Rep. Sykes, DWC Urge Speaker Johnson to Remove Amendment that Shields Rideshare Companies from Liability for Sexual Assault

June 11, 2026 Rep. Sykes, DWC Urge Speaker Johnson to Remove Amendment that Shields Rideshare Companies from Liability for Sexual Assault WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Vice Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, joined DWC Executive Steering Committee Member Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Co-Vice Chair Hillary Scholten (MI-03), and Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) in leading 128 members of the DWC and House Democratic Caucus in a letter sent Wednesday to House Speaker Mike Johnson urging him to remove a dangerous provision in the BUILD America 250 Act that would likely shield rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft from liability when passengers are sexually assaulted, injured, or killed during rides. Opening the door for Uber and Lyft to receive a liability shield is likely to disproportionately harm women and girls. It would also reduce available recourse for survivors of crashes, sexual assaults, and other incidents that occur when using rideshare services. The letter argues Congress should strengthen rideshare safety protections and corporate accountability—not create pathways for immunity for multibillion-dollar corporations amid ongoing reports of sexual assault tied to rideshare platforms. The Members demand that Speaker Johnson remove this provision from the BUILD America 250 Act before the bill moves to the House floor. In their letter, the Members explain that rideshare companies’ failures to adequately adopt policies to protect passengers and drivers from sexual misconduct are well-documented and chilling: “Since the beginning of 2026 alone, Uber has been found liable for two separate sexual assault cases involving drivers, including cases in Arizona and North Carolina. Publicly reported safety data has also shown alarming rates of sexual assault and misconduct reports tied to rideshare platforms. These ongoing incidents demonstrate why Congress should be strengthening oversight, improving transparency, and encouraging stronger safety protocols, rather than clearing the path for unprecedented liability shields for multibillion-dollar corporations.” The Members also argue that survivors must have the right to hold companies accountable when corporate failures contribute to preventable harm: “The bill as amended sets the stage for corporations to be shielded from liability when passengers who allege sexual assault, are seriously injured, or are killed when using rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft. As this Congress engages in a bipartisan effort to reform our own practices to keep women safe from sexual misconduct, it is unthinkable that we create pathways to immunity for corporations if sexual assault or other harm occurs when using their services. In addition, the amendment would likely be interpreted to preempt longstanding state liability laws so that a rideshare company cannot be held liable if a driver harms a passenger. This creates not only an extraordinarily high legal threshold for victims to pursue accountability, but also discourages companies from taking necessary steps to keep passengers safe. While supporters claim the amendment would reduce transportation costs and curb frivolous litigation, in practice it would hamstring the rights of survivors to hold companies accountable when harm occurs because of failures to implement reasonable safety measures, adequately vet drivers, monitor dangerous conduct, or respond appropriately to complaints…Survivors deserve the right to hold companies accountable when corporate failures contribute to preventable harm.” Read the full letter here . Print Email Share Tweet