McCollum Opposition to H.R. 5339, H.R. 3724, H.R. 5717, H.R. 7909, and H.R. 5179

Studies have shown that 80% of investors want to invest in companies that consider climate risks, diverse hiring practices, and employee welfare. Investors know that these factors—referred to collectively as environmental, social, and governance (ESG)—impact the value of their investment and ownership of a given company. Yet, House Republicans have brought forward H.R. 4790, the Prioritizing Economic Growth Over Woke Policies Act, which inhibits investors’ ability to have a say in the policies of companies they share ownership of, and would reverse the progress many public companies and banks have made to address climate risks, train and retain a more diverse workforce, and adopt socially responsible practices. Additionally, this bill would undermine the stability of our banking system by eliminating key provisions in Dodd-Frank and would make it harder for federal regulators to address urgent systemic risks in the financial sector. 

Similarly, H.R. 5339, the Protecting Americans’ Investments from Woke Policies Act, combines four Republican bills that perpetuate a misguided attack on ESG investing in pension plans. Let’s be clear about why Republicans are bringing this bill forward; pension funds hold nearly thirty percent of all fossil fuel industry shares. Republicans are not using H.R. 5339 to make workers retirement savings stronger. H.R. 5339 is yet another opportunity for House Republicans to put the financial success of polluters over people. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, retirement professionals’ now can weigh the risks and returns of ESG factors in a given investment, while continuing to uphold the same duty of care to act in the best interest of their clients. H.R. 5339 would harm this meaningful shift in policy, and I urge my colleagues to reject it. 

H.R. 3724 should be known as the Project 2025 Attacking Education Act, because it’s a key step in Republican’s broader plans to force right-wing culture war mandates into the American education system. This bill would undermine our institutions of higher education allowing discrimination by chilling the ability of accreditors to ensure core components of education are being provided to all students. It also micromanages the decisions of colleges and universities to ensure that free speech rights can be safely exercised, and it allows groups funded by student activity fees to actively discriminate against their fellow students. It undermines commitments to diversity, academic integrity, and student safety.

The No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act, H.R. 5717, is Republican’s attempt to lay the foundation for Project 2025, which would make it federal policy to coerce states and localities into adopting anti-immigrant policies. This bill prevents “sanctuary jurisdictions” and in some cases, entire states, from receiving any federal funds that might “benefit” undocumented immigrants. In practice, the bill would strip billions of dollars of vital federal funding for local police departments from both Democratic and Republican districts. I will not support rescinding billions of dollars from the police, doctors, highway funds, and schools.

With H.R. 7909, the Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act, Republicans continue to scapegoat migrants and undermine the constitutional protections afforded to people who are in the United States legally. The reality is, all serious sexual offenders are already deportable under current law. But with this poorly drafted legislation, victims of domestic violence could be deported for defending themselves! Republicans must stop pushing harmful messaging bills that will never become law and work toward bipartisan, constructive solutions to fix our broken immigration system.

H.R. 5179, the Anti-BDS Labeling Act, codifies Trump-era policies that are inconsistent with international law and contradicts decades of bipartisan US policy. This bill declares that products made in Area C of the West Bank – and all Israeli settlements and areas of Palestinian lands surrounding them – shall be labeled as “Made in Israel.” This labeling policy takes the official position that the United States views Area C as part of Israel and not as occupied Palestinian territory. Additionally, this bill codifies the Trump-era customs guidance that requires Gaza and the West Bank to be treated as separate entities rather than as one, further undermining a future for a unified Palestinian state and a two-state solution.