Congressional Progressive Caucus

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), is the largest caucus group within the Democratic Caucus. It was established in 1991, and is chaired by Raúl Grijalva (D-Arizona) and Lynn Woolsey (D-California).

It states four key principles:

1. Fighting for economic justice and security for all;
2. Protecting and preserving our civil rights and civil liberties;
3. Promoting global peace and security; and
4. Advancing environmental protection and energy independence

News releases

Health Care

The "Quad Caucus", of CPC, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus sent a letter, on 2 November 2009, to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, agreeing on the need for the public option in the House-passed H.R. 3962, but also asking that certain areas be strengthened: Ensure sufficiency ofsubsidies within the Health Exchange to provide affordability of premiums for those who do not currently have health insurance.

• Cost containment provisions for premiums to ensure affordability for those who already have insurance but could lose coverage without mechanisms to reign in spiraling costs.
• Explicitly statement that the public option must be available without any triggers or opt-out provisions.
• Increased support of the Offices of Minority Health across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and elevating the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health to Center
• Avoidance of citizenship or residency verification is required for purchase of insurance in the Health Insurance Exchange.

Formal positions

Domestic surveillance

CPC believes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), with warrants issued by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, is the sole authority for communications intelligence in the United States or directed at United States citizens. It does not, however, require that foreign communications that, for technical reasons, have part of their route through the United States are subject to the FISA. It accepts that the FISA will periodically need modernization to keep up with technological developments. "Congress must have regular access to information about how many U.S. communications are being collected and the authority to require court orders when it becomes clear that a certain program or surveillance of a target is scooping up communications of U.S. persons."