Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8352, the bipartisan Criminal History Access Act of 2026. I applaud my colleague, Mr. Schmidt, for introducing this important bill and for working together to get it through the Judiciary Committee. Every State has its own standards for determining who may serve as a State or local law enforcement officer. Those standards are set and administered by a State board or agency.
2026 MidtermsSolid SeatD+35D shift +6$1.2M raised
Deborah Ross
Representative · North Carolina · Democrat
Deborah Ross
House Floor
Recent comments in the House
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2267, the NICS Data Reporting Act, which would require the Attorney General to submit an annual report to Congress providing demographic data about the individuals who receive denials from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, NICS, as part of an attempted firearm purchase in the preceding year. The NICS background system has processed more than 300 million checks since the FBI launched the system in 1998. NICS checks are critical to enforcing our laws that keep certain disqualified individuals from possessing a firearm.
Biography
Deborah Ross, a former civil rights attorney, was elected to represent North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District in 2020. She focuses on expanding voting rights, protecting the environment, and strengthening infrastructure. Ross has authored legislation to secure clean water resources and serves on the House Judiciary and Rules Committees. Her approach emphasizes pragmatic problem-solving and responsive representation for her diverse district.
Education
- J.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC1990
- A.B., Brown University, Providence, RI1985
Professional History
U.S. Representative
2021-PresentRepresenting North Carolina's 2nd district
- 2003–13
State Director, American Civil Liberties Union
1994–2002Lawyer, Private Practice
Member, North Carolina House of Representatives
Policy Focus
Government Operations and Politics12%
Science, Technology, Communications12%
Energy10%
Health9%
Notable Legislation
Key legislative actions from Deborah Ross's record in Congress.
Infrastructure Funding
Helped secure federal funding for North Carolina transportation and infrastructure projects through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Clean Energy Advocacy
Supported legislation to expand clean energy jobs and investments in North Carolina’s renewable energy sector.
PFAS Contamination Response
Introduced and supported measures to address PFAS contamination in North Carolina’s water supply.
Support for HBCUs
Advocated for increased federal funding for North Carolina’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Committee Assignments
View details →- House Committee on Ethics
- House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
- House Committee on the Judiciary
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