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Rep. Dina Titus introduces legislation to compel reforms in Turkey

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Dina Titus has introduced the Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2026 to institute accountability measures to compel Turkey to adhere to democratic values, respect human rights, and release political prisoners.

The legislation would block U.S. security assistance to and cooperation with Turkey unless the Secretary of State certifies that the Turkish government has made appreciable improvements in human rights, rule of law, and adherence to judgments from the European Court of Human Rights. Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts.

“Turkey is a NATO ally, but that alliance carries obligations such as adherence to democratic norms and respect for human rights that Turkey is not meeting. For nearly a decade, the Erdogan government has moved further away from those responsibilities, not closer,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Thousands of political prisoners and journalists have been jailed simply for doing their jobs; lawyers have been prosecuted for representing their clients; religious and ethnic minorities are routinely targeted through vague anti-terrorism laws; and a transnational repression campaign has reached into our own communities here in the United States. Erdogan should not be granted greater U.S. security assistance unless there is clear, demonstrated improvements in each of these categories. I am proud to lead this bicameral bill with Senator Markey.”

“President Erdogan’s authoritarian rule must end,” Senator Markey said. “While the Turkish government continues to lock up journalists, political participants, and minority communities, the Trump White House is rewarding them by lifting sanctions and flaunting a ‘friendship’ with Erdogan. This legislation makes clear that the United States is committed to supporting peace and civil liberties in Turkey, and that the U.S. does not maintain friendships with dictators.”

The legislation would:

• Establish as U.S. policy pressing Turkey on NATO democratic obligations and human rights compliance.

• Commit the U.S. to advocating for the unconditional release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.

• Call on Turkey to protect press freedom, restore internet freedom, stop prosecuting lawyers/judges, and support European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) compliance, with corresponding State Department pressure campaigns on each front.

• Block Foreign Military Financing/Sales to Turkey unless the Secretary of State certifies progress on political prisoners, counterterrorism law misuse, ECHR compliance, and transnational repression with a national security waiver option.

• Require consideration of Global Magnitsky sanctions, Khashoggi Ban visa restrictions (including on family members), and scrutiny of Arms Export Control Act/Foreign Assistance Act human rights conditions.

• Mandate an annual report on political prisoners, censorship, transnational repression incidents, misuse of U.S.-origin surveillance tech, and sanctions/visa actions taken under the Act.

The Erdogan regime in Turkey has dismissed or suspended more than 60,000 police and military personnel, 125,000 civil servants, and one-third of the judiciary; arrested or imprisoned more than 95,000 citizens; and closed more than 1,500 nongovernmental organizations on trumped up charges. Today, nearly 43,000 political prisoners remain incarcerated in Turkish prisons.

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus asks Governor Joe Lombardo for Moratorium on Tax Abatements for Data Centers on Federal Land

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Dina Titus sent a letter to Governor Joe Lombardo today asking him to halt state tax abatements for data center projects on federal land until the 2027 Nevada Legislature has had an opportunity to review the issue.

Congresswoman Titus cited the proposed data center on federal land adjacent to Boulder City and concerns raised by residents about its effects on the region’s water supply and other environmental issues when the project was first proposed on city land. The developers of the project then moved it to nearby Bureau of Land Management land where they previously had proposed a solar farm.

“I am concerned that BLM approved Townsite Solar 2, LLC’s application to amend its ROW grant, without community input or adequate environmental analysis,” Congresswoman Titus said in the letter. “This is despite the fact that when the data center was proposed on an adjacent parcel owned by Boulder City, residents raised significant concerns about the potential impact of the project on our already dwindling water resources, extreme heat, and grid resilience, among other environmental concerns.”

Congresswoman Titus’s letter states:

Given the community concern and issues raised in this letter, I respectfully request answers to the following questions by August 10, 2026:

Have you or anyone in your Administration had conversations with Townsite Solar 2, LLC about their proposed project in Boulder City qualifying for the State data center tax abatement?
Since the ROW grant has been revised to allow the construction of a data center, is it your position that Townsite Solar, LLC is still eligible for the State renewable tax abatements that your Administration previously approved?
As Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), will you commit to refraining from approving data center tax rebates for projects on BLM land until the State Legislature reconvenes and has an opportunity to reconsider this issue, given the community concern around the Boulder City project and the precedent this would set for other public lands?
Do you agree that the regulatory approval process for any proposed projects to build data centers on public lands will be transparent and subject to robust public input?

Rep. Dina Titus Statement on Continuing Resolution to Fund Federal Government

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

“The price Republicans want us to pay to keep the federal government open through December is to give Border Patrol and ICE billions of dollars more without any reforms to immigration enforcement. Recently, immigration agents shot and killed residents in Maine and Texas – neither of whom were targeted for enforcement operations. ICE needs reform, not more money. The continuing resolution I opposed also shortchanges housing assistance for Nevadans; cuts programs to address utility costs in rural Nevada communities; and, as we enter the fire season in Nevada, cuts funds for wildland firefighting. Once again, House Republicans rushed through a measure to keep the government open without considering its consequences for the American people.”

Rep. Titus Leads Members Urging House Leadership to Address Colorado River Drought

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Dina Titus led eleven other members of Congress representing Upper Basin and Lower Basin states in sending a bipartisan letter to House leadership today urging them to include measures in a supplemental appropriations package that would mitigate the effects of extreme drought on the Colorado River.

“Bureau of Reclamation projections recently released show Lake Mead will drop below its record low of 2022 by the end of next month,” Congresswoman Titus said. “The lake is expected to drop even further to 31 feet below that level by mid-2028. We can wait no longer to address this crisis and the impacts it will have on the millions of people who rely on the Colorado River.”

Other Members of Congress signing the letter were Representatives Biggs, Stansbury, Crane, Vasquez, Stanton, Correa, Ansari, Costa, Grijalva, Hamadeh, and Gosar.

The letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Reps. Tom Cole and Rosa DeLauro, chair and ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, stated: “Any emergency funding package that aims to bolster our national security must recognize the immediate threat that prolonged drought and rapidly declining water levels in the Colorado River and its reservoirs pose to the millions of people whose lives and livelihoods depend on this resource. Federal investments are needed to build water supply resilience and reduce consumptive water use throughout the Colorado River Basin.”

The letter notes that in 2022 Congress provided $4 billion for drought mitigation measures. “Now is not the time to let federal support dry up. We recommend that the supplemental appropriations package include emergency funding for water infrastructure investments and upgrades in the Colorado River Basin and that significant funding is directed towards long-term planning for water reductions, conservation, and smart augmentation measures to protect the health and future of the Colorado River,” the Members said.

They also expressed support for a long-term agreement among the seven Colorado River Basin states that recognizes the natural limitations of the Colorado River. “Funding is urgently needed to limit the pain that could be felt by communities across the Basin in the near term and may smooth the path forward for post-2026 operating agreements.”

This letter was endorsed by Trout Unlimited; Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors (HECHO); Family Farm Alliance; National Audubon Society; Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP); Great Basin Water Network; The Nature Conservancy; American Rivers.

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Reps. Titus, Doggett Introduce Legislation to Protect Public Art

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today Congressional Arts Caucus members Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) and Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) introduced their Protecting Resources and Ensuring Stewardship of Enduring Records of Visual Expression (PRESERVE) Act. This legislation would establish a procedure to ensure that publicly commissioned art is protected and preserved during the federal building disposal process.

“Publicly commissioned art should never become collateral damage when federal buildings are sold or otherwise disposed of,” said Rep. Titus. “It is critical that we establish a process to protect these national treasures and ensure the public has full access to the 26,000 works of art exhibited in museums and federal buildings around the country, no matter who sits in the Oval Office. Art commissioned by the federal government is a vital part of our national heritage and deserves to be preserved for future generations.”

“As we celebrate America’s 250^th birthday, preservation of our Nation’s rich history and culture is essential,” said Rep. Doggett. “Many federal buildings like the Wilbur J. Cohen Building contain precious artworks that provide a visual history of the struggle, opposition, and ultimately of progress across generations of Americans. The PRESERVE Act will protect these treasures, because art is aspiration, and protecting it is how we live up to our own.”

The PRESERVE Act would require the General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator to convene a committee of experts and implement a plan to preserve any publicly commissioned artwork, including art that was created under New Deal programs, early in the disposal process. GSA would also be required to ensure that the artwork is accessible to the public after the building is disposed of, whether through a term in an outlease agreement or by transferring the property to another public building. Artwork commissioned with taxpayer funding should be publicly accessible.

This legislation is endorsed by Social Security Works, Living New Deal, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Hands Off the Arts, Preservation Action, and Public Art Dialogue.

“The Living New Deal is encouraged that members of the U.S. Congress are seeking to protect the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building and its irreplaceable artworks, as well as the other artworks -- more than 26,000 total -- in the U.S. General Services Administration's collection. The GSA is the primary steward of New Deal art, all of which belongs to the American people. The bill that Reps. Dina Titus and Lloyd Doggett are introducing is an honorable celebration of our nation's art and 250th anniversary. As George Washington wrote in 1784, ‘To encourage Literature and the Arts is a duty which every good Citizen owes to his Country,’” said Mary Okin, Assistant Director of Living New Deal.

"Thank you to Reps. Titus and Doggett for fighting to protect the American artifacts that are the New Deal-era murals in the Wilbur Cohen Building. Besides being priceless irreplaceable masterpieces of American art, the murals are an invaluable part of Social Security's history. Social Security Works enthusiastically endorses the PRESERVE Act, and urges Congress to protect public art by swiftly passing it into law," said Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works.

“Hands Off the Arts applauds Congresswoman Titus’s leadership and stands in solidarity with Living New Deal, Social Security Works, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Action, Public Art Dialogue, and all artists, archivists, historians, and arts workers across the country working to preserve and protect priceless public artworks,” said Mallory Miller, Co-founder of Hands Off the Arts.

"Public Art Dialogue's members include art historians, artists, curators, administrators, educators, architects, landscape architects, and others who understand the power of public art to foster community conversations about our national past, present, and future. PAD is pleased to support the PRESERVE Act, critical legislation which will ensure the survival and preservation of works specifically commissioned for 'we the people.' These historical riches serve not only as visible reminders of the aspirations of past Americans, but also as guideposts for the future enrichment of our national visual landscape,” said Dr. Amy Werbel and Dr. Karen Shelby, Co-Chairs of Public Art Dialogue.

Background

Through its Fine Arts Program, GSA maintains one of the oldest and largest public art collections in the United States. The collection includes art that was commissioned under New Deal programs. In 1934, the federal government began loaning or allocating artwork created under New Deal programs to public agencies and nonprofit institutions across the country. When the General Services Administration was established in 1949, it assumed stewardship responsibility for this artwork.

As the Trump Administration looks to reduce the federal real property footprint, these invaluable pieces of art are at risk. There currently are no guardrails in federal law to protect publicly commissioned artwork during the federal building disposal process. Congress must act to protect this important part of our history before it is too late.

Under immediate threat is the collection housed inside the Wilbur J. Cohen Building in Washington, DC which has been deemed the “Sistine Chapel of the New Deal.” The Cohen building houses frescoes and murals by Ben Shahn, Philip Guston, Seymour Fogel, and Jenne and Ethel Magafan. Because the frescoes are imbedded in the walls, they cannot simply be taken out of the building or transported to another location. Preserving this work would take careful input and planning from people who have the expertise and historical knowledge necessary to successfully protect it.

During the 119^th Congress, Rep. Titus has taken the following actions to protect public art:

On April 14, 2025, Representative Titus led members of the Congressional Arts Caucus to the General Services Administration raising concern that over half of GSA’s Fine Arts Program staff had been put on leave.
On August 19, 2025, Representative Titus introduced the Fine Arts Protection Act. This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to survey GSA’s Fine Arts collection and determine its economic value.
On April 24, 2026, Representative Titus led a letter to President Donald Trump and Acting Chairman for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) William English raising concern that NEH funds were being unlawfully redirected toward the construction of a Triumphal Arch.

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Rep. Dina Titus Provisions Included in Water Resources Development Act of 2026

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today finalized the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 to fund the Army Corps of Engineers for the next two years, including provisions proposed by Rep. Dina Titus to strengthen water conservation efforts.

“The prolonged drought and the shrinking Colorado River make it imperative that we think outside the box and use every tool possible to mitigate our water supply crisis,” Congresswoman Titus said. “This legislation strengthens the ability of the Army Corps of Engineers to protect dwindling water supplies. It includes provisions I championed to create an Office of Water Supply, Water Conservation, and Drought Resilience that would promote water conservation and drought resiliency measures at federal water projects such as those to optimize reservoir storage, support aquifer storage and recharge, and institute nature-based solutions in drought-prone areas.”

Another provision Congresswoman Titus led in the package would direct the Army Corps to consider the impact of data centers on water supply and conservation projects.

“We need to better understand the effects data centers will have on water supplies, particularly in desert areas like Southern Nevada prone to drought,” she said. “Two-thirds of proposed data centers are in drought-prone regions. Communities want transparency about how this influx of data centers will impact their water supply. We need to make sure that federal agencies follow due process and hold public hearings before transferring public lands to data center companies and using up this vital resource.”

The WRDA 2026 bill also includes provisions championed by Congresswoman Titus to create a pilot program to use natural infrastructure in dryland streams in arid and desert regions.

This program will be beneficial in Nevada, where 88 percent of streams are ephemeral, including the Amargosa River recently labeled one of America’s most endangered rivers.

Other provisions led by Congresswoman Titus in the legislation are:

Drought Resiliency Projects: Establishes two new programs to carry out small-scale projects for drought resiliency and flood control structure enhancement.
Dam Safety: Reauthorizes the dam safety program through 2031 and gives states the flexibility they need to protect communities from flooding.
Trucker River Flood Control Project: Provides needed reauthorizations to ensure continued implementation of the Truckee River Flood Management Project (TRMA). Through this project, the cities of Reno and Sparks, Washoe County and numerous other stakeholders are working together to reduce the devastating impacts of flooding along the Truckee River in Washoe County.
Invasive Species: Adds “aquatic invasive species identification, containment, mitigation, and eradication” to the list of authorized projects under the Tahoe Section 108 program.

Rep. Dina Titus Demands Answers from BLM on Data Center Reviews

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Dina Titus today released a letter she sent to federal Bureau of Land Management questioning how the BLM is reviewing proposals for data centers on public lands, specifically its unilateral approval of a data center on federal land in Boulder City.

“Residents of Boulder City and other communities in Southern Nevada have a right to know about any proposal to transfer federal land to data center developers,” she said. “Data centers potentially can affect our scant water resources, energy usage and the overall environment. The BLM allowed a private developer to switch from developing a solar farm on city-owned land in Boulder City to developing a data center on adjacent federal land without any public review. This is unacceptable.”

Congresswoman Titus sent the letter on July 8 to Steven Pearce, director of the BLM in Washington, D.C., and Justin Abernathy, acting director of the Nevada State Office of the BLM, asking for “robust public consultation and transparency” during the permitting process for data centers.

Relative to the Boulder City proposal, Congresswoman Titus said “residents are concerned about how the proposed project would impact the electric grid and utility prices, how heat generated from industrial processes would affect the surrounding area, and whether the project would further deplete our precious water resources.”

Congresswoman Titus asked for answers to the following questions by July 22:

1. Does BLM agree that robust transparency and public consultation should be conducted in any agency action that would allow data centers to be built on public land?

2. What public consultation did BLM engage in before agreeing to amend Townsite Solar 2,

LLC’s Right-of-Way grant (NVN 099875) to allow Townsite Solar 2, LLC to “construct, operate, and decommission a Data Center Facility” on public land?

3. What public consultation process does BLM plan to engage in as the agency considers whether to issue a Notice-to-Proceed allowing Townsite Solar 2, LLC to proceed with the project?

4. Will BLM hold public hearings as it considers whether to issue a Notice-to-Proceed for the development of Townsite Solar 2, LLC’s proposed data center facility in Boulder City?

Rep. Dina Titus Introduces Joint Resolution of Disapproval to Stop Sale of Jet Engines to Turkey

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Dina Titus today introduced a Joint Resolution of Disapproval to stop the $700 million sale of F110 jet engines to Turkey. Such a sale would undermine regional stability and pose a threat to U.S. allies while rewarding a repressive, dictatorial, and revengeful government led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“The regime of Turkish President Erdogan has made repeated threats of military action against NATO allies and other partner nations throughout the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Sale of these jet engines to Turkey will embolden it to pursue those threats. Turkey already is destabilizing the region with its continued illegal occupation of Cyprus, antagonism toward Greece, close association with designated terrorist organizations, support of Azerbaijan’s campaigns against Armenia, and threats to invade Israel. We should not be rewarding Erdogan’s bad behavior by expanding Turkey’s military might.”

The Trump administration formally notified Congress of the transaction on June 24, opening a 15-day review period during which lawmakers can move to block the sale. The resolution introduced by Congresswoman Titus provides a platform for Congress to act.

The F110 jet engines are intended for Turkey’s next-generation KAAN combat aircraft, a project Turkey has pursued as part of its broader effort to expand its military capabilities.

The Arms Export Control Act (AECA) gives Congress the statutory authority to review major foreign military sales. Through a Joint Resolution of Disapproval, Congress can officially halt or block an arms transfer during the review period.

Congresswoman Titus expressed concern that the Trump administration is committed to further aiding Turkey with advanced platforms like the F-35 in violation of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. “President Trump saying he has a ‘gift’ for Turkey that will make it ‘very happy’ should alarm all of us. Congress needs to act now to stop the administration from aiding an enemy of our allies.”

Reps. Titus, Cohen Introduce Legislation to Protect the Rights of Airplane Passengers with Disabilities

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV), a senior member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, introduced the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act with Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN). This legislation would protect and expand the rights of airplane passengers with disabilities, improve air travel safety, and close service gaps that passengers with disabilities frequently encounter in air travel. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will introduce companion legislation in the Senate.

"People with disabilities shouldn't have to face extra obstacles when they travel," said Rep. Titus. "They deserve equal access to our airports and airplanes. This legislation will expand their rights and safety while making air travel more convenient and accommodating for all."

“This legislation protects the rights of the flying public with disabilities and will improve overall safety for passengers,” said Rep. Cohen. “As a polio survivor with post-polio syndrome, I am proud to support legislation that seeks to make travel more accommodating for those living with disabilities.”

“Every American deserves to be treated with dignity and feel safe when they are traveling, but for far too long, passengers with disabilities, including our veterans, have been left behind. I have heard firsthand from Wisconsinites who’ve had their wheelchairs – the tool that lets them live a free and independent life – damaged by airlines, and it’s simply unacceptable,” said Senator Baldwin. “Our bill will ensure every American, no matter their ability, gets the respect they deserve when traveling.”

“No traveler should face barriers while traveling because of their disability,” said Senator Duckworth. “I hear so many frustrating stories from those who have experienced their wheelchair getting damaged, assistance being delayed and their needs for onboard accommodations just outright ignored—and it has to stop. Our legislation would help protect the rights of passengers with disabilities and provide them with the support they need when airlines fall short.”

This legislation is supported by the following organizations:

Paralyzed Veterans of America, Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACI Alliance), Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), American Legion, I AM ALS, American Council of the Blind, Cure SMA, United Spinal Association, Periodic Paralysis Association, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Student Veterans of America (SVA), The Arc, The Seeing Eye

“Paralyzed Veterans of America has championed this issue for decades because our members, veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases, like MS and ALS, know firsthand what happens when civil rights protections lack real enforcement. The Air Carrier Access Amendments Act closes the accountability gap that has allowed these failures to persist for far too long. This is exactly the kind of reform PVA has fought for, and we are fully committed to working alongside Rep. Titus to get it across the finish line,” said Heather Ansley, Esq., MSW, Chief Policy Officer, Paralyzed Veterans of America.

“Congresswoman Titus is a longtime leader for air travel rights for wheelchair users, like me. She’s not only notched major wins in federal law for our community, but she's also taken the time to understand, on a personal level, what wheelchair users go through just to get on an airplane,” said Seth McBride, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at United Spinal Association and a Paralympic gold medalist.

“When it comes to winning access to safety, to getting the same services and same travel experiences as everyone else, Rep. Dina Titus has our back. When I experienced my own air travel hell, she listened to me one-on-one to understand my frustrations with the system, including how difficult it was to obtain proper compensation for mistreatment by the airline. And that’s what’s at the heart of her bill, the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act of 2026, safety and fairness. When the system does not work for us, we should be able to have a court hear us. That’s not partisan politics, that’s justice.”

Original co-sponsors of the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act include Congresswoman Titus, Congressman Cohen, Congressman André Carson (D-IN), Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

Full bill text can be found here.

Background:

For 40 years, the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) has prohibited discrimination based on disability in air travel. Despite this progress, too many travelers with disabilities encounter significant barriers, such as damaged assistive devices and wheelchairs, delayed assistance, unclear communications, and lack of onboard accommodations.

The Air Carrier Access Amendments Act will protect and expand the rights of air passengers with disabilities and improve air travel safety by:

Requiring the Secretary of Transportation to assess civil penalties for Air Carrier Access Act violations and refer patterns of discrimination to the Department of Justice;
Granting individuals with disabilities a private right of action in civil court; and
Expressing a sense of Congress that legislation is necessary to ensure that individuals with disabilities have adequate remedies available when air carriers violate the ACAA.

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Rep. Dina Titus Statement on Republican ICE Spending Bill

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) released a statement following her vote against today's Republican ICE spending bill.

“Gas prices are rising. Grocery costs are up. Health care is too expensive. Yet, instead of addressing any of those issues in today’s funding bill, Republicans passed a $70 billion-dollar blank check for ICE on top of the $140 billion already given to them in President Trump’s Big, BS Budget Bill,” Congresswoman Titus said.

“I voted against this legislation because it is an egregious abuse of taxpayer dollars and fails to include critical reforms to ICE needed to protect our communities from brutal tactics used by the Trump Administration in its immigration enforcement,” Congresswoman Titus continued. “ICE agents should be held to the same standards as other law enforcement officers. They should not be allowed to hide behind masks and should wear badges identifying them and their agency. They also should not be allowed to conduct warrantless searches. They must be held accountable for use of excessive or unnecessary force.”

“ICE does not need more money; it needs reform,” Congresswoman Titus concluded.

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