Congress.

"The American people deserve better than this. They should be able to trust their members of Congress to represent them with dignity and respect for the office that they hold. I am very grateful for the courage of those who have spoken out against predators who abuse their power. We will continue to stand with them in our fight for accountability."

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House Democratic Leadership Statement on Accusations Against Rep. Eric Swalwell

Fri, 100 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST

Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued the following statement:

“Following the incredibly disturbing sexual assault accusations against Congressman Eric Swalwell, we call for a swift investigation into these incidents and for the Congressman to immediately end his campaign to be California’s next Governor.

This is unacceptable of anyone — certainly not an elected official — and must be taken seriously.

We commend the courageous women for sharing their experiences. In this and all circumstances, we must ensure that those who come forward with allegations of sexual assault and harassment are heard and respected.

All perpetrators of sexual assault and harassment must be held accountable.”

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House Democratic Leadership Statement on Donald Trump's Threat to Kill a Whole Civilization

Tue, 97 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST

Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene released the following statement:

Donald Trump is completely unhinged. His statement threatening to eradicate an entire civilization shocks the conscience and requires a decisive congressional response. The House must come back into session immediately and vote to end this reckless war of choice in the Middle East before Donald Trump plunges our country into World War III.

For years, Republicans have enabled and excused Donald Trump’s deeply dangerous and extreme behavior. Enough is enough. Our brave men and women in uniform have been put into harm’s way in the Middle East. Over a dozen have already been killed and hundreds injured. Gas prices are skyrocketing, the cost of living in America is out of control and billions of taxpayer dollars are being wasted on a reckless war of choice.

It’s time for House Republicans to put patriotic duty over party loyalty and join Democrats in stopping this madness.

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Whip Clark Celebrates $3 Million for Framingham Community Center

Wed, 91 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky and City Council Chair George King to highlight more than $3 million in federal funding secured in the FY26 Budget to redevelop the former Marian High School into a critically needed community center.

“Thanks to the vision, hard work, and collaboration of the leaders here in Framingham, we have brought home $3 million to serve our neighbors and deliver a top-of-the-line gathering space for this community,” said Whip Clark. “While we continue to see chaos and nonsense in Washington, here in Massachusetts, we are showing what’s possible when we put people and communities first.”

“I want to thank Congresswoman Katherine Clark for her leadership, advocacy, and ongoing commitment to Framingham. This $3.15 million federal investment is a major milestone, bringing us closer to transforming the former Marian High School into a modern community center designed to serve all residents, children, seniors, families, and individuals of every ability, providing a welcoming space for recreation, learning, and connection. While there is still more work ahead, this funding moves us meaningfully forward toward a center that truly belongs to the entire community," said Mayor Sisitsky.

“Framingham is very fortunate to be represented by Congresswoman Katherine Clark. She’s invested in our community and understands it quite well. What impresses me most is that she is able to use her position in Washington to help us secure much-needed funding, like this community center project. I greatly appreciate her efforts," said City Council Chair King.

The Fiscal Year 2026 Budget will provide the City of Framingham with $3,150,000 for the Framingham Community Center. This funding will be used to renovate the former Marian High School to provide the Framingham community with a critically needed community center. This center will function as a safe space for community gatherings, recreational programming, and the performing arts. It will also be the home of a number of community-based non-profit organizations that deliver programming to underserved youth.

In total, Whip Clark has secured more than $12 million for 15 local community projects across Massachusetts' Fifth Congressional District.

To view photos of the event, click HERE. To view the full press conference, click HERE.

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Whip Clark on CNN: GOP is Using Workers as Political Pawns

Tue, 90 Mar 2026 12:00:00 EST

NEW YORK, NY — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined CNN's News Central, where she discussed Trump's reckless war in the Middle East and House Republicans' refusal to end their painful DHS shutdown. Below are excerpts from the conversation:

On Trump's Reckless War:

"We have heard so much from this president — except what is the clear reason we got into this war? What are the objectives? And what is the exit strategy?

...

"He went into this war, took the American people — our sons and daughters — into this war without a clear objective. The Strait of Hormuz is closed, spiking gas prices at the pump to over $4 average across the country.

"It is so irresponsible and such a dangerous position that he has put the United States in. And instead of leading, telling us what the strategy is, how we get out of this, he is blaming it on allies who were not consulted before he made this war of choice."

On the GOP’s Lack of a Clear Exit Plan or Strategy:

"What I would support is for this president for once to put the American people first.

"He took them into this war. He is now proposing to pay for this war with further cuts to their health care.

...

"Let's have him, for once, lay it out for the American people. What is the exit strategy? How do you make sure the American people are safe? What are our national security interests? How do you make sure you are leading with those. I have heard nothing from the White House about any kind of exit strategy. They owe the American people that.

...

"If he leaves that region with the Strait closed and says, 'we'll deal with that some other day,' what does that do to small businesses? What does that do to the American families who are seeing this additional spike in costs that he's already put on them with tariffs by taking away their health care, soaring housing, grocery and utility costs?

"This is a mess of his own making. He must come to a rational exit strategy."

On House Republicans Refusing to End Their DHS Shutdown:

"We should be in Washington today.

...

"We got to a bipartisan agreement. There is one segment of Congress that wouldn’t come and take a step forward in agreeing to put TSA workers, put [the] Coast Guard, FEMA, our cyber security, those working at our ports and in customs first. And that's House Republicans.

...

"I do feel the pain that people are feeling. And I hear it every single place that I go in my district. And this is a hardship. And what we want to do is come together and actually govern. And there is one segment of Congress that rejected that this week. And then sent us home. And then sent us home.

"The TSA workers have this public-facing problem. So Americans see them. But there are so many other workers at DHS that need to be paid. We have made the proposal to open up every [other] part of DHS. We already know that ICE and Border Patrol are being paid. What we said is not an additional dime for them until they act like every other police department and have common sense reforms. But we were willing to say those negotiations will be ongoing as DHS reopens. That has been rejected by the Republicans. And they’re using these workers as political pawns."

To watch the full interview, click HERE.

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Whip Clark: Trump “Has Absolutely Betrayed” The American People

Mon, 89 Mar 2026 12:00:00 EST

NEW YORK, NY — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined MS NOW's The Last Word, where she slammed Donald Trump’s continued choice to betray "the three pillars of what he ran on.” Below are excerpts from the conversation:

On Millions Showing Up to “No Kings” Rallies:

"It's remarkable to see the energy. That people still see the hope that they can have a country that reflects them and a government that prioritizes them and works for them.

"And as they look at Donald Trump, they are seeing a fundamental break of the three pillars of what he ran on. First, that he was going to lower costs on day one. Second, that he was going to release the Epstein files. And third, that there would be no new wars.

"He has absolutely betrayed that trust, and our country, and the presidency by violating and breaking all of those promises and putting the hard working people of this country — who are really just trying to get a little breathing room in this economy — in harm's way.

"What I hear from my district and throughout the country is that, for small businesses, this time is harder than the pandemic. I did not think I'd hear restaurant owners ever saying a time was as hard as that. But between the tariffs, a lack of a workforce, fear of an immigration crackdown for people who are in this country legally, and now a dollar more they're paying a gallon for gas, it is really a betrayal of the American people by this president."

On the High Cost of Trump’s Reckless War:

"It was small businesses that were hit first because they don't have the ability to have huge storage to buy in advance. And so some of what we're going to see around prices is still coming from the bigger outlets and retailers ... at the height of these tariffs many of them expressed: 'I know I'm going to close. It's just, will it be April or May or June when I have to close my doors?' And these are the backbone of our Main Streets. It is how we keep our economy moving.

"And then you add on the costs of shipping and trucking and just the cost of getting to work — which we've heard from so many TSA agents simply not being able to afford to fill up their tank and drive to work because of the skyrocketing cost of gas. And you add that to what people are contending with, with housing and groceries and utility bills, and it's a recipe for disaster.

"All the answers are in front of Donald Trump. And he keeps choosing to take people's health care for tax cuts for the billionaire class. To go to a war of choice without explanation, strategy, or exit plan — driving, further, costs up.

"And we are contending now with the cost of gas. But we are soon going to be contending with an even higher cost of groceries as we have a fertilizer crisis also brewing in the Strait of Hormuz.

"So all of this is, it's just adding so much pressure on American families — 60% of whom we know are already having a hard time meeting the basic needs of their kids."

On the American People Making Their Voices Heard:

"Some of the angriest people that I've met are our veterans. Our veterans who know what it means to go to war. Know what it means to say goodbye to your family. Know the pressure that puts on the family left behind, and have lost friends, and really understand the sacrifice that this president just treats so glibly.

"Turning this conflict into some sort of video game? These are real people. We are asking our sons and daughters to make the ultimate sacrifice. And for what? For what? The American people are owed an explanation of what we are doing there. And they're owed a government that works for them. And a president who promised to lower costs has made everything harder and more expensive. And that's where this deep sense of betrayal is coming from.

"But the hope for me is that we are seeing not only this massive protest on Saturday and all the No King rallies leading up to it, but what we are seeing at the ballot box. That we are seeing record numbers of people coming out and voting for people who will put their interests first.

...

"This is what we're seeing across the country, and it is a sign that people understand what is at stake, and they are making sure that they are expressing their voice in every way they can and will be there in November at the ballot box as well."

To watch the full interview, click HERE.

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Whip Clark on GOP Shutdown: "This is a Battle Between Common Sense and Crazy"

Fri, 86 Mar 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) spoke on the House Floor, slamming Mike Johnson and House Republicans for choosing to continue their TSA shutdown. Below is a transcript of her remarks:

"Yesterday, Speaker Mike Johnson said that November will be a choice between common sense and crazy. And today, he’s proven himself right! This is a battle between common sense and crazy.

"On the one side, we have a bipartisan bill to reopen TSA. Reopen the Coast Guard while we are at war. Reopen FEMA ahead of hurricane season. Reopen our cybersecurity agency before the FBI gets hacked again. Reopen all the agencies that actually keep people safe. That’s common sense. That’s what Democrats are advocating for.

"Crazy is wanting to keep all that shut down. All of it. So that masked ICE agents can keep kicking down doors without warrants. So they can keep committing acts of terror in our communities.

"House Republicans had the easiest possible path to put people first. Vote for a bill that every Senate Republican voted for this morning. All they had to do was get out of the way, and they couldn’t bring themselves to do it.

"This is a battle between common sense and crazy. And the American people know which side the Republicans are on — and it's not the side of the people of this country."

To view the full speech, click HERE.

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Joint Leadership Statement on Republicans Refusing to End the Airport Chaos

Fri, 86 Mar 2026 12:00:00 EST

Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued the following statement:

For more than 40 days, Donald Trump and Republicans have subjected the American people to chaos at our airports. They shut down the Department of Homeland Security so that ICE could continue to brutalize the American people without consequence. Instead of working in good faith to reach an agreement to reopen the government, GOP extremists decided to cause chaos at airports and force TSA agents to work without pay, jeopardizing the safety of the American people.

After weeks of Republican obstruction, there is now bipartisan legislation that has passed the Senate that funds the TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA and our cybersecurity professionals.

The only thing standing between the American people and a much-needed end to the airport chaos is House Republicans. The House should consider the bipartisan DHS funding bill immediately.

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Whip Clark: “Republicans Refuse To Take Yes for an Answer”

Fri, 86 Mar 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33) to denounce House Republicans' refusal to fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, and the Coast Guard. Below are excerpts of her remarks:

On House Republicans’ DHS Shutdown:

"There’s no reason for TSA to be shut down. There’s no reason for FEMA and our Coast Guard to still be unfunded. There’s no reason for travelers to be waiting in absurdly long lines.

"We could have voted — today, yesterday, last week, last month — to open every part of [the] Department of Homeland Security that actually keeps Americans secure. That’s what we’ve been fighting for for weeks. That is what the Senate passed unanimously this morning. But House Republicans refuse to take yes for an answer.

"In fact, Mike Johnson said that this bill is a 'joke!' That's another classic we can add to their lines about how they feel about the American people and what they are going through right now. We can add it to: 'Affordability is a hoax.' Donald Trump on gas prices going up a dollar a gallon: 'When they rise, they rise.' 'I will declare no new wars if elected president.' And the impact of all of this on consumers is 'the last of our concerns.'

"None of this is a joke. All of this has real-world consequences for American families. And the same day that they’re refusing to fund our cybersecurity, they learn that Iran has hacked the Director of the FBI.

"Republicans won’t fund TSA or FEMA or the Coast Guard — unless we greenlight more terror in our communities. That’s what they care about. That’s more important to them than anything else: Funding ICE and the paramilitary force they've turned into.

"So if you have ever doubted, for a moment, how craven the House Republicans really are, today you have your answer."

On the GOP’s Betrayal of the American People:

"We have a discharge petition that has been active and live.

"They're not only rejecting the bipartisan bill. They know this is a continuation of the shutdown because the Senate is gone. The Senate is gone. So, they know full well what they're doing.

"They're saying: 'We want the status quo. We are so eager to keep ICE going exactly as they're operating in their reckless and unlawful and violent way. That's our priority over that of the American people.'

"And the other portions that this bipartisan bill would've funded are important to the security of our country. It's beyond TSA workers who should never have had to go without a single paycheck. What about our cybersecurity experts? What about the Coast Guard? What about those people who work in our ports and our customs? What about FEMA that this administration has been dismantling and now wants to continue to allow to be unfunded?

"I mean, it is hard to take in the level of how far House Republicans have come to be removed from the people who sent them here to govern on their behalf. It is such a betrayal of their own voters and of the American people in total."

To watch the full press conference, click HERE.

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Whip Clark on Republicans' TSA Shutdown: "Let's End This Insanity"

Thu, 85 Mar 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) spoke on the House Floor and called for an end to the Republican TSA shutdown. Below is a transcript of her remarks:

"The Republican TSA shutdown has dragged on now for over a month. Officers haven’t been paid in weeks. Hundreds have walked off the job because they simply can't afford to work for no pay. Travelers are stuck waiting in lines that have soared up to 9 hours because Republicans have decided to use airport security as a political weapon.

"If they cared about what we are seeing in airports across the country — if they really cared about the chaos they’ve caused — they would end this today.

"House Democrats have a bill to get TSA funded, to get these officers paid, and to get passengers where they need to go safely. We have tried, repeatedly, to bring it to the Floor. And every time, Republicans have stood in the way.

"If any one of them are feeling a bit of regret, they could help us force a vote. We have a discharge petition right there on the dais. Not one Republican has signed it.

"Why the obstruction? Why refuse to solve an agonizingly solvable problem? Well, Donald Trump said it himself: He will not support a single dollar for the TSA — he will not allow airports to get back to normal — unless we make it harder to vote and harder to register to vote. Unless we drown voters in red tape, we ban mail-in voting — except for the president. That’s what this has come down to.

"Our national security is being compromised. Airports are in chaos. Officers and travelers are the ones paying the price. Because Donald Trump views them [as] nothing more than collateral damage in his attempt to rig the midterm elections.

"If there is any Republican across the aisle who is ready to choose their constituents and the working people of this country over Trump — if anyone in the GOP is starting to realize this is spinning out of control — join us.

"Let's end this insanity. Let's pay TSA workers. And we can have an ICE operation that works like every other police department across the country. Let's do it today.

"Put the safety and security of the American people first."

To watch the full speech, click HERE.

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Whip Clark on CNN: "Republicans Are Hell Bent on Holding TSA Workers Hostage"

Wed, 84 Mar 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined CNN's The Situation Room, slamming Republicans for holding travelers and TSA officers hostage in their attempts to block ICE reforms and force passage of voter suppression legislation. Below are excerpts from the conversation:

On Republicans' Refusal to Rein in ICE:

“Chaos is the defining word of this administration and Republicans in Congress. There is an easy fix here: we have offered, as Democrats, let’s reopen all of DHS if you will agree to commonsense ways of operating ICE that every police department across this country implements and uses.

“If they are unwilling to do that, we have said for weeks, let’s continue to negotiate around ICE and Border Patrol and reopen every other part.

“The president has decided to take us into a war of his choice. And more than ever, we need to make sure TSA workers are being paid — the Coast Guard, FEMA, our cybersecurity experts.

“They can take one of two paths, and the answer coming from the President and Republicans is we take neither: 'We would like not to pay TSA. We would like not to rein in ICE and have them conduct themselves without a reign of terror in communities. We are just going to use them as collateral to get a voter suppression bill.'

“This isn’t an answer the American people can tolerate or put up with. And they deserve better than that.”

On the GOP Agenda’s Consequences for Working Americans:

“Every single time it comes down to a choice, this administration says, ‘We choose to hurt workers, to put the American people last.’

“When oil prices go up, they say, ‘Oh, that doesn't matter. Our economy will be fine.’

“They take away health care for millions of people. They say, ‘It's okay because we got tax cuts for billionaires.’

“And now they're saying, ‘TSA workers should continue to show up, work without pay … That's what we're going to do until we can pass a bill that makes it very difficult for people to vote in this country.’ That is insanity.

“We are so clear: let's reopen every part of DHS if you refuse to negotiate in good faith. And if we can get to a deal around putting those commonsense reforms at ICE, then we'll reopen that too.

“The choice is theirs. They're choosing to put it all on workers.”

On Trump’s Refusal to Pay TSA Agents:

“We have heard public comments from Senator Kennedy, from Senator Thune, from more conservative members of their caucus saying, ‘We would be open to opening up all the other critical parts of DHS while negotiations continue.’ But the president won't allow it. We know where the problem is.

“And over in the House, they're not going to make a move without the White House.

“Who is the one who bears the brunt of all of this? It's Americans at home. It's TSA workers.”

On Democrats’ Efforts to Reopen Every Part of DHS Except ICE:

“The American people are very clear [about] what's going on here.

“We have said it repeatedly. We're up to nine times that we have said, ‘Let's open up every other part of this until ICE is willing to act like every other police department. Let's not wait to make sure that TSA workers get what they need, get the paycheck they deserve — and the Coast Guard and FEMA.’

…

“We have been crystal clear, and it keeps being rejected. Open up the other parts of DHS if you refuse to do the right thing at ICE, and let us continue to negotiate that.

“But the Republicans are hell bent on holding TSA workers hostage and creating hardship for them and creating chaos and a lack of safety at our airports and in our skies.”

To watch the full interview, click HERE.

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Watertown News: Members of Congress Get a Look Inside Watertown’s School Lunch Program, School Farming Class

Tue, 83 Mar 2026 12:00:00 EST

A pair of enthusiastic Hosmer Elementary School ambassadors showed two members of Congress around their school Wednesday, ending with a meal cooked up by the school cafeteria staff that featured produce grown in Watertown High School’s hydroponic farm.

Congressman Jim McGovern and Congresswoman Katherine Clark visited Watertown as part of McGovern’s End Hunger Now Tour of Massachusetts, in support of the bill he filed on Capitol Hill to increase the amount of federal funding for school breakfasts and lunches.

Hosmer second-graders Maya and Daphne guided the two members of Congress through the hallways, into classrooms, through the media center, up and down stairs, and finally through the lunch line in the cafeteria.

Along the way they showed Clark and McGovern the carts which the visit before class starts to grab breakfast each morning.

Brandon Rabbit, Watertown’s Director of School Nutrition, said the Watertown Public Schools made some changes to encourage more students to eat the breakfasts.

“We were doing it before the school day, and we served about 10 breakfasts a day because it wasn’t accessible,” Rabbit said. “So, working with the Hosmer staff and then all the other elementary staff, we made it more accessible by stopping it before the school day and incorporating it (into the school day). Now they get the breakfast their breakfast from the carts when they come in, and then they eat it during their morning meeting. So everyone has access.”

About half of the students in Watertown’s elementary schools eat the breakfast provided by the school, Rabbit said. Even more, about 70 percent, eat lunches made by the Watertown Public Schools’ Food Services staff.

One way to encourage students to eat school-made lunches is to provide tasty meals. Rabbit said part of the effort is to have staff cook meals from scratch.

“It’s just a higher skill set to be able to scratch cook and follow recipes and do all that, where a heat and serve model is more about putting things on trays and heating them up,” Rabbit said.

Fresh ingredients also help make meals more appealing. Watertown Food Services gets greens for its salads from a farm located right in town. Students at Watertown High School can learn how to raise plants in the hydroponic farm located inside a freight container stored next to the Phillips School Administration Building.

Each day, they are bused over from the temporary high school location at Moxley Field. The elective appealed to senior Christina Karalis.

“Yeah, it was different, so I decided to try it,” Karalis said.

Classmate and senior Emily Marini pointed out the seedlings that are ready to be planted in the walls inside the Freight Farm.

“You can see the seeds, that takes about two weeks,” Marini said.

Senior Gavin Foley said the class then makes the transfer.

“We just move it, once it’s grown to these little things, over there to the wall,” Foley said, referring to the high tech walls that have water and different kinds of light to help the plants grow.

Marini added, “Overall it is ready in six weeks.”

McGovern and Clark also got a peek inside the Freight Farm before visiting Hosmer. The visit to Watertown was McGovern’s a stop on his tour to advocate for his legislation.

“I’m doing this, first to highlight the great work going on all around the Commonwealth, and second to highlight that we can build a better food system in this country,” McGovern said. “And that and that work actually starts with our schools, and what we have seen today in this community is really a model for the rest of the country.”

Clark welcomed McGovern to her district, and to Hosmer School, and thanked “the best tour guides, Maya and Daphne.” She added that she was impressed how Watertown has integrated learning into the effort to feed school children healthy meals.

Watertown, and all communities in Massachusetts, are able to provide lunches to all students after the state increased funding.

“It makes a difference. What we’ve seen in Massachusetts is making school lunches universal, and as our second grade tour guide showed us where they pick up breakfast along with every other student,” Clark said. “That is because the Commonwealth has made an investment in our children, so there is no more stigma about who has lunch paid for and who doesn’t. Everybody gets a nutritious meal that they enjoy, and I’ve never seen kids love lunch staff and cafeteria staff like these kids. It’s all part of building a community.”

Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston said that the Watertown Public Schools integrates learning with food nutrition.

“Our work in future farming and healthy free school nutrition represents an exciting step forward in how schools can connect learning, wellness and sustainability through programs like our hydroponic farming initiative,” Galdston said. “Students are not only learning about science and agriculture, they’re engaging in real world problem solving around food insecurity, climate resilience and community health. At the same time, we are living Massachusetts’ commitment to nutritious free school meals, so that every student has access to healthy food that fuels learning, growth and well being. It is our hope that every child in the United States has that same opportunity.”

McGovern’s legislation would increase the reimbursement rate for school lunches by 45 cents and for breakfasts by 28 cents.

“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it makes a huge difference in the quality of the food that we can serve our young people,” McGovern said.

Rabbit said the extra funding would help sustain Watertown’s school breakfast and lunch program.

“I’m just so grateful that we have the support of our elected officials, specifically, the Congressman’s bill regarding increasing federal reimbursement because increasing scratch cooking — that takes a very skilled labor force,” Rabbit said. “So being able to pay our staff a living wage is incredible. On top of that, the increased food costs and infrastructure that we need to do to make that happen.”

McGovern was asked when he thought his bill might be passed.

“It’s gonna be tough in the next few months, but I’m hoping that maybe next year, this can be a priority again,” McGovern said. “I think every dollar, every cent invested in nutrition for our kids, results in savings. Kids learn better and they don’t fall behind, and they grow to be healthy adults.”

Clark said that she would like to see different priorities in Washington.

“We could save so many kids from hunger if we had a President who prioritized those kids instead of a golden ballroom or corrupt handouts,” Clark said.

Original article HERE.

Whip Clark: “The Care Crisis Is a Core Priority for House Democrats”

Tue, 76 Mar 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Congressional Dads Caucus Chair Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (TX-35), New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider (IL-10), Rep. Rob Menendez (NJ-8), and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) to discuss Democrats’ continued focus on the care economy. The press conference was held during Rep. Gomez’s National Summit on the Caregiving Crisis. Below is a transcript of Whip Clark's remarks:

"The financial inability of most people to get by is the economic crisis of our time.

"Most people cannot afford the first rung of that American Dream. Sixty percent — six-zero — of families, in the richest nation on earth, are struggling to afford the basics: groceries, gas, school supplies, clothes. All of it has contributed to that crisis.

"But there is a particular cruelty, an especially heavy burden, to the care crisis.

"I remember when my children were young. One day, my husband and I realized that my entire paycheck went to child care. But I was fortunate. I had a spouse with a good job. I had resources and support so I could get by.

"But for others, the care crisis means choosing between paying rent or groceries. And for hundreds of thousands of women last year, it meant leaving the workforce entirely.

"And what do we see from Donald Trump and the Republicans? What are they doing about this? We see them withholding child care funding. We see them sending ICE to terrorize caregivers. We see them dismantling Medicaid — a program that pays for two-thirds of home care costs in America. And we see them taking the harshest obstacle to families’ financial security, an obstacle to small businesses, a drain on our economy as a whole, and making it worse.

"Democrats recognize that the American people expect more from their elected officials. They expect a plan to bring down costs. To build a system where families can have a little breathing room and get ahead. Where it is feasible and mathematically possible to work hard, make rent, save some money, and sustain a family.

"And we are going to bring straightforward solutions to the table.

"Let's bring down the cost of child care to $15 a day by passing the Child Care for Working Families Act. Let's help three million student parents by supporting on-campus care. Let's get family caregivers the support they need by fully funding Medicaid. And make early childhood education an attractive career by investing in the students who are pursuing those degrees and making sure they’re paid a fair wage so they can support their own families while they're caring for ours.

"None of this is groundbreaking or revolutionary. But it would be transformative.

"The care crisis is a core priority for House Democrats — both this year and in the Majority."

To view presser photos, click HERE.

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