Press Releases

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), a Congressional leader in the fight to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in the United States and around the world through increased awareness, screening, research, treatment, and funding, announced progress on two of her HIV/AIDS initiatives in the 112^th Congress.

Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters along with Rushmore Cervantes, Interim General Manager, Los Angeles Housing Department; Timothy Watkins, CEO, Watts Labor Community Action Committee; and Charles Quarles, President, Bedford Group joined Shaun Donovan, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) during his visit to Los Angeles for a tour of several properties that have benefited from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) in South Los Angeles. Congresswoman Waters statement about Secretary Donovan's visit is below:

Today, on Capitol Hill, Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-35), a congressional leader on Alzheimer's issues, welcomed members of the Alzheimer's Association to Washington, DC, and reiterated her strong support for programs to assist Americans affected by Alzheimer's disease. The advocates came to Washington from all 50 states to bring attention to the needs of Alzheimer's patients, caregivers, and families during the Alzheimer's Association's Annual Advocacy Forum, April 23-25, 2012.

Today, three Californian interns from the Washington Center for Internship Placement (TWC) met with Congresswoman Maxine Waters in her Washington, DC office. The interns, who attend California State University- Long Beach and Loyola Marymount University (LMU), spoke with the Congresswoman about their current internship sites and policy issues concerning: public schools, budgetary cuts to education, diversity within her congressional district, and higher education funding.

Congresswoman Waters joined Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and other members in introducing legislation today to protect veterans' rights to mental healthcare treatment and services. The "Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act" is also supported by the AMVETS service organization.

The Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act would eliminate a five year window to seek mental health treatment, allowing veterans who served in combat from all military operations to seek treatment for service-connected mental illnesses, regardless of when their conditions manifest themselves.

Today, Rep. Waters joined her colleagues as one of the original co-sponsors of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012. This legislation strengthens the abilities of the Federal Government, States, law enforcement, and service providers to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Last week, the House Judiciary Committee approved legislation in response to the rising number of smugglers' tunnels found along the US-Mexico border. H.R. 4119, "The Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012" would expand existing law by making it a crime to conspire to build, use, or finance a border tunnel. The legislation would also authorize the use of wiretapping to investigate and prosecute those conspiring to build such tunnels. In expressing support for the legislation, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) delivered the following remarks:

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1433, "The Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2011." Introduced by Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the legislation is intended to protect private property owners and communities from eminent domain abuse, and restore property rights that the Supreme Court changed in the controversial case, Kelo v. City of New London.