Rep. Summer Lee Introduces Bill to Protect Lawmakers from Violence and Retaliation While Conducting Oversight 

(Link to Bill Text) 

PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 10, 2025 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) joined by Representatives Maxwell Frost (FL-10) and Delia Ramirez (IL-03) introduced the Congressional Oversight Access Act, critical legislation to protect Members of Congress from violence, obstruction, and retaliation when conducting official oversight of the executive branch. The bill comes in response to recent disturbing incidents where Members of Congress, including Rep. LaMonica McIver and Senator Alex Padilla, were arrested while performing their constitutional oversight duties. 

“It is not only our right but our constitutional duty as Members of Congress to conduct oversight of the executive branch—whether that’s a federal prison, an ICE facility, or any agency receiving public funds,” said Rep. Lee. “When Members are met with force, arrests, or retaliation for fulfilling that responsibility, it represents a dangerous abuse of power and a direct threat to our democratic institutions. These attempts to silence us, to make examples out of Members like Rep. LaMonica McIver, are meant to intimidate and suppress dissent, especially from younger, Black, and outspoken voices. But we will not normalize executive overreach, we will not stay silent in the face of injustice, and we will fight back every time, because our democracy depends on it.” 

The Congressional Oversight Access Act makes it illegal for executive branch officials to use force or obstruct a Member of Congress acting in their official oversight capacity. The bill explicitly defines protected oversight activities to include reviewing, monitoring, supervising, investigating, or visiting federal programs, facilities, or agencies to ensure compliance with laws, court orders, and the proper administration of federal policies. 

The right of Congress to conduct oversight is foundational to the balance of power in the U.S. Constitution. However, under the Trump Administration, Members of Congress have increasingly faced efforts to block, intimidate, and even criminalize this essential function. 

"From immigration detention centers to federal agencies, Members of Congress have a duty and responsibility to oversee and conduct oversight across the government," said Rep. Maxwell Frost. "This is about ensuring our laws and human rights remain intact no matter who is sitting the in the Oval Office. Members will not be bullied or intimidated out of doing our jobs for the American people." 

"As Members of Congress, it is our Constitutional obligation to conduct oversight and ensure the Executive Branch is held accountable for their actions, especially actions we fund through appropriations. Yet, the Administration has not only broken the law by obstructing our ability to do our job, they have persecuted those who dared to fulfill their constitutional oath," said Congresswoman Ramirez. "It goes without saying that the Administration must ensure Members of Congress can safely execute the duties of our positions, whether we are conducting oversight of an ICE detention facility or federal offices. That is why I am joining my colleague Congresswoman Summer Lee to introduce the Congressional Oversight Access Act, to remind the Administration that they will not deter us from our duty through bullying and intimidation." 

The bill is endorsed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and Public Citizen. 

“Members of Congress have the right and responsibility to effectively monitor and conduct oversight of the executive branch on behalf of the American public. We must ensure that they can continue to carry out this duty without facing retaliation or violence,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “The Congressional Oversight Access Act will institute further protections for members of Congress to ensure that executive branch officials cannot use force to interfere with or silence lawful congressional oversight. Its passage is critical to maintaining our systems of checks and balances and protecting American democracy.” 

The Congressional Oversight Access Act reaffirms that Members of Congress must be free to exercise their Article I authority without fear of arrest or reprisal, particularly when engaging in lawful and necessary oversight of executive action. It sends a clear message: the legislative branch will not be silenced by intimidation, threats, or executive overreach. 

Overview of the Congressional Oversight Access Act: 

• Protects Members of Congress from the use of force, arrest, or retaliation while conducting oversight in their official capacity.
• Defines covered oversight activities to include investigations, monitoring, visitation, and supervision of federal entities and operations.
• Responds to recent incidents where Members were arrested or obstructed during lawful oversight.
• Reasserts the constitutional role of Congress and the necessity of maintaining checks and balances between branches of government. 

Cosponsors: Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA-8), Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-1), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Rep. Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rep. Troy Carter (LA-2), Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-6), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8), Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-2), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Rep. Pablo José Hernández (PR-At-Large), Rep. Maxine Dexter (OR-7), Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-5), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35). 

The full text of the bill can be found here: [BILL TEXT] 

Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.4 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 3,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.