    [House Hearing, 119 Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                   MEMBER DAY
    =======================================================================

                                    HEARING

                                   BEFORE THE

                           COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

                         U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                        ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                                   __________

                          THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025

                                   __________

                               Serial No. 119-40

                                   __________

             Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary

    [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                   Available via: http://judiciary.house.gov

                                    __________

                       U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
    61-971                  WASHINGTON : 2026

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

                            JIM JORDAN, Ohio, Chair

    DARRELL ISSA, California             JAMIE RASKIN, Maryland, Ranking
    ANDY BIGGS, Arizona                      Member
    TOM McCLINTOCK, California           JERROLD NADLER, New York
    THOMAS P. TIFFANY, Wisconsin         ZOE LOFGREN, California
    THOMAS MASSIE, Kentucky              STEVE COHEN, Tennessee
    CHIP ROY, Texas                      HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, Jr.,
    SCOTT FITZGERALD, Wisconsin              Georgia
    BEN CLINE, Virginia                  ERIC SWALWELL, California
    LANCE GOODEN, Texas                  TED LIEU, California
    JEFFERSON VAN DREW, New Jersey       PRAMILA JAYAPAL, Washington
    TROY E. NEHLS, Texas                 J. LUIS CORREA, California
    BARRY MOORE, Alabama                 MARY GAY SCANLON, Pennsylvania
    KEVIN KILEY, California              JOE NEGUSE, Colorado
    HARRIET M. HAGEMAN, Wyoming          LUCY McBATH, Georgia
    LAUREL M. LEE, Florida               DEBORAH K. ROSS, North Carolina
    WESLEY HUNT, Texas                   BECCA BALINT, Vermont
    RUSSELL FRY, South Carolina          JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA, Illinois
    GLENN GROTHMAN, Wisconsin            SYDNEY KAMLAGER-DOVE, California
    BRAD KNOTT, North Carolina           JARED MOSKOWITZ, Florida
    MARK HARRIS, North Carolina          DANIEL S. GOLDMAN, New York
    ROBERT F. ONDER, Jr., Missouri       JASMINE CROCKETT, Texas
    DEREK SCHMIDT, Kansas
    BRANDON GILL, Texas
    MICHAEL BAUMGARTNER, Washington

                   CHRISTOPHER HIXON, Majority Staff Director
                    ARTHUR EWENCZYK, Minority Staff Director

                                  ------
                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------

                          Thursday, November 20, 2025
                               OPENING STATEMENTS

                                                                       Page
    The Honorable Jim Jordan, Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary
      from the State of Ohio.........................................     1
    The Honorable Mary Gay Scanlon, a Member of the Committee on the
      Judiciary from the State of Pennsylvania.......................     1

                                   WITNESSES

    The Hon. Emilia Strong Sykes, Member of Congress, Ohio
      Oral Testimony.................................................     2
      Prepared Testimony.............................................     4
    The Hon. Pat Harrigan, Member of Congress, North Carolina
      Oral Testimony.................................................     9
      Prepared Testimony.............................................    11
    The Hon. Melanie A. Stansbury, Member of Congress, New Mexico
      Oral Testimony.................................................    12
      Prepared Testimony.............................................    14
    The Hon. Laura A. Gillen, Member of Congress, New York
      Oral Testimony.................................................    18
      Prepared Testimony.............................................    20
    The Hon. Lizzie Fletcher, Member of Congress, Texas
      Oral Testimony.................................................    24
      Prepared Testimony.............................................    26
    The Hon. Dave Min, Member of Congress, California
      Oral Testimony.................................................    29
      Prepared Testimony.............................................    31
    The Hon. Brian K. Fitzpatrick, Member of Congress, Pennsylvania
      Oral Testimony.................................................    33
      Prepared Testimony.............................................    34
    The Hon. James C. Moylan, Member of Congress, Guam
      Oral Testimony.................................................    35
    The Hon. Yassamin Ansari, Member of Congress, Arizona
      Oral Testimony.................................................    36
      Prepared Testimony.............................................    38
    The Hon. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Member of Congress, Florida
      Oral Testimony.................................................    40
      Prepared Testimony.............................................    43

              LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC. SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING

    All materials submitted for the record by the Committee on the
      Judiciary are listed below.....................................    46

    Several emails related to Jeffrey Epstein, submitted by the
      Honorable Melanie A. Stansbury, Member of Congress, New Mexico

                               MEMBER STATEMENTS

    A statement by the Honorable Wesley Hunt, Member of Congress,
      Texas, for the record
    A statement by the Honorable Susie Lee, Member of Congress,
      Nevada, for the record
    A statement by the Honorable Aumua Amata Radewagen, Member of
      Congress, American Samoa, for the record

                                   MEMBER DAY

                                  ----------

                          Thursday, November 20, 2025

                            House of Representatives

                           Committee on the Judiciary

                                 Washington, DC

        The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in Room
    2141, Rayburn House Office Building, the Hon. Jim Jordan [Chair
    of the Committee] presiding.
        Members present: Representatives Jordan, Issa, Biggs,
    Knott, and Scanlon.
        Chair Jordan. [Presiding.] The Committee will come to
    order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a
    recess at any time. We welcome everyone to today's Member Day
    hearing.
        You know what? Let's do the Pledge first. The gentleman
    from Arizona will lead us in the Pledge. Could you all stand
    for the Pledge?
        All. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States
    of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one
    Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for
    all.
        Chair Jordan. I thank the gentleman. Again, we welcome
    everyone today.
        The Member Day is an opportunity to hear from our
    colleagues who have bills within the jurisdiction of our
    Committee. The Judiciary Committee has a number of very
    important topics in our jurisdiction: The Constitution, civil
    rights, civil liberties, immigration, crime, and functioning of
    our court system. These affect Americans' lives every day.
        We have several of our colleagues here this morning to
    testify before our Committee and I look forward to hearing what
    they have to say.
        The Chair now recognizes the gentlelady from Pennsylvania
    for any opening remarks she may have.
        Ms. Scanlon. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for convening this
    Member Day hearing, and thank you to our colleagues for joining
    us today. We are looking forward to hearing your testimony and
    appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the bills you
    are leading and the priorities you have within the Judiciary
    Committee's jurisdiction.
        As the Chair mentioned, we are responsible for a broad
    range of issues, including the Federal Judiciary, voting
    rights, Constitutional Amendments, civil rights and liberties,
    immigration, intellectual property, antitrust, and more.
        We are looking forward to hearing from you, and I know that
    our Committee's work will only be strengthened by hearing from
    you today. So, thank you.
        Chair Jordan. The gentlelady yields back. Thank you.
    Without objection, all other opening statements will be
    included in the record.
        Chair Jordan. I would remind our colleagues to testifying
    today that your written statements will be included in the
    record in their entirety, and we ask that you summarize your
    testimony in five minutes.
        Our first witness is from the great State of--what a great
    way to start. The gentlelady from Ohio, Representative Sykes,
    is recognized. Go right ahead.

                   STATEMENT OF THE HON. EMILIA SYKES

        Ms. Sykes. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and to the
    Ranking Member, for having this hearing today and allowing us
    to talk about issues that are important to our communities, as
    well as this country.
        First, let me give you a quick warning to take a sip of
    coffee because I'm going to discuss a topic that I love, but
    often bores a lot of people. That is bankruptcy.
        I would like to ask for your support on a bill I plan to
    reintroduce to close a loophole that allows for companies to
    use the Texas two-step. For far too long, greedy corporations
    have used shady bankruptcy tactics like the Texas two-step to
    avoid compensating innocent Americans that they have hurt.
        By using this tactic, corporations facing a large number of
    injury liability lawsuits move their corporate entities to
    execute a divisive merger. This splits corporation into two
    companies with the parent company taking all the assets and the
    new company taking all the liability and responsibility to pay
    the victims. The new company then files for bankruptcy--forcing
    plaintiffs to spend years trying to receive the compensation
    they deserve, while the parent company continues business as
    usual.
        Companies that have attempted this maneuver include Johnson
    & Johnson, which faced class action lawsuits over claims that
    its talcum powder caused cancer, and Georgia Pacific, which is
    facing lawsuits over asbestos exposure.
        When I came to Congress, I promised my constituents I would
    fight for them, not for billionaires or large corporations.
    That is why last Congress I introduced the Ending Corporate
    Bankruptcy Abuse Act, alongside my colleague, the gentleman
    from Texas, Lance Gooden, to address this very issue.
        My bill, which has bicameral and bipartisan support, would
    deter corporations from abusing bankruptcy protections and
    ensure that injury victims can get their day in court.
        I hope to continue to work with your offices to raise
    awareness of this issue, hold companies accountable, and put an
    end to this harmful practice.
        Mr. Chair, I have worked for two bankruptcy judges as a
    judicial assistant and as a law clerk. One thing that was quite
    apparent was virtually every single debtor that was in
    bankruptcy had medical debt. It was either what led them to
    bankruptcy or exacerbated their financial situation.
        I look forward to working with the members of this
    community, this Committee, as well as all of Congress, to
    ensure that the Bankruptcy Code works for the honest, yet
    unfortunate debtor and not just for large corporations.
        Mr. Chair, I would also like to discuss my bill, the Law
    Enforcement Scenario-Based Training for Safety and De-
    escalation Act, which I am proud to lead with Representatives
    Don Bacon, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Glenn Ivey.
        This is an important issue for my community. In Akron and
    Canton, as we mourn the loss of Jayland Walker, who was killed
    by police three years ago, and Frank Tyson, who died while in
    police custody a year ago, we must work to improve
    relationships between law enforcement and the community members
    that they are sworn to protect to restore trust and safety.
        By investing in real-world, scenario-based training, we can
    give our law enforcement the de-escalation skills they need to
    keep themselves and our communities safe. This training can
    help officers develop the situational awareness to handle
    complex, high-stake situations, such as encountering
    individuals suffering from mental illness, suicidal crises, or
    domestic violence, and equips them with greater cultural
    situational sensitivity. It has been shown that training
    officers with these skills results in fewer injuries, deaths,
    and excessive use-of-force incidents for civilians and
    officers.
        Importantly, this bill is budget-neutral and allows smaller
    communities who may not have the means to pay for such training
    to do so, but it also has garnered widespread support from
    stakeholders, like the Fraternal Order of Police and the Akron
    Branch of the NAACP.
        After the shooting deaths of both Jayland and Frank, both
    communities asked what could be done to de-escalate tense
    interventions between law enforcement, the officers, and the
    citizens that they protect and serve. I am proud to deliver
    this truly appropriate and timely bill, and I urge its passage.
    Our communities and our law enforcement members are asking for
    this. It is a commonsense, bipartisan bill.
        I look forward to taking any questions you may have.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Sykes follows:]
        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chair Jordan. Thank you, Representative. Thank you so much.
    My best to your family. Tell your dad we said hello. We
    appreciate having you.
        Ms. Sykes. Thank you.
        Chair Jordan. The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from
    North Carolina, Mr. Knott, for an introduction of our next
    Member's testimony.
        Mr. Knott. Mr. Chair and Ms. Scanlon, good morning.
        It is my privilege to introduce my good friend and
    colleague from North Carolina, Representative Pat Harrigan.
    Representative Harrigan is a freshman with me. We are fortunate
    to have him. He is a patriot, a veteran, a father, and a
    business owner.
        He is someone who has immense capabilities, who cares about
    this country, and he has a very high level of expertise when
    dealing with foreign adversaries to this country. He has an
    important piece of legislation that deals with external
    attacks.
        I know he will get your full consideration, and it's my
    privilege to introduce Representative Pat Harrigan to the
    Committee. Thank you.
        Chair Jordan. Thank you. The gentleman from North Carolina
    is recognized.

                   STATEMENT OF THE HON. PAT HARRIGAN

        Mr. Harrigan. Thanks to Representative Knott for that kind
    introduction. Mr. Chair and the distinguished Members of the
    Committee, good morning.
        I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you about a bill
    that goes straight to the heart of our national security. We
    are facing an unprecedented wave of espionage from statutorily
    designated foreign adversaries, and the response from our legal
    system has been far too weak.
        My bill, H.R. 4081, the Foreign Adversary Federal Offense
    Act, fixes that. It creates mandatory minimum sentences of 10
    years for economic espionage and 15 years for defense
    espionage. It also doubles the penalties for intellectual
    property theft committed on behalf of foreign adversaries. If
    you steal for Beijing or some other hostile power, you should
    expect to spend a long time in Federal prison.
        This scale of this threat is staggering, and I would like
    to lay it out for you.
        In April, former Army Analyst Korbein Schultz sold missile
    defense data, satellite intelligence, and deployment plans to
    someone working with the Chinese Government. For betraying his
    country, Mr. Schultz was paid $42,000. Despite this blatant
    violation of his oath, he was sentenced to only 84 months in
    prison.
        In August, two U.S. Navy sailors, Jinchao Wei and Wenheng
    Zhao, provided Chinese intelligence with ship blueprints,
    weapon systems, and troop movements. They were trusted with our
    national security, and they sold it off.
        In 2022, Broadcom Engineer Kisang Kim stole more than 500
    chip design files for a Chinese tech startup. He openly
    admitted that he did it to help China compete with the United
    States, and received only eight months in prison.
        Meanwhile, the FBI estimates--and this is corroborated by
    our work on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee--that
    up to $600 billion in American intellectual property is stolen
    every single year, almost all of it by China.
        This is our innovation, our technology, and our military
    advantage walking right out the door. People who spy for our
    enemies can cripple our military, damage our economy, and leave
    our critical infrastructure exposed. Far too often, they get a
    very small fine or a far too short of a sentence.
        Our current guidelines are not a deterrent. They actually
    invite more theft, betrayal, and more risk. We need to make it
    unmistakably clear that, if you betray your oath, violate your
    uniform, or sell out our country for a few dollars, you will
    face the full force of the U.S. Government.
        The H.R. 4081 delivers that clarity. A mandatory double-
    digit sentence will make potential spies think twice before
    choosing China over their own Nation.
        I look forward to working with every Member of this
    Committee to get this bill across the finish line. My team and
    I welcome your input and certainly welcome your support.
        This is about protecting the American people and
    strengthening the security of the country that we serve and
    love.
        Thank you for your time.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Harrigan follows:]
        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chair Jordan. You bet. Thank you, Representative. Thank you
    for your service to our country. Thank you for your legislation
    that you have brought forward.
        The Chair now recognizes--oh, we have got a number here--
    Representative Stansbury. The gentlelady is recognized for five
    minutes. Go right ahead.

                STATEMENT OF THE HON. MELANIE STANSBURY

        Ms. Stansbury. All right. Well, good morning, Mr. Chair,
    Ranking Member, and the Members of the Committee.
        I want to say thank you for the opportunity to testify in
    the Judiciary Committee. It is an honor to be here to discuss
    that is as serious as it is urgent, and that is the ongoing
    congressional inquiry into the Jeffrey Epstein case, and the
    failures of the criminal justice system to hold powerful
    individuals accountable.
        I want to acknowledge that this Committee has taken some
    significant steps to advance the discharge petition demanding
    that the administration release the files, and I want to bring
    some additional materials here today from the Oversight
    Committee on which I serve, because so many of the issues at
    play in this case are within the jurisdiction of the Judiciary
    Committee, including the miscarriage of justice that was
    conducted within the courts, the Department of Justice, law
    enforcement agencies that failed survivors for decades.
        Let me begin with this: This is not a partisan issue.
    Sexual violence is not a partisan issue; justice for survivors
    is not a partisan issue, and the pursuit of truth,
    transparency, and accountability is not a partisan issue. It is
    essential to restore trust in our institutions, especially when
    powerful individuals, whoever they are, have engaged in
    criminal misconduct and escaped scrutiny and prosecution.
        The Oversight Committee's work is focused on four central
    questions:

        (1) LWhat powerful individuals were engaged in criminal
    behavior?
        (2) LWhy did the justice system repeatedly fail women and
    girls who were groomed, raped, trafficked, and abused?
        (3) LWere individuals with significant influence shielded
    from proper investigation and accountability?
        (4) LHow do we pursue justice today?

    Questions that are surely within the clear jurisdiction and
    interest of this Committee.
        In recent weeks, pursuant to a subpoena, the Oversight
    Committee has received tens of thousands of documents from the
    Epstein estate, including more than 1,600 references to the
    current President. These include emails, correspondence,
    financial records, litigation documents, and statements
    attributed to Epstein himself.
        I want to be clear, these documents contain allegations,
    including sworn statements, that must be evaluated through a
    full transparent, investigative lens, and process. This is
    precisely why releasing the full, unredacted Epstein files is
    essential, and why this public inquiry is also essential.
        Among the materials I will reference are a sexual assault
    case in which Donald Trump appears to have been subpoenaed,
    served, and deposed; sworn statements involving a then-16-year-
    old who was recruited at Mar-a-Lago, who alleged that she was
    groomed and assaulted by Epstein and others, including those
    with significant global influence; emails and correspondence in
    which Epstein states that Trump knew about the girls and that
    minors were being recruited from Mar-a-Lago; that Trump was
    present at Epstein's residence on numerous occasions, and that
    Epstein possessed photographs of Trump with young girls, and
    that Trump was, quote, ``the dog that hadn't barked''--a phrase
    that Epstein used to suggest Trump's potential silence to
    police.
        The documents also reference financial transfers between
    Epstein and Trump; discussion of Trump's business affairs, and
    concerns about potential money-laundering through real estate
    transactions--all matters that may or may not have criminal
    significance and, clearly, warrant investigation.
        Additionally, we have documents from the Epstein estate in
    which Epstein himself assessed that he faced a mandatory
    minimum of at least 10 years in prison. Yet, the Justice
    Department declined to prosecute him under Federal law, despite
    recommendations from his own line prosecutor. These statements
    appear to directly conflict with sworn testimony that the
    Oversight Committee received from U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta
    just a few months ago, when he claimed that credible evidence
    to pursue Federal charges was not there.
        Together, these materials are a substantial body of
    evidence, and it is evidence that the American people deserve
    and demand to see. Justice matters because those who abused,
    enabled, financed, and protected this criminal enterprise must
    face the truth and must face consequences. Transparency is
    essential for healing and restoring confidence in the rule of
    the law, and it is essential because Congress has a
    responsibility to ensure that our justice system protects
    victims, not perpetrators, and that includes strengthening
    victims' rights legislation that will likely move through this
    very Committee.
        Part of why I am here today is to advocate to please take
    the partisanship out of this case. Please address the facts as
    you see them before you. Please join us in this investigation,
    and please help us hold these people accountable. Thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Stansbury follows:]
        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chair Jordan. Thank you, Representative. I appreciate you
    at this hearing today.
        The gentlelady from New York is recognized. Representative
    Gillen, thank you for joining us today. Go right ahead.

                   STATEMENT OF THE HON. LAURA GILLEN

        Ms. Gillen. Good morning. Chair Jordan, Ranking Member, and
    the Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to
    appear before you today to highlight how we can take action
    together in a bipartisan fashion to save lives and prevent
    tragedies.
        I'm here today because of the extraordinary woman alongside
    me, Georgian Cornago from Lynbrook, New York, who I'm honored
    to represent here in Congress. Georgian traveled from Long
    Island to join me here today to honor the memory of her son,
    Giovanni ``Gio'' Cipriano, and to help me to urge our
    colleagues to prevent future heartbreaking tragedies like the
    one that befell her family, by passing H.R. 4019, Gio's Law.
        This bipartisan legislation which I'm proud to have
    introduced alongside my Republican colleague from Long Island,
    Chair Andrew Garbarino, would help equip law enforcement
    officers across this country with access to lifesaving EpiPens
    for emergencies.
        Mr. Chair, Gio was a son, a travel baseball team player, an
    honor student, and a freshman at Holy Trinity High School, when
    he suffered a sudden severe allergic reaction to a snack that
    contained peanuts, but he didn't know it.
        His heart stopped while he was being rushed to the hospital
    and he left us on October 18, 2013. His passing was an
    unfathomable tragedy, a devastating loss to his family, to his
    friends, and to our community. Since his loss, Georgina has
    channeled her grief into tireless advocacy, doing everything
    possible to prevent another family from suffering such a
    tragedy.
        More than 32 million Americans live with life-threatening
    food allergies and other severe allergic conditions.
    Anaphylaxis can be triggered by food, by insect bites, or
    medications--things that we come in contact with every day.
        She established the Love for Giovanni Foundation and
    succeeded in passing New York State's Gio's Law in 2019, which
    enables police officers across the State to carry epinephrine
    pens. Starting with her hometown police department in the
    Village of Lynbrook, she worked to expand these programs
    throughout Nassau County, Westchester County, and Suffolk
    County, where just earlier this year the cops were able to save
    a 72-year-old bee sting victim who was suffering a life-
    threatening allergic reaction just two days after they started
    stocking EpiPens in their police cars.
        Thanks to the incredible work of advocates like Georgina
    and other moms and activists across our community, each day
    more and more police departments are carrying EpiPens in their
    police patrol cars. However, these devices cost up to $600 per
    use, which can make it very difficult for smaller departments
    to stock them.
        That is why this bipartisan bill, Gio's Law, would
    establish the first-ever Federal grant program in the U.S.
    Department of Justice to equip law enforcement agencies across
    the country with EpiPens and to train officers on how to safely
    administer them. This competitive grant program would help
    offset the cost of epinephrine for qualified State and local
    law enforcement agencies, just like the existing OJP and COPS
    grant programs for body-worn cameras, bulletproof vests, and
    other equipment and technology.
        The bill would also standardize training for officers on
    how to recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis and how to
    administer EpiPens. It would ensure that there are Good
    Samaritan laws and safe harbor protections to protect the
    police, and it would promote outreach and awareness about the
    use of epinephrine.
        This is a bipartisan, prolaw enforcement, and public safety
    issue. Our brave police officers are often the first ones to
    arrive on the scene in an emergency, and they deserve to have
    the equipment they need to save lives.
        I'm proud to say that this bill has been endorsed by the
    National Association of Police Organizations, the Asthma and
    Allergy Foundation of America, the Food Allergy Nurses
    Association, and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and
    Immunology.
        Mr. Chair, we don't have to read about another American
    losing their life to a severe allergic reaction. We can take
    the steps together to end these tragedies. Let's fund our
    police. Let's give them the tools that they need, so they can
    continue to be heroes in our community.
        I'm asking for your help to advance this critical,
    bipartisan measure in memory of Gio--to better equip our police
    officers, save lives, and American people.
        Chair Jordan, Ranking Member, thank you all for your time.
    Thank you for your work on this Committee. Thank you for
    serving our country and supporting our law enforcement.
        Thank you, Mr. Chair, for agreeing to meet with me and
    Georgian later today.
        I look forward to working with all you, my colleagues on
    both sides of the aisle, to pass Gio's Law. Thank you so much.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Gillen follows:]
        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chair Jordan. Thank you. Georgian, thank you. God bless
    you. I appreciate your work.
        We have one of our staffers who also happens to be a police
    officer and travels with me almost all the time. He carries the
    EpiPen because, if he gets stung by a bee, it gets serious
    really quick.
        We appreciate what you are trying to do there. We will look
    forward to talking later. Thank you.
        The gentlelady from Texas, Representative Fletcher, thanks
    for joining us. You are recognized for five minutes.

                 STATEMENT OF THE HON. LIZZIE FLETCHER

        Ms. Fletcher. Thank you, Chair Jordan, Ranking Member
    Scanlon, and the Members of the Committee. I appreciate the
    opportunity to speak before you today.
        When I became a Member of the State Bar of Texas in 2006, I
    took an oath, solemnly swearing to uphold and support the
    Constitution of the United States; to honestly demean myself in
    the practice of law; to discharge my duties to the best of my
    ability; and to conduct myself with integrity and civility.
        I know many of you have taken a similar oath, and I know
    that all of us have sworn and signed an oath to support and
    defend the Constitution of the United States when we became
    Members of this Congress.
        That is why I'm before you this morning. As Historian
    Heather Cox Richardson so eloquently explained in her book
    Democracy Awakening, the Constitution established a
    representative democracy, a Republic in which voters would
    elect lawmakers who would represent the people. The Legislative
    Branch would be a balance to a single leader at the head of the
    Executive Branch. Each would prevent the rise of a tyrant on
    the other side.
        Congress would write all the necessary and proper laws,
    levy taxes, borrow money, pay the Nation's debts, establish a
    postal service, establish courts, declare war, support an Army
    and Navy, and organize and call forth the militia to execute
    the laws of the Union, and provide for the common defense and
    general welfare of the United States.
        The President would execute the laws. If Congress
    overstepped, the President could veto proposed legislation and,
    in turn, Congress could override a Presidential veto.
        As all of us here know, the Framers created the Congress,
    the House and the Senate, devising a system of representative
    democracy that has endured for more than 200 years. As you
    know, they enumerated a Bill of Rights as the first 10
    Amendments to the Constitution.
        That system, and the rights of the Americans that it
    protects, has been under assault this year, and it is the
    responsibility of this Congress and this Committee to protect
    them. I'm sorry to say that this Congress appears to be failing
    to do so.
        That's why I introduced with Representative Garamendi H.R.
    603, reaffirming the principles of the U.S. Constitution,
    including the separation of powers and the rule of law, which
    is before this Committee.
        Since January 20th of this year, the Executive Branch, the
    Article II branch of government, has undermined the separation
    of powers enumerated in the Constitution between the Congress,
    the courts, and the Executive. Under the leadership and at the
    direction of President Trump, the Executive Branch has
    overstepped its authority and undermined the institutions that
    uphold the rule of law; that guarantee fair and free elections;
    that regulate commerce; that protect public health; that
    conduct oversight; that engage with people and nations around
    the world--expanding the power of the Presidency to implement
    dangerous and divisive policies.
        From Executive Orders and actions encouraging lawlessness,
    eviscerating progress for all Americans, and abandoning our
    allies and our leadership in the world, the harms to Americans
    are apparent now and will be for generations to come if
    Congress does not act and assert its authority.
        Of course, congressional spending has been on all our minds
    lately, and while appropriations is the work of another
    Committee, protection of the mandate that spending bills
    originate in the Congress is part of the work of this
    Committee.
        This administration has willfully ignored that principle,
    violating Federal law by withholding funding authorized by
    Congress; canceling funding for Federal programs Congress
    created, and that communities across the country rely on--
    eviscerating bipartisan spending laws.
        This administration has frozen, canceled, clawed-back, or
    illegally impounded investments Congress has made in public
    health, public safety, public welfare, public education, public
    lands, and protection of our environment.
        This House and Senate have utterly failed to respond to
    this attack on congressional authority and the refusal to spend
    congressionally appropriated funds. These are serious harms to
    the people we represent and serious harms to our Constitution's
    separation of powers.
        They are matched by the grave harm to our constitutional
    order that come from the President and the administration's
    efforts to censure dissent; to prohibit and intimidate
    Americans' peaceful assembly; to limit public participation and
    freedom to associate, whether that is by joining a union or
    organizing a protest; to restrain and exclude the press and the
    transparency that a free press brings; and to prohibit the free
    exercise of religion.
        All these rights are protected by the Constitution and must
    be protected by this Committee. This Committee must use its
    authority to protect the constitutional system of justice and
    the independence of the judiciary, as this administration
    abuses its authority by intimidation, investigation, and
    prosecution of its critics.
        I urge the Committee and the Congress to remember its
    purpose and to use its power to protect, support, and defend
    the people and the Constitution of the United States. Thank
    you.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Fletcher follows:]
        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chair Jordan. Thank you, Representative. We appreciate you
    coming.
        The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from California, Mr.
    Min.

                     STATEMENT OF THE HON. DAVE MIN

        Mr. Min. Thank you, Mr. Chair and Ranking Member Scanlon.
        I'm here to discuss a number of bills related to financial
    conflicts of interest.
        In May of this year, I introduced H.R. 3779, the STOCK Act
    2.0, to address a clear conflict of interest that we have seen
    far too often illustrated here, and that is congressional stock
    trading.
        This legislation would strengthen restrictions on
    individual stock trading by Members of Congress, the Judiciary,
    and the Executive Branch. Critically, it builds on the
    important foundation of the original STOCK Act by improving
    filing and disclosure requirements of financial reports;
    increasing penalties for noncompliance, ensuring real
    transparency, and accountability.
        Public service is an honor, not an opportunity for self-
    enrichment at the expense of our constituents. This should not
    be a partisan issue. I'm pleased to see so many Members from
    both parties joining on efforts to try to address this issue.
        We have seen the news reports of Members of Congress,
    Members of this administration, Members of the Judiciary,
    apparently, benefiting from access to information that
    Americans, average Americans, don't have--trading on the
    information we have, cheating the markets.
        Now, I'm very, very reassured by the fact that Speaker
    Johnson told Representative Luna that he is strongly
    considering addressing this issue. Of course, a number of
    legislative efforts are under discussion right now. This is
    encouraging and it underscores the need for accountability
    across the board.
        I also want to highlight another important bill being led
    by my colleague and friend, Representative Hank Johnson, who's
    been at the forefront of efforts to address the ethical
    challenges currently facing this Supreme Court. Representative
    Johnson's Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act
    would require Justices of the Supreme Court to adopt and follow
    a binding code of ethics with an enforcement mechanism for
    resolving ethics or misconduct complaints.
        This is a crucial step for restoring the public's trust in
    the highest Court. We cannot just allow them to police
    themselves. There needs to be some transparency and
    accountability.
        Together, these two bills demonstrate a commitment to
    restoring public trust, which is failing right now in our
    public institutions and our government. They are making efforts
    to try to ensure that all three branches of government--the
    Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch, and the Judiciary--
    are held to the highest standards of ethics and transparency,
    and that we are holding ourselves to the same standards that we
    ask of people in other fields.
        Building on this momentum, I'm pleased to announce the
    launch of the Congressional Progressive Caucus' Fighting
    Corruption Task Force. As Chair of that new task force,
    alongside Vice Chair Hank Johnson, we are working right now on
    efforts to elevate anticor-
    ruption measures across the Democratic Caucus.
        I'm excited to work with several of my colleagues on this
    initiative, including Representatives Scanlon, Deluzio, Summer
    Lee, and Mike Levin. Our first meeting will take place in
    December, and we look forward to advancing meaningful reforms
    for Congress.
        We also welcome input from our Republican colleagues
    because corruption is not confined to one party, and efforts to
    try to rein this in should not be confined to any one political
    party.
        I will conclude my remarks by thanking the Committee once
    again for its focus on addressing corruption and safeguarding
    the integrity of our institutions. I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Min follows:]
        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chair Jordan. Thank you so much, Mr. Min. The right fine
    gentleman from Pennsylvania is recognized, Mr. Fitzpatrick.
    Good to have you with us. Hit that button, Brian--or
    Representative Fitzpatrick.

               STATEMENT OF THE HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK

        Mr. Fitzpatrick. There we go. Thank you to the Chair and
    the Ranking Member. Thank you for your time today and for
    holding this hearing.
        As you continue your important work, I would respectfully
    ask the Committee to address the issue of protecting our
    veterans from fraud and strengthening guardrails against those
    targeting vulnerable populations.
        For far too often, so many of us hear from our veteran
    constituents, many of whom are seniors who have been wrongfully
    defrauded of their earned benefits by bad actors. Criminals
    often prey on veterans' desperation by posing as facilitators,
    but, instead, scam veterans out of benefits using various very,
    very sophisticated methods.
        Active-duty service members, National Guard personnel,
    veterans and their families lost nearly 25 percent more money
    to scammers in 2024 than in the previous year--with reported
    losses totaling well over $580 million, according to the
    consumer complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission.
        To address this emergency, Representative Scanlon and I
    introduced the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act. This is
    a bipartisan bill that adds appropriate penalties to those
    actors who knowingly defraud a veteran of their earned
    benefits, subject fraudsters to a fine and/or five years in
    prison.
        This bill has garnered strong bipartisan support, and it is
    passed out of the House of Representatives with a near
    unanimous vote in the 114th, 115th, and 116th Congresses.
        Individuals who defraud our veterans must be held
    accountable and punished, and it is critical that the men and
    women who served our Nation receive their hard-earned benefits
    from the VA.
        I'm proud to co-lead this bipartisan bill with
    Representative Scanlon to crack down on fraudsters who take
    advantage of our veterans. I look forward to continuing to work
    with this Committee to answer any and all questions you all
    have to advance this legislation to protect our Nation's
    veterans.
        I thank you for your time.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Fitzpatrick follows:]
        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chair Jordan. Does the gentlelady from Pennsylvania want
    to--
        Ms. Scanlon. I just wanted to thank my colleague from
    Pennsylvania for continuing to sponsor the bill.
        Chair Jordan. Great. The Representative from Guam is
    recognized. Mr. Moylan, good to have you with us.

                   STATEMENT OF THE HON. JAMES MOYLAN

        Mr. Moylan. Thank you, Chair Jordan and Ranking Member
    Raskin. Hafa adai and thank you for hosting today's Member Day.
        As the Committee considers and deliberates on Members'
    requests for the end of 2025 and for 2026, I would like to
    highlight two policy priorities for the people of Guam.
        First, we must, as a Congress, finally deliver the
    radiation survivors that have been left behind. As you know, I
    have been a staunch vocal advocate for ensuring that the
    Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA, includes all
    those who were unwil-lingly and unknowingly exposed to
    radiation and developed illnesses as a result.
        Since the beginning of my time in Congress, I have worked
    with my colleagues across the aisle to make this proposal a
    reality. While I applaud the Members of this body, the Senate,
    and President Trump for including the reauthorization of RECA
    in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, I must express my
    disappointment and frustration that the people of Guam were
    left out yet again.
        For decades, our radiation survivors have fought to include
    Guam as a downwinder jurisdiction. Our suffering was recognized
    by the Federal Government in 2005, affirming what the people of
    Guam have long known to be true.
        In 2017, a survivor testified before the Senate urging
    Guam's inclusion in the reauthorization language. Most
    recently, with broad bipartisan support, Guam was included in
    the Senate-passed Radiation Exposure Reauthorization Act.
    Despite our best efforts, it was not brought forth to a vote
    before the end of the 118th Congress.
        Much of this language was included in the One Big Beautiful
    Act when it was signed into law. However, many were excluded. I
    am once again working on legislation that would rectify this
    injustice.
        I thank the Committee and the Chair for his continuing work
    with me on it. With that in mind, I urge the Committee to
    continue to work with Members representing downwind
    jurisdictions to ensure we are compensated to compensate those
    affected--those who were the hidden cost of nuclear testing.
        Second, I ask that the Committee consider a request that
    would bring parity to the territorial courts. As you are aware,
    the Federal District Court in Guam, and the CNMI, and the
    Virgin Islands are currently Article I courts. This somewhat
    obscured fact means that, unlike District Courts in the 50
    States, D.C., and Puerto Rico, our Federal Courts are not
    afforded the same constitutional protection as courts organized
    under Article III.
        Additionally, it limits the ability for our Federal judges
    to sit on the Appeals Courts and hear cases before their
    respected circuits.
        The conversion of our District Courts from Article I to
    Article III courts would afford those who stand before it a
    guarantee of judicial independence--the cornerstone of our
    national and legal heritage. I urge the Committee to consider
    this request and to ensure that all Americans are guaranteed a
    fair trial by an independent judiciary.
        To quote John Jay, quote, ``Justice is indiscriminately due
    to all, without regard to numbers, wealth, or rank.''
        Si yu'os ma'ase, and I look forward to answering any of
    your questions you may have. Thank you.

        Chair Jordan. Thank you, Representative Moylan. We
    appreciate the passion you bring representing the folks of
    Guam, and I know, particularly, on this issue of the
    downwinders, your commitment to getting something done there.
    We will continue to see if we can be helpful. Thank you so
    much.
        The gentlelady from Arizona is recognized. Hit that button
    again. There you go.

                 STATEMENT OF THE HON. YASSAMIN ANSARI

        Ms. Ansari. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
        I am here to urge the Judiciary Committee to uphold its
    duty to hold the Trump Administration accountable for the
    massive and unprecedented abuses it is unleashing across the
    entire country.
        As Donald Trump carries out his indiscriminate war on
    immigrants and American communities, it is essential that we
    conduct thorough congressional oversight of what is happening
    in detention centers like Eloy, a facility outside of my
    district.
        I have now visited the Eloy Detention Center three times.
    What I have encountered inside Eloy is sickening. Many of the
    detainees share that they do not have access to reliable basic
    necessities like adequate food and water or essential medical
    care when they are in crisis. This includes women who do not
    have access to proper health care or feminine products.
        Detainees describe to me firsthand the overcrowded, moldy
    cells, being forced to participate in dehumanizing marches
    outside in the Arizona heat, the AC intentionally turned off,
    and then blasted on high periodically, and constant berating
    from guards--conditions worse than prison. They have described
    having to drink water with chlorine in it and being given used
    underwear that gave them UTIs.
        Right now, so many of my constituents in Arizona's 3rd
    District are scared that they or their family members may be
    unjustly detained and denied their basic rights; sent to one of
    these internment camps without due process. This is
    unconstitutional and unacceptable.
        Yes, constituents include citizens, green-card holders,
    DACA recipients, asylum seekers, refugees, including people,
    human beings, held in ICE detention. Members of Congress
    shouldn't have to pick and choose who matters or who deserves
    help.
        Some of the people I have spoken with in detention are
    asylum seekers. Some are refugees from some of the most
    dangerous places in the world who believed in the United States
    as a place of refuge.
        I have written repeatedly to Homeland Security Secretary
    Kristi Noem and the Acting Director of Ice, Todd Lyons,
    detailing my deep concerns about the inhumane conditions at the
    Eloy Detention Center and demanding answers. Their responses
    have been completely unsatisfactory.
        I want to tell you the story of one of my constituents,
    Yari Rodriguez Marquez, who has been held for the better part
    of a year in ICE detention. Yari was a green-card holder,
    someone here in this country legally, following the exact legal
    process that we have.
        I have spent hours on end now with Yari inside the Eloy
    Detention Center. She is suffering from leukemia and is
    extremely sick. She told me the first two times I visited her
    that she vomited blood several times a week, and I witnessed it
    myself in this last visit.
        Watching her suffer like that without answers or a plan is
    unbearable and unnecessary. She wasn't given her full test
    results or medical results. That's not a mistake; it is a
    bureaucracy designed to deny care and hide what is happening
    inside these ICE Detention Centers.
        I made clear that day that I would not leave until next
    steps were set--full records, another oncology visit, and a
    treatment plan. Due to the persistence of Yari, her family and
    friends, my office, she was finally able to see a doctor, but
    that was after 6 months of direct advocacy from a Member of
    Congress. That should never have been the case, and thousands
    of other detainees are being silently treated in the same way.
        We must fight back against Donald Trump's racist and
    authoritarian playbook. This is why I am planning on
    introducing a package of immigration bills to ensure that these
    abuses are permanently ended.
        I urge the Judiciary Committee to do everything in your
    power to do so. It is imperative for the communities and
    families that we all represent. Thank you, and I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Ansari follows:]
        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chair Jordan. The gentlelady yields back. Thank you,
    Representative. The Chair now recognizes the gentlelady from
    Florida.

             STATEMENT OF THE HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

        Ms. Wasserman Schultz. Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's good to
    be back in the Judiciary Committee.
        Chair Jordan. Welcome back. Welcome back.
        Ms. Wasserman Schultz. It's been a few years. Mr. Chair,
    Ranking Member Scanlon, thank you for the opportunity to
    present two critical bills that protect the vulnerable, uphold
    the rule of law, and ensure real accountability for dangerous
    criminals.
        First, I would like to discuss H.R. 4406, the bipartisan
    Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims' Rights Act, which I
    proudly co-lead with Representative Tim Burchett. It's named
    for Courtney Wild, who bravely survived Epstein's cruelty and
    now fights to reform a system that badly mistreated her and her
    fellow survivors.
        As we all know by now, in 2008, Epstein received a
    sweetheart plea deal from then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta. It
    now only gave Epstein and his co-conspirator immunity from
    Federal prosecution, but worse, his victims weren't informed or
    consulted before this outrageous deal was reached. It was a
    clear violation of the intent of the Crime Victims' Rights Act,
    or CVRA, passed in 2004, which specifically gives victims the
    right to timely notice of any major development in the
    defendant's case.
        Courtney thought she had that right, too, but courts ruled
    that, because Epstein's charges were not formally filed, she
    and other victims weren't guaranteed these vital CVRA rights.
    It's a glaring loophole that must be fixed.
        While I'm grateful the Epstein Files Transparency Act
    passed overwhelmingly this week, this bill guarantees
    transparency beyond just one man. This bill would ensure future
    survivors of such horrific crimes aren't kept in the dark and
    guarantee the transparency and accountability that the CVRA
    intended.
        Victims deserve to be protected at every legal step, and
    our job is to ensure legal loopholes don't allow criminals to
    escape accountability. I urge the Committee to take up and pass
    the bipartisan bill to show we support real justice and a
    transparency for Epstein's survivors, but also to make sure
    that all really universally agreed, we prevent anything like
    this deal from ever happening again.
        Mr. Chair, I would love an opportunity to come and talk to
    you after the meeting at some point about this bill
    specifically, because it has been out there a while and I know
    there is a lot of bipartisan support for it. Thank you so much.
        Second, I would like to discuss H.R. 3310, the bipartisan
    Venezuela TPS Act, which I proudly colead with my Florida
    colleagues, Mr. Soto and Ms. Salazar.
        I'm grateful to the Ranking Member of this Committee for
    his unwavering partnership on this issue as well.
        This bill would redesignate temporary protective status for
    Venezuelans residing in the United States. Over the last
    decade, Venezuela has spiraled deeper into humanitarian,
    economic, and political crisis under the criminal dictatorship
    of Nicolas Maduro. Maduro's murderous brutality, brazen
    election theft, and klepto-cratic corruption have precipitated
    the largest peaceful refugee crisis in modern history. Over
    eight million people have fled poverty, repression, and failed
    communist policies, and some have made a home in America
    legally under TPS, but the current President has taken that
    status away.
        Over 400,000 Venezuelan Americans, most of whom arrived
    before 2021 during President Trump's first term, have had their
    legal residency and work permits revoked. The economic impact
    of this action will be devastating for South Florida and it
    will drive up costs everywhere.
        I proudly represent the largest Venezuelan American
    community in Congress, and I would like to tell you about them.
    Venezuelans are teachers, nurses, construction workers, and
    firefighters. They care for elderly parents and their kids.
    Many run small businesses and create jobs, and they all boost
    our labor force, tax base, and consumer market.
        Deporting Venezuelans means fewer jobs, less innovation,
    and less funding for Social Security and Medicare, but it also
    means higher health, housing, and grocery costs, not to mention
    a massive waste of taxpayer dollars on detentions and
    deportations.
        Then, there's the moral price we pay for subjecting people
    to a totalitarian regime that this administration accurately
    calls corrupt, authoritarian, and hostile to human rights.
    Venezuelans love America. They are patriots who cherish the
    freedoms many of us take for granted and want that democracy
    for their home country, too.
        Many Venezuelan TPS holders have U.S. citizen children.
    Trump's policy will orphan them or condemn them to hopeless
    misery alongside their parents.
        TPS is bipartisan. Created by Congress, Presidents of both
    parties utilized it to protect people from countries in crisis,
    provided that they follow the law.
        TPS recipients don't get handouts. They pay application
    fees that fund the system without burdening taxpayers.
        This bill also doesn't shield anyone who commits a crime.
    TPS holders pass repeated background checks, and any criminal
    record is disqualifying.
        Ending TPS doesn't stop crime. It means law enforcement
    expends more resources arresting noncriminals, and that means
    letting real public threats walk free.
        Trump's termination of TPS doesn't just separate families;
    it sends people back to a criminal regime where they will face
    violence, persecution, and even death.
        It is even more heinous to actively collaborate with
    Maduro, an indicted cartel kingpin, to facilitate these
    removals and reward him with sanctions relief. It is totally
    inconceivable and contradictory to continue twice-weekly
    deportation flights to Venezuela while threatening military
    action that may put innocents in the crossfire.
        How could the administration declare conditions in
    Venezuela have improved enough to revoke TPS, while bringing
    our largest aircraft carrier off their coast and considering
    military action?
        We cannot credibly denounce authoritarian dictators while
    cutting side deals to swap immigrants for oil money.
        Venezuelan TPS recipients are law-abiding families, and we
    should focus law enforcement resources on real criminals, not
    collective punishment. Let's pressure Venezuela's regime, not
    its refugees, and let's reduce Americans' high costs, not our
    highest ideals.
        I urge the Committee to take up and pass the bipartisan
    Venezuela TPS Act--not out of charity, but for America's
    interests.
        Thank you, Mr. Chair and the Ranking Member, for your
    indulgence and for your time on these two bills. Now, let's
    work together to protect the truly vulnerable among us.
        I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Wasserman Schultz follows:]
        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chair Jordan. Thank you. I appreciate your passion on this.
        [Pause.]
        That concludes today's hearing. We thank our colleagues for
    appearing before the Committee today.
        Without objection, all Members will have five legislative
    days to submit additional materials for the record. Without
    objection, the hearing is adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 11 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.]

        All materials submitted for the record by Members of the
    Committee on the Judiciary can be found at: https://
    docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=118678.

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