United States Representative and Democratic candidate for U.S. House in North Carolina's 2nd district.
Case
Interior paid TotalEnergies, Invenergy, and Bluepoint Wind more than $2.3 billion to cancel offshore wind leases in 2026. State attorneys general and members of Congress say the payments broke the Judgment Fund Act. Interior says the payments were lawful, voluntary refunds.
Case
An issue tracker recording where members of Congress and 2026 midterm candidates stand on the unauthorized Iran war, based on their votes on war-powers resolutions, campaign statements, and public remarks.
Role at the time: U.S. Representative, North Carolina 2nd district
Statement summary
Deborah K. Ross voted Yea on H.Con.Res. 93, the House resolution directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.
“On Agreeing to the Resolution: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”
A yea vote supported directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, opposing continued U.S. involvement in the war without congressional authorization.
Role at the time: U.S. Representative, North Carolina
Statement summary
Rep. Deborah Ross, leading a letter from 15 House Democrats to President Trump, the Attorney General, and the Interior Department Inspector General, wrote that the payment structure "does not meet the statutory requirements governing use of the Judgment Fund" because DOI identified no final judgment, approved compromise of a referred claim, or money-damages liability that would make the payments eligible under 31 U.S.C. Section 1304.
“The use of congressionally appropriated funds, potentially in violation of the Antideficiency Act, to pay private companies to cancel clean energy projects on the condition that they invest in fossil fuel ventures appears to be quid pro quo. ... You have furnished these reimbursements through the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Judgment Fund, which was created to pay valid judgement and settlements where the United States is the defendant. The details of these agreements make clear that your payment structure does not meet the statutory requirements governing use of the Judgment Fund: DOI has identified no final judgment, Attorney General-approved compromise of a referred claim, or money-damages liability that would make this payment eligible for the Judgment Fund under 31 U.S.C. § 1304 or 28 U.S.C. § 2414.”
Relative to whether the payments complied with the Judgment Fund Act, Ross's letter argues directly that they do not meet the statute's requirements, identifying no final judgment or approved compromise that would make them eligible. That is a direct condemnation of the payment mechanism, not merely the broader cancellation policy.
Statement dates: September 15, 2026
Statement dates: May 28, 2026
Statement dates: May 28, 2026
Statement dates: September 15, 2026
Statement dates: September 15, 2026
