Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) today released data showing that California’s 45th district received nearly $2.6 billion in relief through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Also according to the data, over 20,000 Orange County businesses got help from this program. The Small Business Administration has yet to disclose data on which businesses received funds and in what amounts.… Read more »

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified before the House Oversight Committee Monday that he came to the United States Postal Service to apply his experience in logistics to help the USPS “grow and evolve in the path of sustainability.” But during the hearing, he revealed that he’s still a tad unfamiliar with the agency he is set to reform. That came out in questioning from Rep. Katie… Read more »

The House of Representatives has passed a key defense bill with five amendments by Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45), including provisions to strengthen Pentagon oversight, increase consumer protections for servicemembers, and study risks to national security posed by social media companies. These amendments were accepted on a broad bipartisan basis and included in the National Defense… Read more »

U.S. Representative Katie Porter (CA-45), Committee on House Administration Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chairwoman Judy Chu (CA-27), today urged California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to help voters get the in-language materials and language assistance they’ll need this fall. The Congresswomen led more than twenty of their California… Read more »

WASHINGTON—Representatives Katie Porter (CA-45), Jackie Speier (CA-14), and Francis Rooney (FL-19) announced a bipartisan proposal yesterday that would increase public accountability for the Pentagon. Their measure requires the Department of Defense to put all unclassified reports on a publicly accessible website.  Each year, the Pentagon is required to report on dozens of topics… Read more »

WASHINGTON—U.S. Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) and U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (CA) today blasted the Trump Administration for withholding information from the public about a $650 billion program intended to support small businesses. The two demanded release of data about who is receiving forgivable loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and in what amounts. “Millions of… Read more »

WASHINGTON—U.S. Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) and U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (CA) today called on Congressional leadership to remove a roadblock hampering oversight of taxpayer dollars going to large corporations. In a letter, Porter and Harris urged leaders of both parties to quickly appoint a Chairperson of the Congressional Oversight Commission, which oversees a $500 billion… Read more »

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) today introduced legislation to increase transparency and accountability for a loan program aimed at providing relief for small businesses feeling the squeeze during the coronavirus pandemic. Her bill would require all loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to be made public.  “The PPP is the last line of defense for… Read more »

It will be tougher for President Donald Trump and his successors to appoint people to key federal positions without first getting Senate confirmation if a new bill from Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, becomes law. Presidents have always appointed people to temporarily fill Cabinet secretary positions, ambassador seats and other roles that otherwise require Senate approval. But faced with… Read more »

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) today introduced legislation to increase accountability for federal agency heads and other officials that have not been vetted by the Senate. Her Accountability for Acting Officials Act would limit who can serve as an “acting” official and for how long, closing various loopholes in the current law.  The bill would also… Read more »