Press Releases

THIS LETTER WAS WITHDRAWN OCTOBER 25, 2022

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WASHINGTON — As the risk of nuclear war increases, fighting in Ukraine escalates, and global economic insecurity deepens, 30 members of Congress urged President Biden to pursue direct diplomacy for a negotiated settlement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

In a new letter the lawmakers, while recognizing the “difficulties involved in engaging Russia given its outrageous and illegal invasion of Ukraine,” urge the President to pair the U.S. military and economic support provided to Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire, consistent with the President’s own recognition that “there’s going to have to be a negotiated settlement here.”

The lawmakers propose an approach that could include “incentives to end hostilities, including some form of sanctions relief,” and an international arrangement to “establish security guarantees for a free and independent Ukraine that are acceptable for all parties, including Ukrainians.” “The alternative to diplomacy,” they warn, “is protracted war, with both its attendant certainties and catastrophic and unknowable risks.” In addition to the war’s harm to the people of Ukraine, they highlight the conflict’s impact on additional tens of millions worldwide, as skyrocketing prices in wheat, fertilizer, and fuel spark acute crises in global hunger and poverty.

The Members cite President Biden’s concern that Vladimir Putin “doesn't have a way out right now,” and former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen, who recently argued that Putin is acting as a “cornered animal,” a situation that he said “speaks to the need [to] do everything we possibly can to try to get to the table to resolve this thing.” “As is typical in any war,” he added, “it has got to end and usually there are negotiations associated with that.”

The majority of voters also support this call for diplomacy. Recent polling shows that 57 percent of Americans approve of U.S. negotiations to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible, even if it means making some compromises with Russia. 57 percent believe that Russia’s war in Ukraine will end in a negotiated peace, not a total military victory for either side, and 59 percent largely agree that the U.S. has a leading role to play in negotiating an end to the war.

The lawmakers conclude by appealing for “vigorous diplomatic efforts in support of a negotiated settlement and ceasefire, direct bilateral talks with Russia, exploring prospects for a new European security arrangement acceptable to all parties that will allow for a sovereign and independent Ukraine, and reiterating the goal of a rapid end to the conflict as a chief American priority.”

The letter can be found online here.

Signatories include: Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Alma S. Adams Ph.D. (NC-12), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16), Cori Bush (MO-01), André Carson (IN-07), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Peter A. DeFazio (OR-04), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Jesús “Chuy García (IL-04), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Sara Jacobs (CA-53), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (GA-04), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Gwen S. Moore (WI-04), Marie Newman (IL-03), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Donald M. Payne Jr. (NJ-10), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Mark Takano (CA-41), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07).

The letter was endorsed by the nonprofit groups Campaign For Peace Disarmament and Common Security, Just Foreign Policy, Friends Committee on National Legislation, MoveOn, Peace Action, Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and Win Without War. Organizations issued the following statements:

"This letter marks the first time prominent Democratic elected officials have publicly called on the Administration to pair support for Ukraine's self-defense with a strong diplomatic effort to seek an end to the fighting," said Marcus Stanley, advocacy director for the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. "Their leadership is crucial and welcome– without diplomacy the war risks turning into an extended, bloody stalemate with ongoing and increasing damage to the world economy and to Ukraine itself. Even worse, it could easily escalate into a broader or even a nuclear conflict.”

"Ukrainians have inspired people worldwide with their courageous resistance to the illegal Russian invasion. Empowered by unprecedented U.S. weapons and intel support, Ukrainians dealt Putin a humiliating defeat that few had thought possible," said Erik Sperling, executive director of Just Foreign Policy and former Ukraine policy staffer in Congress. "This victory, however, has also come at a heartbreaking cost for Ukraine's people and economy. Meanwhile, the economic impact of the war and sanctions has millions around the world facing starvation, and escalating U.S. involvement has sapped money for urgent domestic priorities while increasing the odds of apocalyptic nuclear war with Russia. Our government should heed the call by this level-headed group of Representatives and immediately prioritize dialogue that can save lives in Ukraine and around the world." 

“The progressive position on the invasion of Ukraine has been clear from the start: we support the Ukrainian people’s struggle against the Russian government’s illegal, imperialist invasion, and we recognize that the U.S. has a special role to play both in supporting that struggle and in working to reduce nuclear risk in the conflict — a risk borne disproportionately by people in Ukraine,” said Sara Haghdoosti, executive director of Win Without War. “This letter reflects this position, and emphasizes that during an appropriate diplomatic opening, the U.S. will be an indispensable partner for Ukraine in securing an end to hostilities that preserves Ukrainian sovereignty and prevents further Ukrainian deaths. We look forward to continued collaboration between the White House and congressional progressives to push for a just peace in Ukraine and the pursuit of nuclear risk reduction between the U.S. and Russia.”

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement upon the Biden administration announcement that the President will issue a pardon for all those with federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana and instruct a review of marijuana scheduling by federal agencies:

“The Progressive Caucus applauds this action by President Biden today to advance criminal and racial justice. We are thrilled to see the President use his executive authority to issue these pardons, and his platform to call on governors across the country to join him in this action.

“The ongoing federal prohibition of marijuana is a vestige of the failed, racist War on Drugs that targeted and devastated Black and Brown communities. Studies show a Black person is 3.64 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than a white person, even though Black and white people use marijuana at similar rates. In just one year, Latinos made up 77 percent of federal marijuana sentences, despite making up less than 20 percent of the U.S. population. Progressives have led the fight in Congress for marijuana justice for over two decades, first introducing legislation to ban federal interference with state medical cannabis laws in 2001, and with the leadership of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus in 2017. This year, under the leadership of CPC members Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), the House passed the MORE Act, which in addition to decriminalizing marijuana would remove it from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act, and correct historical and continued injustices resulting from the War on Drugs. We are excited to see the President recognize the need for such reform today in calling for the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to review the process of marijuana scheduling, and we encourage those departments to thoughtfully consider fully descheduling marijuana.

“Today’s pardons will give a fresh start to thousands of people and their families, and offer hope to all those suffering from this country’s history of unjust, racially discriminatory drug policy. They also represent the latest in a number of bold, progressive executive actions this President has ordered, including investing in environmental justice and renewable energy, helping to reduce use of force by police officers and demilitarize law enforcement, and of course canceling student debt. The Progressive Caucus is proud to partner with this administration in progressive governance, and to continue to work together to advance equity and justice, raise wages, lower costs, and address the most urgent issues facing every family who calls America home.” 

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s announcement that it will begin implementation of the President’s executive order to cancel up to $20,000 of student debt:

“We are excited to see the realization of years of organizing by advocates in movements and progressives in Congress to cancel student debt with the beginning of the Biden administration’s implementation process. It is clear that the administration is working to set up as accessible and straightforward a system as possible. In the face of Republican attacks, we understand the White House is prioritizing processing for loans that are publicly held through the Department of Education, which will cover the majority of borrowers, and we appreciate the administration’s transparency in working to ensure that the relief will actually reach the people who need it.

“As this implementation process continues, progressives will be working to ensure that the administrative burden on borrowers is as painless as possible, allows people to self-attest to income and other data, and that the full promise of the President’s executive order reaches borrowers who qualify. We’ll continue to work with the administration to educate our constituents and quickly get information out about the program and steps forward, what’s available at studentaid.gov, and protecting them from fraud attempts.

“We are about to see the government implement one of the most important investments in working people of recent years — and it wouldn’t have been possible without the years of dedication from all who organized for it the bold action of President Biden.”

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-05), whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement on negotiations surrounding legislation on public safety and policing:

“After significant, deliberate negotiations, we are pleased to share that when the House of Representatives votes on the Invest to Protect Act, the bill will include a number of reforms to ensure funds are used to support smaller police departments to invest in de-escalation and other important training, data collection, and mental health. In addition, the bill will be part of a package with other evidence-based, holistic legislation that addresses public safety and unifies the Democratic Caucus.

“Through our constructive and productive deliberations with the bill’s author Representative Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), we were able to secure critical improvements to target funding to smaller police departments, as the spirit of the legislation intends; to give the Department of Justice the ability to preference applicants that use the funds for officer training to improve community safety and accountability; and to allow the funding to not only go to officer pay and training, but also be used for data collection regarding police and community safety. 

“The research is clear that the safest communities take a comprehensive view of what their communities need, and invest in policing as part of a larger whole-of-government approach — funding social services and supports as well, rather than asking police officers to fill every role in the work of keeping our neighbors safe. That is why we are gratified that the House package will also include other important legislation: CPC Deputy Chair Representative Katie Porter (CA-45)’s Mental Health Justice Act to send unarmed, trained first responders to those experiencing mental-health crises and reduce fatal encounters between police and people with mental illness; Representative Steven Horsford (NV-04)’s Break the Cycle of Violence Act to provide federal grants for communities for evidence-based violence intervention and prevention programs; and Representative Val Demings’ (FL-10) VICTIM Act to improve the ability of law enforcement to solve gun crimes, support victims, and ensure justice for shooting victims. With this package, House Democrats have the opportunity to model a holistic, inclusive approach to public safety, and keep our promise to families across the country to address this issue at the federal level.”