FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : January 15, 2026
Democracy Weakened by Congress in Year of “Chaos, Crisis, and Complicity”
WASHINGTON, D.C.—NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice today released its Congressional Voting Record for the First Session of the 119th Congress, noting that 2025 saw the Trump administration issue an onslaught of constitutionally questionable executive actions and dictate what moved forward in Congress. Rather than function as an independent branch of government, the Republican-controlled Congress gave up its power and stayed in lockstep with the Administration, the Voting Record shows.
“For more than 50 years, we have evaluated Members of Congress on how they vote to advance, or harm, our ability to thrive as individuals, families, communities, and as a country. It should come as no surprise that this year’s Congressional Voting Record tells a story of devastating loss,” said Laurie Carafone, NETWORK Executive Director. “The Voting Record is needed more than ever to shine a light and expose the truth that too many Members of Congress are failing the American people. We must hold Members of Congress accountable for their votes on health care, taxes, food, and the detention and deportation of our immigrant neighbors.”
The 2025 Voting Record scores Member votes on legislation, including due process rights for immigrants, increased federal spending on defense while cutting vital human need programs for families, tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, new funding for deportations and detentions, cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, ending tax credits that made health care affordable while withholding food assistance, and continuing resolutions to keep the government open.
Despite the lack of moral courage from many in Congress in 2025, NETWORK’s An Economy for All agenda still had champions in Congress: 32 Senators and 160 Representatives voted 100% in alignment with NETWORK and faithful justice-seekers around the country seeking to preserve our democracy, protect the common good, and put the interests of hardworking families and vulnerable communities over billionaires.
Forty-four Senators and 197 Representatives scored 14% or less. The 2025 Voting Record, scoring every Member of Congress, can be found online.
Founded by Catholic Sisters in 1971, NETWORK is an inclusive, national, Catholic advocacy organization open to all who share our values, working for justice and equity for everyone. For 54 years, NETWORK has educated, organized, and lobbied for federal policies that serve the common good and honor the dignity of all people.
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