{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", party = \"Democrat\" and state = \"MD\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-alsobrooks-hosts-real-men-real-talk-discussion-at-bowie-state-university/", "SENATOR ALSOBROOKS HOSTS REAL MEN, REAL TALK DISCUSSION AT BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY", "2026-09-27", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "September 27, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), along with MedStar Health and United Way of the National Capital Area, hosted \u201cReal Men, Real Talk\u201d at Bowie State University \u2014 a discussion and community fair dedicated to men, their health, and a stronger community.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks was joined by Bowie State University president Dr. Aminta H. Breaux; Chile Ahaghotu, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center; Gigi El-Bayoumi, MD, Founder, Rodham Institute at Georgetown School of Medicine; Brocklin Qualls, Director, Black Fatherhood Blueprint, Greater Washington Urban League; Jamal Branch, Psychotherapist, Founder, Synergy Therapeutic Services, LLC; and Stephen Conti, Founder, Tocar Spa Massage Therapy.\n\n\u201cOur men and boys hear the world demand so much of them. Today they got to hear these important words: you are loved. We care what you\u2019re going through. We\u2019re concerned about your lives, and you don\u2019t have to handle everything on your own. That is what today was all about \u2013 joining together to discuss the physical, mental, and emotional health of our men and boys, and letting them know about the resources and support systems available to them,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cUnited Way NCA is honored to stand alongside Senator Alsobrooks as a community partner for the \u2018Real Men, Real Talk\u2019 discussion and community fair,\u201d said Dr. Nicole Cooper, Chief External Affairs and Transformation Officer, United Way of the National Capital Area. \u201cThe event aligns with our healthy community impact area, giving men real tools to live strong, healthy lives, from health screenings to mental health resources to a space where they feel seen and heard. It\u2019s built on strong partnerships, and that\u2019s how we create healthier, stronger communities throughout the National Capital Area, together.\u201d\n\n\u201cStudent success depends on well-being,\u201d said Dr. Aminta H. Breaux, president of Bowie State University. \u201cToday\u2019s conversation created an important space for men and boys to prioritize their physical, mental and emotional health, connect with resources and know they are supported. We are proud to partner with Sen. Alsobrooks and community leaders to strengthen the health and well-being of the communities we serve.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-28T11:29:07Z", "2026-09-28T11:30:58Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-meets-to-discuss-critical-priorities-for-the-port-of-baltimore", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Meets to Discuss Critical Priorities for the Port of Baltimore", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Yesterday, members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation held a meeting at the United States Capitol to discuss their work on a range of issues relating to the Port of Baltimore, including its infrastructure needs, long-term stability, and growth. During the meeting, the lawmakers heard from Port leadership and stakeholders about upcoming modernization projects, investments, general workforce updates, and more. The Port of Baltimore generates $70 billion annually in economic impacts to Maryland, and 273,000 total jobs in Maryland are connected to the Port. Video of the members\u2019 press availability following the meeting is available here.\n\n\u201cMaryland is a leading hub for trade and commerce \u2013 and the Port of Baltimore is a key part of our success, generating thousands of jobs and bolstering our economy. Yesterday\u2019s meeting was a great opportunity for Team Maryland to come together with Port leadership and key stakeholders to discuss our past efforts and plan for how we will build on those efforts for the future of the Port. Working alongside state and local partners, we will keep fighting to deliver resources and support so communities across Maryland reap the benefits of a strong and vibrant Port,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe Port is more than just the pride of Baltimore. It\u2019s a state treasure, and it\u2019s an economic engine for the nation and the rest of the world. Our support for Baltimore and the Port remains strong, because a strong Port makes us better, makes our economy stronger, and makes us more sustainable. We have to continue looking at every opportunity to invest in this economic engine that consumers, businesses, workers, and economies worldwide depend on. And I look forward to working with Team Maryland on Capitol Hill to continue fighting for the resources that keep us on the cutting edge,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore has always been a mighty force in job creation and economic growth in our state. I was glad to meet with the Maryland Congressional Delegation, Maryland Port Administration leadership, and local Port leaders to discuss the significant economic development accomplishments and opportunities for our nation's exports out of Baltimore. Investing in our infrastructure and transportation systems at the Port will improve shipping capacity, competitiveness, and business opportunities for the communities across Maryland that depend on the port. The delegation will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to secure the investments needed to strengthen the Port of Baltimore, grow our economy, and create jobs here in Maryland and across the country,\u201d said Congressman Hoyer.\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore is a booming economic gateway for the Free State and the nation,\u201d said Congressman Raskin. \u201cWhile President Trump\u2019s chaotic and costly trade war and tariffs have reduced imports, Team Maryland will continue fighting for the federal funding needed to keep the port an accessible, attractive destination for the largest cargo ships and create more high-paying union jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore has been able to survive ups and downs of the economy for over 100 years. Now, the President\u2019s economic strategy that prioritizes tariffs over jobs is adding additional hardship. The President\u2019s ongoing, illegal war in Iran is driving up the cost to ship everything, which directly impacts our port and our economy. But Team Maryland will be able to overcome that. We're in Washington and working together to deliver, not just for the Port, not just for the 2,400 Longshoremen who work in the Port, but for our economy and state as a whole,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth. \u201cTo write the future of the Port of Baltimore, we will be taking inspiration from what once was \u2013 back to the Baltimore clippers and the hundreds of Liberty ships built during World War II. It is time for Maryland to lead in shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing once again.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-liccardo-call-on-director-pulte-to-prioritize-missing-middle-housing-funding/", "ALSOBROOKS, LICCARDO CALL ON DIRECTOR PULTE TO PRIORITIZE \u201cMISSING MIDDLE\u201d HOUSING FUNDING", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "September 24, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As reported today in POLITICO\u2019s Morning Money, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16) are urging Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte to encourage more lending toward \u201cmissing middle\u201d multifamily affordable housing through reforms to the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) system.\n\n\u201cThere is a clear need for more housing developments in this range (5-to-49 units) in urban and rural communities across the country. But too often, developers of condominiums and rental properties in the 5-to-49-unit range face a financing gap: the developments are too large for conventional lending for single-family residential development, but too small to attract institutional capital,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe lawmakers encouraged Director Pulte to consider the following steps:\n\nEncourage FHLBanks to prioritize targeted advances and lending products aimed at 5-49-unit construction and rehabilitation to support affordable rental and homeownership opportunities;\n\nEncourage FHLBanks to build underwriting capacity and pilot programs for missing-middle lending; and\n\nIncorporate missing-middle lending data into future reports to the National Economic Council, Office of Management and Budget, and Congress.\n\nSee below or here for the full letter:\n\nDear Director Pulte:\n\nAs federal agencies begin to implement the 21st Century Road to Housing Act (Public Law No: 119-101) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) responds to Executive Order 14393 (\u201cPromoting Access to Mortgage Credit\u201d), we urge FHFA to use its existing authority as regulator of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) System to direct more capital toward \u201cmissing middle\u201d housing: 5-to-49-unit multifamily housing developments for ownership and rental.\n\nThere is a clear need for more housing developments in this range in urban and rural communities across the country. But too often, developers of condominiums and rental properties in the 5-to-49-unit range face a financing gap: the developments are too large for conventional lending for single-family residential development, (which is defined as 1-4 units) but too small to attract institutional capital. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and outside experts Aaron Klein and Chris Hughes have outlined a good case for action. According to 2026 data and a Congressional Budget Office study, the FHLB system holds $1.43 trillion in assets and receives an estimated $7 billion per year implicit federal guarantee on its debt. FHLBs are statutorily required to allocate ten percent of net income towards affordable housing and in recent years have voluntarily allocated more, positioning them uniquely to close this financing gap. Multifamily construction starts have fallen more than thirty percent since 2022 as financing costs have risen. According to the Klein/Hughes study, directing a larger share of FHLB advances towards below-market loans for missing-middle buildings could support tens of thousands of additional housing units using the System\u2019s existing balance sheet without any additional federal spending through appropriations.\n\nThis is an area where FHFA can make real progress using tools at its disposal at no cost to taxpayers that is also squarely within the intent of Executive Order 14393, which directs the FHFA to consider \u201ccreating targeted FHLB liquidity programs for entry-level housing, owner-occupied purchase loans, and small residential builders\u201d and facilitating \u201cgreater financial leverage for small-scale\u2026housing projects.\u201d EO 14393 is clearly intended to improve capital flows towards important housing construction, of which 5-49 unit developments should be prioritized.\n\nAs you implement EO 14393 using your existing authority, we encourage FHFA to consider steps such as:\n\nEncourage FHLBanks to prioritize targeted advances and lending products aimed at 5-49-unit construction and rehabilitation to support affordable rental and homeownership opportunities;\n\nEncourage FHLBanks to build underwriting capacity and pilot programs for missing-middle lending; and\n\nIncorporate missing-middle lending data into future reports to the National Economic Council, Office of Management and Budget, and Congress.\n\nWe welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with you. Thank you for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-no-on-fda-commissioner/", "ALSOBROOKS \u2018NO\u2019 ON FDA COMMISSIONER", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "September 24, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) questioned Dr. Heidi Overton, President Trump\u2019s nominee to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).\n\nSenator Alsobrooks questioned Dr. Heidi Overton about whether she believes that birth control contaminates our drinking water, and her awareness regarding how much money the tobacco industry has contributed to President Trump, in relation to the Administration\u2019s rollback of e-cigarette regulations. Dr. Overton did not answer the questions.\n\nDr. Overton will be regulating both pharmaceutical products and tobacco products if she is confirmed to lead the FDA.\n\nOn birth control:\n\nSenator Alsobrooks: Do you have any reason to believe that birth control contaminates our drinking water in our country?\n\nDr. Overton: My job will be to work within the FDA statutory requirements for individual product review for safety and efficacy determination. What the EPA, to your question, the EPA is outside of the jurisdiction of the FDA. I think it\u2019s important for all agencies to answer questions that American people might have.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks: Do you have any reason to believe that taking birth control, that women are contaminating our drinking water in our country by taking birth control?\n\nDr. Overton: Thank you for the question. If confirmed as FDA commissioner, I will work within what the FDA is required to do for individual product review for the safety and efficacy of those applications, post-market review and of those individual products.\n\nOn Big Tobacco spending:\n\nSenator Alsobrooks: I want to know whether or not you know how much money Big Tobacco has contributed to the President\u2019s super PAC, inauguration, or to his ballroom?\n\nDr. Overton: Those are not things that I\u2019m familiar with.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks: I know you\u2019ve been a senior advisor to him, but the answer is $20 million.\n\nAnd do you know how much the President owns in tobacco stocks? I think these are questions the American people deserve to know. The answer is $1.64 million the President holds in Philip Morris and holds Altria investments.\n\nWould you say that the President then has a vested personal financial interest in the success of the tobacco industry? Is that a fair statement?\n\nDr. Overton: I reject the framing of that. The President\u2019s interest is in the best outcomes for the American people. He is here to serve in that capacity.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks: But you acknowledge that he is an investor in Big Tobacco. He has earned $1.64 million.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-wyden-continue-to-build-the-case-against-rfk-jr-8/", "Alsobrooks, Wyden Continue to Build the Case Against RFK Jr.", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "After releasing a report chronicling every day of RFK Jr.\u2019s costly, chaotic, and corrupt reign as Secretary, Senators Alsobrooks and Wyden continue to build their case for why RFK Jr. must resign or be fired.\n\nSeptember 24, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 RFK Jr. continues to harm the American people. On September 4, 2025, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden and Senator Angela Alsobrooksreleased a report chronicling the actions that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken to undermine the health and safety of the American people since becoming Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). On February 18, 2026, they released an updated report covering his first full year as Secretary. Senators Wyden and Alsobrooks continue to track the pervasive and ongoing human harmcaused by his leadership.\n\nBelow are Kennedy\u2019s latest harmful actions (May 15 \u2013 September 20):\n\nMay 2026\n\nThe White House issued an executive order straight from Kennedy\u2019s wish list: directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to \u201ctake any appropriate steps to update the United States childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule\u201d in line with the recommendations made by Kennedy\u2019s team at HHS. Under Kennedy\u2019s leadership, HHS has recommended reducing the number of childhood vaccinations from 17 to 11, exposing U.S. children to the serious and unnecessary risks of contracting a deadly disease.\n\nIn his endless quest to find support for the conspiracy theory that vaccines cause autism, Kennedy announced his intent to tap into Americans\u2019 private medical records and create what amounts to a national autism registry. He announced a \u201creal-world platform\u201d that will mine patient records from Medicare and Medicaid, which collectively cover 40% of Americans, to \u201cuncover the root causes of autism and other chronic diseases.\u201d Kennedy and his team did not specify what kinds of research would be conducted or what kinds of privacy protections would apply to the data.\n\nAfter castigating the panel charged with determining screening coverage for breast and cervical cancer to Congress and undermining its work,Kennedy fired the leaders of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), following thesame pattern he used to politicize the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.\n\nThe Office of Management and Budget (OMB)published a proposed rule referred to as the \u201cUniform Guidance\u201d that would \u201cexpand political control of scientific grants, downgrade the role of peer review and effectively limit researchers\u2019 ability to disseminate their findings.\u201d Ultimately, the rule would allow political appointees to cancel grants if recipients do not conform to the President\u2019s\u2013or Kennedy\u2019s\u2013political views.\n\nJune 2026\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, Americans continue to lose health insurance coverage. 3 million Americans have dropped or lost their ACA marketplace coverage in 2026, many of whom are working and middle-class Americans who can no longer afford the premiums that skyrocketed after Kennedy and Republicans failed to extend middle-class tax credits beyond January 1, 2026. In testimony before Congress, completely indifferent to the struggle of these families, Kennedy said: \u201cThe only people who lost coverage were people who were never entitled to coverage.\u201d This statement is false.\n\nThe American Medical Association elected a fiercely vocal critic of Kennedy as its next president. Dr. Sandra Fryhofer has said that continuing to deal pragmatically with Kennedy would be an abdication of physicians\u2019 moral duty, and she cited \u201cmeasles running rampant, public health destroyed, a trillion dollars ripped from Medicaid, inadequate physician payment, stupid immigration rules\u201d as reasons the AMA must resist Kennedy and the Trump Administration more forcefully. She has called Kennedy \u201cthe anti-vax HHS secretary\u201d and expressed frustration and regret that the AMA did not do more to block his confirmation.\n\nContinuing his efforts to mine patient data, Kennedy is seekingaccess to Americans\u2019 highly sensitive medical records\u2013things like clinical notes, lab results, and diagnoses\u2013from state-run health information exchange systems, as part of his effort to \u201cinvestigate\u201d and connect vaccines to autism. This raises major privacy and legal concerns. Over and over again, Kennedy has proven that he is willing to do anything \u2013 including things beyond his legal authority \u2013 to support his conspiracy theories.\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule (IFR) that dictates how states must implement the Medicaid work reporting requirements that congressional Republicans enacted last year. The rule creates a bureaucratic maze that will make it harder for Americans to access care when they need it most. As an example of the rule\u2019s most draconian provisions, Medicaid enrollees who suffer from chronic illnesses, like cancer or HIV, are still required to work during periods when the government has determined that their illness is not serious enough to prevent them from working; the penalty for failure to comply is losing their Medicaid coverage\u2013while navigating a serious chronic illness. Every Senate Democrat denounced the rule and called for its withdrawal.\n\n23 states and the District of Columbia sued Kennedy and HHS, asking a federal court to enjoin and vacate the Medicaid work reporting requirements IFR. The states argued in their complaint that the rule exceeds the agency\u2019s statutory authority, will strip benefits from eligible enrollees due to paperwork errors, will place enormous administrative burdens on state governments, and will force hospitals to provide much more uncompensated emergency care as medically frail Americans lose their Medicaid coverage.\n\nKennedy\u2019s incompetence is apparent even to other members of the President\u2019s cabinet, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is attempting to clean up Kennedy\u2019s mess. Testifying before Congress, Rubio said that the State Department is \u201cgoing to re-engage\u201d on global vaccines after Kennedy withdrew the U.S. from the global vaccine alliance and withheld $600 million previously appropriated by Congress. This program provides immunizations to people living in low-income countries around the world, and it manages the global stockpile of Ebola vaccines.\n\nAmericans are already facing dire consequences from the \u201chorrendous\u201d rollout of CMS\u2019 WISeR model. Under Kennedy\u2019s leadership, the WISeR pilot program is using artificial intelligence to delay and deny certain procedures covered by traditional Medicare. Seniors now face needless prior authorization for care that their providers ordered. CMS Administrator Oz illustrated how clueless and callous Kennedy\u2019s team can be: Oz defended WISeR by criticizing frontline health care providers and saying that the purpose of WISeR is to make sure patients are not getting \u201cthe care some unscrupulous doctor wants to use on you.\u201d\n\nKennedy engaged in unlawful election interference in at least two Congressional races. Reports emerged that he has personally called two Libertarian candidates for Congress in Iowa and urged them to drop out of their respective races so that it is easier for Republicans to win those seats and to maintain their majority in the House of Representatives. Kennedy reportedly said to one such candidate, \u201cIf this seat flips, it\u2019ll make my life hell.\u201d\n\nSenator Sanders publicly released a tranche of emails that reveal new details about how Kennedy has tried to seize control of apolitical public health systems at the CDC to undermine vaccine access. One email chain shows a CDC staffer writing, \u201cAndrew Nixon/HHS\u2026asked that we pull out of circulation all campaign ad buys related to flu or anything encouraging shots or vaccinations.\u201d The same chain shows Andrew Nixon confirming, \u201cThis was a direct ask from Secretary Kennedy.\u201d\n\nJuly 2026\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, measles cases have reached an all-time high since the virus was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. As of July, there have been more measles cases reported in the first six months of 2026 than in any other full year since 2000. At the same time, Kennedy has interrupted funding for vaccine hesitancy research, has downplayed the risks of measles in his public comments, and continues to hunt for evidence that vaccines are unsafe.\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, a cyclospora outbreak continues to tear through 15 states and counting. There have been more cases of cyclospora reported in the United States this year than ever before, and as the case count climbs, CDC\u2019s FoodNet has recently stopped its mandatory reporting for cyclospora and other pathogens due to funding cuts. The foodborne parasite causes severe diarrhea and nausea, leaving infants, seniors, and immunocompromised persons especially vulnerable. Kennedy said that the outbreak is \u201cunder control\u201d and that funding cuts to the FoodNet program were cuts to \u201credundant surveillance.\u201d Mere weeks later, the first two deaths from cyclospora were reported in Michigan.\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, the Trump Administration is working to defund and dismantle the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, abruptly canceling 53 of the program\u2019s 67 grants nationwide. The Administration\u2019s guidelines for the next round of grants require prospective grantees to teach that abstinence is the only way to prevent teen pregnancy, and that \u201cmarriage and procreation\u201d are important. Several grantees who were abruptly stripped of their funding sued Kennedy, arguing that \u201cCongress plainly did not intend H.H.S. to focus on teaching young women strategies to become pregnant in a pregnancy prevention program.\u201d\n\nFor the fourth time, Kennedy has prevented the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) from meeting as planned; the panel has not convened in person since March 2025. USPSTF has historically met three times a year to review evidence and make recommendations that determine what insurance companies are required to cover when it comes to mammograms, colonoscopies, depression screenings, and other primary and preventive care. Kennedy has fired two of the task force\u2019s leaders, refused to replace members whose terms expired, and hamstrung the task force\u2019s ability to operate as usual.\n\nA federal district court enjoined much of CMS\u2019s 2027 Notice of Benefit Payment Parameters final rule. The rule, which was slated to become effective July 20 and was finalized under Kennedy\u2019s leadership, would have raised out-of-pocket maximums for certain bronze and catastrophic plans, pushed more Americans into these catastrophic plans, and loosened federal network adequacy requirements. Before the court\u2019s injunction, the rule had been widely criticized, and the American Hospital Association noted in its comment letter that the rule would allow deductibles over $15,000 on some catastrophic plans\u2013a \u201cdeductible amount [that] itself could easily be considered catastrophic for many individuals in these income ranges.\u201d\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, CMS continues to endanger patients and their families by sharing Medicaid enrollment data with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in defiance of a federal judge\u2019s order to pause all data sharing. In December 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria ruled that CMS was permitted to share a narrow universe of Medicaid data\u2013only some information about persons without lawful immigration status residing in plaintiff states. In January, however, CMS twice shared data with ICE that went beyond what the December 2025 order had allowed, including records identifying U.S. citizens and refugees; in response to this revelation, Judge Chhabria ordered CMS to pause all data sharing with ICE in late May. During this pause, CMS again shared the same dataset that was improperly shared in January\u2013files that include the names and addresses of U.S. citizens and persons residing in the United States with lawful immigration status.\n\nKennedy continues using his government position to undermine vaccines and enrich himself personally. On the same day that Dr. Anthony Fauci testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Kennedy was busy posting on social media that his book about Dr. Fauci became a \u201cbestseller\u2026despite being the most censored book of the decade.\u201d The hearing reportedly resulted in a spike in book sales, and Kennedy\u2019s royalties go directly to the organization he previously founded to undermine vaccine access.\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, the CDC updated a footnote on its \u201cAutism and Vaccines\u201d webpage to say: \u201cScientists have not identified the root causes of autism. HHS continues to support rigorous scientific research and will update this page as reliable new evidence becomes available.\u201d The webpage still declares front and center, however, that \u201cthe claim \u2018vaccines do not cause autism\u2019 is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.\u201d This statement is false. Vaccines do not cause autism; this is a fact well supported by decades of scientific literature.\n\nIn a disastrous interview on CNN, Kennedy said that he bears no responsibility for the current measles outbreak and said, \u201cThe reason we\u2019re having a measles outbreak is because of the Covid lockdowns.\u201d This is patently untrue.\n\nKennedy continues to interfere with federal vaccine panel priorities. The National Vaccine Advisory Committee quietly unveiled new guidance which adds dietary supplements for infectious disease prevention to the panel\u2019s scope and directs the committee to consider \u201chealthy lifestyle\u201d strategies, off-label uses of existing drugs, and supplements for people who decline vaccination. Kennedy is using federal vaccine infrastructure to elevate alternative-health talking points over proven immunization strategies. The panel Congress created to strengthen immunization is now being used to develop talking points for avoiding it.\n\nAugust 2026\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has awarded $150 million for the legal representation of unaccompanied children in immigration proceedings to a small law firm in Houston. Burke Law Group has only 26 attorneys, none of whom had publicly claimed immigration and asylum law experience prior to the announcement of the award. Until July 31, ORR had a contract for this vital legal work with the Acacia Center for Justice, a group that marshaled best-in-class immigration lawyers, with decades of experience representing unaccompanied children, from over 100 nonprofit organizations across the country. This abrupt and unexplainable shift will leave more than 20,000 children to appear in immigration court with inadequate legal representation\u2013or with none at all.\n\nTrump \u2013 with Kennedy at his side \u2013 signed yet another executive order in August, attempting again to overhaul federal vaccine recommendations, lowering the number of recommended immunizations from 18 to 11, pressuring states to change their vaccine policies, and directing federal health agencies to develop a plan for administering combined shots \u2013 like the MMR vaccine \u2013 as separate, single disease injections, despite health experts agreeing there is\u201cno scientific basis for changing course.\u201d Trump continues to spread lies about the MMR vaccine, including by saying that it could be \u201cquite lethal,\u201d an outlandish claim that is uniformly rejected by clinicians, experts, and fact-checkers.\n\nKennedycancelled over $250 million in grants administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), impacting over 200 different research projects across nearly 30 states. These grants aim to improve patient safety, outcomes, and health care delivery, with some specifically focused on training rural health care workers, improving delivery systems for dialysis patients, and improving autism services. A project in Maryland aimed at improving patient safety via telehealth was cancelled as part of the reckless cuts. The official cancellation capped a long delay in funding for these projects, with researchers left waiting in the dark to learn more about their status. Despite Congress appropriating $345 million to AHRQ, less than $15 million has actually gone out the door to grantees.\n\nThe American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists rebuked Kennedy\u2019s latest sham vaccine guidance bydelivering their own independent vaccine evidence review and guidance on the flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines. The nation\u2019s leading medical societies were forced to create their own vaccine guidance because of the lack of credible information coming out of Kennedy\u2019s HHS.\n\nKennedy visited the CDC\u2019s headquarters on the anniversary of the tragic shooting at the campus last year \u2013 which was fueled, in part, by Kennedy\u2019s own vaccine misinformation. Instead of recognizing the consequences of his harmful rhetoric, Kennedyquestioned scientists, telling civil servants at the agency that \u201cyou can\u2019t just trust a scientist, because scientists have biases, too,\u201d and accusing CDC scientists of \u201call hoarding their own data.\u201dKennedy has long been fighting for his anti-vaccine cronies to have direct access to the sensitive data from the agency\u2019s vaccine-safety surveillance system.\n\nKennedy\u2019s efforts to undermine trust in vaccines and public health systems continue to have deadly consequences. Pennsylvania announced two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County, the state\u2019s first such deaths since 1991. Following the deaths,Governor Shapiro said that Kennedy\u2019s \u201cactions and his rhetoric coming from this administration are having a negative impact on communities across America, particularly right here in Pennsylvania. That there\u2019s real-life consequences to spreading misinformation.\u201d Kennedy then publicly cast doubt on whether measles was responsible and suggested that the deaths may have been \u2018fabricated.\u2019 He also postedan incoherent screed on social media about how the MMR vaccine is composed of aborted fetal tissue, citing depositions from vaccine opponent and close professional ally, Aaron Siri.\n\nNew documents and reporting prove thatKennedy lied to Congress in his confirmation hearings. Kennedy repeatedly told lawmakers, including Ranking Member Wyden, last year that his 2019 visit to Samoa before its deadly measles outbreak \u201chad nothing to do with vaccines.\u201d Yet, letters show that Kennedy wrote to Samoan leaders on Children\u2019s Health Defense letterhead, asking to study Samoa\u2019s use of the MMR vaccine. Kennedy wrote to the Prime Minister on January 20, 2019: \u201cI would propose my team conduct [a] detailed health informatics assessment in Samoa of what happened with your MMR vaccines.\u201d Senator Wyden has called for the Department of Justice to launch a criminal investigation into Kennedy\u2019s lies: \u201cRFK\u2019s platform is built on lies and grifts that leave a trail of dead children in their wake. There are consequences for lying to Congress.\u201d\n\nSeptember 2026\n\nDespite the rampant measles outbreaks on Kennedy\u2019s watch, including two additional measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania, the CDCalleged it \u201cdid not have any records to indicate \u2018measles is the underlying cause\u2019 of any deaths in the country this year.\u201d Kennedy refuses to take any responsibility for his role in this crisis, and he works to deny and downplay it. He asked CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz to remove two Pennsylvania deaths from the CDC\u2019s online measles tally, and she implemented his request.\n\nKennedy\u2019s war against reproductive rights has spilled over to other federal agencies: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will now test drinking water for the presence of abortion medications like mifepristone and misoprostol, as well as for contraceptives. Senator Wyden has previously condemned this tactic as \u201ca shadow war on reproductive rights\u201d and \u201can egregious abuse of power.\u201d\n\nOver a year after Kennedy worked with Congressional Republicans to kill enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and kick people off their coverage, Americans who buy their own coverage are nowincreasingly being steered toward short term limited-duration health plans instead of comprehensive marketplace coverage.\n\nKennedy gave the keynote address to the anti-vaccine organization he used to run, Children\u2019s Health Defense. He spent more than 20 minutes casting doubt on the safety of vaccines and attempting to falsely connect adverse events and chronic disease with pediatric immunizations. At the same conference, the current President of the MAHA Institute called the success of the polio vaccine \u201ca massive medical fraud.\u201d The polio vaccine saves lives.\n\nAs Kennedy continues to sow chaos and paralysis across federal health agencies, states have not been able to obtain COVID-19 shots from the CDC for distribution to millions of children who rely on the Vaccines for Children program. Asked about the delay, HHS said it is \u201cfinalizing decisions,\u201d all while COVID levels climb and medically fragile children wait.\n\nIn the latest example of Kennedy\u2019s corruption, the Secretary and top aide Stefanie Spearused military aircraft for his travels to campaign for Republican candidates \u2013 a clear breach of protocol for non-defense Cabinet officials. The Air Force jet that Kennedy used costs about $9,000 per hour \u2013 a clear waste of taxpayer dollars for political purposes.\n\nKennedy continues to personally and financially benefit from his position: hereportedly received $250,000 in gifts towards lavish vacations from a major donor, including free flights to Fiji and Greece.\n\nKennedy took what reporting described as a\u201cbackdoor approach to stop vaccines\u201d by purging experts from important federal advisory committees and replacing them with unqualified anti-vaccine ideologues and allies.\n\nAfter previously attempting to shutter the Office of Minority Health, Kennedy and his team abruptly cancelled half of the office\u2019s existing grants. The affected grantees had been providing cancer screenings and postpartum home visits as well as working to reduce first responder suicide and to lower the obesity rates among Native American youth. It was subsequently reported that HHS told Congressional appropriators it would move $12 million from the Office of Minority Health directly to the Secretary\u2019s office to cover rising costs for RFK\u2019s personal security detail.\n\nKennedy\u2019s handpicked nominees to help lead his Department \u2013 including Chris Klomp to be the Deputy Secretary, Nicole Saphier to be Surgeon General, and Timothy Westlake to run the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration \u2013 faced hearings at both the Senate Finance and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committees. At both hearings, the MAHA aspirants demonstrated that they would immediately fall in line as Kennedy\u2019s lieutenants. Chris Klomp, who negotiated the White House\u2019s secretive drug pricing deals with pharmaceutical companies, continued making excuses for his failure to share the agreements with Congress.\n\nAfter delaying its meetings for over a year and a half, bashing its members as \u201clackadaisical and negligent,\u201d and firing its leaders in May, Kennedyannounced eight new appointments to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). USPSTF is the committee that determines what preventive screenings or medical services must be covered free of charge by private insurance. Many of the new appointees share Kennedy\u2019s vaccine skepticism.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-86-million-to-increase-safety-and-security-in-places-of-worship", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $8.6 Million to Increase Safety and Security in Places of Worship", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski announced $8,627,091 in federal funding to strengthen security at 49 religious institutions and community centers across Maryland.\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander deserves to be able to exercise their right to religious freedom and worship without fear for their safety. Our faith institutions also help build community in many ways, from providing spiritual services to offering youth programs to supporting local families. As that work continues, we have also seen an appalling increase in threats against faith-based organizations across the state, and we know that more federal funding and reforms are necessary to meet the growing security measures needed to keep community members safe. We will continue working to increase funds for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and to see that these investments go where they are needed most, in light of recent changes to this program,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cAll Marylanders deserve to feel safe in their homes, schools, communities \u2013 and especially in places of worship. It was critical that Team Maryland fight to secure over $8 million in federal funding to strengthen security at religious centers in our state. And I won\u2019t stop fighting until all Marylanders feel and are safe,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Nonprofit Security Grant Program has become an essential tool for protecting our houses of worship, schools, community centers, and early-childhood programs. With the alarming rise in antisemitism and other forms of hate, it is critical that everyone feels safe when gathering with their communities and congregations. I\u2019m proud that Team Maryland was able to secure this funding, and I will continue working with our delegation to push for further federal support for nonprofit security,\u201d said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer.\n\n\u201cNo matter what your faith or religion is every American should feel safe and secure in their ability to worship peacefully,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \u201cWith this injection of over $8 million in Federal funding, dozens of faith-based institutions across Maryland will be able to improve their security systems and protocols, ensuring that houses of worship remain sanctuaries for practitioners of all beliefs.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarylanders should be able to practice their faith without worrying about their safety. This funding will improve security at religious institutions across the First District, from Harford County to the Eastern Shore. Thank you to President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security for helping Maryland\u2019s religious organizations improve security and protect our communities,\u201d said Congressman Harris.\n\n\u201cAmidst an alarming increase in antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of toxic hate, Team Maryland is surging more than $8.6 million in federal Nonprofit Security Grants to protect our people,\u201d said Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08). \u201cNo American should become a target of senseless violence and intimidation, especially in their house of worship.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander should be able to worship and gather without fear,\u201d said Congressman Ivey. \u201cTeam Maryland fought together to secure this federal funding so that faith communities across our state have the resources they need to strengthen security and protect the people they serve. I\u2019m proud of our delegation\u2019s work to deliver these investments and help keep Marylanders safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarylanders of all faiths deserve to both be safe and feel safe in their houses of worship. Since coming to Congress, I have continued to prioritize increased security funding for nonprofit and religious institutions \u2013 both in Washington in the budget and through our Interfaith Advisory Council \u2013 which is why it is so great to join Team Maryland in announcing this $8 million in federal funding for 49 houses of worship, religious institutions, and community centers across our state. Especially as religious institutions spend more and more on security and the number of hate crimes continues to rise, Congress has an important responsibility to ensure the safety of all of our neighbors,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth.\n\n\u201cWhether you are walking into a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or community center, you should never have to fear for your safety. Freedom of religion means the freedom to worship without fear. This $8.6 million investment will help 49 institutions across Maryland strengthen security and protect the communities they serve. I\u2019ll keep working with Team Maryland to ensure our faith communities have the resources they need to keep people safe,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cOur faith communities are critical community anchors and bring so many Marylanders together,\u201d said Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). \u201cThis funding gives 49 religious institutions and community centers across our state the resources they need to worship, learn, and gather without fear. Team Maryland will keep fighting to make sure our houses of worship have what they need to stay safe.\u201d\n\nA full list of the recipients, selected by the Department of Homeland Security, is below:\n\nWestern Maryland\n\nB'er Chayim Congregation\n\nBeth Sholom Congregation of Frederick, MD\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church DBA Global Vision Christian School Broadfording (Main Campus)\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church DBA Global Vision Christian School Broadfording (West Campus)\n\nCamp Airy\n\nCamp Louise\n\nSaints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church\n\nBaltimore Area\n\nArundel Christian Church\n\nBeth Tfiloh Congregation dba Beth Tfiloh Camps\n\nCecil Memorial United Methodist Church\n\nChabad of Greengate Maryland Inc.\n\nChabad of Harford County, Inc.\n\nCongregation Kneseth Israel\n\nHebrew School of the Performing Arts, Inc.\n\nImmaculate Heart of Mary School\n\nImmaculate Heart of Mary Church\n\nJewels Therapy Clinic\n\nJohn Carroll School Inc.\n\nRedemption City Church Baltimore\n\nSafe Green Transit Corporation\n\nSts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church\n\nSt. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church\n\nTalmudical Academy of Baltimore Inc.\n\nThe Cathedral of Mary Our Queen\n\nThe Greek Orthodox Cemetery\n\nWest Baltimore United Methodist Church\n\nMontgomery & Prince George\u2019s Counties\n\nChabad Lubavitch of Bowie Maryland Inc\n\nChabad Lubavitch of Upper Montgomery County Inc.\n\nCharles E. Smith Jewish Day School (Lower School)\n\nCongregation B'nai Tzedek\n\nCovenant Life Church (7501)\n\nCovenant Life School (7503)\n\nCovenant Life School/Church (7505)\n\nGreater Praise and Deliverance Tabernacle\n\nGreek Orthodox Church of Saint George, Inc.\n\nIsrael on Campus Coalition, Inc.\n\nImadi\n\nKehilat Pardes\n\nKingdom Full Tabernacle International Ministries\n\nLife Changing Christian Center\n\nMcLean Bible Church (Montgomery)\n\nNorth Brentwood AME Zion Church\n\nThe Guru Gobind Singh Foundation Trust Inc\n\nThe Sierra Leone Muslim Jamaat, Inc. (3305)\n\nTikvat Israel Congregation\n\nSouthern Maryland\n\nCamp St. Charles Inc.\n\nCrossroads Christian Center, Inc.\n\nEastern Shore\n\nLighthouse Christian Academy\n\nThe awards are provided through the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps high-risk nonprofits, including faith-based institutions, obtain the resources required to support and integrate preparedness activities with broader state and local efforts. The lawmakers fought to fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program at $300 million through the Fiscal Year 2026 annual appropriations package, an increase from $274.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-more-than-15-senate-democrats-push-trump-to-negotiate-ai-guardrails-with-xi", "Van Hollen, More than 15 Senate Democrats Push Trump to Negotiate AI Guardrails with Xi", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led more than 15 of his colleagues in calling on President Donald Trump to negotiate a formal agreement between the U.S. and China on guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of frontier Artificial Intelligence (AI) models with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The lawmakers also urged President Trump to consider enacting a mutual pause in frontier AI development to prevent potential cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that could threaten humanity.\n\nSenator Van Hollen was joined in sending this letter by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cWe write concerning public reporting that your administration plans to have discussions about artificial intelligence with China during the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping currently planned for September 24, 2026. We support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level. As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI\u2019s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models. It is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement. As you prepare for the upcoming summit, we urge you to engage with President Xi directly to discuss efforts to avoid the potential harms of this technology for the safety and benefit of the world. America leads in AI innovation, and we must lead the world in AI safety and international cooperation, including by working with China to develop a formal agreement that would slow down, and potentially enact a mutual pause in, frontier AI development to prevent cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that threaten the lives of the American people and humanity writ large.\u201d\n\nThey note specifically, \u201cThe conversations should include specific focus on the standards needed for development and testing processes, oversight and monitoring of models, enforcing human control over the use of autonomous systems, and technological verification of any agreed upon terms to ensure that an agreement is being enforced. Protecting American safety and leadership in AI will require international cooperation with many countries, but it must start with serious engagement by your administration and China at this summit.\u201d\n\n\u201cAI technology is too powerful, and its risks too many, for the U.S. and China to forgo discussions on parameters around its development and use. What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with China to ensure the safety and well-being of all people as AI innovation continues,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nPresident Trump:\n\nWe write concerning public reporting that your administration plans to have discussions about artificial intelligence with China during the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping currently planned for September 24, 2026. We support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level. As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI\u2019s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models. It is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement. As you prepare for the upcoming summit, we urge you to engage with President Xi directly to discuss efforts to avoid the potential harms of this technology for the safety and benefit of the world. America leads in AI innovation, and we must lead the world in AI safety and international cooperation, including by working with China to develop a formal agreement that would slow down, and potentially enact a mutual pause in, frontier AI development to prevent cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that threaten the lives of the American people and humanity writ large.\n\nThe development, release, and proper and improper use of AI present several risks unique to this technology. Testing AI models without constant monitoring and safe sandboxing has resulted in security breaks. Current publicly available models are concerningly capable of detecting and exploiting cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Companies developing AI have even more powerful models internally. An international race between the U.S. and China to advance these capabilities without safety guardrails, as is currently unfolding, poses unnecessary and dangerous risks to the American people. CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently said that it would \u201cnot be misplaced\u201d to refer to the capabilities of AI as \u201cakin to digital nuclear weapons.\u201d At the same time, despite serious warnings from those in your administration and bipartisan Congressional action, your administration has loosened export controls of semiconductors to China and refused to close relevant loopholes on the remaining regulations, enabling China to access the U.S. chips it needs to accelerate its own AI development. Both countries are currently integrating AI tools into military and defense applications, including in autonomous and unmanned systems, which Congress and AI developers alike have warned against without significant safeguards. AI has many applications and many of them are tools we will find beneficial, but its significant dangers and potential use in lethal applications without meaningful human control must be addressed, in part, through international cooperation.\n\nIn addition, efforts to engage with China should not stop the U.S. from constructing and implementing guardrails domestically, and Congress and U.S. companies should not wait to do so. In fact, both the U.S. and the Chinese government have already put some guardrails in place, but these provisions are not sufficient on their own. Your administration has implemented a voluntary testing scheme before the public release of advanced AI models. China reportedly has put in place several testing and capability restrictions, including registration and safety requirements for certain applications, although consistent implementation remains uncertain. The mutual recognition between the two countries that AI poses significant risks both during development and after release should be the foundation of discussions centered on reaching concrete terms for an international safety agreement. The conversations should include specific focus on the standards needed for development and testing processes, oversight and monitoring of models, enforcing human control over the use of autonomous systems, and technological verification of any agreed upon terms to ensure that an agreement is being enforced. Protecting American safety and leadership in AI will require international cooperation with many countries, but it must start with serious engagement by your administration and China at this summit.\n\nWhile advanced AI may be new, engagement between two superpowers over a technology that poses an existential threat is not. The U.S. and Soviet Union, over decades, negotiated and implemented multiple nuclear arms control agreements with each other, despite many deep-seated ideological differences during the Cold War. At the core of those agreements were verification mechanisms to ensure both countries were complying. Like those agreements that have helped keep the world safe from mutually assured destruction, identifying and coming to terms with the technical specifications for AI safety will require some of the smartest minds in the world committed to diplomacy. We encourage you to embrace these challenges because the stakes are existential, and our response must match the moment.\n\nThe experts building frontier AI models have also been raising concerns for some time that the capabilities of AI models may soon accelerate beyond our ability to understand or control them. In July, over 1,300 employees of frontier AI companies, who are uniquely aware of AI\u2019s potential and risks, called on the U.S. government to engage in an international effort to create the tools necessary to pace the frontier of AI development, particularly as increased automation of AI research may lead to even faster advancement. We should take these warnings seriously. Former Treasury Secretaries Henry Paulson and Robert Rubin recently published an op-ed calling for you and President Xi to work on an \u201cACT\u201d \u2014 AI Cooperation Treaty.\u201d We may not get another moment to take the actions necessary to protect our citizens and people around the world.\n\nAI technology is too powerful, and its risks too many, for the U.S. and China to forgo discussions on parameters around its development and use. What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with China to ensure the safety and well-being of all people as AI innovation continues.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-booker-davis-adams-introduce-bicameral-bills-to-improve-access-to-care-for-americans-with-sickle-cell-disease", "Van Hollen, Booker, Davis, Adams Introduce Bicameral Bills to Improve Access to Care for Americans with Sickle Cell Disease", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representatives Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and Alma Adams (D-N.C.) reintroduced two bills to improve access to care for Americans living with sickle cell disease (SCD) \u2013 the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act, legislation to grow the national network of care for patients with sickle cell disease, and the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act, legislation to strengthen the medical workforce that treats SCD. The members were joined in introducing both bills by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.).\n\nIn the United States, approximately 100,000 people are affected by SCD, a rare, genetically-inherited disorder that causes a person\u2019s red blood cells to become deformed and get stuck in their veins \u2013 blocking oxygen flow throughout the body and leading to chronic pain, infections, stroke, as well as kidney, liver, and heart disease. The disease disproportionately affects Black Americans, but people from other racial and ethnic backgrounds, including Hispanic Americans, are also susceptible. Despite the prevalence of the disease and the need for consistent and coordinated treatment, SCD care is most often accessible only in specialized medical centers in metropolitan areas \u2013 resulting in few patients having access to the multidisciplinary care teams and providers they need.\n\n\u201cSickle cell disease has claimed the lives of too many people far too soon, including a former staff member of mine, John Amara. For Americans living with sickle cell, access to care and qualified providers can be one of the biggest challenges they face. These bills will increase the size and capacity of the medical workforce trained to treat sickle cell, give existing sickle cell centers the capacity to share resources beyond their walls, and help ensure we can more easily expand specialized care and treatment to the countless communities that don\u2019t yet have it. We will not stop fighting to raise awareness, strengthen networks of care and support, and ultimately make sickle cell disease a thing of the past,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cSickle cell disease has been historically overlooked and underfunded, and people living with it, who are disproportionately Black Americans, face systemic barriers to the care they need to live full, healthy lives,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cI'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing these bills, which would invest in training and resources for healthcare providers, raise awareness about SCD and the support available, and establish a national network of treatment centers. Together, they move us toward a future where comprehensive, accessible care for everyone living with sickle cell disease is a right, not a privilege.\u201d\n\n\u201cConsidering the significant health challenges that sickle cell disease creates for individuals and families across the United States and around the world, we must invest greater resources in improving awareness, expanding access to comprehensive and coordinated care, advancing better treatments, and supporting research that can lead to new cures,\u201d said Congressman Davis. \u201cFor far too many sickle cell warriors, access to specialized care remains limited, particularly for those who live far from major medical centers. The Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act of 2026 takes an important step toward changing that by strengthening a national network of treatment centers and connecting specialized providers with community health centers and other organizations closer to where patients live.\u201d\n\n\u201cGrowing up, my sister Linda was in and out of the emergency department because of sickle cell disease. She lost her battle when she was just 26 years old,\u201d said Congresswoman Adams. \u201cHer story is one that I do not want to see repeated. That\u2019s why I am proud to introduce the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act and co-lead the Sickle Cell Disease Care Expansion Act to increase access to specialized care for those suffering from this devastating illness.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Sickle Cell Treatment Act bill enables the creation of the national coordination of care and advancements for sickle cell disease, which is the most prevalent life-threatening chronic illness affecting most ethnicities and races in this country \u2014 more than 200,000 individuals along with their families and support systems, all types of medical caregivers in over 10 specialties, researchers, and scientists. Data-driven focus and collaboration for best outcomes and practices for the sickle cell community is imperative as we are in the era of curative therapies, new treatments and medicines, and research enabling better understanding of sickle cell. Likewise, the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act, providing needed funding of education of the sickle cell family of caregivers \u2014 doctors, nurses, researchers, psychologists, social workers, dietitians, phlebotomists, and others \u2014 is crucial for providing excellence in care and opportunities for more progress for individuals and families effected by sickle cell disease. Let\u2019s be clear, Sickle Cell disease has been severely underfunded, under-resourced, and undercounted in all areas. We must all pull together \u2014 there is more than enough work and room for every organization to contribute to the necessary progress for the improved treatment, access, and outcomes for the sickle cell disease family,\u201d said Kimberley Davis, the Executive Director of KMD Advocacy Center and the mother of John Amara Walters, a member of Senator Van Hollen\u2019s legislative staff who passed away from complications of SCD in 2021 at the age of 29.\n\n\u201cAs co-chair of the bipartisan Rare Disease Congressional Caucus, I\u2019m dedicated to making sure every person living with a rare disease, including sickle cell disease, can be swiftly and accurately diagnosed and have access to effective, affordable treatment,\u201d said Senator Klobuchar. \u201cBy working together with patients, researchers, advocates, and neighbors, Congress can ensure patients with sickle cell disease have the very best available medical care.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud to co-sponsor the Sickle Cell Treatment Centers and Care Expansion Acts and stand with the millions of Americans whose lives have been impacted by sickle cell disease. Across the country, too many families in the Black community continue to suffer from this devastating disease while research remains underfunded and this condition too often goes overlooked. We must do better, and we must act with urgency. I applaud the bipartisan leadership in both chambers of Congress working together to introduce and advance this legislation. Together, we can help deliver the resources and treatment to build a healthier future for generations of African Americans living with sickle cell disease,\u201d said Congressman Ivey.\n\nThe Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act would address the unmet needs of patients with SCD, sickle cell trait, and other inherited blood disorders through the establishment of a nationwide system of treatment centers, as well as much-needed education, outreach, and social services for patients. It establishes a National Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Center Grant Program, which would enable hospitals that offer specialized SCD care to partner with more accessible community health centers and outpatient centers. This would implement a hub-and-spoke framework for the delivery of care and treatment of patients with SCD. The medical hubs and spokes would be required to partner with community-based organizations to provide education and outreach, and help coordinate social services for patients. Additionally, the bill would establish a National SCD Coordinating Center to work in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s (CDC) SCD Data Collection Program.\n\nThe Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act would enable the National Health Service Corps to provide educational incentives such as loan repayment assistance and scholarships for those studying benign hematology, which is the specialty SCD falls under. These incentives are designed to attract more providers to the SCD workforce to meet the treatment needs of the growing number of adult SCD patients. The bill would also create competitive grants to raise awareness of SCD and the resources available to patients, and provide additional resources for hospitals to further fund support services for young adults ages 18-29 who are transitioning from pediatric to adult care, as well as research into the needs of this patient population.\n\nBoth bills have been endorsed by KMD Advocacy Center, American Society of Hematology, Children\u2019s National Hospital, Loma Linda University Children\u2019s Hospital, Maryland Sickle Cell Disease Association (MSCDA), Sickle Cell Coalition of Maryland, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, the Sickle Cell Disease Partnership, and Sick Cells.\n\n\u201cThe American Society of Hematology (ASH) commends Senator Van Hollen for reintroducing the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act and the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act, which aim to advance the healthcare needs of individuals living with sickle cell disease. ASH remains deeply committed to improving care for individuals with sickle cell disease, and the Society is grateful for Senator Van Hollen\u2019s dedication in this effort. ASH looks forward to continuing to work with the senator as these bills move forward,\u201d said Robert S. Negrin, M.D., President, American Society of Hematology (ASH).\n\n\u201cSickle cell disease affects families in every state, but the expertise to treat it is concentrated in a small number of centers, leaving too many patients without access to the care they need. At Children's National, we care for more than 1,500 children and young adults with sickle cell disease, and we see every day what comprehensive care can achieve. The Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act would build the national network this community has long needed, linking specialized centers with community health centers and local organizations, and connecting all of them through a National Coordinating Center. With a national network in place, every patient, no matter where they live, can count on expert care and access to the latest therapies. Thanks to advances in care, nearly all of the patients we care for will grow into adulthood. That is a victory, but it also means every one of them will need an adult sickle cell expert waiting on the other side of the transition, and too often there isn't one. The Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act addresses both halves of this problem: it invests in the transition programs that help young adults move safely from pediatric to adult care, and it builds the hematology workforce they will depend on for the rest of their lives. Our patients deserve a system that keeps its promise to them long after they leave our doors,\u201d said Dr. Andrew Campbell, Director, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Program, Children\u2019s National Hospital.\n\n\u201cThe Sickle Cell Treatment Centers Act has the power to revolutionize access to care and aid in understanding the barriers that have made this disease so unassailable. The Hub and Spoke model will allow care to be coordinated efficiently between Sickle Cell Centers of excellence and their community stakeholders so patient care does not fall through the cracks. It will address the unmet need in sickle cell disease care delivery, by supporting sickle cell centers to become centers of excellence, putting the focus on disease prevention and eradication as a unified nationwide network of treatment centers. With new transformative therapies like gene therapy available for children with Sickle cell disease now, this funding will help sickle cell lifespan centers to effectively build capacity to treat young children who likely will have a disease-free life ahead of them,\u201d said Akshat Jain, M.D., M.P.H., Medical Director, Sickle Cell Center of Excellence Children and Young Adult, Loma Linda University School of Medicine.\n\n\u201cSeptember is Sickle Cell Awareness Month and The Maryland Sickle Cell Disease Association (MSCDA) could not be more thrilled to learn that Sen. Van Hollen is reintroducing both the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act and the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act. Both these Bills are of critical importance to the improvement of lives of persons impacted by sickle cell disease. Our community faces a shortage of providers with expertise in sickle cell disease, and the Expansion Act addresses that issue head on. Not only do we lack providers, we need more access to care in communities where affected families live. The hub and spoke model in the Treatment Center Act will bring much needed care to the communities where we are. This model is working right here in in Prince George's County, MD and we couldn't be more excited to see that the model could be expanded nationwide. The Expansion Act and the Treatment Centers Act, working together is exactly what we need to bring positive change to this devastating, life threatening disease. We applaud Senator Van Hollen's efforts and stand ready to do our part to bring these Bills to law,\u201d said Derek Robertson, M.B.A., J.D., C.H.C., President, Maryland Sickle Cell Disease Association.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Sickle Cell Coalition of Maryland (SCCM), we support the introduction of the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act and the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act. We endorse new, innovative, and forward-thinking legislation that addresses two of the most urgent challenges facing people living with sickle cell disease: access to comprehensive, affordable care and the shortage of qualified clinicians. We also commend Senator Chris Van Hollen for his continued leadership and advocacy for holistic, affordable, and accessible sickle cell care. We support continued federal efforts that strengthen specialty care access, address workforce shortages, improve transition services, and invest in community-based support,\u201d said Teanika Hoffman, Executive Director, Sickle Cell Coalition of Maryland.\n\n\u201cHeadquartered in Maryland, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. is grateful for Senator Van Hollen\u2019s leadership in introducing the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act and the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act. Both bills provide critical recognition for the work done by sickle cell disease community-based organizations, which are the backbone of the sickle cell disease community. Separately, the bills will help create a national infrastructure of sickle cell centers and expand the workforce needed to treat sickle cell warriors. I want to thank Senator Van Hollen for his ongoing dedication to improving care and treatment for our sickle cell warriors,\u201d said Regina Hartfield, President and CEO, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc.\n\n\u201cSick Cells is pleased to support the reintroduction of these two important pieces of legislation, the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act and the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act. Together, they represent a bold approach to improving care and the quality of life for people living with sickle cell disease across the country through expansive and innovative strategies. The sickle cell disease community has long lacked comprehensive medical and social support, relevant data, and critical auxiliary services. A compounding factor of a limited amount of clinicians further exasperates the situation. These bills demonstrate what can be accomplished through collaboration, and dedicated federal investment. We hope these efforts will be the beginning of a sustained commitment to transforming sickle cell care and ensuring that every person living with sickle cell disease has access to the comprehensive support they need,\u201d said Ashley Valentine, Founder and CEO, Sick Cells.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-press-usda-usfs-to-make-good-on-commitment-to-keep-baltimore-urban-forestry-office-in-baltimore", "Maryland Delegation Members Press USDA, USFS to Make Good on Commitment to Keep Baltimore Urban Forestry Office in Baltimore", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume were joined by Representatives Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.), in calling for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden and United States Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz to reverse course on the decision to close the USFS Baltimore Field Office and relocate staff outside of Baltimore. The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station leads forestry-related projects that benefit the local Baltimore community and conducts important forestry and urban ecology research that informs land use decision-making throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond. The lawmakers pose several questions to USDA and USFS around the decision, which comes after Senator Van Hollen questioned Chief Tom Schultz in the Senate Appropriations Committee and received commitment to maintain presence in Baltimore.\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cOn April 30, 2026, during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the United States Forest Service (USFS) FY27 budget, Chief Schultz assured Senator Van Hollen that USFS would not force Baltimore Urban Field Office employees to relocate outside of the Baltimore area during the USDA reorganization. Despite this commitment, when USFS announced earlier this month that the Baltimore Urban Field Office will close, we learned that USFS intends to relocate Baltimore employees to Beltsville, Maryland \u2013 a location that is decidedly outside of the broader Baltimore area. USFS must make good on its word and keep Baltimore Urban Field Office employees in Baltimore so they can effectively continue their place-based and partnership-dependent work in the Baltimore area.\u201d\n\nOn the critical benefits for keeping the Baltimore Urban Field Office in the Baltimore area, the lawmakers write, \u201cWhen Secretary Rollins announced the USDA reorganization, one of the stated pillars of the plan was to \u2018bring USDA closer to its customers.\u2019 Closing the Baltimore Field Office and relocating employees away from Baltimore violates this core principle, since the primary \u2018customers\u2019 of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office are in Baltimore; they are the community groups, local government, and academics with whom the Field Office has developed partnerships and collaborations during its nearly 40-year tenure on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. These relationships have enabled important research projects that benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed and regional forests, as well as urban forestry projects in the Baltimore community. For example, the Office supports community-led restoration and urban revitalization efforts in Baltimore by leading the Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership. It delivers professional skill building and workforce training to urban youth in Baltimore by supporting youth forestry projects at the Stillmeadow Church and Peace Park. And it started an urban wood reuse project that successfully spun off into a city-run urban sawmill and wood recycling center.\u201d\n\nAmong other questions, the lawmakers go on to ask the following:\n\nDid USDA or USFS conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits associated with closing the Baltimore Urban Field Office as compared to keeping them in the current location?\n\nHas USDA or USFS assessed the impact that closure of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office and relocation of employees outside of the Baltimore area will have on the important work that the Baltimore Urban Field Office has been conducting?\n\n\u201cThe Baltimore location is critical to the ability of the Baltimore Urban Field Office to successfully accomplish its place-based and partnership-driven work. This work not only benefits the Baltimore community but serves as a model for urban forestry work in cities across the country and the world. The Baltimore Urban Field Office is an asset to the nation and its closure serves no one. Keep your word and keep the work of the Baltimore Urban Forestry Office in Baltimore.\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Deputy Secretary Vaden and Chief Schultz,\n\nOn April 30, 2026, during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the United States Forest Service (USFS) FY27 budget, Chief Schultz assured Senator Van Hollen that USFS would not force Baltimore Urban Field Office employees to relocate outside of the Baltimore area during the USDA reorganization. Despite this commitment, when USFS announced earlier this month that the Baltimore Urban Field Office will close, we learned that USFS intends to relocate Baltimore employees to Beltsville, Maryland \u2013 a location that is decidedly outside of the broader Baltimore area. USFS must make good on its word and keep Baltimore Urban Field Office employees in Baltimore so they can effectively continue their place-based and partnership-dependent work in the Baltimore area.\n\nWhen Secretary Rollins announced the USDA reorganization, one of the stated pillars of the plan was to \u201cbring USDA closer to its customers.\u201d Closing the Baltimore Field Office and relocating employees away from Baltimore violates this core principle, since the primary \u201ccustomers\u201d of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office are in Baltimore; they are the community groups, local government, and academics with whom the Field Office has developed partnerships and collaborations during its nearly 40-year tenure on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. These relationships have enabled important research projects that benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed and regional forests, as well as urban forestry projects in the Baltimore community. For example, the Office supports community-led restoration and urban revitalization efforts in Baltimore by leading the Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership. It delivers professional skill building and workforce training to urban youth in Baltimore by supporting youth forestry projects at the Stillmeadow Church and Peace Park. And it started an urban wood reuse project that successfully spun off into a city-run urban sawmill and wood recycling center.\n\nUSDA has continually failed to respond to basic questions about the Department\u2019s decision-making during the reorganization process. This includes a failure to answer the questions included in the letter sent to you opposing the closure of the Baltimore Urban Field Office from April 24, 2026, such as whether a cost-benefit analysis has been conducted to understand the true costs to the American taxpayer of closing this facility. This lack of transparency is particularly disturbing when USDA maintains that the reorganization is meant to save money.\n\nTo add to this concern, there are clearly other suitable federal facilities for these employees in the Baltimore area. For example, there is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) facility that is located across the street from the Baltimore Urban Field Office that has the capacity to accommodate USFS employees - a facility that Chief Schultz mentioned during the April 30th hearing. The availability of other Baltimore locations to house the Baltimore Urban Field Office make it extremely difficult to understand why the Field Office\u2019s employees would need to be relocated outside of Baltimore, where it will be harder for them to effectively do their jobs and maintain critical partnerships in the community that this Field Office exists to serve.\n\nIn addition, while Beltsville may fall within the range of the Forest Service\u2019s expansive definition the Baltimore \u201ccommuting area,\u201d despite being well outside of the Baltimore area, relocating Field Office employees to Beltsville realistically means commutes of 2 hours or more for Baltimore-based employees who rely on public transit. This will keep employees away from their families for longer and create an additional cost burden for them \u2013 stressors that stand to decrease overall employee productivity and harm employee retention.\n\nWe urge you to keep your word and reverse course on the decision to relocate USFS Baltimore Field Office employees outside of Baltimore. In addition, please provide answers to the following questions by October 1, 2026:\n\nDid USDA or USFS conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits associated with closing the Baltimore Urban Field Office as compared to keeping them in the current location?\n\nIf so, please provide that analysis, including details on the alternative locations that were considered for Baltimore Field Office employees.\n\nHas USDA or USFS assessed the impact that closure of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office and relocation of employees outside of the Baltimore area will have on the important work that the Baltimore Urban Field Office has been conducting?\n\nIf so, please explain in detail how the assessment was conducted and what the findings were.\n\nDid USDA or USFS assess the feasibility of co-locating the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office with the nearby USGS facility that Chief Schultz referenced in the April 30th hearing?\n\nWill employees still be able and expected to work on the ground in Baltimore?\n\nIf so, how will employee productivity be impacted by the relocation and what will the cost to USDA be, including lost work hours and travel expenses, from frequent employee travel from Beltsville to Baltimore?\n\nThe Baltimore location is critical to the ability of the Baltimore Urban Field Office to successfully accomplish its place-based and partnership-driven work. This work not only benefits the Baltimore community but serves as a model for urban forestry work in cities across the country and the world. The Baltimore Urban Field Office is an asset to the nation and its closure serves no one. Keep your word and keep the work of the Baltimore Urban Forestry Office in Baltimore.", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-call-for-answers-investigation-following-alarming-ice-operation-in-frederick", "Maryland Delegation Members Call for Answers, Investigation Following Alarming ICE Operation in Frederick", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representative April McClain Delaney were joined by Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) \u2013 in pressing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director David Venturella for answers around Trump\u2019s ICE operations in Frederick, Maryland on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4. In their letter, the lawmakers additionally called on DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to initiate an independent and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in Maryland.\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cAs members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation, we write to express our serious concerns with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s (ICE) recent operation in Frederick, Maryland. The tactics used by ICE officers detailed by eyewitnesses and exposed in videos circulating online are alarming and necessitate more information as to how the recently-merged Washington-Baltimore field office and the agency are enforcing our immigration laws. We request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in our state.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cRecently, ICE reportedly conducted an approximately 40-hour immigration enforcement operation in one neighborhood of Frederick, Maryland. Videos released by observers revealed that on Friday evening the operation turned violent as a dark law enforcement vehicle with flashing lights drove down the sidewalk toward observers, hitting one of them. Another video depicted ICE officers using a baton to beat a protestor and dragging another from the front steps of a home that ICE was attempting to enter. Additionally, during the operation, an ICE officer reportedly approached a local elected official and told her that ICE knew her name, license plate, and where she lived. If true, this is deeply disturbing and appears to be an attempt to intimidate local elected officials.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of our constituents, we request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE has been and is currently deploying in our state, and we request responses to the following by no later than September 30, 2026,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nAmong other questions, the lawmakers go on to ask the following:\n\nPlease provide a detailed description and timeline, with documented evidence such as body camera footage, of the events of the operation.\n\nDoes ICE have a policy that allows the use of vehicles to clear an area of peaceful observers?\n\nDoes that policy allow for ICE to hit observers, or threaten to hit observers, with their vehicles?\n\nWhen an ICE officer informs a legal observer that they have their name, information, and know where they live \u2013 what is the purpose of the officer making that statement?\n\nHow does ICE come to have this information, and for what reasons does ICE use it?\n\nHow did ICE\u2019s use of force in this case align with DHS\u2019s use of force policy?\n\nDuring the operation, video shows ICE entering a home, reportedly in pursuit of a target. Did ICE secure a warrant for the target\u2019s arrest before entering the home?\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella and Inspector General Cuffari,\n\nAs members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation, we write to express our serious concerns with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s (ICE) recent operation in Frederick, Maryland. The tactics used by ICE officers detailed by eyewitnesses and exposed in videos circulating online are alarming and necessitate more information as to how the recently-merged Washington-Baltimore field office and the agency are enforcing our immigration laws. We request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in our state.\n\nRecently, ICE reportedly conducted an approximately 40-hour immigration enforcement operation in one neighborhood of Frederick, Maryland. Videos released by observers revealed that on Friday evening the operation turned violent as a dark law enforcement vehicle with flashing lights drove down the sidewalk toward observers, hitting one of them. Another video depicted ICE officers using a baton to beat a protestor and dragging another from the front steps of a home that ICE was attempting to enter.\n\nAdditionally, during the operation, an ICE officer reportedly approached a local elected official and told her that ICE knew her name, license plate, and where she lived. If true, this is deeply disturbing and appears to be an attempt to intimidate local elected officials.\n\nICE has a duty to enforce our immigration laws safely and humanely. Yet, ICE\u2019s operations clearly continue to create chaos and instill fear in our communities. ICE is not making our neighborhoods safer and is not going after the \u201cworst of the worst\u201d as this Administration claims. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s own numbers show that nearly 70% of the individuals arrested as part of its two-week surge operation last month in Maryland and Virginia had no criminal record.\n\nOn behalf of our constituents, we request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE has been and is currently deploying in our state, and we request responses to the following by no later than September 30, 2026.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-statement-on-trump-administration-decision-rolling-back-federal-coordination-of-chesapeake-bay-restoration", "Maryland Delegation Members\u2019 Statement on Trump Administration Decision Rolling Back Federal Coordination of Chesapeake Bay Restoration", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) \u2013 released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to revoke an Executive Order declaring the Chesapeake Bay a national treasure and establishing a coordinated federal strategy for the protection and restoration of the Bay and its watershed, including by supporting state-led efforts on water quality goals, pollution limits, agricultural preservation, stormwater management, and climate resiliency.\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay and its health are vital to lives and livelihoods across our state and the greater region. Now more than ever, we need continued federal partnership and support for Chesapeake Bay restoration, not efforts to roll back all the progress we\u2019ve made. The 2009 Executive Order that the Trump administration just revoked provided vital federal resources that support state-led efforts to improve the health and productivity of the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding area. Removing the coordinated federal backing that advances the watershed protection and restoration goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement risks undermining the future health of the Bay along with the businesses and communities that depend on it. This decision is shortsighted and harmful to our communities. Make no mistake: the Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure. And we will continue to fight for it.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-colleagues-press-trump-administration-on-need-for-dedicated-leadership-for-students-with-disabilities-after-abrupt-resignation-of-department-of-education-assistant-secretary", "Van Hollen, Colleagues Press Trump Administration on Need for Dedicated Leadership for Students with Disabilities After Abrupt Resignation of Department of Education Assistant Secretary", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and ten of his colleagues called on Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon to cease further disruption of IDEA programs that support essential services for students with disabilities, families, educators, and schools following the abrupt resignation of Kelly Rogers, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS). The lawmakers stressed the urgent need for dedicated leadership to serve students with disabilities and also urged Secretary McMahon to stop the transfer of OSERS to the Department of Health and Human Services, in order to avoid further disruption to critical student services and those who support them.\n\nSenator Van Hollen was joined in sending this letter by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cWe write to express our concern at the abrupt resignation of Acting Assistant Secretary Kelly Rogers amid the disruptive transfer of Department of Education workers who serve students with disabilities. As the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) at the Department of Education (the Department), it was Ms. Rogers\u2019 role to oversee IDEA programs that provide essential services and supports to students, families, educators, and schools. In your Department, that meant she was tasked with executing the harmful and unnecessary transfer of these education programs to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Ms. Rogers\u2019 resignation was announced the day before the dedicated staff was required to show up at HHS and effective the day after. Since the Department is following through with the transfer of workers and critical programs without educational leadership, every OSERS employee will be forced to carry out this transition with little guidance and even less oversight.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe absence of meaningful OSERS leadership as students head back to school underscores the emptiness of this administration\u2019s public commitments to students with disabilities and longstanding federal law. Students with disabilities need stability and unwavering implementation of special education law and civil rights protections. Without federal commitment or a dedicated leader, students with disabilities and their families will suffer the consequences,\u201d they continue.\n\n\u201cMs. Rogers\u2019 resignation and the temporary appointment of a replacement carrying other critical responsibilities only adds to the Trump administration\u2019s disruption to public education. We urge you to stop the chaotic transfer of OSERS to HHS and to ensure that there is dedicated, experienced leadership capable of providing students with disabilities the quality education they deserve,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary McMahon:\n\nWe write to express our concern at the abrupt resignation of Acting Assistant Secretary Kelly Rogers amid the disruptive transfer of Department of Education workers who serve students with disabilities. As the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) at the Department of Education (the Department), it was Ms. Rogers\u2019 role to oversee IDEA programs that provide essential services and supports to students, families, educators, and schools. In your Department, that meant she was tasked with executing the harmful and unnecessary transfer of these education programs to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Ms. Rogers\u2019 resignation was announced the day before the dedicated staff was required to show up at HHS and effective the day after. Since the Department is following through with the transfer of workers and critical programs without educational leadership, every OSERS employee will be forced to carry out this transition with little guidance and even less oversight.\n\nMs. Rogers resigned after four months of serving in this critical position. She was appointed in May 2026, just weeks before the transfer was announced, and expressed public enthusiasm over the opportunity to \u201cmodernize oversight\u201d and \u201creduce barriers\u201d with the move. Now, she is gone. While the Department has made the choice to temporarily appoint the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education to replace Ms. Rogers, students with disabilities and the workers who serve them deserve undivided guidance and oversight. The students and families who depend on OSERS have no accountable leadership, and the dedicated staff face massive structural change and disruption with the threat of further staffing cuts as proposed in the FY27 budget.\n\nThe absence of meaningful OSERS leadership as students head back to school underscores the emptiness of this administration\u2019s public commitments to students with disabilities and longstanding federal law. Students with disabilities need stability and unwavering implementation of special education law and civil rights protections. Without federal commitment or a dedicated leader, students with disabilities and their families will suffer the consequences.\n\nMs. Rogers\u2019 resignation and the temporary appointment of a replacement carrying other critical responsibilities only adds to the Trump administration\u2019s disruption to public education. We urge you to stop the chaotic transfer of OSERS to HHS and to ensure that there is dedicated, experienced leadership capable of providing students with disabilities the quality education they deserve.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-bennet-tillis-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-boost-innovation-in-education", "Van Hollen, Bennet, Tillis Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Innovation in Education", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) reintroduced the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act, which would drive evidence-based improvements and innovations for our schools, by making strategic investments in education research and development (R&D). The legislation would create a national center that advances high-risk, high-reward education research projects, similar to the model employed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).\n\n\u201cTo meet the evolving challenges our students face, our educators need access to quality data and evidence-based advancements in teaching and learning,\u201d said Van Hollen. \u201cThis legislation would help accomplish that by investing in our students\u2019 success to better prepare them for the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a former school superintendent, I know our teachers are doing everything they can to help students succeed,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cAs social media and a nationwide mental health crisis reshape how students learn and engage in school, educators need better information about what works. Congress can help by investing in cutting-edge education research. This bipartisan bill will help schools, educators, and policymakers make data driven decisions that strengthen education today and in the years ahead.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe owe it to students, parents, and teachers to pass bipartisan legislation that identifies gaps in education and better prepares students to become the next generation of the American workforce,\u201d said Tillis. \u201cThat\u2019s why I am proud to sponsor legislation that invests in education research and development, STEM, and innovative technologies to develop the tools needed to identify these gaps and help teachers better equip students for the future.\u201d\n\nThe NEED Act would create a National Center for Advanced Development in Education (NCADE) at the Department of Education dedicated to developing and disseminating cutting-edge practices and tools, such as voice recognition software to assess dyslexia and other emerging readiness gaps, to adequately prepare students to meet the challenges of a 21st century economy.\n\nSpecifically, the legislation would:\n\nMake robust investments to establish, staff, and operate NCADE;\n\nRequire the Advanced Development Commissioner to appoint an advisory panel to guide the development and implementation of NCADE projects; and\n\nConduct and disseminate the results of periodic evaluations of the effectiveness of NCADE in achieving its mission of expanding education R&D and improving teaching and learning.\n\nThe NEED Act would also improve Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems and help states better track students\u2019 progress through K-12 and into the workforce while protecting the privacy of students\u2019 education records. This data will help policymakers understand and address opportunity and achievement gaps across the country.\n\nThis bill is supported by nearly 65 organizations, including: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Accelerate \u2013 National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning, Advanced Education Research and Development Fund, All4Ed, Alliance for Learning Innovation, America Forward, American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association Services, Applied Learning Insights, Beyond100K, Bipartisan Policy Center, Buck Institute Education/PBLWorks, CAST, Committee for Children, Common Cents Education Consulting, Common Sense Media, Consortium for State Education Support, Data Quality Campaign, Digital Promise Global, EDGE Partners, EdTrust, Education Knowledge Broker Network, Education Reform Now Advocacy, Education Reimagined, Educators for Excellence, EdVenture Lab, ExcelinEd in Action, Federation of American Scientists, Foundation for Deeper Learning, FullScale, High Tech High Graduate School of Education, InnovateEDU, Institute for Educational Leadership, KB Stack Consulting, LLC, Knowledge Alliance, Learner-Centered Collaborative, LearnerStudio, Learning Disabilities Association of America, Learning Heroes, LearningForge LLC, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Council on Teacher Quality, National Girls Collaborative, National Parents Union, National School Boards Association, New Classrooms, New Leaders, reDesign, Reinvention Lab at Teach For America, Results for America, SERP Institute, SETDA, SRI, Teach For America, Teach Plus, Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, The Learning Agency, The Society for Research in Child Development, The Study Group, The Tech Interactive, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Threadwell Solutions TNTP, Transcend, and the University of Oregon.\n\n\u201cFor too long, education has lacked what nearly every other field takes for granted: a dedicated engine for pursuing bold, high-reward ideas and finding out what works for students,\u201d said Sara Schapiro, Executive Director of the Alliance for Learning Innovation. \u201cThe NEED Act would build that engine, a national center modeled on DARPA inside the Institute of Education Sciences, supporting researchers and educators with the resources to test promising new approaches to teaching and learning and pursue real breakthroughs for education. ALI is proud to support Senators Bennet, Tillis, and Van Hollen in reintroducing this bipartisan legislation, and we urge Congress to move quickly to get it passed.\u201d\n\n\u201cData Quality Campaign applauds the efforts of Senators Bennet, Tillis, and Van Hollen on the introduction of the NEED Act, which will ensure everyone has the data they need to make informed decisions about their education and career journeys,\u201d said Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger, President and CEO, Data Quality Campaign. \u201cBy reimagining how statewide longitudinal data systems support transparency and high-quality data, the NEED Act will enable individuals to better navigate their career pathways and policymakers to create policies that invest in the programs, supports, and interventions needed to make that navigation seamless.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Bipartisan Policy Center\u2019s Commission on the American Workforce called for a Talent Data System and to prioritize research and data on what actually works to support students, teachers, and workers,\u201d said Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action). \u201cThe NEED Act takes a critical step forward to answer that call. It will modernize state data systems, strengthen our nation\u2019s research capacity, and help develop breakthrough tools and solutions that improve student outcomes. We applaud Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for crafting a forward-looking, bipartisan bill as a companion to the House version, led by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). Congress must advance this important legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThrough our on the ground partnerships with K-12 institutions across the state, the University of Denver has seen firsthand the appetite and need for additional federal investment in cutting-edge education research,\u201d said Jeremy Haefner, Chancellor, University of Denver. \u201cThe authorization of a new National Center for Advanced Development in Education is essential to ensuring Colorado educators have access to timely, innovative, and evidence-based practices to help increase achievement for all of Colorado\u2019s students. We are grateful to Senator Bennet for his championing of the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act and hope it advances in Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cRelative to many other countries, the United States spends too little on educational research and development. Indeed, the federal government is investing less in this important work every year. If we want educational policymakers and leaders to make decisions based on evidence, we need much more research on the kinds of innovations that make a difference in all children\u2019s outcomes. Senator Bennet\u2019s New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act will provide the resources needed to accelerate innovation in teaching and learning and help expand opportunity to all,\u201d said William Penuel, Distinguished Professor, School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder and Director, National Center for Research in Policy and Practice.\n\n\u201cThe ability to longitudinally track student outcomes across the school-to-workforce pipeline will significantly increase knowledge on what works robustly and at scale. The Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) in Senator Bennet\u2019s New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act will help states do this systematically so that the resultant data can be broadly used to broaden the evidence-base and to increase accountability for federal- and state- funded interventions,\u201d said Sidney D\u2019Mello, Professor, Institute of Cognitive Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Principal Investigator, National Science Foundation National AI institute for Student-AI Teaming.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mfume-highlight-10-million-federal-investment-to-expand-morgan-state-universitys-research-programs-power-r1-ascent", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Mfume Highlight $10 Million Federal Investment to Expand Morgan State University\u2019s Research Programs, Power R1 Ascent", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congressman Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) highlighted $10 million in federal funding to support Morgan State University\u2019s research programs, expanding opportunities for students, faculty, and the University. This investment will allow the University to establish the new Institute for Trusted Autonomous Networks (TITAN), expand research and doctoral training, and strengthen the University\u2019s advancement toward a Carnegie R1 \u201cvery high research activity\u201d classification \u2013 which would, in turn, further increase research and funding opportunities at Morgan State. This federal investment comes from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Pilot Program, a program proposed by Senator Van Hollen and designed to fund research and education programs at HBCUs \u2013 like Morgan State \u2013 to increase their capacity to achieve very high research activity status (R1) on the Carnegie Classification scale. Senator Van Hollen introduced the HBCU Research, Innovation, Security, and Excellence (RISE) Act to establish this program in April 2022, then worked to secure provisions of his bill in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed into law in December 2022.\n\n\u201cMaryland is a national leader in research and innovation, and institutions like Morgan State are a prime reason for our continued success. I\u2019ve fought for critical investments in Morgan State over the years, including through the creation of the HBCU/MI Pilot Program to support expanding its research capacity. This federal investment will help advance the University\u2019s goal to become one of the pioneering HBCU R1 institutions, opening up greater opportunities for students, faculty, and the University as a whole \u2013 helping Maryland stay at the cutting edge of scientific research for years to come,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen, who introduced legislation and then worked to pass the language to create the HBCU/MI Pilot Program as a provision of the FY23 national defense bill.\n\n\u201cMaryland is leading the nation in research, technology, and innovation. I am so proud that Morgan State University will receive $10 million in federal funding for research programs and strengthen the university's advancement toward a Carnegie R1 \u2018very high research activity\u2019 classification. Morgan State students have always been leaders, leaving lasting impacts on Maryland and our entire nation \u2013 this investment will work to keep building up our students, fueling our economy, and transforming our world,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cMorgan State University is one of our nation's leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), and this infusion of funding will only strengthen that reputation,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \u201cThese funds will allow Morgan to expand their research and doctoral training capabilities, empowering their researchers to make greater contributions to their field and bringing Morgan ever closer to the prestigious Carnegie R1 classification.\u201d\n\nTITAN will be a university-wide research and education initiative focused on developing autonomous systems that can operate safely in complex and uncertain environments. It will examine how artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum-enhanced security, resilient communications, wireless networks, robotics, and human-machine collaboration can be integrated so autonomous technologies perform predictably and transparently, resist cyberattacks and system failures, and support sound decision-making. Over five years, TITAN is projected to support approximately 20 research projects, 48 unique STEM research trainees, 24 doctoral students, and 24 postdoctoral researchers. It is also expected to engage 68 students in specialized instruction and symposia, connect 48 trainees with internship and job sessions, and place 20 participating trainees into technical internships or jobs.\n\n\u201cThis award affirms the strength of Morgan\u2019s research trajectory and provides catalytic support at a pivotal point in our evolution as a public research university,\u201d said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. \u201cOur pursuit of R1 is not about attaining a label; it is about building the lasting capacity to generate knowledge, prepare more doctoral scholars, attract consequential investment and produce research that impacts national security. We remain steadfast in reaching R1 by 2030, and this federal investment will help us accelerate that work while creating meaningful opportunities for Morgan students to learn, discover and lead.\u201d\n\nThis federal funding is in addition to $16,358,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending that Federal Team Maryland has secured since Fiscal Year 2022 for research programs and other initiatives at Morgan State University.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-young-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-boost-housing-mobility-vouchers-increase-families-access-to-affordable-housing", "Van Hollen, Young Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Housing Mobility Vouchers, Increase Families\u2019 Access to Affordable Housing", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) reintroduced their bipartisan Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act, legislation to create 250,000 housing mobility vouchers for the nation\u2019s most vulnerable families with young children. The bill couples rental assistance vouchers, which allow families to choose eligible privately owned housing units and pay rent equal to 30 percent of their income, with evidence-based mobility support services, such as housing counselors and landlord coordination, to help families find affordable housing in high-opportunity areas.\n\n\u201cEnsuring children grow up in a safe and secure home is one of the best ways we can support their success. That\u2019s why we need to do more to make sure every family has access to an affordable place to live \u2013 and what\u2019s more, we need to ensure affordable housing is available in neighborhoods with strong schools and good-paying jobs. As we work to expand affordable housing nationwide and increase economic mobility for all families, this bipartisan bill will boost access to housing vouchers that have already served as an effective and immediate solution \u2013 giving more parents the ability to afford a home in the location that best serves their family,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cEvery child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable home and reach their full potential,\u201d said Senator Young. \u201cResearch has shown that children who move from high-poverty areas to neighborhoods with greater opportunity at a young age can see significantly higher earnings later in life. Our bipartisan legislation will give families facing homelessness and housing instability more choices about where they live, helping more children access strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and opportunities to succeed.\u201d\n\nResearch shows that higher opportunity areas offer children a greater chance to succeed. This bipartisan bill builds on this cutting-edge policy research to help families overcome barriers to opportunity and achieve generational economic mobility. In the Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations package, Senators Van Hollen and Young secured the authorization and funding of their Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration Act. The Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act would build upon their previous efforts by expanding this legislation \u2013 providing increased funds and making 250,000 more vouchers available over the next five years.\n\nSpecifically, the bill:\n\nCreates an additional 250,000 housing vouchers over five years for low-income, high-need families with young children. Pregnant women and families with a child under age 6 would qualify for these new vouchers if they have a history of homelessness or housing instability, live in an area of concentrated poverty, or are at risk of being pushed out of an opportunity area. This includes families who are fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; families who are living in housing conditions that are dangerous or life-threatening; and families who are living in units that are not accessible to a disabled family member.\n\nProvides voucher recipients with a customized approach to mobility-related services that will enable a successful transition to opportunity areas for children, including access to counseling and case management services that have a proven track record of helping families move out of poverty.\n\nEnables housing agencies to engage new landlords in the voucher program and connect families with information about housing in high-opportunity neighborhoods and community-based supports for families as they move.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\nThe Senators\u2019 legislation is supported by a broad group of experts and advocacy organizations, including: American Association of Service Coordinators, Autism Society of America, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, Boston Medical Center, Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership, BPC Action, Caring Across Generations, Catholic Charities USA, Center for Law and Social Policy, Children\u2019s HealthWatch, Children\u2019s Trust Fund Alliance, Church World Service, Coalition on Human Needs, Community Solutions International, Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd U.S. Region, Council of State Community Development Agencies, First Focus Campaign for Children, Family Promise, Futures Without Violence, Healthcare Anchor Network, Housing Assistance Council, Housing Justice Center, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Low Income Investment Fund, Lutheran Services in America, Mobility Works, MomsRising, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, National Affordable Housing Management Association, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies, National Association of Social Workers, National Coalition for the Homeless, National Disability Institute, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, National Homelessness Law Center, National Housing Law Project, National Housing Resource Center, National Leased Housing Association, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National NeighborWorks Association, National Rental Home Council, National WIC Association, Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign, Parents as Teachers, PolicyLink, Poverty & Race Research Action Council, Prosperity Indiana, Public Housing Authorities Directors Association, SchoolHouse Connection, The Kelsey, Union for Reform Judaism, and ZERO TO THREE.\n\n\u201cThe National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) commends Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Todd Young (R-IN) for their leadership in reintroducing the \"Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act,\" bipartisan legislation that expands access to stable housing and high-opportunity neighborhoods for families with young children,\u201d said Renee M. Willis, president and CEO of NLIHC. \u201cSafe, affordable housing is essential to quality of life, supporting educational attainment, economic mobility, and health outcomes. The \"Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act\u201d represents an important step toward advancing housing stability, providing 250,000 additional vouchers to help families with young children secure affordable housing in communities of their choice.\u201d\n\n\u201cSafe, stable, and affordable housing is foundational to child health. Our research has consistently shown that when families struggle with unstable housing, young children face greater risk of poor health and developmental delays,\u201d said Dr. Megan Sandel, pediatrician, and Co-Lead Principal Investigator for Children\u2019s HealthWatch. \u201cThe Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act would give more families with young children the stability and choice they need to find an affordable home in a well-resourced neighborhood where their children can thrive. Investing in housing stability during the earliest years of life is an investment in children\u2019s health, development, and opportunity for the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cBPC Action applauds Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for reintroducing the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act. The evidence is clear: young children whose families move to high-opportunity neighborhoods do better for life. This bill's proposed 250,000 new vouchers and mobility counseling put that within reach, advancing a key Bipartisan Policy Center recommendation. Strengthening the Housing Choice Voucher program has drawn bipartisan support for decades, and BPC Action stands ready to help Congress make it law,\u201d said Michele Stockwell, president of BPC Action.\n\n\u201cStarting from the earliest years of our lives, the neighborhoods we live in shape our health, education, and economic opportunities. For millions of children across the country, housing instability can mean struggling in school, experiencing poorer health, and having fewer opportunities for economic mobility into adulthood. Decades of research show us that when children have stable homes in well-resourced communities, they have better outcomes and greater opportunities to thrive. The Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act translates that evidence into a cost-effective solution. The Opportunity Starts at Home campaign is proud to champion this legislation and for its promise to give more children the stability and opportunity they deserve,\u201d said Chantelle Wilkinson, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Campaigns at the National Low Income Housing Coalition.\n\n\u201cThe National Association of Social Workers (NASW) applauds and fully supports Senators Chris Van Hollen and Todd Young in their bipartisan introduction of the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act that would create 250,000 new housing vouchers,\u201d said Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, CEO of the National Association of Social Workers. \u201cAs the nation\u2019s largest professional social work organization, we are well aware of the fact that the most important support service for low-income families is safe and affordable housing. Therefore, we welcome this legislation that will significantly increase the availability of housing vouchers and help to end the cycle of homelessness low-income families with young children too often experience.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act builds on strong evidence that helping families with children access higher-opportunity neighborhoods significantly improves long-term economic outcomes. Findings from Opportunity Insights' Creating Moves to Opportunity and HOPE VI studies as well as HUD's Community Choice Demonstration show that mobility supports like those outlined in this bill can be implemented effectively and at scale. We support the research-informed approaches advanced by this legislation and believe they can expand opportunity for more children and families,\u201d said Raj Chetty, Director of Opportunity Insights and Professor of Economics, Harvard University\n\n\u201cWhere a child grows up can shape everything from their health to their economic future. Through our work, the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership sees firsthand how housing mobility support services help families access communities that meet their needs and create new possibilities for their children. We thank Senators Van Hollen and Young for their continued bipartisan leadership of the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act, which would bring the effective tools of housing mobility to more families nationwide, providing stability today while opening doors to brighter futures for the next generation,\u201d said Adria Crutchfield, Executive Director of the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-merkley-markey-bipartisan-group-of-senators-in-pressing-trump-administration-to-release-all-documents-from-us-saudi-nuclear-deal", "Van Hollen Joins Merkley, Markey, Bipartisan Group of Senators in Pressing Trump Administration to Release All Documents from U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chirs Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and a bipartisan group of Senators in pressing the Trump Administration to declassify and publicly release the two side letters accompanying the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, referred to as a \u201c123 agreement.\u201d\n\nThe Trump Administration recently submitted the 123 agreement to Congress\u2014as is required by law\u2014but while the agreement references the side letters, the letters themselves are classified at the lowest possible level, which is unprecedented. Because the side letters affect the obligations and operation of the underlying agreement, Congress and the public cannot fully assess what the United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to without seeing them.\n\n\u201cCongress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation\u2019s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States,\u201d wrote the bipartisan group of Senators in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. \u201cThe side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President\u2019s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement \u2018\u2026was concluded with two accompanying side letters.\u2019 Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.\u201d\n\nThey emphasized, \u201cTransparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy. Congress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it potentially enters into force. To that end, we call on you to declassify and release the two side letters without delay.\u201d\n\nJoining Van Hollen, Merkley, and Markey in signing the letter were U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Wright:\n\nWe write to urge you to immediately declassify and publicly release the two side letters associated with the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed U.S.-Saudi 123 civil nuclear cooperation agreement. While the text of the agreement and the bilateral safeguards agreement are now publicly available in unclassified form, the two side letters remain classified at the lowest possible level.\n\nIn previous 123 agreements, the Executive Branch publicly released the agreement along with side letters and related documents. Releasing the agreement text without the side letters here leaves that practice only half met. We are aware of no precedent for classifying and withholding the side letters, particularly when the stated purpose is peaceful nuclear cooperation.\n\nCongress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation\u2019s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States. The side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President\u2019s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement \u201c\u2026was concluded with two accompanying side letters.\u201d Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.\n\nTransparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy. Congress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it potentially enters into force. To that end, we call on you to declassify and release the two side letters without delay.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-votes-no-on-clarity-act/", "ALSOBROOKS VOTES NO ON CLARITY ACT", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "September 15, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released the following statement after voting against cloture on the CLARITY Act:\n\n\u201cWhen I voted in May to advance the CLARITY Act out of the Banking Committee, I was clear that now is the time to regulate digital assets and protect consumers. I was also clear that I would not vote on the floor for a bill that doesn\u2019t include clear ethics provisions to hold this President \u2014 and all future presidents and members of Congress \u2014 accountable. We were ready to strike a deal today and in discussions right up until the vote. Republican leadership shut it down at the very last minute after it became clear that we were on a path to a successful vote. I am proud of the progress we made, and I am determined to keep fighting to regulate this technology, protect the millions of Americans who own crypto, and ensure that communities across Maryland can harness the benefits of digital assets safely.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-48-million-to-improve-ada-accessibility-at-metropolitan-grove-martin-state-airport-marc-stations", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce $48 Million to Improve ADA Accessibility at Metropolitan Grove, Martin State Airport MARC Stations", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, and U.S. Representatives Jamie Raskin, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.) announced $48,064,000 in federal funding to deliver critical accessibility upgrades at two legacy Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) stations \u2013 Martin State Airport Station on the Penn Line and the Metropolitan Grove Station on the Brunswick Line. Both stations predate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and lack the infrastructure necessary to serve all passengers safely and reliably. These upgrades will bring them into full ADA compliance.\n\n\u201cThousands of Marylanders rely on MARC every day to get where they need to go. We fought to pass the infrastructure modernization law to upgrade our state\u2019s transportation systems, and this significant federal investment will help ensure the Martin State and Metropolitan Grove Stations are safer and more accessible for all users, including individuals with disabilities, families with strollers, and older adults,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe Americans with Disabilities Act changed our nation for the better\u2013not only making our infrastructure more accessible, but also making our country more inclusive. I am proud to have partnered with my colleagues to secure over $48 million in federal funding to bring two of our MARC stations into full ADA compliance,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Free State and the nation continue to feel the transformative effects of Democrats\u2019 Infrastructure Law,\u201d said Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08). \u201cTeam Maryland fought for and secured an investment of more than $48 million in federal funding to make the MARC more accessible and fully ADA compliant, so everyone can safely get where they need to go. This is a critical win that will make life easier for our people, including those with disabilities, seniors and families with small children.\u201d\n\n\u201cPublic transportation should work for everyone. Thanks to the hard work of Team Maryland, our congressional offices secured more than $48 million to make MARC stations safer, more affordable, and more accessible. These investments will bring Metropolitan Grove and Martin State Airport stations into full ADA compliance because no Marylander should face barriers to safe, reliable transportation,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander deserves safe, reliable access to public transit,\u201d said Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). \u201cThese stations have gone decades without the accessibility upgrades our neighbors with disabilities, seniors, and families deserve. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to help deliver this important federal investment so that Martin State Airport and Metropolitan Grove stations finally meet the standard every rider should be able to count on.\u201d\n\nAt the Martin State Airport Station in Baltimore County, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will replace existing at-grade crossings with accessible, grade-separated connections, including high-level platforms and a pedestrian bridge. These improvements will enhance safety and eliminate the need for passengers to traverse active rail tracks used by MARC, Amtrak, and freight service. At the Metropolitan Grove Station in Montgomery County, the MTA will reconstruct the platform, improve parking accessibility, update signage, and install wheelchair lifts and enclosures.\n\n\u201cThis award from the Federal Transit Administration supports the Moore-Miller Administration\u2019s priority to ensure customers can safely access our state\u2019s transportation services to get to work, school and life\u2019s opportunities, furthering our goal of creating a transportation system that works for everyone and Leaves No One Behind,\u201d said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. \u201cThank you to Maryland\u2019s federal delegation for their work to secure the grant and their partnership in improving transit infrastructure across the state.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-kaine-sanders-lead-20-senators-in-introducing-privileged-resolution-seeking-answers-on-west-bank-violence", "Van Hollen, Kaine, Sanders Lead 20 Senators in Introducing Privileged Resolution Seeking Answers on West Bank Violence", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are leading 20 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a 502B privileged resolution requiring the Department of State to report to Congress on increasing violence in the West Bank, including the killings of Americans in the West Bank. Nine Americans have been killed in the West Bank in recent years \u2013 and more detained \u2013 and none have received accountability or justice from either the Israeli or United States Governments. The Senators\u2019 resolution would require the Department of State to provide information and assessments related to investigations of the killing of United States citizens by violent Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in the West Bank, as well as an assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank, specifically related to the detention of Palestinian children.\n\nThey were joined in introducing the resolution by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-N.J.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).\n\n\u201cThis Administration has said ensuring the safety and security of American citizens abroad is one of its highest priorities. And yet, as we\u2019ve seen violence rise in the West Bank, American citizens have been killed time and again, and they have received no justice and no accountability. It\u2019s past time we get answers on their deaths \u2013 and on the growing violent Israeli settler attacks and the injustices Palestinians in the West Bank face on a daily basis. This resolution will require the State Department to begin to produce these answers, which are owed to the families of those who have lost loved ones, to the American people, and to all of those who want to ensure recipients of U.S. taxpayer dollars are acting in line with our laws and our values,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe violence committed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is reaching an unprecedented level, and as a result more and more Americans and Palestinians are being killed and injured. These actions\u2014and the Israeli government\u2019s lack of response to this violence\u2014are unacceptable and threaten the long-term safety and security of the entire region,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cFriends need to listen to each other, and my colleagues and I have repeatedly urged Israeli leaders to take firmer action to curtail illegal settlements in the West Bank, prosecute violent settlers, and protect Palestinian residents as well as American citizens living in or visiting the West Bank. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution to require the State Department to conduct a formal assessment and provide a report to Congress on the situation in the West Bank, in particular the safety and security of Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day, Palestinians in the West Bank experience horrific violence at the hands of Israeli settlers and security forces \u2014 and for years, the Israeli government has offered impunity instead of accountability. Enough is enough. The United States cannot keep bankrolling this violence and looking the other way \u2014 it\u2019s time to end our complicity, once and for all,\u201d said Senator Sanders.\n\n\u201cIn my visits to the West Bank, I\u2019ve heard numerous stories about the organized strategy of harassment and violence settlers are inflicting upon Palestinian villagers and Palestinian Americans. Tactics include cutting off villagers from their wells, their vineyards, and their orchards, burning their vehicles, and assaulting defenseless individuals, all with the implicit support of the Netanyahu government. This is wrong under every moral code,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThis resolution demands answers about these abuses and accountability for those responsible.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Netanyahu government has failed to stop Israeli security forces and settler attacks in the West Bank for years, including attacks that killed American citizens. The Trump administration has even gone so far as to reverse sanctions against individuals connected to this pattern of horrific violence. It's long past time for the U.S. government to stand up for human rights, investigate this violence against Americans and Palestinian civilians, provide full information to Congress, and hold the perpetrators accountable,\u201d said Senator Warren.\n\n\u201cIsraeli settlers in the West Bank have perpetrated violent crimes against Palestinians, including American citizens, with impunity. It is completely reasonable for Congress to demand our own government to report who was involved in these attacks. The United States has a moral obligation to seek justice for both our own citizens and Palestinians, including many children, targeted by Israeli security forces or settlers in the West Bank,\u201d said Senator Smith. \u201cA mature democracy can face up to its failures and commit to doing better. I am not at all convinced that Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s government is up to that task, which is why it\u2019s up to the United States.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility to protect Americans abroad and seek justice when Americans are killed,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThe escalating violence in the West Bank and lack of accountability for the deaths of American citizens are deeply concerning. This resolution will help us get the answers we need, demand accountability, and ensure that we have a better assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank.\u201d\n\n\u201cIsraeli military and police forces are a leading perpetrator of deadly violence against American civilians\u2014including 9 killed since 2022,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cToo often there are no serious investigations and there is no accountability after violent attacks. Israel should be held to the same standards as every other nation when it comes to the lives of American citizens\u2014that\u2019s what this resolution demands.\u201d\n\n\u201cViolent, lethal lawlessness on the West Bank is a betrayal of Israel\u2019s moral standing and our shared values, and must be stopped. This resolution is now necessary, after so many have urged action and violence only continues to rise. Failing to enforce clear legal prohibitions and protections has cost American and Palestinian lives \u2013 and deeply threatens a peaceful, stable future for all Israelis and Palestinians,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cI have long said that continued settlement activity is one of the obstacles to a long term two-state solution. Recent settler violence only further undermines this goal and demands a serious response from the Netanyahu government\u2014a message this resolution clearly conveys,\u201d said Senator Durbin.\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility to ensure the killing of American citizens is thoroughly investigated anywhere in the world,\u201d said Senator Shaheen. \u201cThese killings and extremist settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank undermine the rule of law and threaten a two-state solution. I\u2019m proud to join this resolution to send the message from Congress that the United States will not sign off on unchecked escalation. I encourage the Trump Administration to continue to make clear that the U.S. opposes annexation of the West Bank and extremist settler policies.\u201d\n\n\"The United States cannot look the other way when Americans are killed or when Palestinians are subjected to violence and displacement, and neither can Israel. We must send a clear message to the Trump administration and the Israeli government: New Mexicans will not stand by while U.S. citizens are killed by violent Israeli settlers and the Israeli military,\u201d said Heinrich. \"We need to end the bloodshed and work toward lasting peace in the region. That starts with holding President Netanyahu accountable for the human rights abuses taking place in the West Bank and making clear that American taxpayers will not provide a blank check for the Israeli government to kill U.S. citizens and kill and displace Palestinians. This resolution will get us closer to real accountability from the Trump Administration and the Israeli Government.\u201d\n\n\u201cSettlers have attacked and killed Palestinians and Americans in the West Bank for years, too often without any real accountability from the Israeli government. We need answers about why this violence has been allowed to continue and what concrete steps are being taken to prevent future tragedies. When settler violence goes unchecked, it puts lives at risk and further undermines the prospects for lasting peace in the region,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\n\u201cThe escalating settler violence in the West Bank has claimed the lives of Americans and innocent Palestinian civilians. Both the Trump administration and Netanyahu government have failed to ensure accountability and justice for these families or meaningfully provide for the safety and security of those in the West Bank. This resolution will help Congress receive information it needs to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars do not bankroll such abuses,\u201d said Senator Wyden.\n\n\"Escalating settler violence in the West Bank is not only a threat to a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians\u2014it is costing American citizens their lives. As the United States continues to provide weapons and security assistance to Israel, Congress cannot look the other way from the escalating violence. The State Department must ensure proper oversight and a clear accounting of these humanitarian concerns. This resolution works to ensure that any nation receiving U.S. support adheres to the rule of law, our shared values, and basic accountability when American citizens are harmed,\" said Senator Hirono.\n\nThe resolution draws upon Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows Congress to file a privileged resolution that, if passed, would require the State Department to provide information on any country receiving U.S. security assistance and that country\u2019s observance of internationally-recognized human rights. After introduction, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has ten days to consider it in committee, and if it fails to do so, the resolution can be called up for a vote on the Senate floor. If the resolution passes the Senate, the Trump Administration must submit the report within 30 days or the majority of security assistance authorized to Israel would be prohibited. If the resolution passes, and following the receipt of the State Department report, Congress may consider any necessary changes to U.S. security assistance to that country in light of the information received. If the Administration declines or fails to submit the required report, the Administration\u2019s decision would prompt the termination of certain covered security assistance programs for Israel.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-norton-introduce-no-fencing-at-the-united-states-capitol-complex-act", "Van Hollen, Norton Introduce No Fencing at the United States Capitol Complex Act", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) introduced the No Fencing at the United States Capitol Complex Act, which would prohibit the installation of permanent fencing on the grounds of the United States Capitol complex. After the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, a fence was erected around the Capitol that stayed in place for six months as officials recommended a permanent barrier. Norton criticized permanent fencing as both cosmetic and imprecise and instead called for smarter, state-of-the-art solutions.\n\n\u201cOurs is a government of, by, and for the people \u2013 and the people should always be able to safely access our nation\u2019s Capitol and exercise their First Amendment rights. We can protect the Capitol without walling it off to the public. This legislation would ensure this complex never becomes a fortress where the American people are left on the outside looking in,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cPermanent fencing would send an un-American message to the nation and the world, transforming the Capitol from a place that's accessible to the people it serves into a fortress that locks them out,\u201d Congresswoman Norton said. \u201cThe answer to security vulnerabilities is not a crude barrier that makes the Capitol look safer while doing little to address the threats. Instead, we should be investing in the intelligence, technology, training and security measures that actually protect the Capitol while preserving the openness that is fundamental to our democracy. At a time when trust in government is at historic lows, the last thing we should do is put another physical and psychological barrier between the people and the government that serves them.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-chu-introduce-bicameral-resolution-to-designate-community-school-coordinators-appreciation-week", "Van Hollen, Chu Introduce Bicameral Resolution to Designate Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) introduced a bicameral resolution to designate September 13 through 19, 2026 as Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week to recognize the critical work of community school coordinators in giving students and families at full-service community schools the resources they need to succeed. This resolution is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).\n\nCommunity schools are public schools that provide wraparound support services, such as medical, mental, transportation, and nutrition health services, mentoring and youth development programs, expanded learning opportunities, and active family and community engagement. Community school coordinators work with the community and non-profits to identify and source additional resources to benefit students and their families. The resolution recognizes the role community school coordinators play in helping students succeed in their academic years and beyond. There are more than 1000 community schools serving students across all 24 of Maryland\u2019s school districts.\n\n\u201cSetting students up for success starts with making sure their needs are met \u2013 both in and out of the classroom. Our community schools are valued partners, empowering local education and community leaders to connect families with vital services while providing a top-notch education. Community school coordinators dedicate themselves to helping students and families get the support they need to succeed while serving as invaluable liaisons to community resources, which is why I\u2019m proud to recognize their hard work with this resolution,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\"Community Schools partner with local organizations to provide the academic, health, and social supports students need to thrive. Research shows that addressing the needs of the whole student can reduce disparities, decrease disciplinary measures, and improve academic outcomes. Community School Coordinators are critical to making these local partnerships work, which is why I\u2019m proud to introduce my resolution designating Community School Coordinator Appreciation Week and recognizing the hard work Community School Coordinators do every day to help students succeed in and out of the classroom,\" said Congresswoman Chu.\n\n\u201cCommunity schools provide the necessary resources to help students succeed both in the classroom and beyond. By partnering with community-based organizations, engaging with families, providing services, and extending programs, community schools build truly supportive environments for students, and community school coordinators are essential to this work,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs the Trump regime continues to attack public education at every turn, this resolution recognizes Community School Coordinator Appreciation Week and celebrates the integral role coordinators play in their schools\u2019 success. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in thanking these educators and remain committed to helping schools nationwide provide children with the resources they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cCommunity school coordinators play an important role in making sure students and families have the support they need to succeed, both in and outside the classroom,\u201d said Senator Heinrich. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce this resolution recognizing their important work and thanking them for showing up each and every day to support New Mexico\u2019s students and families.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn New Mexico and across the country, students deserve the support and resources they need to succeed, both inside and outside the classroom,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cOur community school coordinators make that possible by connecting students and families with critical services and resources. That is why I\u2019m joining my colleagues in recognizing Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week and honoring the dedicated coordinators who work every day to help our students and families thrive.\u201d\n\n\"Community school coordinators here in Maryland do more than just educate our children \u2014 they feed them, care for their mental and physical well-being, and mentor them far beyond the classroom. I am so proud to be joining my colleagues in designating September 13 through September 19 as Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week. We should celebrate and appreciate the work of our community school coordinators all year,\" said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\nThe full text of the resolution is available here.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-presses-openai-ceo-sam-altman-on-alarming-new-ai-model-claims-calls-for-risk-assessment-of-ai-capabilities", "Van Hollen Presses OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Alarming New AI Model Claims, Calls for Risk Assessment of AI Capabilities", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to provide answers on the safety of the company\u2019s newly released model and to reconcile concerning statements regarding its ongoing development practices. In a letter, the Senator pressed Altman to answer a series of questions around the development of OpenAI\u2019s new model as well as recent security failures. Senator Van Hollen also urged Altman to immediately grant researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Security Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency full, transparent access to the technical information that would allow them to assess the safety and risks of OpenAI\u2019s models.\n\nThe Senator begins, \u201cI am writing with serious concerns about the launch of OpenAI\u2019s latest model, GPT-6 Astra, and the uncertainty surrounding its capabilities. Its release coinciding with the independent announcement of a second, previously undisclosed security incident involving OpenAI\u2019s models raises significant safety questions about the risks that Astra poses to our digital systems and protected information. You acknowledged the need for caution upon its release when you said: \u2018The next generation of models are going to be sobering for everybody. I think no one intellectually honest can look at what\u2019s happening and not feel the weight of responsibility.\u2019\u201d\n\nOn OpenAI\u2019s statements that they have decreased ability to monitor their own advanced AI model, Senator Van Hollen notes, \u201cWhen OpenAI or independent safety organizations attempt to investigate a rogue or intentionally harmful action, there will be less of this evidence available. While this is framed as a \u2018jump in intelligence,\u2019 you are telling the American people that your newest model offers you, the developers, less insight into its operations. As you note in your system card, this raises myriad concerns including whether Astra may be \u2018sandbagging\u2019 or intentionally reducing its performance on safety tests.\u201d\n\n\u201cConcerns about OpenAI\u2019s ability to accurately understand, measure, monitor, and safely control AI models are not hypothetical. In addition to the Hugging Face hack, the day after Astra\u2019s release it was reported for the first time that your company failed yet again to contain and monitor AI agents during testing and development. Independent researchers scouring the internet discovered and disclosed that OpenAI agents also \u2018decided\u2019 to make use of a German message board to communicate with one another about topics including how to evade detection. This digital \u2018swarm,\u2019 or mass of AI agents, effectively worked together without specific human direction or guidance to communicate with one another on the open internet,\u201d the Senator continues.\n\nOn the need for independent researchers to assess safety and risks, Senator Van Hollen writes, \u201cAs a start, to the extent that you do not have sufficient monitorability to assure the safety of any OpenAI models, or that you have unresolved concerns the models have misrepresented their capabilities during testing, you should immediately remove them from public access. If you have not already done so, you should also immediately grant researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Security Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency transparent access to the technical information that would allow them to assess the safety of and risks to our critical digital infrastructure in light of Astra\u2019s release.\u201d\n\nAmong other questions, Senator Van Hollen goes on to request answers to the following:\n\nHow does OpenAI reconcile permitting Astra's release under its Preparedness Framework when the company also admits that the safety monitoring system for Astra \u201cmay miss misaligned behavior, and harmful actions can occur before [the monitoring system] intervenes?\u201d\n\nTo what extent, if any, did OpenAI proactively work with critical infrastructure providers that are not part of your enterprise program before releasing the model capable of hacking into their systems?\n\nOpenAI\u2019s staff have raised concerns that Astra could be \u201csandbagging,\u201d or deliberately reducing its capabilities within safety testing environments to mislead human monitors. Additionally, OpenAI has stated: \u201cif the model were to try to sandbag covertly, we would likely be unable to catch it reliably.\u201d How does your company reconcile the decision to release Astra publicly while simultaneously acknowledging the model\u2019s ability to mislead humans during safety testing?\n\nIn the system card, OpenAI wrote: \"We are tracking monitorability closely and will not accept further degradation of monitoring beyond a limit...\" What is the limit?\n\nHow do you reconcile your claim that Astra is your most aligned model yet, but you have taken a step back in your ability to monitor its internal operations?\n\nWhat is your plan for monitorability going forward?\n\nDoes OpenAI have concerns about leading a race to the bottom where AI models react to human safety oversight as an inefficiency?\n\nGiven the \u201cweight of responsibility\u201d you are feeling, what factors and concerns did you weigh before ultimately deciding to release this model to the public?\n\n\u201cI look forward to receiving answers by September 17th and continuing to work with you and OpenAI to address and manage AI risks,\u201d Senator Van Hollen concludes.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Mr. Altman,\n\nI am writing with serious concerns about the launch of OpenAI\u2019s latest model, GPT-6 Astra, and the uncertainty surrounding its capabilities. Its release coinciding with the independent announcement of a second, previously undisclosed security incident involving OpenAI\u2019s models raises significant safety questions about the risks that Astra poses to our digital systems and protected information. You acknowledged the need for caution upon its release when you said:\n\n\u201cThe next generation of models are going to be sobering for everybody. I think no one intellectually honest can look at what\u2019s happening and not feel the weight of responsibility.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are just sailing into unknown waters.\u201d\n\nTechnical reporting indicates that Astra represents a significant increase in capabilities compared to your other models released even this year. However, Astra\u2019s published technical information (\u201csystem card\u201d) and comments from one of OpenAI\u2019s own technical staff make clear that the decision to release this product came with concerning new compromises on safety:\n\n\u201cGPT-6 Astra is more aligned than our previous models. But it\u2019s also less monitorable, which is a concerning trend that we take very seriously. We believe monitorability drop comes from a jump in intelligence and not direct optimization pressure on CoT or architecture changes.\u201d\n\nChain of thought (CoT) reasoning is the process of an AI model noting each decision along a path and explaining the reasoning for choosing a specific next step. When an AI agent is executing a series of tasks from a single human prompt, such as when one is completing a coding task, the CoT represents an important step-by-step analysis of the agent's actions and decision making. Under current safety regimes, CoT is a vital tool for monitoring, building an understanding of AI models, and investigating security incidents. Astra is no different in this regard: OpenAI has stated that it will rely on CoT monitoring to help ensure GPT-6 is used safely.\n\nGiven OpenAI\u2019s ongoing reliance on the CoT for safety monitoring, it is especially concerning that AI agents running on Astra are reported by OpenAI to be doing more opaque reasoning and decision making that does not appear in the CoT. Without that record, there is even less human insight into AI agent behavior. When OpenAI or independent safety organizations attempt to investigate a rogue or intentionally harmful action, there will be less of this evidence available. While this is framed as a \u201cjump in intelligence,\u201d you are telling the American people that your newest model offers you, the developers, less insight into its operations. As you note in your system card, this raises myriad concerns including whether Astra may be \u201csandbagging\u201d or intentionally reducing its performance on safety tests. Releasing a highly capable model with reduced CoT monitorability while relying on CoT monitorability for safety naturally raises questions about the accuracy of your company\u2019s assurances regarding Astra\u2019s risk of causing harm.\n\nYour company's concerns regarding Astra's capabilities for harm appear warranted. The independent testing of Astra that OpenAI has made public is alarming. During its testing of Astra, the UK AI Security Institute found that \u201c[w]hen tasked with solving difficult simulated cybersecurity challenges, Astra performed a range of malicious actions including conducting supply chain attacks against open source providers,\u201d demonstrating that Astra performed harmful actions without explicit human direction in a simulated environment prior to its release. Apollo Research, which was hired to conduct three days of safety testing, determined that Astra demonstrated high rates of \u201cawareness of being evaluated in its reasoning.\u201d Because of this finding, Apollo concluded that other test results that claim to demonstrate Astra\u2019s safety may not be valid evidence of safety. I commend you for including this information in the system card but the absence of evidence that these issues have been mitigated is noticeable. If you have subsequent testing to demonstrate that Astra is no longer capable of performing malicious or harmful actions that has been withheld for some reason, I urge you to share it.\n\nConcerns about OpenAI\u2019s ability to accurately understand, measure, monitor, and safely control AI models are not hypothetical. In addition to the Hugging Face hack, the day after Astra\u2019s release it was reported for the first time that your company failed yet again to contain and monitor AI agents during testing and development. Independent researchers scouring the internet discovered and disclosed that OpenAI agents also \u201cdecided\u201d to make use of a German message board to communicate with one another about topics including how to evade detection. This digital \u201cswarm,\u201d or mass of AI agents, effectively worked together without specific human direction or guidance to communicate with one another on the open internet. Although OpenAI was conducting the tests, both this incident and the Hugging Face hack were discovered by parties other than OpenAI.\n\nOpenAI has disclosed that some training for Astra was temporarily paused in response to the Hugging Face incident. One of the few things we do know about this now-released model is that, should the model\u2019s safeguards fail or malicious actors successfully jailbreak the model, Astra represents a new level of security threat to any private or sensitive digital information. You rate its offensive hacking capabilities as \u201cCritical\u201d by your own metrics, meaning the model, in your company\u2019s own words, \u201ccould introduce unprecedented new pathways to severe harm.\u201d While you have disclosed that you are limiting access to Astra\u2019s most advanced cyber capabilities to a limited pool of trusted actors for now, the model\u2019s system card makes clear that even the publicly available model still maintains the potential for significant cybersecurity exploits, demonstrating an inherent public safety risk.\n\nAI agents, especially those working in conjunction with one another, are capable of entering previously secure digital environments in part through their sheer inexhaustibility. In some instances, it takes AI agents seconds or minutes to identify vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure that would take humans far longer to find, if they would be identified at all. The AI models you have developed can accomplish many tasks, including acting as the most efficient hacking entities ever created. Given the Hugging Face cybersecurity incident, the recently disclosed German wiki incident, and Astra\u2019s advanced cyber capabilities that OpenAI is actively promoting, stringent oversight of Astra\u2019s behavior and use is paramount.\n\nTo the extent AI agents operate independently and work to evade human detection of their activities, they may open companies to significant civil and/or criminal liability should they intentionally access sensitive computer systems without permission to cause certain covered harms. OpenAI\u2019s agents may have already crossed that line and could be at risk of doing so again.\n\nIt is necessary to critically evaluate the developing capabilities of AI models, assess their risks, and manage their operations accordingly.\n\nAs a start, to the extent that you do not have sufficient monitorability to assure the safety of any OpenAI models, or that you have unresolved concerns the models have misrepresented their capabilities during testing, you should immediately remove them from public access. If you have not already done so, you should also immediately grant researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Security Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency transparent access to the technical information that would allow them to assess the safety of and risks to our critical digital infrastructure in light of Astra\u2019s release.\n\nIn addition, I request a publicly available response to the following questions:\n\nOpenAI\u2019s publicly released Preparedness Framework and Astra\u2019s system card outline your company\u2019s safety framework, but they appear to leave critical gaps.\n\nHow do you define what it means for an AI model or agent to be safe enough to conduct internal testing?\n\nHow do you define what it means for it to be safe to release a model to the public?\n\nOpenAI has stated: \u201cwe believe Astra's safeguards sufficiently minimize the risk of severe harm for release under our Preparedness Framework.\u201d What level of risk for severe harm did OpenAI deem acceptable to allow for Astra's release, and did OpenAI consult with any U.S. government agencies in determining this purportedly acceptable level of risk of severe harm?\n\nHow does OpenAI reconcile permitting Astra's release under its Preparedness Framework when the company also admits that the safety monitoring system for Astra \u201cmay miss misaligned behavior, and harmful actions can occur before [the monitoring system] intervenes?\u201d\n\nAlongside this announcement, OpenAI committed $1 billion through its Daybreak program to support U.S. and international cyber defense.\n\nTo what extent, if any, did OpenAI proactively work with critical infrastructure providers that are not part of your enterprise program before releasing the model capable of hacking into their systems?\n\nYou indicated you participated in the White House\u2019s voluntary review process before releasing the model publicly. How long was that review process?\n\nWhat do you estimate is the cost of securing the U.S.\u2019s digital infrastructure to guard against a hack conducted using Astra-level capabilities?\n\nWhat do you estimate the cost of the damage to our collective digital infrastructure would be if Astra is used by malicious actors to hack into critical systems?\n\nYou recently stated, \u201csome things are going to go very wrong with cybersecurity unless people act quite urgently.\u201d Who are the people you are referring to and what actions is OpenAI taking to respond to this urgent risk?\n\nIt is reported that OpenAI models may have conducted the Hugging Face and German wiki attacks during evaluation exercises. Have there been any other incidents where models exploited vulnerabilities to leave secure environments during training, testing, or evaluation?\n\nOpenAI has indicated that steps have been taken to improve the security of sandboxes and other secure testing environments since these incidents. Have there been any breaches of security or containment since those changes have been implemented?\n\nTo what extent does OpenAI conduct or allow others to conduct testing of unreleased models outside of secure testing environments?\n\nHow regularly are security and containment protocols for model training and testing revisited?\n\nIt has been reported that certain AI models helped supervise Astra's training. What models played a role in Astra's training and to what extent was the development or training of Astra automated?\n\nTo what extent did human oversight remain in the training process relative to automated oversight?\n\nOpenAI\u2019s Chief Scientist recently shared a warning about the pace of AI advancement and the move toward AI models themselves playing a larger role in subsequent AI model development. To what extent is OpenAI using AI to develop, train, or monitor other AI models?\n\nOpenAI has pointed to Astra\u2019s purported improvements in alignment over GPT-5.6 Sol to justify its public release. At the same time, questions have been raised by independent safety experts regarding the evidence OpenAI has presented to prove Astra\u2019s alignment. What additional evidence can you provide to justify your company\u2019s claims about Astra\u2019s safety alignment, and will you commit to independent testing in this area?\n\nOpenAI\u2019s staff have raised concerns that Astra could be \u201csandbagging,\u201d or deliberately reducing its capabilities within safety testing environments to mislead human monitors. Additionally, OpenAI has stated: \u201cif the model were to try to sandbag covertly, we would likely be unable to catch it reliably.\u201d How does your company reconcile the decision to release Astra publicly while simultaneously acknowledging the model\u2019s ability to mislead humans during safety testing?\n\nIn the system card, OpenAI wrote: \u201cWe are tracking monitorability closely and will not accept further degradation of monitoring beyond a limit...\u201d What is the limit?\n\nHow do you reconcile your claim that Astra is your most aligned model yet, but you have taken a step back in your ability to monitor its internal operations?\n\nWhat is your plan for monitorability going forward?\n\nDoes OpenAI have concerns about leading a race to the bottom where AI models react to human safety oversight as an inefficiency?\n\nGiven the \u201cweight of responsibility\u201d you are feeling, what factors and concerns did you weigh before ultimately deciding to release this model to the public?\n\nI look forward to receiving answers by September 17th and continuing to work with you and OpenAI to address and manage AI risks.", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-submits-items-for-congressional-time-capsule-in-celebration-of-americas-250th-anniversary", "Maryland Delegation Submits Items for Congressional Time Capsule in Celebration of America\u2019s 250th Anniversary", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "In honor of America\u2019s 250th anniversary, this summer, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) \u2013 submitted a Fort McHenry Flag and a Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal to the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule. Sealed and buried by the Architect of the Capitol, the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule contains a joint letter and items of significance from every state and territory reflecting the history and culture of our country. It will be opened by the 224th Congress in celebration of our nation's 500th anniversary on July 4, 2276.\n\nThe items selected by the Maryland delegation represent Maryland\u2019s critical role in the history of America:\n\nFort McHenry Flag: This 15-Star Flag, also known as a Fort McHenry Flag, is a replica of the one that flew above Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the United States national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, in 1814. The flag that was flying at Fort McHenry that day was sewn at 844 E. Pratt Street in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, members of her family, and indentured and enslaved African-American women \u2013 it is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The Fort McHenry Flag has 15 stars and 15 stripes to account for Vermont and Kentucky becoming the 14th and 15th states, and was the official flag of the United States from 1795-1818. The Fort McHenry Flag included in the Congressional Time Capsule was flown over 844 E. Pratt Street, now known as the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, on July 4, 2026, on the occasion of America\u2019s 250th anniversary.\n\nB&O Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal: This commemorative coin was crafted in honor of the B&O Railroad\u2019s 100th anniversary in 1927. The B&O Souvenir Medal was selected for the Congressional Time Capsule because of the B&O Railroad\u2019s significant impact on both the state of Maryland and the country \u2013 chartered on February 28, 1827, it was the first-ever railroad to carry both passengers and freight for a toll. It pioneered railway engineering and spurred industrial opportunity for the United States. Notably, construction of the B&O Railroad began on July 4, 1828, with a groundbreaking event in Baltimore that featured Marylander Charles Carroll, the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Souvenir Medal was donated to this time capsule by the National Museum of Railroad History and Innovation located in Baltimore.\n\n\u201cMarylanders have always played a central role in American history \u2013 from the Maryland 400 holding strong against the British Army in 1776, to Baltimore\u2019s own Thurgood Marshall expanding justice under the law, to the countless scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs pushing our nation forward every day. Inspired by the legacy of these great Marylanders and those still to come, we will continue working to build a nation that lives up to the American promise of equal justice, equal rights, and equal opportunity for all. As we celebrate America\u2019s 250th anniversary, the items Team Maryland chose for this Congressional Time Capsule showcase the resilience and innovation woven into the histories of both our great state and nation. This time capsule is a reflection on the work our nation has done over the past 250 years to live up to our founding ideals, and a statement of belief that 250 years from now our democracy will be even stronger,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cIt was an honor to celebrate America\u2019s 250th Anniversary by looking back at Maryland\u2019s contributions to technology, science, and culture that have transformed our nation forever. And when this time capsule is opened on July 4, 2276, I hope Marylanders will look back at the mark we are leaving now \u2013 how we stood for justice, worked hard to advance society, cured diseases, found solutions to complex problems, and did it all with joy and love for each other,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cIt can be difficult to imagine America at 500. What technologies will define the way we live and work? What will our nation celebrate and mourn from its history? How will our people build community and understand the bonds that keep us together? The America 250 Congressional Time Capsule will offer them a window into our nation and our moment in history. I\u2019m proud to join Team Maryland in offering future Marylanders a reminder of what we cherish and how we celebrate our state\u2019s place in American history,\u201d said Congressman Hoyer.\n\n\"The United States of America's 250th Birthday is a momentous occasion, and with the selection of these items for the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule, we ensure that Maryland's contributions to American history will be preserved for our nation's Quincentennial,\" said Congressman Mfume. \"The resilience and fortitude represented by this 15-star flag \u2013 the same design as flew over Fort McHenry while Francis Scott Key penned our National Anthem \u2013 as well as the pioneering spirit and ingenuity embodied by the commemorative B&O Railroad coin, are traits that have characterized Marylanders for generations. Let this capsule carry them forward to those Americans who open it next.\"\n\n\u201cMaryland\u2019s contributions to our country stretch back to the earliest days of our nation. More than two centuries later, that legacy continues across the Eastern Shore and Chesapeake Bay, where farmers and watermen remain an important part of American agriculture and seafood production, and through the Port of Baltimore, which connects our state to commerce around the world. The items selected by the Maryland delegation capture two defining moments in that history and will carry a piece of Maryland\u2019s past forward as America celebrates its 250th anniversary,\u201d said Congressman Harris.\n\n\u201cFrom Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman to Rachel Carson to Thurgood Marshall, Marylanders have been devoted patriots and fighters for our land, our democracy and our freedom,\u201d said Congressman Raskin. \u201cWhen this time capsule is opened, future Americans will be reminded of the Free State\u2019s many enduring cultural, scientific and political contributions to our nation\u2019s history and our shared work to build a more perfect union.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaryland has always been at the heart of America\u2019s story, and our contributions to this country extend far beyond the moments we typically see in the history books. The flag that inspired our national anthem was sewn in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, her family, and Black women whose contributions were essential to our nation\u2019s history. The B&O Railroad helped launch America\u2019s industrial future from right here in Maryland. As we celebrate 250 years of our nation, these artifacts remind us that America\u2019s story has always been shaped by the people, ingenuity, and perseverance of Marylanders. I\u2019m proud to help preserve that story for Americans 250 years from now,\u201d said Congressman Ivey.\n\n\u201cHome to the oldest State Capitol to remain in use and the only State House to have served as the nation\u2019s Capitol; the place where our Founders met in 1786 and decided we needed a new system of government that led to the Constitution we have today; and the state where our flag flew high after the Battle of Fort McHenry, inspiring our national anthem \u2014 Maryland\u2019s role in our nation\u2019s history is undeniable,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth. \u201cThe artifacts we preserved today tell crucial pieces of Maryland\u2019s story in the last 250 years of our nation\u2019s history, and Team Maryland is committed to preserving this legacy for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cPeople call Maryland America in miniature. That started as a line about our climate and geography, but I think it says something truer about us: for more than 250 years, Maryland has helped build this country. What our delegation put in this time capsule shows exactly that,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cMaryland has always punched above its weight in shaping the story of America. From the flag that inspired our national anthem to the railroad that helped connect a growing nation, these artifacts help tell the story of Maryland\u2019s role in defending our freedom and creating opportunity,\u201d said Congressman Olszewski. \u201cNow, 250 years later, the fight for these ideals continues in different ways. It is with a spirit of hope that we look to the future -- that generations of Americans will continue our march toward a more perfect union.\"", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-mcclain-delaney-visit-allegany-and-garrett-counties-to-highlight-over-5-million-in-federal-funding-for-western-maryland-communities", "Van Hollen, McClain Delaney Visit Allegany & Garrett Counties to Highlight Over $5 Million in Federal Funding for Western Maryland Communities", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "On August 20, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (both D-Md.) were in Allegany and Garrett Counties to highlight $5.5 million that they, along with Senator Angela Alsobrooks, secured in Congress for Western Maryland communities. The lawmakers visited Frostburg State University, Potomac Fire Company No. 2 in Westernport, Garrett Regional Medical Center, and Oakland Town Hall in Oakland. This funding is part of the $10,484,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 Congressionally Directed Spending that the Senators fought to deliver for Allegany and Garrett Counties.\n\n\u201cLocal partnerships help us identify the priorities that matter most to our communities, and through those partnerships, Team Maryland works to deliver federal investments needed to move those projects forward \u2013 just like these across the region. From expanding educational opportunities and medical services to supporting first responders and infrastructure upgrades, these federal dollars are being put to work where they can make a real difference for Western Maryland residents and communities and have the greatest impact,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cWhat I\u2019ve seen and heard as I\u2019ve gone around the state \u2013 including while I was in Western and Mountain Maryland \u2013 is that residents everywhere want the same things. We all want affordable health care, the ability to buy a home, groceries we can actually afford, gas that isn\u2019t skyrocketing out of control every single day, and the opportunity to actually create generational wealth. And while we\u2019re currently dealing with an administration that doesn\u2019t care about solving these issues, my focus since day one has been to deliver for Marylanders. That\u2019s why I was so proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen and Congresswoman McClain Delaney to secure $5.5 million in federal investment for Western Maryland communities, including for Frostburg State University, Potomac Fire Company No. 2 in Westernport, and the Garrett Regional Medical Center and Oakland Town Hall in Oakland,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cBringing $5.5 million in federal investments home to Western and Mountain Maryland means investing directly in the people and communities that make our state strong,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThese investments will strengthen health care access, equip our first responders, improve critical infrastructure, and expand STEM opportunities for students. I\u2019m proud to work alongside Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to deliver for Western and Mountain Maryland and ensure every community has the resources and opportunities to thrive.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers first visited Frostburg State University\u2019s Planetarium, where they highlighted $2.8 million in direct federal funding they secured in Congress to purchase new equipment for the Planetarium and provide more STEM education opportunities for students. The investment is in addition to $750,000 in FY23 Congressionally Directed Spending that Senator Van Hollen helped secure for this initiative.\n\n\u201cThis investment allows us to build on the tremendous momentum generated by the Planetarium\u2019s reopening and significantly expand its educational impact,\u201d said Frostburg State University President Dr. Shadow JQ Robinson. \u201cThe Planetarium is more than a place to observe the night sky. It is a gateway to discovery that will connect students and community members to science, technology and exploration through innovative, interactive experiences.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers then visited Potomac Fire Company No. 2, where they highlighted a $675,000 federal investment they secured in Congress to replace the Company\u2019s 35-year-old fire engine.\n\n\u201cWe extend our sincere thanks to U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney for their unwavering support in helping secure the funding needed to replace our 35-year-old engine. This engine has proudly served the Town of Westernport and surrounding communities for decades, but is now in desperate need of replacement. This investment will ensure our firefighters have the reliable equipment they need to continue providing lifesaving emergency services for years to come. We are incredibly grateful for their support and look forward to putting a new engine in service for generations to come,\u201d said Bill Kight, President, Potomac Fire Company No. 2.\n\nThe lawmakers next visited Garrett Regional Medical Center, where they highlighted a $1 million federal investment they secured in Congress to help plan and design the new radiation department, which will provide on-site radiation treatment services for patients across the region.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Board, staff, patients, and community, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the support from Senator Van Hollen, Senator Alsobrooks, and Congresswoman Delaney. Their support will help ensure access to care for radiation oncology services in Garrett County so our citizens will no longer have to travel long distances to receive care. The entire community is grateful for their leadership and true compassion and caring for the patients we serve,\u201d said Mark Boucot, President and CEO of Garrett Regional Medical Center.\n\nLastly, the lawmakers joined Oakland\u2019s Mayor and Town Council at the Oakland Town Hall, where they highlighted $1 million in direct federal funding they secured in Congress to replace the town\u2019s aging water infrastructure. This project will correct critical distribution failures, including low pressure and volume issues, and ensure compliance with the International Fire Code. This investment is in addition to $364,632 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission that the lawmakers helped secure last year to support upgrades to the town\u2019s water system.\n\n\u201cWe are incredibly thankful to Senator Van Hollen, Senator Alsobrooks, and Congresswoman McClain Delaney for securing this investment to upgrade our water system. The improvements will fix low pressure and volume issues on the west side of town, ensuring that residents have sufficient water and that fire emergency personnel have the flow required to protect our community. This $1 million in federal funding represents over half of our annual water and sewer budget, highlighting that a town of our size cannot tackle infrastructure projects of this scale alone. Beyond public safety, this water infrastructure will also enable residential growth. A planned residential development featuring affordable rentals, market-rate rentals, and single-family homes is ready to move forward as soon as we can supply it with water. Thanks to the Appalachian Regional Commission funding that has also been secured, the planning and engineering phase is now underway. This Congressionally Directed Spending ensures we can see the future phases of this project through to completion,\u201d said Mayor Andrew Sauder, Town of Oakland.\n\nThe total FY26 Congressionally Directed Spending secured for Allegany County is as follows:\n\nProject Name: Planetarium Equipment\n\nApplicant: Frostburg State University\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to purchase new equipment for Frostburg State University's Planetarium to support STEM education in Western Maryland.\n\nAmount Included: $2,808,000\n\nProject Name: UPMC Western Maryland Health Access\n\nApplicant: UPMC Western Maryland Corporation\n\nProject Description: Funds will support UPMC Western Maryland Schwab Family Cancer Center's comprehensive radiation therapy services and expand treatment services to include intracranial radiation for patients.\n\nAmount Included: $2,750,000\n\nProject Name: Potomac Fire Company Engine Replacement\n\nApplicant: Potomac Fire Company No.2 Inc.\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to replace a 35-year-old fire engine to better serve and protect the Town of Westernport.\n\nAmount Included: $675,000\n\nProject Name: Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority for Sediment Testing and Remediation\n\nApplicant: Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to test and remove contaminants from sediment around the Industrial Dam on the Potomac River in Cumberland, MD, and to develop methods to more efficiently remove sediment to improve water quality.\n\nAmount Included: $500,000\n\nThe total FY26 Congressionally Directed Spending secured for Garrett County is as follows:\n\nProject Name: Garrett County Sanitary District for Gorman Water Source Project\n\nApplicant: Garrett County Sanitary District, Inc.\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to provide water source redundancy by drilling a new production well to replace the previous production well that collapsed.\n\nAmount Included: $1,659,000\n\nProject Name: Town of Oakland for Water System Improvements\n\nApplicant: Town of Oakland\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to replace Oakland\u2019s antiquated water system infrastructure. The proposed project is necessary to correct critical distribution failures, including low pressure and volume issues, and ensure compliance with the International Fire Code.\n\nAmount Included: $1,092,000", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/trump-administration-refuses-to-close-tax-loophole-exploited-by-private-jet-owners", "Trump Administration Refuses to Close Tax Loophole Exploited by Private Jet Owners", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in blasting the Treasury Department\u2019s refusal to close the Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL) loophole, which has long been abused by private jet owners to substantially undervalue the taxable cost of personal travel on a corporate private jet. The Trump Treasury Department\u2019s pro-billionaire pronouncement came in a response to a July 24 request from the senators.\n\nThe Treasury Department argued in its new letter that calculating the true market value for employer-provided flights taken by employees for personal purposes, rather than using the existing SIFL method, would be \u201cadministratively burdensome\u201d for taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service. The Department also claims that the SIFL method is intended to produce consistent results \u2013 regardless of the staggering gap between the SIFL rate and the actual charter market rates.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump\u2019s priorities revolve around enriching himself and his billionaire friends. While working families struggle to afford groceries, housing, and gas, this Administration focuses on tax breaks for billionaires \u2013 including tax breaks for private jets. What a disgrace,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s 2017 tax law and Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires bill handed billionaires and big corporations massive tax breaks on private jets. The Trump administration now says it would be \u2018burdensome\u2019 to close the private jet tax loophole because this is an administration hell-bent on using the powers of government to make the ultra-rich even richer, and they don\u2019t care if middle-class taxpayers get stuck with the tab,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse.\n\nPassage of President Trump and Congressional Republicans\u2019 Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill made permanent an egregious tax provision allowing 100 percent bonus depreciation for the purchase of corporate aircraft, which the senators argued exacerbates the tax giveaway created by the SIFL loophole, letting the ultrawealthy skirt the true cost of personal private jet travel on corporate aircraft.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-250000-to-rehabilitate-boonsboros-wastewater-system", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce $250,000 to Rehabilitate Boonsboro\u2019s Wastewater System", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $250,000 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the Town of Boonsboro to rehabilitate its wastewater system. The project includes inspecting 20,000 linear feet of sewer mains to identify infiltration sources and installing cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining in deteriorated sections. This work will prevent overflows during rain events, reduce treatment costs, and improve wastewater service to 42 businesses and 475 households.\n\n\u201cUpgrading aging sewage infrastructure is essential to the health and well-being of our communities and the local economy. This federal funding will support these much-needed improvements in Boonsboro, help prevent costly problems in the future, and ensure the town\u2019s wastewater system is well-equipped to serve the needs of the residents and businesses for years to come,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) makes critical investments in Western Maryland and across the Appalachian region, and that is why I am fighting so hard to protect it against cuts. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I oversee ARC and know its critical work is not just a priority for Marylanders but also to the 12 other qualified states. I am proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen and Congresswoman McClain Delaney in announcing that ARC is investing $250,000 in federal investment for the Town of Boonsboro to upgrade its wastewater system. Critical investments in aging infrastructure like this one help fuel our economy and keep us healthy and safe,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cStrong rural communities depend on strong, reliable infrastructure,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThis $250,000 federal investment will help Boonsboro modernize its wastewater system, lower long-term costs, and deliver more reliable service for hundreds of families and local businesses. I\u2019m proud to work with Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to bring federal resources home and make sure our rural communities have the infrastructure they need to grow and thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cMunicipalities have tight budgets, so large-scale improvements like this often depend on grant funding. Boonsboro is extremely grateful to the Appalachian Regional Commission for the financial support to make this project happen,\u201d said Mayor Howard Long, Town of Boonsboro.\n\nThis investment is provided through the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development partnership entity of the federal government and 13 state governments, focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. Senator Van Hollen secured $1 billion in federal funding over five years for the ARC through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. The lawmakers worked to fund the ARC at an additional $200 million through the FY26 Energy & Water Development appropriations bill and have worked to prevent cuts to the program from the Trump Administration.\n\nThis funding builds on the $1,426,613 in federal funding Senator Van Hollen has worked to secure in recent years through Fiscal Year 2022 Congressionally Directed Spending and the Appalachian Regional Commission to support Boonsboro\u2019s work to modernize their wastewater and sewage systems.", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-colleagues-file-amicus-brief-defending-courts-right-to-seek-answers-transparency-in-jgg-v-trump", "Van Hollen, Colleagues File Amicus Brief Defending Court\u2019s Right to Seek Answers, Transparency in JGG v. Trump", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), submitted an amicus brief to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in the case of In re Donald J. Trump, et. al, supporting the legal authority of the District Court to inquire whether government attorneys misrepresented or concealed facts before the Court and warning of serious consequences of permitting one branch to avoid inquiry and transparency when questioned by another co-equal branch of our federal government. The lawmakers\u2019 amicus brief argues that Congress and the American public have an interest in knowing whether government attorneys misrepresented or concealed facts before a United States District Court, and that concerns of judicial overreach in this case are unfounded because federal courts have an inherent contempt power which includes some inquiry before a referral is made.\n\nThis case arises from JGG v. Trump, one of several legal challenges to the Trump Administration\u2019s use of the Alien Enemies Act. In March 2025, President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security sought to detain and remove individuals from the United States. Several of the individuals who were detained sought emergency relief under the Administrative Procedure Act and federal habeas corpus claims. Proceedings ensued before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, which issued a temporary restraining order preventing further removal of individuals, an order that was then vacated by the Supreme Court. The District Court then began an investigation into potential criminal contempt against the government decisionmakers. Of particular concern to the Court was to determine whether government attorneys had misrepresented, concealed, or otherwise gave misleading information to the Court. Following the contempt inquiry, the government sought a writ of mandamus before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to prevent the District Court from further investigating the actions of the government and its attorneys.\n\nThe Senators begin the brief, \u201cCongress requires that lawyers tell the truth in judicial proceedings. It has set forth through statute that government attorneys are subject to the same rules as all other attorneys requiring truthfulness and transparency to the Courts. When a party or counsel is not honest in proceedings before them, Courts have the fundamental power to punish contempt. Congress has explicitly codified this power. And the exercise of this power is squarely within the providence of the judiciary...The Court has every right to try to make sense of these events. Mandamus to prevent that inquiry should not issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe executive branch, through counsel, may have misrepresented or concealed facts when questioned by a federal court...The executive branch must follow court orders the same as the rest of the citizenry...Such conclusion flows inexorably from perhaps the most evident and well-accepted point in constitutional law: that the government of the United States is comprised of three coequal branches,\u201d the Senators stress.\n\nOn the unfounded concerns of judicial overreach, the Senators note, \u201cAll federal courts other than the Supreme Court are creations of Congress. Congress has explicitly provided federal courts with the authority to conduct contempt proceedings and punish accordingly... Exercising the contempt power is fundamentally within the providence of the judiciary... Excusing the executive branch at this stage is simply premature, and the District Court should be permitted to act within its statutorily conferred authority.\u201d\n\n\u201cMandamus is simply not appropriate. This case presents one coequal branch acting in defiance of an order from another coequal branch. This is too critical to prevent inquiry. The District Court was well within its authority to utilize the mechanism of contempt\u2014a power inherent in all courts and explicitly codified by Congress,\u201d the Senators conclude.\n\nFull text of the argument in the brief can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-240000-for-frederick-municipal-airports-air-traffic-control-tower", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce $240,000 for Frederick Municipal Airport\u2019s Air Traffic Control Tower", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $240,000 in federal funding for infrastructure upgrades at Frederick Municipal Airport\u2019s air traffic control tower. The investment will fund the rehabilitation of the tower\u2019s HVAC system. This funding is in addition to $1.6 million in federal support that the lawmakers have secured for other infrastructure projects at Frederick Municipal Airport, which serves as a reliever airport for Baltimore Washington International Airport and supports local business and a range of community-related operations, including emergency medical needs.\n\n\u201cAs Maryland\u2019s second busiest airport, Frederick Municipal Airport serves as a local economic hub, driving regional businesses, bringing visitors to Maryland, and supporting the surrounding community with a broad array of services. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve worked to support the airport\u2019s modernization and deliver federal investments to upgrade its infrastructure. This investment will help ensure the airport\u2019s control tower has the infrastructure it needs to continue providing safe and efficient service to all travelers,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThis $1.6 million in critical federal funding will enable the Frederick Municipal Airport to continue serving Maryland\u2014supporting small businesses, moving goods, and strengthening our health care response. This investment will improve our infrastructure, strengthen our economy, and help keep Marylanders safe,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cAs Frederick County continues to grow, we need infrastructure that grows with it,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThis $240,000 federal investment will modernize Frederick Municipal Airport\u2019s air traffic control tower, strengthen safety and reliability, and support an airport that is critical to our local economy. I\u2019m proud to work with Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to bring federal dollars home and deliver for Frederick County.\u201d\n\nThis investment is provided through the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s Contract Tower Competitive Grant Program, which was created and funded at $100 million over five years through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in 2021.", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-over-3-million-in-federal-funding-to-improve-water-infrastructure-in-western-maryland", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce Over $3 Million in Federal Funding to Improve Water Infrastructure in Western Maryland", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $3,340,000 in federal funding to improve water and wastewater infrastructure across Western Maryland. This investment, comprising a $2,779,000 loan for the Town of Emmitsburg to replace a critical Main Street water line, a $465,000 grant for the Town of Luke\u2019s replacement of its sewer collection system, and a $96,000 grant for Garrett County\u2019s planning costs for the Friendsville and Crellin wastewater treatment upgrades, will help Western Maryland communities upgrade critical infrastructure.\n\n\u201cAging water systems put the health and safety of communities at risk. That\u2019s why it\u2019s essential we invest in modernizing community water and sewer infrastructure. This federal funding will support these much-needed improvements across Western Maryland and help prevent costly problems for communities, businesses, and residents in the future,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cFrom Mountain Maryland to the Eastern Shore, I will always work to ensure Marylanders across our state have access to clean and safe drinking water. Investing in clean water \u2013 as we are in Frederick, Allegany, and Garrett Counties with this over $3 million federal investment \u2013 protects public health, helps us meet our environmental goals, and ensures our infrastructure is modern and resilient,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cEvery rural community deserves reliable water and wastewater infrastructure, no matter its size or ZIP code,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThis more than $3 million federal investment will help replace aging water and sewer systems and lay the groundwork for critical upgrades across Frederick, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. I\u2019m proud to work alongside Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to bring federal resources home and ensure our rural communities have the infrastructure they need to grow and thrive.\u201d\n\nThe federal funding has been awarded as follows:\n\n$2,779,000 loan to the Town of Emmitsburg in Frederick County to replace a water line along Main Street.\n\n$465,000 grant to the Town of Luke in Allegany County to replace its sewer collection system.\n\n$96,000 grant to the Garrett County Sanitary District to conduct Preliminary Engineering and Environmental reports for the Friendsville and Crellin wastewater treatment plants.\n\nThis federal funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants Program, which the lawmakers worked to fund at $140 million in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations package.", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-murray-colleagues-in-demanding-nih-director-restore-lifesaving-pediatric-research", "Van Hollen Joins Murray, Colleagues in Demanding NIH Director Restore Lifesaving Pediatric Research", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in sending a letter to National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya demanding restoration of a promising clinical trial to help children that is ending because of the Trump administration\u2019s budget cuts for contracts and extreme delays in Notices of Funding Opportunities impacting pediatric research, specifically the NIH\u2019s Pediatric Trials Network (PTN). As a direct result of this administration\u2019s actions the PTN is ending the Pediatric Opportunistic Pharmacokinetic Study (POPS), which focuses on determining the right dose of dozens of medicines commonly used in children. The abrupt end to this trial means that children and their families who have already enrolled and donated blood samples for this scientific effort will not see the trial\u2019s goal achieved.\n\n\u201cWe write with great concern regarding the National Institute of Health\u2019s (NIH) budget cuts for contracts and extreme delays in Notices of Funding Opportunities and their impact on pediatric research, specifically the NIH\u2019s Pediatric Trials Network (PTN). We recently learned that, as part of these actions, the PTN is ending its promising clinical trial, the Pediatric Opportunistic Pharmacokinetic Study (POPS), which focuses on determining the right dose of dozens of medicines commonly used in children,\u201d write the senators. \u201cEnding the POPS study will stop enrollment in 25 states and the testing of several dozen drugs in children: including premature infants, critically ill children, and obese children. Ending this study will also mean that children and their families who have already enrolled and donated blood samples for this important scientific effort will not see the trial\u2019s goal achieved.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou cannot claim to be making American children healthier while shutting down the research that would do exactly that. We demand that you reverse this reckless decision immediately and explain your decision making to Congress and the families of the children who rely on this research,\u201d\n\nIn the letter, the senators slam the Trump administration for this wasteful and unnecessary move. \u201cCancelling this research doesn't save a dime, in fact it wastes millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Congress established the BPCA and appropriated the funding for this research. Now the Trump administration is forcing it to shut down, and throwing years of data and children's blood down the drain. Clinical trials aren't light switches - you can't turn this research on and off, and now lifesaving research for our kids is gone.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers also call out Director Bhattacharya for his hypocrisy\u2014because in May, during the FY 2027 NIH Budget Hearing before the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, he vowed to protect these sorts of trials. They note: \u201cWhen asked if you were aware that last year NIH\u2019s PTN received only part of its funding, you replied that you \u2018were absolutely committed to making sure that we do have opportunities for children across the country to participate in clinical trials.\u2019 But your actions are ripping away opportunities for children to participate in clinical trials and scientists\u2019 ability to learn from trials that could benefit all children. Your actions are squandering the investments previously made by NIH to secure data and specimens in a highly productive trial; and wasting the contributions of children and families participating in the POPS study.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Director Bhattacharya:\n\nWe write with great concern regarding the National Institute of Health\u2019s (NIH) budget cuts for contracts and extreme delays in Notices of Funding Opportunities and their impact on pediatric research, specifically the NIH\u2019s Pediatric Trials Network (PTN). We recently learned that, as part of these actions, the PTN is ending its promising clinical trial, the Pediatric Opportunistic Pharmacokinetic Study (POPS), which focuses on determining the right dose of dozens of medicines commonly used in children. Ending the POPS study will stop enrollment in 25 states and the testing of several dozen drugs in children: including premature infants, critically ill children, and obese children. Ending this study will also mean that children and their families who have already enrolled and donated blood samples for this important scientific effort will not see the trial\u2019s goal achieved. We urge NIH to reinstate the POPS study to prevent the irreplaceable loss of benefit of these precious blood samples from our most vulnerable populations.\n\nThe PTN was authorized by Congress in the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) (P.L. 107-109), bipartisan legislation that authorized $25 million per year for trials of off-patent medicines and devices used in children. Since then, the PTN has developed into an NIH-funded consortium of over 100 clinical research sites across the United States dedicated to conducting studies on the safety, efficacy, and dosing of drugs and medical devices for children. It aims to improve pediatric medication labeling and reduce off-label prescribing in children and provides critical data on how medications act across developmental stages of childhood and adolescence. Currently, the infrastructure for the BPCA trials is supported by contracts. Thus, reductions in contract funding pose barriers to the BPCA implementation. Due to an arbitrary new rule concocted by the Trump administration, the \u201cDepartment of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) Cost Efficiency Initiative,\u201d created in response to Executive Order 14222, that institutes an agency-wide maximum contract spending cap for fiscal years (FY) 2025 and 2026, the BPCA trial funding was cut to substantially less than what has been authorized by Congress.\n\nPOPS provides infrastructure to support pediatric research at 33 sites in 25 states including Washington, New Jersey, and California. Until its recent cancellation, the study was investigating 60 medicines and had enrolled over 2,000 children. Due to its abrupt, unplanned termination, there are drugs for which the PTN will not be able to provide appropriate dosing information for one or more subgroups of children. Stopping this trial will diminish the value of irreplaceable blood samples donated by children and will prevent our ability to learn the safe dose of medicines routinely used to treat American children.\n\nCancelling this research doesn't save a dime, in fact it wastes millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Congress established the BPCA and appropriated the funding for this research. Now the Trump administration is forcing it to shut down, and throwing years of data and children's blood down the drain. Clinical trials aren't light switches - you can't turn this research on and off, and now lifesaving research for our kids is gone.\n\nThe National Institute on Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) previously announced it was planning to support a unified pediatric research consortium. However, that potential effort was discussed nearly a year ago at the NICHD\u2019s Advisory Council. To date, NIH has not released a Notice of Funding Opportunity, meaning that it will likely be years before awards are made and children are enrolled in approved trials. On top of the years it will take to get a unified pediatric research consortium up and running, the PTN was informed that there will be further cuts to the network in FY 2026 because NICHD was directed to reduce the amount of money they spend via contracts in compliance with the administration\u2019s Cost Efficiency Initiative rule.\n\nThis is not the first time cuts to the PTN has been brought to your attention. In May, during the FY 2027 Budget Hearing before the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray asked you about this very issue. When asked if you were aware that last year NIH\u2019s PTN received only part of its funding, you replied that you \u201cwere absolutely committed to making sure that we do have opportunities for children across the country to participate in clinical trials.\u201d But your actions are ripping away opportunities for children to participate in clinical trials and scientists\u2019 ability to learn from trials that could benefit all children. Your actions are squandering the investments previously made by NIH to secure data and specimens in a highly productive trial; and wasting the contributions of children and families participating in the POPS study.\n\nThis pediatric trial didn\u2019t have to end prematurely. It is just one example of a direct impact of the arbitrary decisions the Trump administration has made that are hurting our most vulnerable population - children. The contracts that support BPCA infrastructure received 40% less last year (FY 2025) than was received in 2024, and researchers were told by NIH that this year\u2019s funding (FY 2026) will be even less. Senator Murray warned you in May that \u201cresearchers at Seattle Children\u2019s were going to have stop their work investigating how pain medications could be safely used to help some of our sickest children as they face surgeries and hospitalization.\u201d Yet, here we are, in the exact place we feared we would be just a few months ago.\n\nWe urge you to do whatever is necessary to ensure full funding for the NIH\u2019s BPCA infrastructure for the PTN so the important work of the POPS trial and other vital research can move forward. This is not about a budget line\u2014this is about keeping our kids safe and healthy. You cannot claim to be making American children healthier while shutting down the research that would do exactly that. We demand that you reverse this reckless decision immediately and explain your decision making to Congress and the families of the children who rely on this research.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-on-cnn-measles-crisis-directly-tied-to-rfk-jr/", "ALSOBROOKS ON CNN \u2013 MEASLES CRISIS DIRECTLY TIED TO RFK JR.", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "August 27, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined Inside Politics with Dana Bash on CNN to discuss the surge in measles cases happening now in Maryland and across the country and how this crisis is directly tied to the disinformation coming from RFK Jr. and HHS.\n\n\u201cWell, what we know is that we\u2019re seeing a serious surge in these measles cases. This is something I\u2019ve been discussing since last year when we [saw] the outbreak of measles across our country, now going from 285 cases just in 2024 to over 2,777 cases. And we can tie it directly to the horrific leadership of Secretary Kennedy\u2026 And so we have a large number of unvaccinated individuals, including, as you mentioned, children who are dying from a disease that we had eliminated\u2014we [had] an elimination status as of 2000 in our country, and now we\u2019re seeing the resurgence of measles. No one should die of measles in 2026\u2026 It\u2019s horrific and it\u2019s completely preventable. It should not have happened, and it is directly tied, I believe, to the misinformation and disinformation coming out of HHS,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks during the interview.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-kaine-sanders-announce-privileged-resolution-seeking-answers-on-west-bank-violence", "Van Hollen, Kaine, Sanders Announce Privileged Resolution Seeking Answers on West Bank Violence", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), along with eight of their colleagues, announced their intent to introduce a 502B privileged resolution requiring the Department of State to report to Congress on increasing violence in the West Bank, including the killings of Americans in the West Bank. Nine Americans have been killed in the West Bank in recent years \u2013 and more detained \u2013 and none have received accountability or justice from either the Israeli or United States Governments. The Senators\u2019 resolution would require the Department of State to provide information and assessments related to investigations of the killing of United States citizens by violent Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in the West Bank, as well as an assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank, specifically related to the detention of Palestinian children. They were joined in introducing the resolution by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).\n\n\u201cThis Administration has said ensuring the safety and security of American citizens abroad is one of its highest priorities. And yet, as we\u2019ve seen violence rise in the West Bank, American citizens have been killed time and again, and they have received no justice and no accountability. It\u2019s past time we get answers on their deaths \u2013 and on the growing violent instability in the West Bank and the injustices facing Palestinian civilians on a daily basis. This resolution will require the State Department to begin to produce these answers, which are owed to the families of those who have lost loved ones, to the American people, and to all of those who want to ensure recipients of U.S. taxpayer dollars are acting in line with our laws and our values,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe violence committed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is reaching an unprecedented level, and as a result more and more Americans and Palestinians are being killed and injured. These actions \u2013 and the Israeli government\u2019s lack of response to this violence \u2013 are unacceptable and threaten the long-term safety and security of the entire region,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cFriends need to listen to each other, and my colleagues and I have repeatedly urged Israeli leaders to take firmer action to curtail illegal settlements in the West Bank, prosecute violent settlers, and protect Palestinian residents as well as American citizens living in or visiting the West Bank. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution to require the State Department to conduct a formal assessment and provide a report to Congress on the situation in the West Bank, in particular the safety and security of Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day, Palestinians in the West Bank experience horrific violence at the hands of Israeli settlers and security forces \u2014 and for years, the Israeli government has offered impunity instead of accountability. Enough is enough. The United States cannot keep bankrolling this violence and looking the other way \u2014 it\u2019s time to end our complicity, once and for all,\u201d said Senator Sanders.\n\n\u201cIn my visits to the West Bank, I\u2019ve heard numerous stories about the organized strategy of harassment and violence settlers are inflicting upon Palestinian villagers and Palestinian Americans. Tactics include cutting off villagers from their wells, their vineyards, and their orchards, burning their vehicles, and assaulting defenseless individuals, all with the implicit support of the Netanyahu government. This is wrong under every moral code,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThis resolution demands answers about these abuses and accountability for those responsible.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Netanyahu government has failed to stop Israeli security forces and settler attacks in the West Bank for years, including attacks that killed American citizens. The Trump administration has even gone so far as to reverse sanctions against individuals connected to this pattern of horrific violence. It's long past time for the U.S. government to stand up for human rights, investigate this violence against Americans and Palestinian civilians, provide full information to Congress, and hold the perpetrators accountable,\u201d said Senator Warren.\n\n\u201cIsraeli settlers in the West Bank have perpetrated violent crimes against Palestinians, including American citizens, with impunity. It is completely reasonable for Congress to demand our own government to report who was involved in these attacks. The United States has a moral obligation to seek justice for both our own citizens and Palestinians, including many children, targeted by Israeli security forces or settlers in the West Bank,\u201d said Senator Smith. \u201cA mature democracy can face up to its failures and commit to doing better. I am not at all convinced that Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s government is up to that task, which is why it\u2019s up to the United States.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility to protect Americans abroad and seek justice when Americans are killed,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThe escalating violence in the West Bank and lack of accountability for the deaths of American citizens are deeply concerning. This resolution will help us get the answers we need, demand accountability, and ensure that we have a better assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank.\u201d\n\n\u201cIsraeli military and police forces are a leading perpetrator of deadly violence against American civilians\u2014including 9 killed since 2022,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cToo often there are no serious investigations and there is no accountability after violent attacks. Israel should be held to the same standards as every other nation when it comes to the lives of American citizens\u2014that\u2019s what this resolution demands.\u201d\n\nThe resolution draws upon Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows Congress to file a privileged resolution that, if passed, would require the State Department to provide information on any country receiving U.S. security assistance and that country\u2019s observance of internationally-recognized human rights. After introduction, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has ten days to consider it in committee, and if it fails to do so, the resolution can be called up for a vote on the Senate floor. If the resolution passes the Senate, the Trump Administration must submit the report within 30 days or the majority of security assistance authorized to Israel would be prohibited. If the resolution passes, and following the receipt of the State Department report, Congress may consider any necessary changes to U.S. security assistance to that country in light of the information received. If the Administration declines or fails to submit the required report, the Administration\u2019s decision would prompt the termination of certain covered security assistance programs for Israel.", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-cortez-masto-colleagues-in-opposing-ice-rollout-of-electric-shock-gloves", "Van Hollen Joins Cortez Masto, Colleagues in Opposing ICE Rollout of Electric Shock Gloves", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and 14 of their Senate colleagues called on the Trump Administration to abandon its reckless plan to outfit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers with gloves that deliver painful electric shocks. Their letter also demands that if ICE proceeds with this purchase, it first provides Congress with answers and documentation for over 30 questions about how these devices will be used, the protocol for using them, safety guardrails, and accountability measures.\n\nOn August 10, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice concerning ICE\u2019s planned acquisition of the CTG-5 G.L.O.V.E., a glove designed to deliver a painful electric shock. The notice estimates the potential value of the acquisition between $10 million and $20 million.\n\n\u201cWe write to express deep concern about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to spend up to $20 million on gloves that deliver electric shocks,\u201d the Senators began. \u201c\u2026The blatant and tragic misuse of force in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Houston, Maine, and other locations around the country raises significant skepticism about the agency\u2019s professional capability to safely deploy a new tool that could be used to harm Americans without cause. Therefore, we urge ICE to cancel the contract and reconsider the purchase.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe proposed acquisition raises serious questions about necessity, proportionality, medical safety, training, accountability, and constitutional rights,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cThose questions are particularly important given the significant public scrutiny surrounding ICE\u2019s excessive use of force. A device capable of delivering an electrical shock through direct contact with an individual presents substantial risks if deployed during civil arrests \u2013 even more so if it is deployed without clear limits, appropriate training, and comprehensive oversight.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when the American people have demanded de-escalation in immigration enforcement, it is not clear why existing tools and tactics are insufficient for the agency,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cIn the past year, DHS has repeatedly spent millions of taxpayer dollars on purchases it ends up not using, including $464 million for airplanes, $700 million on warehouses, and more than $2.25 million for SUVs wrapped with ICE branding. Many of these ICE transactions, including the planned electric-shock glove purchase, are completed through no-bid contracts that circumvent the normal competitive procurement process without a sufficient rationale.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf ICE proceeds with purchasing $20 million worth of electric-shock gloves, Congress needs a clear understanding of the device\u2019s safety and authorized uses,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Senators Chris Van Hollen and Cortez Masto, the letter was signed by Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Acting Director Venturella,\n\nWe write to express deep concern about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to spend up to $20 million on gloves that deliver electric shocks. Over the past year, ICE personnel have been involved in numerous well-documented incidents of excessive force and civil rights violations. These incidents have shown the American people that ICE personnel are not adequately trained or accountable for their interactions with civilians. The blatant and tragic misuse of force in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Houston, Maine, and other locations around the country raises significant skepticism about the agency\u2019s professional capability to safely deploy a new tool that could be used to harm Americans without cause. Therefore, we urge ICE to cancel the contract and reconsider the purchase.\n\nOn August 10, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice concerning ICE\u2019s planned acquisition of the CTG-5 G.L.O.V.E., a glove designed to deliver a painful electric shock that is described as a \u201cConductive Distraction and De-escalation Device,\u201d for use by both Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). The notice estimates the potential value of the acquisition between $10 million and $20 million. Congress has an obligation to ensure that federal law enforcement agencies have the resources necessary to perform their duties safely and effectively while ensuring that taxpayer dollars are being used for tools that are necessary, proportionate, and subject to meaningful safeguards. The proposed acquisition raises serious questions about necessity, proportionality, medical safety, training, accountability, and constitutional rights. Those questions are particularly important given the significant public scrutiny surrounding ICE\u2019s excessive use of force. A device capable of delivering an electrical shock through direct contact with an individual presents substantial risks if deployed during civil arrests \u2013 even more so if it is deployed without clear limits, appropriate training, and comprehensive oversight.\n\nICE personnel have access to pepper spray, Tasers, batons, and restraint techniques, not to mention deescalation strategies that are widely used by law enforcement throughout the country. At a time when the American people have demanded de-escalation in immigration enforcement, it is not clear why existing tools and tactics are insufficient for the agency. In the past year, DHS has repeatedly spent millions of taxpayer dollars on purchases it ends up not using, including $464 million for airplanes, $700 million on warehouses, and more than $2.25 million for SUVs wrapped with ICE branding. Many of these ICE transactions, including the planned electric-shock glove purchase, are completed through no-bid contracts that circumvent the normal competitive procurement process without a sufficient rationale. This history raises concerns about wasteful spending and unethical contracting practices that could benefit individuals who have personal relationships with administration officials rather than those who can provide the best service at the lowest cost to the taxpayer.\n\nIf ICE proceeds with purchasing $20 million worth of electric-shock gloves, Congress needs a clear understanding of the device\u2019s safety and authorized uses. The manufacturer identifies restrictions on the device\u2019s use, including limitations involving children, pregnant women, elderly or disabled individuals, and repeated or simultaneous use. The manufacturer also warns that use of the electric-shock glove may cause or contribute to death or serious injury, and that longer exposure increases that potential risk. If it proceeds with this contract, ICE must establish and make public clear, enforceable limits on when and against whom the electric-shock gloves may be used, especially given that ICE may not be able to immediately assess whether an individual is pregnant or disabled. Given that ICE is most frequently engaged in civil immigration enforcement rather than criminal arrests, the agency must carefully evaluate whether deployment of the electric-shock gloves in such situations is proportionate to the task.\n\nICE must also establish and make public the training requirements the agency will put in place prior to and throughout any potential deployment of these gloves. Over the past year, ICE has undermined the public\u2019s trust in the agency\u2019s training standards by putting new personnel into operational situations who are not properly vetted or adequately trained. Training for ICE recruits was slashed before being extended again following significant backlash. Additionally, ICE has put new recruits in the field before even completing their background checks, with tragic consequences. The issuance of these electric-shock gloves to personnel in the field without sufficient training would be yet another failure of ICE in the eyes of the public.\n\nICE has continually failed to meet basic standards of transparency and accountability. The electric-shock gloves present a particular accountability challenge because the use of force may cause significant pain and internal injury without necessarily producing obvious visible injuries. If the electric-shock gloves are deployed, ICE must establish a robust system for documenting and reviewing every deployment and instance of use. ICE should not deploy the gloves without evidence that personnel understand and take seriously the device\u2019s risks and that individuals subjected to its use can receive an appropriate medical response. ICE must also ensure robust internal procedures for investigating misuse of the device and all use-of-force tools provided to personnel, and effective consequences for those who are found to have abused them.\n\nIn light of these many concerns, we request answers to the following questions and production of the documents identified below.\n\nNecessity, Procurement, and Alternatives\n\n1. What specific operational capability does the G.L.O.V.E. provide that existing ICE defensive tactics and less-lethal tools\u2014including pepper spray, Tasers, batons, and restraint techniques\u2014do not? Please provide the operational analysis or other documentation supporting the acquisition.\n\n2. How many electric-shock gloves does ICE intend to purchase, at what projected per-unit cost? How many personnel will be issued the device?\n\n3. What alternatives did ICE consider before selecting the G.L.O.V.E.?\n\n4. Did ICE consult with other law enforcement agencies that use the device regarding effectiveness, injuries, complaints, misuse, training requirements, or other concerns?\n\n5. Please provide the justification for the purchase of the G.L.O.V.E. via a non-competitive contract process.\n\nSafety and Appropriate Use\n\n6. How does ICE classify the G.L.O.V.E. under DHS Use of Force Policy 044-05? Are the electric-shock gloves considered a de-escalation tactic under this policy?\n\n7. In what specific circumstances will use of the electric-shock gloves be authorized?\n\n8. Will use of the electric-shock gloves require supervisory authorization?\n\n9. Which positions and units will carry the device?\n\n10. What is the protocol for usage of the electric-shock gloves? Will ICE personnel be instructed to issue a warning before gloves are activated?\n\n11. Will ICE expressly prohibit use of the electric-shock gloves as a routine compliance or punishment tool?\n\n12. What restrictions will apply to vulnerable populations?\n\n13. Will ICE prohibit the use of the electric-shock gloves against animals?\n\n14. Will ICE prohibit the use of the electric-shock gloves in crowd-control situations?\n\n15. What restrictions will govern the duration and repetition of electrical shocks?\n\n16. Will the electric-shock gloves be authorized for use against U.S. citizens?\n\n17. Will the electric-shock gloves be authorized for use in custodial settings? Will they be authorized for use in removal operations?\n\n18. How will protocol for use differ between HSI and ERO?\n\nTesting, Medical Safety, and Training\n\n19. What testing has DHS or ICE conducted or reviewed concerning the safety and effectiveness of the electric-shock gloves? Please provide all manufacturer testing, independent testing, medical evaluations, risk assessments, and other relevant documentation.\n\n20. Will ICE conduct a limited pilot program before broad deployment? If so, provide the parameters, location, duration, and evaluation criteria for the pilot.\n\n21. What medical contraindications or risks has ICE identified related to use of the electricshock gloves?\n\n22. What training will be required before an officer or agent may carry or use the electricshock gloves? Please provide all existing and proposed training and written guidance concerning the G.L.O.V.E., including curricula, lesson plans, instructor materials, certification standards, policy directives, field guidance, and manufacturer training materials.\n\n23. Will ICE require recurring certification and refresher training? Please provide the certification requirements, frequency of recertification, proficiency standards, and consequences for personnel who fail to maintain certification.\n\nAccountability, Reporting, and Oversight\n\n24. What is the required response when a person is injured or appears to be in medical distress following use of the electric-shock gloves? Please provide the applicable medical response protocols, including requirements for medical evaluation, documentation, notification of supervisors, and preservation of evidence.\n\n25. Will every activation or use of the electric-shock gloves against a person be reported as a use of force?\n\n26. Will ICE require body-worn cameras to be activated and operational whenever the electric-shock gloves are deployed, regardless of whether the officers are in plainclothes?\n\n27. Will every activation require written justification and supervisory review? Please identify who will review these incidents, what factors supervisors must consider, and what specific consequences will apply when personnel violate the applicable restrictions.\n\n28. How will ICE track complaints and injuries? Will ICE maintain and publicly report data concerning internal and external complaints, injuries, improper uses, disciplinary actions, and uses of force involving the electric-shock gloves?\n\n29. How will ICE evaluate, track, and report complaints of civil rights violations involving the use of the electric-shock gloves?\n\n30. Will ICE conduct an independent audit of the program?\n\n31. Please provide records reflecting any internal concerns or objections regarding the electric-shock gloves, including communications involving the Office of Tactical Programs and Firearms.\n\nWe request that ICE provide written responses to the questions above and produce the requested documents no later than September 10, 2026. The American people have made it clear that ICE must de-escalate its immigration enforcement operations. ICE must refrain from deployment of the G.L.O.V.E. and instead invest in de-escalation tools, training, and accountability. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-schiff-schumer-booker-colleagues-in-urging-netanyahu-to-immediately-crack-down-on-settler-violence-in-west-bank-protect-us-citizens", "Van Hollen Joins Schiff, Schumer, Booker, Colleagues in Urging Netanyahu to Immediately Crack Down on Settler Violence in West Bank, Protect U.S. Citizens", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and over 40 of their Senate colleagues in urging Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take immediate actions to reduce violence in the West Bank and prevent further incidents amidst a significant increase in harassment, threats, and acts of violence in recent weeks. They also called on the government of Israel to complete investigations into the deaths of nine American citizens who have been killed by settlers or security forces in the West Bank in recent years.\n\n\u201cWe urge you to take measures to prevent and intercede in this violence, establish a credible mechanism to investigate violations of law, and to make clear that the Government of Israel will not tolerate violence by its people, just as it does not tolerate violence against its people,\u201d the Senators wrote in a letter signed by almost the entire Senate Democratic Caucus.\n\nThe Senators warn that \u201ccontinued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel\u2019s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.\u201d\n\nPresident Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously expressed their opposition to annexation of and violence in the West Bank, which the Israeli government has failed to address.\n\n\u201cLike you, the safety and security of our constituents is of paramount importance. We urge your government to ensure that Americans in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank are able to enjoy the security and protection of property to which they are entitled. We also hope to see the conditions improved so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live in peace with each other without the fear of terrorism or lawless violence,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nAdditionally, the Senators call for those responsible for such violent acts to be held accountable and investigated.\n\nIn addition to Van Hollen, Schiff, Schumer, and Booker, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Mr. Prime Minister,\n\nWe write in shared concern and opposition to the growing levels of violence in the West Bank. Many of us have previously expressed to President Trump that continued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel\u2019s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.\n\nIncidents of fatal violence by settlers have reportedly already surpassed 2025 levels and continue to increase. The last few weeks alone saw a significant surge in violence on both sides, resulting in a large-scale response by Israeli security forces, mass arrests of Palestinians, and reported attacks by settlers on mosques. We urge you to take measures to prevent and intercede in this violence, establish a credible mechanism to investigate violations of law, and to make clear that the Government of Israel will not tolerate violence by its people, just as it does not tolerate violence against its people.\n\nWe write particularly on behalf of American citizens who have been killed or threatened in such violence. Many of us have heard first-hand from their families and other constituents who have themselves been threatened without cause by settlers. We have engaged the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and your embassy in Washington to ensure their protection and appreciate measures taken on their behalf, but a more significant response from your government is clearly needed. We ask for your personal and direct engagement and intervention in order to protect our constituents and their families.\n\nPresident Trump and Secretary of State Rubio have expressed their opposition to all violence in the West Bank and actions aimed at annexation, but those concerns have gone unaddressed. Now, we urge you to take the following actions:\n\nIssue clear directives to the Israeli Police and Israeli Defense Forces to prevent and intervene in harassment, threats, and actual use of violence, regardless of the perpetrators.\n\nEnsure that all those responsible for harassment, threats, and violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian-Americans, are held accountable through a transparent and credible process. This includes completing investigations into and ensuring accountability for the deaths of nine American citizens who have been killed by settlers or security forces in the West Bank since 2022.\n\nStop approving additional settlements and stop allowing the construction of, and take steps to remove, illegal outposts in the West Bank.\n\nLike you, the safety and security of our constituents is of paramount importance. We urge your government to ensure that Americans in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank are able to enjoy the security and protection of property to which they are entitled. We also hope to see the conditions improved so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live in peace with each other without the fear of terrorism or lawless violence.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-gallego-colleagues-in-sounding-alarm-on-fed-chair-warshs-plan-to-scale-back-interest-rate-meeting-schedule", "Van Hollen Joins Gallego, Colleagues, in Sounding Alarm on Fed Chair Warsh\u2019s Plan to Scale Back Interest Rate Meeting Schedule", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Ruben Gallego (D.Ariz.) and five of their Senate colleagues in calling on Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh to maintain the Federal Open Market Committee\u2019s (FOMC) longstanding schedule of at least eight meetings per year.\n\nThe letter was sent in response to the New York Times\u2019 recent reporting that Warsh is considering reducing the frequency of the meetings.\n\n\u201cSince 1981, the FOMC has held a minimum of eight regularly scheduled meetings per year. At these meetings, the Committee reviews economic and financial conditions, determines the appropriate stance of monetary policy, and assesses risks to its statutory goals of price stability and maximum employment,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cThis cadence has provided a predictable framework for the conduct of monetary policy for 45 years. Fewer rate-setting meetings would represent the largest scheduled cutback in the modern history of the Federal Reserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Federal Reserve\u2019s job is to stay engaged with the economy in real time, not to check in less and hope for the best,\u201d concluded the senators. \u201cIf the Federal Reserve continues down this increasingly opaque path, you will be putting the broader economy at risk.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Van Hollen and Gallego, Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) signed onto the letter.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Chairman Warsh,\n\nWe write regarding reports that you are considering reducing the frequency of Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings. We have serious concerns about the implications of such a change for financial markets, American consumers, and the conduct of monetary policy.\n\nSince 1981, the FOMC has held a minimum of eight regularly scheduled meetings per year. At these meetings, the Committee reviews economic and financial conditions, determines the appropriate stance of monetary policy, and assesses risks to its statutory goals of price stability and maximum employment. This cadence has provided a predictable framework for the conduct of monetary policy for 45 years. Fewer rate-setting meetings would represent the largest scheduled cutback in the modern history of the Federal Reserve.\n\nWe are concerned that a thinner meeting schedule would cripple the Committee's ability to respond to fast-moving economic conditions, and amounts to a unilateral rewriting of how the Federal Reserve communicates with markets and the American public. This communication underpins trust in the world's most important central bank.\n\nGiven that reporting indicates a revised schedule could be finalized before the Committee's next required meeting in September, please submit written answers to the following questions no later than September 2, 2026:\n\nPlease confirm whether the FOMC's regularly scheduled meeting dates for 2026 and 2027, as previously published, remain in effect, or whether any of those dates are under consideration for cancellation or postponement.\n\nAt your Senate confirmation hearing, you testified that four meetings a year was \"not enough,\" and that \"having more meetings than that is appropriate.\" Please reconcile that testimony with your current consideration of a reduced meeting schedule, whether your position on this question has changed since your confirmation and, if so, on what basis.\n\nPlease describe any analysis that the Federal Reserve has conducted regarding the impact of a reduced meeting schedule on the Committee's capacity to respond to changes in inflation, employment, and financial stability. Please provide copies of any such analysis.\n\nPlease identify the specific statutory authority under which the Federal Reserve would implement a change of this kind, and clarify whether the Board of Governors, the full FOMC, or some other body has voted on or approved this proposal.\n\nDid the Federal Reserve consult with, or notify Congress, market participants, task force members, or other stakeholders prior to public reports of this change? If so, with whom and when?\n\nDo you intend to alter the current cadence of post-meeting press conferences, and if so, how?\n\nPlease state whether this change is intended to be permanent or is being considered on a trial basis, and if the latter, what criteria will be used to evaluate its success or failure.\n\nThe Federal Reserve's job is to stay engaged with the economy in real time, not to check in less and hope for the best. If the Federal Reserve continues down this increasingly opaque path, you will be putting the broader economy at risk. We appreciate your prompt attention to this important matter and look forward to your response.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-murray-colleagues-in-slamming-the-trump-administrations-anti-women-agenda-and-threats-to-abortion-reproductive-care", "Van Hollen Joins Murray, Colleagues in Slamming the Trump Administration\u2019s Anti-Women Agenda and Threats to Abortion, Reproductive Care", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and their colleagues in sending a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressing outrage over the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to ban abortion nationwide and limit access to reproductive health care for women across the country. The senators called out this administration\u2019s harmful restrictions on mifepristone as well as their moves to threaten access to essential preventative care, contraceptives, and abortion care.\n\n\u201cThe decades-long Republican attacks on reproductive health, rights, and justice have culminated in a nation where women today have less autonomy over their bodies and their medical care than their grandmothers did,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cAnd with women already suffering and dying as a result of your policies, you are doubling down with an even more aggressive and dangerous anti-women agenda.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, the Senators call out the Trump Administration\u2019s \u201cpro-family\u201d claims, highlighting their hypocrisy. \u201cDespite proclaiming to be a \u201cpro-family\u201d administration, the Trump administration has orchestrated a coordinated attempt to limit access to reproductive health care and move closer to a national abortion ban by whatever means necessary. From partnering with Congressional Republicans to defund clinics that provide preventive care like annual physicals and cervical cancer exams, because they also provide abortion care; terminating women\u2019s health research at the National Institutes of Health; withholding millions in already awarded and appropriated Title X funding, the only federal stream solely dedicated to family planning; to terminating more than 50 Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grants, a program that has shown great success in lowering the teen birth rate; this administration has stopped at nothing to strip access to providers, basic services, and health information.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continue by outlining the administration\u2019s ongoing attacks on every possible aspect of reproductive health care, including: spreading misinformation, politicizing federal funding and grants, attempting to restrict access to mifepristone, and implementing regulatory strategies that grossly violate women\u2019s privacy and autonomy.\n\n\u201cWomen are less safe, less free, and less able to see a doctor today because of the choices this administration has made. Senate Democrats will keep fighting in every way possible to protect every woman\u2019s right to the care they need and the freedom to make their own decisions about their own body and their own future,\u201d The Senators conclude.\n\nIn addition to Van Hollen and Murray, the letter was signed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael F. Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.), Gary C. Peters (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Kennedy,\n\nWe write with outrage over the numerous actions taken by the Trump administration to threaten and limit access to reproductive health care for women and girls across the country, including essential preventive care, contraceptives, and abortion care. The decades-long Republican attacks on reproductive health, rights, and justice have culminated in a nation where women today have less autonomy over their bodies and their medical care than their grandmothers did. And with women already suffering and dying as a result of your policies, you are doubling down with an even more aggressive and dangerous anti-women agenda.\n\nThe decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade and removed the constitutional right to an abortion has had life-threatening consequences for women across America, especially in states with abortion bans. We know that Republicans\u2019 ultimate goal is to ban all abortions nationwide. Currently, women in 13 states live under total abortion bans and those in 28 other states live under gestational bans, some as early as six weeks\u2014often before a woman even knows she is pregnant. These bans create a system in which women can\u2019t get the health care they need, requiring them to travel across state lines when abortion care via telehealth is unavailable, and in some circumstances forcing them to carry a pregnancy to term. In too many devastating cases, these bans have forced women to wait until their lives are at risk before they can receive adequate care. A 2025 report released by the Gender Policy Equity Institute showed that women living in states that banned abortion were nearly two times as likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth, or soon after giving birth, compared to women living in states where abortion is legal and accessible.\n\nDespite proclaiming to be a \u201cpro-family\u201d administration, the Trump administration has orchestrated a coordinated attempt to limit access to reproductive health care and move closer to a national abortion ban by whatever means necessary. From partnering with Congressional Republicans to defund clinics that provide preventive care like annual physicals and cervical cancer exams, because they also provide abortion care; terminating women\u2019s health research at the National Institutes of Health; withholding millions in already awarded and appropriated Title X funding, the only federal stream solely dedicated to family planning; to terminating more than 50 Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grants, a program that has shown great success in lowering the teen birth rate; this administration has stopped at nothing to strip access to providers, basic services, and health information. Instead, the Trump administration has promoted, through moms.gov, \u201ccrisis pregnancy centers\u201d that spread misinformation and employ deceptive practices to further an anti-abortion agenda. People cannot make informed decisions about their bodies if they do not have medically accurate information to begin with, or access to providers who can provide that education. Furthermore, the recently proposed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulation on federal financial assistance will politicize the entire grants process, undermining federal agencies\u2019 ability to carry out the programs enacted by Congress and significantly hampering the grantees\u2019 work on programs and services related to women\u2019s and reproductive health. The dismantling and politicization of reproductive health care programs is a thinly veiled attempt at ensuring politicians have even more control over women\u2019s bodies.\n\nThe administration has also systematically attacked mifepristone, one of the medications commonly used for abortion care. Mifepristone is safe and effective, has been used for decades by over 7.5 million people since its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000, and is part of the two-drug regimen used in more than 60% of abortions in the U.S. each year. In September 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it would conduct, through the FDA, \u201cits own review of the evidence\u201d on the safety and effectiveness of mifepristone, despite the overwhelming evidence already proving this. This exercise seeks to disregard the vast safety evidence of mifepristone and further politicize the medication as part of your attempts to limit abortion access nationwide. The Department of Justice has repeatedly cited the FDA's baseless \"review\" in ongoing litigation brought by anti-abortion extremists in an attempt to gut access to mifepristone, including in a brief filed at the Fifth Circuit just last month. In November 2025, all Democratic Senators sent a letter to you and then-Commissioner Makary demonstrating our concern over this review and requesting additional information. We have yet to receive a response.\n\nCongressional Republicans and the Trump administration often pretend these restrictions to reproductive health care are designed to give power back to states. However, the Trump administration continues to undermine this argument and attack states that do protect access to reproductive health care. Most recently, the then-Acting Attorney General of the United States, Todd Blanche stated on a private call that the Trump administration\u2019s anti-abortion efforts are \u201ctaking longer than we want\u201d and promised that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is working hand in hand with HHS, the FDA, the White House, and President Trump\u2019s team to get permanent solutions. And in Blanche\u2019s July confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, he doubled down on restricting abortion, committing DOJ's resources to an effort clearly aimed at further limiting access to mifepristone. In March 2026, the Trump administration misused the Weldon Amendment, a harmful refusal of care law, to launch an investigation into 13 states with laws that require state-regulated insurance plans to cover abortion care. In April, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), at the request of the Republican Speaker of the House, House Majority Leadership, and other Members of Congress, sent interview requests to a number of states that require abortion coverage in their Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace Plans. If the administration\u2019s goal is to make abortion care a state issue, the federal government should not be interfering and investigating states with lawful abortion protections.\n\nOn July 3, the Trump administration released its 2026 Unified Agenda and annual Regulatory Plan. This agenda includes regulatory actions that seek to entrench \u201cfetal personhood,\u201d the idea that fertilized eggs, embryos, and fetuses should receive full rights and legal protections. Granting \u201cfetal personhood\u201d could have enormous consequences, and could ultimately lead to criminal charges and conviction of pregnant and postpartum women for seeking necessary health care. The agenda also includes a regulatory action that may roll back access to abortions for unaccompanied immigrant children in detention, a policy that the first Trump administration tried to implement in 2017. After legal proceedings, the 2017 policy was eventually abandoned and replaced with a new policy that prohibited the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) staff from interfering with unaccompanied pregnant minors\u2019 access to abortion.\n\nThe attacks on reproductive health care don\u2019t stop there. Just last month, on July 7, the Department of Justice asked the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to allow any employer to opt out of the ACA\u2019s requirement that insurance plans include coverage of the full range of birth control without additional cost, a provision that has helped millions of people to use contraceptives more consistently and effectively, furthering their health and wellbeing. The FDA has also newly imposed a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) on two birth control products, adding new burdensome certification, reporting, and dispensing requirements. Of note, the use of REMS is extremely rare; of the over 20,000 FDA-approved drugs, there are only 73 drugs that have a REMS. This administration has imposed REMS on these products under the guise of ensuring the benefits of the device outweigh its risk of complications, however the agency has failed to answer detailed questions about the research that informed its actions. We believe that, just as politicians shouldn\u2019t be able to make decisions about women\u2019s bodies, neither should their employers. Decisions about birth control, pregnancy, and abortion should be made between a patient and their provider.\n\nIf this administration was truly committed to helping families, President Trump would work to lower the cost of living and make health care and child care more affordable and accessible. Instead, the President has stated on the record that we must prioritize \u201cfighting wars\u201d and that we simply cannot afford to address these issues. In fact, in the year and a half they\u2019ve been in charge, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have made the largest cut to Medicaid in our nation\u2019s history. This action directly impacts reproductive health care access for women, as Medicaid pays for more than half of the births in our country and has already led hospitals to close their doors and cut services.\n\nFrom the moment Donald Trump returned to office, this administration has waged a relentless, coordinated assault on women's health and the freedom to make their own medical decisions. Stripping away the emergency-room protections that guarantee women can get life-saving care, moving to restrict access to safe and effective medication like mifepristone, gutting the maternal health programs that keep moms and babies safe, and so much else\u2014your policies constitute serious attacks on women\u2019s health that are not rooted in safety or science, but would simply advance an extreme ideological agenda that is wildly out of touch with America\u2019s pro-choice majority.\n\nWomen are less safe, less free, and less able to see a doctor today because of the choices this administration has made. Senate Democrats will keep fighting in every way possible to protect every woman\u2019s right to the care they need and the freedom to make their own decisions about their own body and their own future.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-over-35-bicameral-colleagues-in-demanding-release-of-us-citizen-in-israeli-military-prison", "Van Hollen Joins Over 35 Bicameral Colleagues in Demanding Release of U.S. Citizen in Israeli Military Prison", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12) and 39 Members of Congress, including 5 Senators, in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, demanding the immediate and permanent release of U.S. citizen Sama Safi, a 20-year-old student with a severe chronic health condition, from Israeli military prison. On June 2, in the middle of the night, Sama was torn from her family\u2019s home in the occupied West Bank as part of a series of raids targeting Birzeit University students.\n\n\u201cWith every additional day that Sama is subjected to deprivation and abuse by Israel, our fear grows that her spark is being dimmed; that we are losing pieces of her health, her strength, and the vibrant, loving spirit that makes her who she is,\u201d said Sama\u2019s parents. \u201cEvery morning, we wake wishing this was only a nightmare, hoping to open our eyes to the sound of Sama playing music. Every waking moment, we cannot help but imagine what she must be facing alone. Yet we are holding on to hope through those who stand with us and are helping us bring Sama home. We are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Tlaib and all the signatories of this letter for standing with us in our urgent call to free Sama.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day that Sama remains wrongfully detained in these inhumane conditions, she is at greater risk of irreversible and life-threatening repercussions,\u201d the Members wrote to Secretary Rubio. \u201cIt is your responsibility to ensure the safety of all Americans abroad, with no exceptions. Her life is at risk on your watch. We urge you to act swiftly and use every tool at your disposal to secure the immediate release of Sama Safi so that she can receive the medical care she urgently needs and return to her family, her studies, and the life and freedom that every 20-year-old deserves.\u201d\n\nSama has described horrific conditions and violence by guards in Israeli military detention, including frequent physical assault, gas and stun grenades thrown in overcrowded cells, and lack of food and water. Every day, thousands of Palestinians in Israeli detention are subjected to these conditions as part of what the United Nations Committee Against Torture described as \u201ca de facto State policy of organized and widespread torture and ill-treatment.\u201d\n\n\u201cSuch wretched conditions and treatment have caused Sama\u2019s health to rapidly decline to dangerous levels in detention. Sama suffers from a severe and complex chronic medical condition known as Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), which requires regular monitoring, daily medication, and recurring specialized biologic treatment abroad,\u201d the Members wrote. \u201cSama has reported receiving her medication inconsistently, resulting in several missed doses. Stress positions and shackling have exacerbated her condition, causing severe rheumatoid and chest pain. Her doctors have warned that with her continued military detention and \u2018being constantly exposed to conditions that exacerbate her inflammatory status, the possibility of progressive tissue injury and irreversible organ damage is our greatest concern.\u2019\u201d\n\nOn August 17, over 100 faith-based groups wrote a letter to Secretary Rubio demanding Sama\u2019s release.\n\nIn addition to Van Hollen and Tlaib, the letter was signed by Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), as well as Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.-03), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-Ind.-07), Greg Casar (D-Texas-35), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas-20), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.-05), Christopher Deluzio (D-Pa.-17), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.-03), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas-37), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10), Chuy Garc\u00eda (D-Ill.-04), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Al Green (D-Texas-09), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.-07), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.-01), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Hank Johnson, Jr. (D-Ga.-04), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Summer Lee (D-Pa.-12), Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.-04), James McGovern (D-Mass.-02), Analilia Mejia (D-N.J.-11), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.-14), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.-05), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.-07), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.-03), Emily Randall (D-Wash.-06), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.-20), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (D-N.Y.-07), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.-43), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12).\n\nThe letter is endorsed by 85 organizations: IMEU Policy Project, A New Policy, Action Corps, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action), Arab American Caucus of the California Democratic Party, Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies at San Francisco State University, Arab Resource & Organizing Center Action (AROC Action), Arlington for Palestine, Beyt Tikkun Synagogue, Boston Coalition For Palestine, Brooklyn For Peace, CAIR Action, California Democrats for Justice in Palestine, Center for Constitutional Rights, Christians for a Free Palestine, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), Cleveland Peace Action, Codepink, Common Defense, Community Alliance for Peace and Justice, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), Detroit & MI National Lawyers Guild, Disability Justice for Palestine, Doctors Against Genocide, Emgage Michigan, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Gen-Z for Change, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Hind Rajab Foundation, Historians for Peace and Democracy, IfNotNow Movement, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, Institute for Policy Studies New Internationalism Project, Jewish Voice for Peace, Just Foreign Policy, Majdal: Arab Community Center of San Diego, MARUF CT, Massachusetts Peace Action, Methodist Federation for Social Action, Minnesota Peace Project, MPower Change Action Fund, Musicians Against Genocide, Muslim Advocates, Muslims for Just Futures, NE Oakland Indivisible, NH Peace Action, North Carolina Peace Action, Northshore For Palestine, Orange County for Justice in Palestine, Palestine House of Freedom, Palestine Legal, Palestinian House Of New England, Pax Christi New York State, Peace Action Montgomery, Peace Action New York State, Peace Action of San Mateo County, Peace Justice Sustainability NOW, Philly Neighborhood Networks, Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee, Progressive Democrats of America \u2013 Central New Mexico, Queer Folk Inc., Rabbis for Ceasefire, Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice, ReThinking Foreign Policy, River Valley for Palestine, RootsAction, Statewide Indivisible Michigan, Stu Maismith Veterans For Peace, Syrian Community Network, Teaching Palestine: Pedagogical Praxis and the Indivisibility of Justice, The American Council for Judaism, The Justice Coalition, Transition Security Project, U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR), US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action, US Palestinian Council, Veterans For Peace, Veterans For Peace Chapter 74, Washington for Peace and Justice, and We the People Dissent.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Rubio,\n\nWe write with urgency to demand that the Department of State act now to ensure the immediate and permanent release of U.S. citizen Sama Safi, a 20-year-old university student with a severe complex chronic health condition, who the Israeli military has arbitrarily and wrongfully detained since June 2nd. Sama\u2019s medical condition has rapidly deteriorated after being subjected to abysmal detention conditions in the months since armed Israeli soldiers raided her family\u2019s home in the occupied West Bank in the middle of the night and tore her from her family. Her doctors have warned of irreversible and life-threatening damage to her internal organs if her detention continues. You have a duty to secure the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad, and we urge you to act quickly to prevent further irreparable harm to Sama by securing her immediate release.\n\nSama, a current honors psychology student at Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank, was kidnapped and detained without charge in a pre-dawn raid on June 2nd, as part of a series of raids targeting Birzeit University students that morning that wrongfully detained three other young women: Natalie Abu Diah, Leila Khalil, and Joulan Abu Awad. This targeting of Palestinian students is not an isolated incident but part of what United Nations human rights experts have called a systematic policy to \u201cundermine the right to education.\u201d\n\nSince June 2nd, Sama has suffered under appalling conditions in Israeli military detention. She has been transferred through multiple facilities, including an illegal transfer out of the occupied West Bank to the Damon Israeli military prison near Haifa\u2014a blatant violation of the 4th Geneva Convention. Sama has described the use of serious physical violence by guards against detainees, including frequent physical assault, shackling, and the throwing of gas and stun grenades into already overcrowded and poorly ventilated cells. Sama recounted her treatment, stating, \u201cAfter I was taken into custody, I was shackled, blindfolded, driven around for several hours. I was given no food or water for the first 24 hours.\u201d She describes being subjected to repeated verbal abuse and being placed in painful stress positions, as well as the presence of rapidly spreading infectious skin disease, rats, and mattresses reeking of feces.\n\nThese inhumane conditions and violence towards detainees are not unique to one facility. They are systemic and well-documented throughout Israel\u2019s vast military prison system, where thousands of Palestinians are held every day, many indefinitely and without charge. In December, the United Nations Committee Against Torture denounced Israel\u2019s application of \u201ca de facto State policy of organized and widespread torture and ill-treatment\u201d in these prisons, including evidence of sexual violence, electrocution, waterboarding, systemic denial of medical care, denial of adequate nutrition and water, and deprivation of clothing, sleep, and access to hygiene facilities.\n\nSuch wretched conditions and treatment have caused Sama\u2019s health to rapidly decline to dangerous levels in detention. Sama suffers from a severe and complex chronic medical condition known as Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), which requires regular monitoring, daily medication, and recurring specialized biologic treatment abroad. Sama has reported receiving her medication inconsistently throughout her detention, resulting in frequent missed doses. Since returning to detention on August 16 following a brief medical release, Sama has reportedly not once received her daily medication nor been seen by doctors. Stress positions and shackling have exacerbated her condition, causing severe rheumatoid and chest pain. Her doctors have warned that with her continued military detention and \u201cbeing constantly exposed to conditions that exacerbate her inflammatory status, the possibility of progressive tissue injury and irreversible organ damage is our greatest concern.\u201d\n\nEvery day that Sama remains wrongfully detained in these inhumane conditions, she is at greater risk of irreversible and life-threatening repercussions. On August 17, over 100 faith-based, human rights, and civil rights groups wrote to you urging immediate action to secure her release. It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of all Americans abroad, with no exceptions. Her life is at risk on your watch. We urge you to act swiftly and use every tool at your disposal to secure the immediate release of Sama Safi so that she can receive the medical care she urgently needs and return to her family, her studies, and the life and freedom that every 20-year-old deserves.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-secure-20-million-in-federal-funding-for-ocean-city-beach-replenishment", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Secure $20 Million in Federal Funding for Ocean City Beach Replenishment", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "On August 14, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) visited Ocean City\u2019s beachfront to highlight the $20 million federal investment he, along with Senator Angela Alsobrooks, secured in Congress to replenish the beach and protect the shoreline. This project, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), will widen the beach and create a buffer against storms and erosion, protecting homes, businesses, and public infrastructure.\n\n\u201cOcean City\u2019s beach is a destination for Marylanders and out-of-state visitors alike, making it an important economic driver for the region. It\u2019s critical that we not only protect the beach from erosion, but that we also restore the shoreline to protect local communities from flooding and extreme weather. Businesses and livelihoods that depend on Ocean City\u2019s beach must continue to thrive, and that\u2019s why we worked to secure $20 million in federal funding for Ocean City\u2019s beach replenishment. With these federal funds, we will be able to restore and expand the shoreline, helping to ensure that Ocean City can continue to be a destination point and the economic driver that it is,\u201d said Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.\n\n\"We need to do all we can to protect Maryland communities, homes, and businesses from storms and erosion. That's why I am proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen in investing $20 million of federal funding to replenish Ocean City's shoreline and beaches. Replenishing this shoreline will create a critical buffer to better protect the homes and businesses of Ocean City,\" said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cMore than just a location where summer memories are made, the beaches of Ocean City are also a critical line of defense for the lives and livelihood of the community. By blending vital engineering with strong federal, state, and local partnerships, this project safeguards our community and ensures Ocean City remains strong, resilient, and safe for generations to come,\u201d said Colonel Francis B. Pera, Baltimore District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.\n\nSenator Van Hollen, along with then-Senator Ben Cardin, also helped secure $11.1 million in federal funding for the last replenishment in 2022 through the Fiscal Year 2021 USACE Work Plan.", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-alsobrooks-celebrates-office-opening-visits-health-center-meets-with-seniors-and-more-in-western-maryland/", "SENATOR ALSOBROOKS CELEBRATES OFFICE OPENING, VISITS HEALTH CENTER, MEETS WITH SENIORS, AND MORE IN WESTERN MARYLAND", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "August 20, 2026\n\nWESTERN MARYLAND \u2013 On Wednesday, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) was in Western Maryland to celebrate her new office opening in Frederick, meet with local leaders, visit Mountain Laurel Medical Center, meet with seniors, and host a housing discussion.\n\nAt the office opening celebration, Senator Alsobrooks was joined by State Senator Karen Lewis Young, Delegate Ken Kerr, Delegate Karen Simpson, Delegate Kris Fair, County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, County Council Vice President Kavont\u00e9 Duckett, County Councilman Jerry Donald, County Councilwoman M.C. Keegan-Ayer, City of Frederick Mayor Michael O\u2019Connor, City Councilman Peter Brehm, City Councilman Derek Shackelford, City Councilwoman Sarah Hempel Irani, Former City Councilwoman Kelly Russell, Former County Executive Jan Gardner, Myersville Councilman Wayne Creadick, Jr., and dozens of constituents from Western Maryland.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks then stopped for lunch in Hagerstown with Hagerstown Mayor Bill McIntire, Councilwoman Caroline Anderson, City Administrator Scott Nicewarner, and Councilwoman Erika Bell.\n\nNext, Senator Alsobrooks traveled to Grantsville to visit the Federally Qualified Health Center, Mountain Laurel Medical Center. Senator Alsobrooks met with medical staff and learned about the center\u2019s offerings, made possible in part by federal funding through the Appalachian Regional Commission.\n\nAt Mountain Laurel Medical Center, Senator Alsobrooks was joined by Grantsville Mayor Emily Newman-Edwards, Mountain Laurel Medical Center CEO Michelle Dixon and the Mountain Laurel Medical Center staff.\n\nThen, the Senator spent the evening in Mountain Lake Park. First, she met with Garrett County Community Action Committee leadership, including Executive Director Chris Mullett, to discuss workforce housing and housing needs in the region. Afterwards, she met with seniors for a conversation about rising costs.\n\n\u201cWhat I\u2019ve seen and heard as I\u2019ve gone around the state \u2013 and heard today in Western and Mountain Maryland \u2013 is that residents everywhere want the same things. We all want affordable health care, the ability to buy a home, groceries we can actually afford, gas that isn\u2019t skyrocketing out of control every single day, and the opportunity to actually create generational wealth. And while we\u2019re currently dealing with an administration that doesn\u2019t care about solving these issues, my focus since day one has been to deliver access to affordable health care, to fight this affordability crisis clouding the nation, and to create opportunities for all Marylanders to thrive,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-merkley-colleagues-in-calling-on-watchdog-to-probe-tax-subsidies-for-lng-exporters", "Van Hollen Joins Merkley, Colleagues in Calling on Watchdog to Probe Tax Subsidies for LNG Exporters", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chirs Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) in urging the Acting Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to launch an investigation into the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) providing tax breaks for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters and determine whether the IRS\u2019 decision was intended to reward President Trump\u2019s political donors.\n\nThe Senators stressed that providing LNG tankers with Alternative Fuel Excise Tax (AFET) credits would favor fossil fuel companies \u2013 at an unfair cost to the average taxpayer \u2013 and do nothing to protect our environment, reduce costs for working families, or lessen America\u2019s reliance on fossil fuels.\n\n\u201cDespite these facts, news reports and public financial filings suggest the IRS has allowed taxpayers to claim the AFET credit for fuel used on LNG tankers, without publishing any updated guidance. Therefore, we request TIGTA investigate whether the IRS has made a determination that fuel used on LNG tankers is eligible for the AFET credit, and, if so, how the IRS made this determination and what guidance, if any, was provided to taxpayers,\u201d wrote the Senators in a letter to the TIGTA.\n\nThey emphasized, \u201cWe would further urge the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to investigate the extent to which Secretary Bessent was involved in any decision to make LNG tankers eligible for the AFET, who Secretary Bessent may have discussed this issue with at the IRS, whether Secretary Bessent communicated with any impacted party about LNG tankers being motorboats under the AFET, and to what extent Secretary Bessent or his staff communicated with anyone in the White House, including President Trump, about a request for AFET credits for LNG tankers.\u201d\n\nPreviously, Van Hollen, Merkley, and their colleagues pressed the IRS on its decision to give Cheniere Energy \u2013 the largest LNG exporter in the United States \u2013 a questionable $370 million tax break for using LNG as \u201calternative\u201d fuel.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Acting Inspector General Hill,\n\nWe are writing to request you open an investigation into reports the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has improperly determined that companies using liquefied natural gas (LNG) for propelling LNG tankers qualify for credits under the Alternative Fuel Excise Tax (AFET) and whether the determination was intended to reward the President\u2019s campaign contributors.\n\nProviding LNG tankers with AFET credits would unnecessarily waste taxpayer money while doing nothing to protect the environment, reduce costs for everyday Americans, or lessen the United States\u2019 dependence on oil. The AFET credit was created to decrease oil dependence by subsidizing the use of alternative fuels. The AFET credit provided 50 cents for every gallon equivalent of a nonliquid alternative fuel sold for use in a motorboat used by the taxpayer for the same purpose. While the tax code does not define \u201cmotorboats,\u201d federal shipping regulations have defined \u201cmotorboats\u201d as ships no more than 65 feet long since 1965. It is safe to assume that in drafting the AFET credit, Congress understood motorboat to retain the meaning that had been in federal regulations for almost 50 years.\n\nLNG Tankers are typically 1,000 feet or more in length. The more appropriate descriptor for an LNG tanker is the term \u201cvessel,\u201d which Congress explicitly defined in section 4221 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) as ships employed in fishing, whaling, foreign trade, or war. Vessels already receive special tax free treatment for using alternative fuels if they are \u201cengaged in foreign trade or trade between the Atlantic and Pacific ports of the United States or between the United States and any of its possessions.\u201d Vessels, as defined in the IRC, are not referenced in the AFET credit, implying that Congress did not intend for these ships to qualify for this tax credit.\n\nThe AFET credit was intended to encourage new and expanded use of alternative fuels but allowing taxpayers to claim the AFET for LNG tankers would allow companies to claim a tax credit for an activity they would have done regardless, on vessels that seemingly should not have qualified. Many LNG tankers are designed to operate by burning their own cargo, as LNG in tankers is continuously evaporating, and the gas must be removed, or \u201cboiled-off,\u201d from the tanks in order to maintain safe tank pressure. The boiled-off gas is often used to fuel the tanker; if it were not removed, the gas would have to be flared or vented into the atmosphere or reliquefied back into LNG. Tankers burn this gas for propulsion because it allows for the utilization of a valuable resource that would be otherwise wasted and potentially hazardous.\n\nDespite these facts, news reports and public financial filings suggest the IRS has allowed taxpayers to claim the AFET credit for fuel used on LNG tankers, without publishing any updated guidance. Therefore, we request TIGTA investigate whether the IRS has made a determination that fuel used on LNG tankers is eligible for the AFET credit, and, if so, how the IRS made this determination and what guidance, if any, was provided to taxpayers.\n\nWe would further urge the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to investigate the extent to which Secretary Bessent was involved in any decision to make LNG tankers eligible for the AFET, who Secretary Bessent may have discussed this issue with at the IRS, whether Secretary Bessent communicated with any impacted party about LNG tankers being motorboats under the AFET, and to what extent Secretary Bessent or his staff communicated with anyone in the White House, including President Trump, about a request for AFET credits for LNG tankers.\n\nThe IRS is designed to operate impartially to ensure that all taxpayers pay their fair share. We urge you to thoroughly investigate this matter.", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-rosen-colleagues-in-demanding-answers-from-trump-administration-about-ice-conduct-tsa-cooperation-in-airports", "Van Hollen Joins Rosen, Colleagues in Demanding Answers from Trump Administration About ICE Conduct, TSA Cooperation in Airports", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and their Senate colleagues in demanding answers from Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director David Venturella, and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David Cummins about recent ICE actions at airports. Senators Van Hollen and Rosen were joined by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). This letter comes after a string of incidents nationwide, in which ICE agents \u2013 with cooperation from TSA \u2013 have acted with impunity, at times targeting people at airports.\n\n\u201cWe write to express concerns regarding recent immigration enforcement actions at airports across the nation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the apparent assistance and support of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA),\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cSuch actions create fear in our communities and cause disruption and distress to the traveling public.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, recent reporting by the New York Times indicates that troubling events like these are occurring frequently across the nation at America\u2019s Airports. Such actions only served to disrupt local communities, create fear among immigrant families, and undermine the travel and tourism sector at a time when it is trying to rebound from a 5.5% decline in international tourism in 2025 that occurred due to President Trump\u2019s misguided tariff, immigration, and foreign policies,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cWith all this in mind, we request your response to several questions regarding the operating relationship between ICE and TSA and the type of information that is being shared between the agencies.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Mullin, Administrator Cummins, and Acting Director Venturella:\n\nWe write to express our serious concerns regarding recent immigration enforcement actions at airports across the nation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the apparent assistance and support of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Such actions create fear in our communities and cause disruption and distress to the traveling public. It is further alarming to read recent reports that ICE and TSA have a formal agreement to share passenger information with each other, which could be used in immigration enforcement at airports. We therefore request that you provide Congress and the American people details about any information sharing agreements that are in place between ICE and TSA and ask the Department of Homeland Security and its component agencies, ICE and TSA, to let us know what concrete steps you are taking to ensure all immigration enforcement agents conducting operations at airports operate solely based on active judicial warrants, wear and utilize body cameras, wear and display clear identifying information, and refrain from wearing masks, which shield ICE from accountability for abuses and instill fear in travelers.\n\nJust a few weeks ago, masked and plain-clothed ICE officers attempted to violently arrest an elderly man at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS), without any identification, before running off following public intervention. Even more recently, ICE arrested a pregnant woman at the same airport, separating her from her fianc\u00e9. News reports indicate similar enforcement operations are taking place at Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), Denver International Airport (DEN), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) as well. Additionally, the recent detention of several Marylanders, including a medical researcher and former Fulbright scholar and a pharmacy professor, both asylum-seekers traveling domestically with lawful documentation, raises serious concerns that ICE\u2019s expanded presence at airports is subjecting law-abiding individuals to detention.\n\nUnfortunately, recent reporting by the New York Times indicates that troubling events like these are occurring frequently across the nation at America\u2019s airports. Such actions have only served to disrupt local communities, create fear among immigrant families, and undermine the travel and tourism sector by actively discouraging travelers from visiting the United States. They hurt our nation\u2019s travel and tourism industry at a time when it is trying to rebound from a 5.5% decline in international tourism in 2025 that occurred due to President Trump\u2019s misguided tariff, immigration, and foreign policies. Additionally, these actions are increasingly targeting individuals who have expired visas, even though many such individuals often have a legitimate pending application for a visa extension or renewal with USCIS. With a backlog of nearly 12 million visa applications at USCIS, visa processing delays are impacting the ability for USCIS to process a variety of visas, employment authorization documents (EAD) applications, and renewals in a timely manner, meaning that a person can have an expired visa with a legitimate pending application yet still be detained by ICE at an airport due to visa processing delays that are out of their control.\n\nNews reports also indicate that according to a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) recently obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, ICE and TSA have a formal framework to coordinate the sharing, storage, and management of passengers\u2019 sensitive information. This is particularly concerning because Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill claimed during congressional testimony she gave in January 2026 that TSA does not send information to ICE; however, the MOA appears to directly contradict that statement. Of similar concern, when just last month then TSA Administrator nominee David Cummins was asked about the conduct of ICE agents at America\u2019s airports in questions for his nomination hearing, he did not even attempt to answer how he would or would not work with ICE if confirmed to the role.\n\nWith all this in mind, we request your response to several questions regarding the operating relationship between ICE and TSA and the type of information that is being shared between the agencies. We look forward to a prompt response to this inquiry.\n\nIs there an official process in place to ensure that local airports are aware of an impending immigration enforcement operation?\n\nDoes the information-sharing agreement between ICE and TSA require ICE to provide proof that the individuals they are requesting information about have active warrants for their arrest? Does this information-sharing agreement distinguish between judicial and administrative warrants, and is such a warrant a requirement for TSA to cooperate with ICE in enforcement actions at airports? If this information is sensitive, then we ask for a member or staff level briefing to receive this information in a classified or secure setting.\n\nAccording to the MOA, TSA shares data with ICE that ICE then stores in its own repository. What specific data is shared between the two agencies? What criteria is being used, either with or without this data, to determine when to conduct an immigration enforcement operation at an airport?\n\nReporting indicates TSA shared information on more than 31,000 travelers, leading to more than 800 immigration-related arrests. Please provide a breakdown of what information caused the 800 individuals to be arrested, and how many people were detained for an expired visa that had an application pending with USCIS, including information on how many of these arrests led to a deportation? Additionally, if a warrant was issued for those arrested, please also provide a breakdown of how many arrests were based on ICE having a judicial versus administrative warrant.\n\nWhat safeguards are in place to protect passenger privacy and ensure that the individuals being targeted in enforcement operations at airports are dangerous or violent criminals and not merely immigrants who have followed the law and have had a temporary lapse in status solely due to USCIS processing delays?\n\nDoes TSA have any policy regarding how law enforcement agencies such as ICE are to identify themselves when they are in an airport or when they are attempting to take an enforcement action in an airport?\n\nDo DHS, ICE, or TSA factor in the impact on domestic and international travel that enforcement operations could have when planning their execution? Have DHS, ICE, TSA, or any other agency or official in this administration been in contact with travel and tourism industry leaders and experts to ensure that such actions do not negatively harm our travel and tourism industry?\n\nWe look forward to your prompt response to these questions. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-warnock-warren-colleagues-in-pushing-federal-reserve-chair-to-include-labor-in-new-federal-reserve-ai-task-force", "Van Hollen Joins Warnock, Warren, Colleagues, in Pushing Federal Reserve Chair to Include Labor in New Federal Reserve AI Task Force", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Senators Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), in demanding that Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh include worker perspectives as the Fed assesses the implications of new technologies for the American workers whose jobs may be displaced by artificial intelligence (AI).\n\n\u201cAI\u2019s potential to reshape work is significant, and the stakes for workers are high: even a partial shift in how tasks are automated could affect millions of jobs across the economy, and workers have the necessary first-hand accounting of how AI is currently reshaping day-to-day tasks,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cA task force asked to assess AI\u2019s real economic impact on the labor force and the Fed\u2019s mandate to promote maximum employment cannot do so accurately while excluding the very people best positioned to describe how that impact is unfolding: American workers.\u201d\n\nThe letter comes after Chairman Warsh launched the Federal Reserve\u2019s Task Force on Productivity and Jobs last month to evaluate how AI and other emerging technologies could affect the economy and the labor market. Yet, in an alarming conflict of interest, all three advisors selected to advise the Fed on AI have financial ties to the industry.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Chair Warsh:\n\nWe write to request that you ensure that the Federal Reserve\u2019s (\u201cthe Fed\u201d) newly-announced Task Force on Productivity and Jobs includes the perspective of individuals who represents the interests of workers. Congress gave the Fed a dual mandate that includes promoting maximum employment, and Artificial Intelligence\u2019s (AI) potential to disrupt the labor market bears directly on the Fed\u2019s ability to fulfill that mandate. We welcome the Fed evaluating AI\u2019s effects on productivity and jobs, but it is important that the Fed search outside of industry when appointing alternative, diverse viewpoints for this new task force.\n\nOn June 17, 2026, you announced the creation of five task forces to \u201cadvance the conduct of monetary policy.\u201d The task forces have been directed to \u201cfollow the evidence, provide candid feedback, and produce rigorous findings for the Federal Open Market Committee\u201d (FOMC). This included a Task Force on Productivity and Jobs, which is tasked with \u201cassess[ing] the economic impact of new general-purpose technologies, including artificial intelligence, to inform the Federal Reserve\u2019s policy judgments.\u201d The Fed explained that the task forces would be \u201cco-led by external advisers . . . with deep expertise in their fields\u201d and \u201csupported by Federal Reserve Staff.\u201d\n\nOn July 9, 2026, the Fed announced the three individuals who would lead the Task Force on Productivity and Jobs: Marc Andreessen, cofounder and general partner of Andreessen Horowitz; Charles Jones, a researcher at the Anthropic Institute; and Asha Sharma, executive vice president at Microsoft and Xbox CEO. All three have direct financial ties to the AI industry.\n\nThese potential conflicts were raised directly at your press conference on July 29, 2026, where you defended your selection process by explaining that your approach to building each task force was to find \u201cthe best subject matter experts anywhere in the world and put them together,\u201d particularly with people who \u201cmight disagree with them.\u201d You added that this design was meant to ensure each panel could have its own \u201cfamily fight\u201d of divergent views. By your standard, however, a task force whose members are all financially tied to the AI industry cannot produce the genuine \u201cdivergence of views\u201d that you say you support.\n\nMultiple members on the Senate Banking Committee, including Senators Warnock and Smith, raised these questions during your hearing before the Committee on July 15, 2026. Senator Warnock asked you, \u201cYes or no, will the Fed include anyone on this task force with an alternative viewpoint on AI? For example, anyone who represents the workers whose lives may be upended by increased adoption of AI tools and technology?\u201d You replied that a task force member is an academic, yet this member (Professor Charles Jones) is currently on leave at Anthropic.\n\nWe\u2019re glad the Fed is assessing the economic effects of AI, among other emerging technologies, and we generally support your assertion that the Fed must have a \u201cdivergence of views,\u201d while undertaking this assessment, including but not limited to perspectives from industry.\n\nWe strongly believe, however, having more viewpoints represented will produce stronger conclusions and support the FOMC in improved policymaking. Additional viewpoints on AI will help better inform the FOMC as key monetary policy decisions are made in order to fulfil the Fed\u2019s dual-mandate. AI\u2019s potential to reshape work is significant, and the stakes for workers are high: even a partial shift in how tasks are automated could affect millions of jobs across the economy, and workers have the necessary first-hand accounting of how AI is currently reshaping day-to-day tasks. A task force asked to assess AI\u2019s real economic impact on the labor force and the Fed\u2019s mandate to promote maximum employment cannot do so accurately while excluding the very people best positioned to describe how that impact is unfolding: American workers.\n\nAI has the potential to greatly improve American\u2019s lives. It also has the potential to disrupt the labor market across sectors all at once. While reviewing AI\u2019s impact on employment and inflation, the Fed cannot leave out workers and only hear from the people who stand to benefit the most financially from the continued deployment of AI. We therefore urge you to add individuals with no financial ties to the artificial AI industry and who represent the perspective of workers to this task force before it begins issuing recommendations to the Fed.\n\nWe look forward to continued engagement on this issue.", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-colleagues-press-for-transparency-on-unprecedented-exchanges-between-federal-reserve-chair-warsh-president-trump", "Van Hollen, Colleagues Press for Transparency on Unprecedented Exchanges Between Federal Reserve Chair Warsh, President Trump", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), called on Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh to publicly disclose his conversations with President Donald Trump, pushing Warsh to demonstrate the Federal Reserve\u2019s independence from the White House after he repeatedly declined to clarify his contacts with the President.\n\nThe Senators begin, \u201cWe write to ask for public disclosure of your conversations with President Trump. Recent press reports indicate that you have spoken with the President \u201crepeatedly\u201d since your confirmation in May. It is critical that the Fed be transparent about these discussions to demonstrate its independence from the White House, a norm that you have said you intend to uphold. Instead, you have declined on multiple occasions to confirm your conversations with President Trump, raising sincere doubts about the independent conduct of monetary policy and your transparency with the public.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the leader of an independent agency, the Fed must be forthcoming about your conversations with the President, as your predecessors have recognized. Undisclosed, frequent conversations with the President, whose family business remains very active, can create a perception that the White House is shaping monetary policy. To dispel these doubts, previous Chairs have issued statements about meetings with the President and shown meetings or calls with the President on their publicly released calendars,\u201d the Senators continue.\n\nThe Senators highlighted the unprecedented lack of transparency,noting \u201cBut if the reporting is accurate, you seem to have attempted to conceal your calls with the President. In your first press conference as Chair, you avoided a straightforward question about whether you and President Trump had spoken since your swearing-in. You likewise declined to acknowledge your conversations with the President at a Senate hearing in July. And the appointment calendars you have released to date do not show any calls with President Trump, even though they have reportedly taken place. Your lack of transparency about contacts with the President is even more curious because you have disclosed meetings with top White House economic officials on your calendar, including separate meetings with the Chair and the General Counsel of the President\u2019s Council of Economic Advisers.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo clarify your interactions with President Trump, please either confirm to us in writing that you have had no contacts with the President since being sworn in, or amend your publicly released calendars to disclose any such contacts. We also request a public read-out of any conversations with the President. Finally, if the reporting is accurate, please explain why you have been reticent to admit or describe your conversations with the President. Please provide this information as part of the next monthly disclosure of your calendar,\u201d the Senators conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Chairman Warsh:\n\nWe write to ask for public disclosure of your conversations with President Trump. Recent press reports indicate that you have spoken with the President \u201crepeatedly\u201d since your confirmation in May. It is critical that the Fed be transparent about these discussions to demonstrate its independence from the White House, a norm that you have said you intend to uphold. Instead, you have declined on multiple occasions to confirm your conversations with President Trump, raising sincere doubts about the independent conduct of monetary policy and your transparency with the public.\n\nWhile the contours of your discussions are not clear, they have apparently touched on a range of subjects relevant to the economy and financial markets, including the economic implications of the war in Iran and artificial intelligence. You have also reportedly offered the President your perspective on the economy. These conversations occurred at the same time as you have cut back on the Fed\u2019s transparency with the public about its approach to monetary policy.\n\nAs the leader of an independent agency, the Fed must be forthcoming about your conversations with the President, as your predecessors have recognized. Undisclosed, frequent conversations with the President, whose family business remains very active, can create a perception that the White House is shaping monetary policy. To dispel these doubts, previous Chairs have issued statements about meetings with the President and shown meetings or calls with the President on their publicly released calendars.\n\nBut if the reporting is accurate, you seem to have attempted to conceal your calls with the President. In your first press conference as Chair, you avoided a straightforward question about whether you and President Trump had spoken since your swearing-in. You likewise declined to acknowledge your conversations with the President at a Senate hearing in July. And the appointment calendars you have released to date do not show any calls with President Trump, even though they have reportedly taken place. Your lack of transparency about contacts with the President is even more curious because you have disclosed meetings with top White House economic officials on your calendar, including separate meetings with the Chair and the General Counsel of the President\u2019s Council of Economic Advisers.\n\nEffective conduct of monetary policy depends on transparency, accountability, and integrity from the Chair, all of which are undermined by secret conversations with the President. While periodic communications with the President and Administration about the state of the economy are not objectionable in and of themselves, the repeated, free-flowing conversations described in the reporting are unprecedented in the modern era. If true, they raise serious questions about the Fed\u2019s relationship with the White House.\n\nTo clarify your interactions with President Trump, please either confirm to us in writing that you have had no contacts with the President since being sworn in, or amend your publicly released calendars to disclose any such contacts. We also request a public read-out of any conversations with the President. Finally, if the reporting is accurate, please explain why you have been reticent to admit or describe your conversations with the President. Please provide this information as part of the next monthly disclosure of your calendar.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/08/20/2026/van-hollen-colleagues-press-for-transparency-on-unprecedented-exchanges-between-federal-reserve-chair-warsh-president-trump", "Van Hollen, Colleagues Press for Transparency on Unprecedented Exchanges Between Federal Reserve Chair Warsh, President Trump", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), called on Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh to publicly disclose his conversations with President Donald Trump, pushing Warsh to demonstrate the Federal Reserve\u2019s independence from the White House after he repeatedly declined to clarify his contacts with the President.\n\nThe Senators begin, \u201cWe write to ask for public disclosure of your conversations with President Trump. Recent press reports indicate that you have spoken with the President \u201crepeatedly\u201d since your confirmation in May. It is critical that the Fed be transparent about these discussions to demonstrate its independence from the White House, a norm that you have said you intend to uphold. Instead, you have declined on multiple occasions to confirm your conversations with President Trump, raising sincere doubts about the independent conduct of monetary policy and your transparency with the public.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the leader of an independent agency, the Fed must be forthcoming about your conversations with the President, as your predecessors have recognized. Undisclosed, frequent conversations with the President, whose family business remains very active, can create a perception that the White House is shaping monetary policy. To dispel these doubts, previous Chairs have issued statements about meetings with the President and shown meetings or calls with the President on their publicly released calendars,\u201d the Senators continue.\n\nThe Senators highlighted the unprecedented lack of transparency,noting \u201cBut if the reporting is accurate, you seem to have attempted to conceal your calls with the President. In your first press conference as Chair, you avoided a straightforward question about whether you and President Trump had spoken since your swearing-in. You likewise declined to acknowledge your conversations with the President at a Senate hearing in July. And the appointment calendars you have released to date do not show any calls with President Trump, even though they have reportedly taken place. Your lack of transparency about contacts with the President is even more curious because you have disclosed meetings with top White House economic officials on your calendar, including separate meetings with the Chair and the General Counsel of the President\u2019s Council of Economic Advisers.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo clarify your interactions with President Trump, please either confirm to us in writing that you have had no contacts with the President since being sworn in, or amend your publicly released calendars to disclose any such contacts. We also request a public read-out of any conversations with the President. Finally, if the reporting is accurate, please explain why you have been reticent to admit or describe your conversations with the President. Please provide this information as part of the next monthly disclosure of your calendar,\u201d the Senators conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Chairman Warsh:\n\nWe write to ask for public disclosure of your conversations with President Trump. Recent press reports indicate that you have spoken with the President \u201crepeatedly\u201d since your confirmation in May. It is critical that the Fed be transparent about these discussions to demonstrate its independence from the White House, a norm that you have said you intend to uphold. Instead, you have declined on multiple occasions to confirm your conversations with President Trump, raising sincere doubts about the independent conduct of monetary policy and your transparency with the public.\n\nWhile the contours of your discussions are not clear, they have apparently touched on a range of subjects relevant to the economy and financial markets, including the economic implications of the war in Iran and artificial intelligence. You have also reportedly offered the President your perspective on the economy. These conversations occurred at the same time as you have cut back on the Fed\u2019s transparency with the public about its approach to monetary policy.\n\nAs the leader of an independent agency, the Fed must be forthcoming about your conversations with the President, as your predecessors have recognized. Undisclosed, frequent conversations with the President, whose family business remains very active, can create a perception that the White House is shaping monetary policy. To dispel these doubts, previous Chairs have issued statements about meetings with the President and shown meetings or calls with the President on their publicly released calendars.\n\nBut if the reporting is accurate, you seem to have attempted to conceal your calls with the President. In your first press conference as Chair, you avoided a straightforward question about whether you and President Trump had spoken since your swearing-in. You likewise declined to acknowledge your conversations with the President at a Senate hearing in July. And the appointment calendars you have released to date do not show any calls with President Trump, even though they have reportedly taken place. Your lack of transparency about contacts with the President is even more curious because you have disclosed meetings with top White House economic officials on your calendar, including separate meetings with the Chair and the General Counsel of the President\u2019s Council of Economic Advisers.\n\nEffective conduct of monetary policy depends on transparency, accountability, and integrity from the Chair, all of which are undermined by secret conversations with the President. While periodic communications with the President and Administration about the state of the economy are not objectionable in and of themselves, the repeated, free-flowing conversations described in the reporting are unprecedented in the modern era. If true, they raise serious questions about the Fed\u2019s relationship with the White House.\n\nTo clarify your interactions with President Trump, please either confirm to us in writing that you have had no contacts with the President since being sworn in, or amend your publicly released calendars to disclose any such contacts. We also request a public read-out of any conversations with the President. Finally, if the reporting is accurate, please explain why you have been reticent to admit or describe your conversations with the President. Please provide this information as part of the next monthly disclosure of your calendar.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter.", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-blumenthal-wyden-and-himes-in-introducing-bicameral-bill-protecting-domestic-violence-survivors-from-gun-violence", "Van Hollen Joins Blumenthal, Wyden, and Himes in Introducing Bicameral Bill Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors from Gun Violence", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-Conn.) in introducing the Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act, legislation to close a dangerous loophole that allows domestic abusers to legally obtain weapons. The Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act restricts those under temporary restraining orders from purchasing or possessing a firearm and extends protections to domestic violence survivors who have been abused by their dating partners.\n\nThe bill is named in memory of Lori Jackson, a Connecticut mother who was tragically shot and killed by her estranged husband who had legally obtained a handgun even though he was subject to a temporary restraining order, and Nicolette Elias, a Connecticut mother who, despite securing restraining orders and temporary stalking orders against her estranged and abusive ex-husband, was murdered by her former spouse in front of their children with a handgun that he refused to relinquish.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).\n\nThe legislation is supported by a number of organizations, including Brady, Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, GIFFORDS, Newtown Action Alliance, Everytown, Jewish Women International, March for Our Lives, National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence.", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-secure-14-million-in-federal-funding-for-berlins-community-center-at-historic-flower-street-school-site", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Secure $1.4 Million in Federal Funding for Berlin\u2019s Community Center at Historic Flower Street School Site", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "On Thursday, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) visited the location of the historic Flower Street School in Berlin to highlight the $1.4 million federal investment that he, along with Senator Angela Alsobrooks, secured in Congress to help transform the site into a new community center. The future building will house the SHORE UP! Head Start Center, Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services summer camp and after-school programs, computer labs, recreational spaces, and a museum honoring the history of the Flower Street School and the neighborhood.\n\n\u201cFor the Town of Berlin, this new community center will be a place for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together. With federal funding we fought to secure, Berlin will transform the site of the historic Flower Street School into a hub with educational and recreational services for residents. This initiative will honor the Town\u2019s history while creating new opportunities and building a better future for the community,\u201d said Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.\n\n\u201cOur communities need spaces where people can go to learn, socialize, and better their community. The Community Center on Flower Street in Berlin will soon become a space of fellowship, friendship, history, and advocacy where children and seniors alike can grow. I am proud that the funding Senator Van Hollen and I worked to secure will launch this terrific project,\u201d said Senator Angela Alsobrooks.", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-statement-on-states-victory-in-lawsuit-to-restore-greenbelt-fbi-headquarters", "Maryland Delegation Members\u2019 Statement on State\u2019s Victory in Lawsuit to Restore Greenbelt FBI Headquarters", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Representatives Steny Hoyer, Glenn Ivey, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Sarah Elfreth, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.), released the following statement regarding the State of Maryland\u2019s victory in its lawsuit to restore the FBI headquarters project to Greenbelt, Maryland:\n\n\u201cFor years, Team Maryland has fought to bring the men and women of the FBI a headquarters that meets their mission and their needs. After a years-long, competitive, and transparent process, Greenbelt, Maryland, was selected as the site for that new headquarters, based on its merits \u2013 including its ability to provide a secure space for the Bureau while ensuring the cost-effective use of taxpayer dollars. The Trump Administration had no grounds to ignore this selection, or redirect even one penny that Congress specifically appropriated for construction of the competitively selected site. We\u2019re glad to see the Court acknowledge this fact, ruling that the Trump Administration\u2019s actions are unlawful and void. This is an important step forward for the rule of law. This process began in 2009, and it\u2019s past time it was concluded. Hopefully, the Trump Administration will agree with the conclusion that the Congress, the General Services Administration, and the District Court have all found, which is that Greenbelt is the proper home of the FBI. We will not stop fighting to fulfill our promise to the men and women of the Bureau to deliver a new, secure headquarters in Maryland so they can do their work without compromising their safety or our national security.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-approval-of-trump-crypto-company-bank-application-van-hollen-warren-colleagues-introduce-the-ending-presidential-corruption-in-banking-act", "Following Approval of Trump Crypto Company Bank Application, Van Hollen, Warren, Colleagues Introduce the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act", "2026-08-15", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Immediately following the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's (OCC) approval of the Trump crypto company bank charter, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) in introducing the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act. The bill would ensure that no President, Vice President, their immediate families, or other senior government officials can exploit their positions to own or control a bank, which could serve as a major vehicle for corrupt dealings.\n\nOn January 5, 2026, the Trump Family crypto company World Liberty Financial (WLF) applied to the OCC for a national bank charter. President Trump, through EO 14215, had previously asserted control of the OCC.\n\n\u201cOur banking regulators should work to protect consumers and the integrity of our financial system, not enrich their bosses. President Trump and his family have raked in billions of dollars through corrupt deals and are now attempting to get the President\u2019s own administration to approve a bank for his family\u2019s crypto business. It is critical that Congress stand up against this corruption and protect consumers, safeguard our financial system, and prevent politicians from abusing these assets for their own personal gain,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump is now the first President in history to approve, operate, and supervise his own bank,\u201d said Ranking Member Warren. \u201cThis is the most brazen act of self-dealing our financial system has ever seen \u2014 and Congress cannot allow it to stand. The Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act will close the door on this kind of unprecedented corruption.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis President's corruption knows no bounds. For the first time in our history, a President is now chartering and overseeing his own bank\u2014injecting risk into our financial system and fueling the Trump family\u2019s business endeavors. It is Congress' responsibility and duty now to rein in this corruption and ensure that bank charters, deposit insurance, and other banking licenses cannot be handed out to entities influenced or controlled by any President\u2019s family,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump has systematically weakened oversight of the crypto industry while his family has raked in billions through their numerous crypto schemes,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cNow, Trump\u2019s hand-picked regulators at the Treasury Department have granted World Liberty Financial a banking charter. This latest act of self-dealing puts our banking system in danger by legitimizing a company that has proven to be unscrupulous. Our measure would strengthen the integrity of our banking system by barring Presidents, their families, and other trusted government officials from controlling their own banks while in office.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile the President and his family accumulate billions of dollars through dubious deals, normal hardworking Americans are struggling just to get by,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThe Trump family appears to be gaming the system to enrich itself at the expense of ordinary taxpayers in ways that could imperil the integrity and soundness of America\u2019s banking system. This bill would clamp down on corruption and restore much needed guardrails.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrump will stop at nothing to use the presidency to enrich himself and those around him. We can\u2019t restore trust in our democracy until we stop these abuses of power. This bill is an important step to building the kind of accountability the American people demand and deserve,\u201d said Senator Kim.\n\n\u201cTrump has proven time and time again his desire to enrich himself while serving as President of the United States. At a time when costs continue to rise and families must make tough financial decisions, this president looks out for himself, not working Americans. This bill makes clear no public officials, including the president, nor their families, should be able to enrich themselves by owning and controlling banks,\u201d said Senator Gallego.\n\nThe Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act would:\n\nProhibit the Federal Reserve Board, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from approving a range of banking applications, including charters, deposit insurance, and master accounts if the applicant is owned or controlled by the President, Vice President, a spouse or child of the President or Vice President, a Member of Congress, a presidentially appointed executive branch official, or a special government employee.\n\nRequire the agencies, no later than 60 days after enactment, to review all banking applications granted after January 20, 2025, and terminate those that were approved while a covered person owned or controlled the applicant.\n\nProhibit the President, Vice President, and a child or spouse of the President or Vice President from owning or controlling a bank.", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-hirono-colleagues-in-raising-alarms-about-increased-naturalization-fees", "Van Hollen Joins Hirono, Colleagues, in Raising Alarms About Increased Naturalization Fees", "2026-08-13", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), a senior member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary who is a Naturalized Citizen, and 10 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in pressing the Trump Administration on their recent proposed rule to increase naturalization fees and remove reduced fee options and fee waivers for those attempting to become citizens. In a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph B. Edlow, the senators raised alarms about how the proposed fee increases would limit citizenship for thousands of immigrants.\n\n\u201cUSCIS\u2019s actions have repeatedly increased the burden of and difficulty in obtaining U.S. citizenship,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cNaturalization is a critical pathway to immigrant integration, civic engagement, and democratic participation, yet your agency\u2019s actions represent a significant departure from these values.\u201d\n\nUnder the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed rule, immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship would face hundreds of dollars of fee increases, up to 80 percent more. Immigrants seeking a hearing on naturalization proceedings would also face an up to 83 percent fee increase. Additionally, the proposed rule eliminates preexisting reduced-fee options and fee waivers, designed to help immigrants achieve citizenship no matter their financial status. In their letter, the senators highlighted how the proposed rule burdens the pathway to citizenship without providing clear guidance about how access will be preserved for immigrants who are unable to meet the increased financial threshold.\n\n\u201cWhile your agency asserts that the increased fees are necessary to recover the full cost of adjudicating naturalization applications and to support enhanced screening and vetting measures, it fails to address the increased fees\u2019 deterrent effect on eligible applicants, particularly those from low-income communities,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nDespite the Trump Administration\u2019s consistent claims that it supports legal immigration, the senators highlighted how the naturalization fee increase will have the opposite effect. In addition to the proposed fees, UCSIS has also increased the difficulty of the civics test required to become citizens and eliminated the Citizenship Integration and Grant Program designed to help immigrants navigate the process.\n\nIn their letter, the senators demanded prompt responses to explain the agency\u2019s methodology when electing to increase naturalization fees, the anticipated impact of these fee increases on lawful permanent residents\u2019 abilities to become naturalized citizens, and the changes in the naturalization process that necessitated the increased fees.\n\nThe letter was also signed by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Director Edlow:\n\nWe write regarding the proposed rule issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on June 23, 2026. That proposed rule would substantially increase naturalization fees and eliminate the reduced-fee option and fee waivers. These changes will place U.S. citizenship out of reach for many low-income lawful permanent residents who are otherwise eligible to naturalize.\n\nUnder the proposed rule, an applicant seeking U.S. citizenship would face fee increases of up to 80 percent and up to an 83 percent increase for a hearing on a decision in naturalization proceedings. The proposed rule would also eliminate both the reduced-fee option and the fee-waiver provision for non-military applicants. While your agency asserts that the increased fees are necessary to recover the full cost of adjudicating naturalization applications and to support enhanced screening and vetting measures, it fails to address the increased fees\u2019 deterrent effect on eligible applicants, particularly those from low-income communities. The proposed rule does not demonstrate that USCIS considered applicants' reliance interests, evaluated reasonable alternatives that would preserve access to naturalization, or adequately justified why naturalization applicants should bear the costs of expanded adjudicatory processes.\n\nUSCIS\u2019s actions have repeatedly increased the burden of and difficulty in obtaining U.S. citizenship. In addition to these proposed fees, your agency increased the difficulty of the civics test that individuals must take to become citizens. You also eliminated the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program that helps immigrants navigate the process. Naturalization is a critical pathway to immigrant integration, civic engagement, and democratic participation, yet your agency\u2019s actions represent a significant departure from these values.\n\nTo fulfill our Congressional oversight responsibilities, we respectfully request that you provide written answers to the following questions by August 25th:\n\nWhat analysis did your agency conduct regarding the impact of moving from an ability-to-pay framework to a strict beneficiary-pays model? Please include any analysis your agency conducted on the broader public benefits of naturalization, the equity implications, and how these factors were weighed in establishing the proposed fees.\n\nWhat analysis did your agency conduct regarding the anticipated impact of the proposed fee increases on low-income communities? Please include any estimates of how many otherwise eligible lawful permanent residents may be unable to apply for naturalization or may delay filing as a result of the fee increases. Please also provide any assessment of the impacts on legal service providers, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders assisting applicants with the naturalization process.\n\nWhat specific pre- and post-approval screening and vetting processes are needed by the agency for naturalization adjudications that necessitated the increased fees? Please also include the following:\n\nThe authority requiring such processes, including whether the additional processing is required by a specific Executive Order, statute, or policy change within the agency;\n\nWhether and how these processes are authorized to be funded through Immigration Examinations Fee Account (IEFA) funds;\n\nThe costs associated with each process;\n\nWhether those costs are directly attributable to individual naturalization adjudications; and\n\nWhat alternatives were considered by the agency before proposing the fee increases.\n\nWhat USCIS personnel responsible for naturalization adjudication and processing have been terminated, reassigned, or otherwise removed since January 2025? Of that number, how many positions have been refilled? Please also detail any reductions in USCIS funding or resources related to application processing, backlog reduction, or naturalization adjudications since January 2025.\n\nWe should not price citizenship outside the reach of immigrants; instead, we should explore ways to encourage individuals to fulfill the American Dream. If you have any questions, please reach out to my staff.", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-blumenthal-baldwin-colleagues-in-demanding-hhs-rescind-cancellation-of-lifesaving-research-grants-that-improve-patient-safety-and-care", "Van Hollen Joins Blumenthal, Baldwin Colleagues in Demanding HHS Rescind Cancellation of Lifesaving Research Grants that Improve Patient Safety & Care", "2026-08-12", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and over 20 of their Democratic colleagues in the Senate in demanding that Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. reverse the Department\u2019s destructive cancelations of lifesaving health research grants administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Congressionally appropriated funding for AHRQ grants benefitted critical research and initiatives to advance effective healthcare delivery, such as training for rural healthcare workers, testing the use of artificial intelligence in hospitals, improving autism screening and services for Black children, and equipping primary care providers with effective chronic pain treatment.\n\nIn a letter sent today to Kennedy, the Senators raised concerns about the impact of HHS\u2019s mass cancelations of these research grants, writing, \u201cThis unprecedented action, which has led to the disruption of nearly 200 different research programs across nearly 30 states, undermines decades of taxpayer investments to improve healthcare delivery, patient safety, and health outcomes for all Americans. We demand that you immediately rescind these cancelations and ensure that the funding Congress appropriates to AHRQ is invested in health research in accordance with the law.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cWe want to be clear: Democrats and Republicans did not work together to appropriate funds for AHRQ as a gentle suggestion for the Department to follow at their discretion or leisure. We provided this money with the explicit instruction that the Department faithfully support life-saving research to improve access and health outcomes for Americans. We did not appropriate these funds so that money could remain unspent while Americans suffer and our healthcare system struggles.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cThe agency\u2019s actions over the last year are an outrageous abuse of administrative power that will leave Americans sicker, poorer, and dying from preventable causes. Each of these canceled grants put real life patients further from the care that they need.\u201d\n\nThe Senators called on Kennedy to immediately restore full funding to research projects affected by the cancelations and ensure AHRQ\u2019s full FY26 appropriations are obligated as required by law: \u201cAt a time when medical errors kill hundreds of thousands of Americans annually, when healthcare costs are crushing family budgets, and when we face unprecedented health challenges, your department has chosen to sabotage the very research designed to solve these problems. This is not leadership\u2014this is sabotage of public health. And it must end, immediately.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American people deserve a healthcare system informed by the best available evidence. They deserve research that makes their care safer, more effective, and more affordable. Congress has provided the resources to support this vital work. It is your responsibility to ensure these resources are used as intended,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nThe letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Kennedy,\n\nWe write to express our profound concern and unequivocal opposition to the recent mass cancelations of lifesaving health research grants administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) as well as the year-long refusal to faithfully execute the Fiscal Year (FY25) and Fiscal Year (FY26) appropriations laws. This unprecedented action, which has led to the disruption of nearly 200 different research programs across nearly 30 states, undermines decades of taxpayer investments to improve healthcare delivery, patient safety, and health outcomes for all Americans. We demand that you immediately rescind these cancelations and ensure that the funding Congress appropriates to AHRQ is invested in health research in accordance with the law.\n\nOn July 15, 2026, approximately 150 AHRQ grantees received a generic form letter notifying them that their grants were canceled, effective immediately. For many, this was the first notice or communication that they have received from AHRQ in nearly a year. The grant cancelation letters cite regulations that require the Agency to consider the grantee's progress and management practices and the availability of funds, yet none of the notices substantively address any of these factors. Instead, these cancelation notices list a series of Agency priorities that do not appear in the subsections cited. Further, many of the grants that were canceled were explicitly investigating the topics that AHRQ has described as a priority. The cancelation letters, which were sent to a broad range of grantees, use the exact same language, which is evidence that the agency is categorically denying grants without making individual grant determinations.\n\nA small sample of the research programs that were just devastated include:\n\nWork in Connecticut on training rural healthcare workers to better respond to maternal medical emergencies;\n\nResearch in New York on how to improve healthcare delivery systems for patients to access home dialysis;\n\nA program in Colorado that reduces risk factors for patient falls in rural hospitals;\n\nWork in Utah to reduce antibiotic overuse at hospital discharge;\n\nResearch in Wisconsin testing the use of artificial intelligence to improve the experience of hospitalized children and their families;\n\nA grant in North Carolina that improved autism screening, diagnosis, and services among Black children;\n\nResearch in Maryland to improve patient safety via telehealth;\n\nWork in Virginia to equip primary care providers with more effective chronic pain treatment to reduce reliance on opioids; and\n\nResearch in Michigan on patient financial burden after a COVID-19 infection.\n\nThis is just a fraction of the important work that has been permanently discontinued, despite years of work and millions of taxpayer dollars that were invested to advance our understanding of effective healthcare delivery.\n\nThis recklessness is not the only crisis facing the Agency. Since October 1, 2025, the Agency has only awarded 5 percent of the funds available for extramural grants. Grantees were left in limbo, without notice or clarification, in some cases for over a year. Programs across the country were forced to layoff staff, discontinue research, shutdown programs, or not pursue new research opportunities at all. In 2025, AHRQ lost 80 percent of its staff, including the vast majority of those working to vet grant applications and work with grantees, so there is no one left to adequately manage the programming mandated by statute.\n\nWe want to be clear: Democrats and Republicans did not work together to appropriate funds for AHRQ as a gentle suggestion for the Department to follow at their discretion or leisure. We provided this money with the explicit instruction that the Department faithfully support life-saving research to improve access and health outcomes for Americans. We did not appropriate these funds so that money could remain unspent while Americans suffer and our healthcare system struggles. AHRQ has saved our country billions of dollars in healthcare costs and improved patient safety. Abandoning this work is antithetical to the mission of the Department.\n\nThe agency\u2019s actions over the last year are an outrageous abuse of administrative power that will leave Americans sicker, poorer, and dying from preventable causes. Each of these canceled grants put real life patients further from the care that they need.\n\nAt a time when medical errors kill hundreds of thousands of Americans annually, when healthcare costs are crushing family budgets, and when we face unprecedented health challenges, your department has chosen to sabotage the very research designed to solve these problems. This is not leadership\u2014this is sabotage of public health. And it must end, immediately.\n\nWe call upon you to take the following immediate actions:\n\nRescind all recent grant cancelations and restore full funding to all affected research projects;\n\nEnsure that AHRQ\u2019s full FY26 appropriation is obligated for health services research as the bipartisan majorities of Congress and President Trump\u2019s signature intended;\n\nProvide a detailed explanation to Congress within one month of receiving this letter regarding the decision-making process that led to these cancelations, including any written criteria, instructions, funding plans, rankings, spreadsheets, analyses, or other documents used to identify or select affected grants;\n\nExplain how the priorities identified in the non-continuation notice were applied to grants that were terminated and explain why grants focused on listed priority research areas were selected for non-continuation;\n\nProvide to Congress a spend plan to ensure that the approximately $200 million remaining in funding for extramural research grants are awarded before October 1, 2026, including any contract arrangements with other federal agencies and a description of how such contracts advance research on health care costs, quality, and outcomes;\n\nProvide to Congress a detailed description of the number of employees at AHRQ that are performing grants-management functions, including issuing awards, processing continuations, and monitoring awards for compliance as of August 6, 2026, September 30, 2025, and January 1, 2025;\n\nProvide a written assurance that such arbitrary cancelations will never happen again.\n\nCountless researchers who have devoted their careers to improving healthcare for all of us have watched years of painstaking work and hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer investments destroyed overnight. The scientific and health pipelines that have been demolished will take decades to build back and may never be recovered.\n\nThe American people deserve a healthcare system informed by the best available evidence. They deserve research that makes their care safer, more effective, and more affordable. Congress has provided the resources to support this vital work. It is your responsibility to ensure these resources are used as intended.\n\nWe look forward to your response no later than August 25, 2026.", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-shaheen-booker-merkley-issue-statement-ahead-of-elections-in-zambia", "Van Hollen, Shaheen, Booker, Merkley, Issue Statement Ahead of Elections in Zambia", "2026-08-12", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the below statement calling for peaceful, fair elections ahead of the August 13th elections in Zambia.\n\n\u201cThe United States values its long-standing partnership with Zambia. Over the last two decades, the United States and Zambia have partnered on peacekeeping, the U.S. President\u2019s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programming and democracy initiatives that have improved global health, stability and social mobility. Although this partnership has been strained by the Trump Administration\u2019s attempts to link lifesaving health assistance with critical minerals access through the Global Health Memorandum of Understanding, close cooperation between our countries remains more important than ever.\n\n\u201cThis is why we are especially concerned by the Zambian ruling party\u2019s attempts to undermine the country\u2019s electoral environment ahead of its August 13th elections. The ruling party\u2019s recent actions are reminiscent of previous elections where political opponents \u2013 including current President Hakainde Hichilema \u2013 were arrested in an effort to silence opposition. President Hakainde Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) appear to be using the same laws that once victimized and imprisoned political figures like Hichilema to propel him to a second term. Laws governing political campaign gatherings are selectively enforced to stifle opposition rallies, and Zambia\u2019s Constitution and electoral framework were hastily reformed without meaningful civil society consultation.\n\n\u201cWe urge all parties and candidates to commit to peaceful elections and to ensure laws are enforced consistently and fairly, regardless of party affiliation. We also call on the Department of State to increase its engagement with Zambian civil society, consistent with its longstanding efforts, to help Zambia and other important international partners uphold democracy and the rule of law before, during and after elections. We commend Zambian advocacy groups working tirelessly to improve election integrity and remain cautiously hopeful that the election on August 13th will provide an opportunity for a free and fair contest.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-marylanders-cant-afford-life-under-president-trump/", "ALSOBROOKS:\u00a0MARYLANDERS\u00a0CAN\u2019T AFFORD LIFE UNDER PRESIDENT\u00a0TRUMP", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "August 11,2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released the following statement after the Joint Economic Committee released a report finding that Marylanders are having to spend over $3,000 more under President Trump.\n\n\u201cGas prices are skyrocketing, groceries are still unaffordable, and millions have been kicked off their health care because of this President\u2019s actions. Marylanders can\u2019t afford life under President Trump.\u201d\n\n$455 more on gas\n\nThe average family in Maryland has spent $455 more on gas since the start of Trump\u2019s Iran War.\n\n$310 more on groceries\n\nAmericans paid $310 more for groceries in President Trump\u2019s first year than in 2024.\n\nGrocery prices are now more than 4% higher than when Trump took office.\n\nSince the President took office, the average price of ground beef has risen almost every month to a record high of more than $7 per pound. Coffee prices also spiked and are now nearly $10 per pound.\n\n$230 more on electricity\n\nFamilies in Maryland paid $230 more for electricity in 2025 under President Trump than they did in 2024.\n\nAnd, in just the first six months of 2026, Maryland families are expected to spend an estimated $266 more for electricity than they did in the first half of 2024.\n\n$666 more on housing\n\nMaryland families have had to spend $666 more on housing costs such as rent and mortgage payments since President Trump took office.\n\n$1,000+ more on health care\n\nMonthly premiums for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans rose over 50% on average in 2026 compared to last year. Meanwhile, deductibles surged to record highs, increasing by more than $1,000 on average because of Republicans\u2019 refusal to extend the ACA tax cuts that help people afford their health insurance.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-12T06:18:38Z", "2026-08-12T06:20:33Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-padilla-colleagues-in-demanding-state-department-process-student-visas-without-delays", "Van Hollen Joins Padilla, Colleagues in Demanding State Department Process Student Visas Without Delays", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and 28 of their Senate colleagues in expressing concern about the unavailability of student and exchange visitor visa appointments in time for the start of the academic year and demanding answers regarding delays in processing of these applications at U.S. embassies and consulates.\n\n\u201cWe urge the State Department to ensure timely processing of F, M, and J student and exchange visitor nonimmigrant visas, consistent with the approach taken by administrations of both parties in the past, and to implement other measures to avoid diminishing U.S. competitiveness,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cSpecifically, we are hearing from constituents and stakeholders that no timely visa appointments are available for students at some embassies and consulates. This only exacerbates uncertainty about whether students\u2019 visas will be processed in time for them to travel to the United States to begin their studies.\u201d\n\nThe Senators highlighted the vital contributions international students make to universities and communities nationwide, including expanding opportunities for American students, generating economic activity, strengthening the U.S. workforce, and building international partnerships.\n\n\u201cInternational students are critical to the success of our universities, including contributing nearly $43 billion annually to local communities and supporting more than 355,000 American jobs during the 2024-2025 academic year. Even though international students make up only six percent of the total higher education population, their enrollment creates opportunities for American students,\u201d continued the Senators. \u201cInternational students also improve our national security by fostering global relationships, cross cultural understanding, and long-lasting diplomatic ties. These benefits are at risk if visa processing delays persist.\u201d\n\nThe Senators urged the State Department to ensure the timely review and processing of student and exchange visitor visas, extend interview waivers for vetted returning student applicants, provide sufficient staffing for visa processing, and improve transparency and engagement with stakeholders. The Senators also requested an explanation within 30 days about the causes of the delays and the measures being implemented to ensure student and exchange visitor visa applications are processed in a timely manner moving forward.\n\nIn addition to Van Hollen and Padilla, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).\n\nThe full text of letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Rubio,\n\nWe write to express our concerns regarding the ongoing unavailability of visa appointments during the peak visa application season for students and scholars seeking to enter the U.S. in time for the start of classes and the academic year. We urge the State Department to ensure timely processing of F, M, and J student and exchange visitor nonimmigrant visas, consistent with the approach taken by administrations of both parties in the past, and to implement other measures to avoid diminishing U.S. competitiveness. Specifically, we are hearing from constituents and stakeholders that no timely visa appointments are available for students at some embassies and consulates. This only exacerbates uncertainty about whether students\u2019 visas will be processed in time for them to travel to the United States to begin their studies.\n\nThese challenges come at a time when major academic institutions need skilled, international talent to begin their semesters. Without a fix, the repercussions will be felt across the academic and skilled-technical talent pipeline.\n\nInternational students are critical to the success of our universities, including contributing nearly $43 billion annually to local communities and supporting more than 355,000 American jobs during the 2024-2025 academic year. Even though international students make up only six percent of the total higher education population, their enrollment creates opportunities for American students. For every additional international undergraduate enrolled at a U.S. public university, two additional in-state freshman students can enroll. Most international students pay out-of-state tuition, injecting vital revenue into our colleges and universities and helping keep costs down for domestic students. International students also improve our national security by fostering global relationships, cross cultural understanding, and long-lasting diplomatic ties. These benefits are at risk if visa processing delays persist.\n\nThe case-by-case nature of availability for access to expedited appointments or National Interest Exception requests is neither efficient nor sustainable. Instead of diverting already limited personnel resources, the State Department should ensure that its consular sections restore priority to interview, adjudicate, and process student visas in time for the upcoming school year.\n\nIn addition to the above, we urge the State Department to extend interview waivers for vetted returning student applicants; ensure adequate staffing for timely visa vetting and processing; and meaningfully engage with stakeholders to promote greater transparency.\n\nInternational students bolster the American workforce, drive innovation, and better position our country to maintain its competitive edge. Therefore, we request a written response answering these questions within 30 days:\n\n1. What resources has the Department devoted to processing the backlogs and streamlining processing of F, J, and M visas?\n\n2. Have consular process priorities changed since the spring and summer of 2025? What visa interview categories are currently prioritized by the Bureau of Consular Affairs and where do student visas fall within that list? Provide the list of visa interview prioritization.\n\n3. What guidance has been sent to embassies and consulates regarding prioritization or deprioritization of student and exchange visitor visa processing? Provide a copy of all guidance regarding the prioritizing or deprioritizing of student and exchange visitor visas since August 2025 until the present day.\n\n4. How are interview slots being allocated at embassies and consulates and where do student and exchange visitor visa appointments fit within that allocation?\n\n5. How often are consular post websites and the main State Department website updated for relevant and current information regarding current U.S. consulate operations including visa appointment availability and approximate processing times?\n\n6. When will you resume publicly posting monthly, accurate visa issuance data by category?\n\n7. Will the Department commit to implementing regular, ongoing outreach and collaboration with stakeholders and relevant agencies about the student and exchange visitor visa process and ensure the timely processing of F, J, and M visas?\n\n8. How do you ensure that embassies and consulates are accurately and timely informed of any regulatory or policy changes regarding student and exchange visitor visas?\n\n9. What are the average processing times for F, M, and J visas at the top five locations processing these visas from September 2025 to date, disaggregated by month?\n\n10. Last year, the Department of State announced new vetting, including online presence vetting, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classification", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-leads-senators-in-introducing-bill-to-end-tariffs-on-back-to-school-supplies/", "ALSOBROOKS LEADS SENATORS IN INTRODUCING BILL TO END TARIFFS ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "August 6, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As reported in The Hill, U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) introduced the Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act, legislation that would exempt school supplies and educational materials from tariffs, helping reduce costs for families, teachers, schools, and local governments.\n\nAccording to Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation, the cost of back-to-school supplies has increased by nearly 11% this year, driven in part by President Trump\u2019s tariffs, including the latest Section 301 tariffs affecting imports from much of the global economy. According to the study, lunch boxes are up nearly 27%, notebooks are up nearly 23%, and nearly every school item, from pens to paper, is higher than it was before the Trump Tariffs.\n\n\u201cFamilies and teachers should be focused on preparing children for a successful school year\u2013not worrying about whether they can afford the supplies students need to learn. As parents and teachers continue to feel the strain of rising costs, this legislation provides targeted relief by eliminating tariffs on essential classroom supplies. Every child deserves the opportunity to start the school year with the tools they need to succeed,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration\u2019s sweeping global tariffs are raising prices for working families across the country, and our students, teachers, and schools are caught right in the middle of it. This legislation will lower back-to-school costs for families and help students start the year with the tools they need to learn and succeed,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cAs school districts across Nevada begin the new school year, parents are being squeezed by the high cost of school supplies thanks to Donald Trump\u2019s reckless tariffs,\u201d said Senator Rosen. \u201cI am proud to help introduce this bill to repeal tariffs on school supplies and provide some financial relief for hardworking families as they prepare our children for another school year. I promise that I will continue fighting in the Senate to lower the cost of living for families all across Nevada.\u201d\n\n\u201cParents have struggled all year with the impact of Trump\u2019s tariffs on everything from gas to groceries, cell phones to furniture, and now they have to deal with eye-watering costs for backpacks, books, lunch boxes, notebooks, and other back-to-school supplies,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cOur children shouldn\u2019t be held back because the tools they need to learn and grow are made unaffordable by Trump\u2019s disastrous tariffs. This bill would make it so parents and children don\u2019t face an unfair tax on back to school.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrump\u2019s tariffs are squeezing families in all directions, and back-to-school season is already stressful enough. This bill helps give them much needed relief on classroom essentials so parents can have some peace of mind while getting their kids ready for the school year,\u201d said Senator Kim.\n\n\u201cBack-to-school season is already expensive enough without tariffs making backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and other essential supplies even more costly,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester, Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Education and the American Family. \u201cThe Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act will help lower costs for families and educators by exempting school supplies from President Trump\u2019s tariffs so students can start the school year ready to learn\u2014not worrying about higher prices.\u201d\n\n\u201cWorking families have already paid a high price under President Trump\u2019s illegal tariffs. They shouldn\u2019t have to pay a tariff tax on their children\u2019s back-to-school supplies,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cThis bill will help make it easier for every child to start the school year with the supplies they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cFamilies shouldn\u2019t have to pay a Trump tariff tax just to send their kids back to school. Senator Alsobrooks\u2019 Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act would help lower the cost of essentials like backpacks, notebooks, and pencils. Third Way is proud to support this commonsense legislation to deliver meaningful cost relief for families, teachers, and schools,\u201d said Zach Moller, Senior Director of the Economic Program, Third Way.\n\n\u201cThis back-to-school season is coming with significant sticker shock. Stocking backpacks and lockers this year will cost nearly 8% more thanks to Trump\u2019s tariffs and war in Iran. As half of parents are forced to cut back on other expenses to make sure their children are prepared to succeed this school year, working families need relief from Trump\u2019s reckless economic agenda,\u201d said Elizabeth Pancotti, Vice President of Policy, Advocacy, and Research, Groundwork Collaborative.\n\nThe Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act would exempt school supplies and educational materials from most tariffs, including the latest Section 301 tariffs raising prices on goods from much of the global economy.\n\nThe legislation directs the Secretaries of Commerce and Education to work together to create a list of tariff-free school supplies, but also specifically exempts:\n\nOffice and school supplies\n\nBackpacks\n\nNotebooks, memorandum pads, and similar paper products\n\nChildren\u2019s picture, drawing, and coloring books\n\nCalendars\n\nComputer keyboards\n\nHairbrushes\n\nPencils, crayons, chalk, and other drawing materials\n\nPens, markers, and related writing instruments\n\nThe bill preserves congressional oversight by allowing Congress to disapprove the designation of specific items for tariff exemptions through a Joint Resolution of Disapproval.\n\nRead full text of the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-on-cnn-our-country-is-in-a-race-to-the-bottom-with-republicans-at-the-helm/", "ALSOBROOKS ON CNN:\u00a0OUR COUNTRY IS IN A RACE TO THE BOTTOM WITH REPUBLICANS AT THE HELM", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined CNN News Central with Kate Bolduan to discuss the unserious witch hunt against Dr. Fauci, this President\u2019s disastrous and costly war, and how Democrats will win back the Senate in the midterm elections.\n\n\u201cThese Republicans have now become the masters of the Jedi mind trick. They prefer for us to focus on Anthony Fauci at a time when Cyclospora is spreading through our communities; it is surging. Where we see measles at the highest rates that we\u2019ve seen in 35 years, where RFK Jr. has lied every single time that I have been in a hearing with him\u2026These Republicans are so unserious,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks during the interview.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-on-cnn-rfk-jr-is-making-americans-sicker-and-poorer/", "ALSOBROOKS ON CNN\u00a0\u2013\u00a0RFK JR.\u00a0IS MAKING AMERICANS SICKER AND POORER", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "August 6, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined The Lead with Jake Tapper on CNN to discuss RFK Jr.\u2019s continued lies and how his actions and rhetoric are endangering American families.\n\n\u201c[RFK Jr.] is presently causing harm to Americans. Where we see Cyclospora. People are asking why they\u2019re in the emergency rooms. Measles [cases] are at the highest rates that we\u2019ve seen in 35 years. The fact that we have canceled important research. And instead of focusing on what is causing harm right this second \u2013 what is making Americans sicker, and by the way, poorer \u2013 they decide instead to do the Jedi mind trick and to focus on Dr. Fauci. So these people are so unserious. This clown show today was disgraceful, and I think Americans are going to be able to see through it,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks during the interview.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-curtis-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-combat-affordable-housing-crisis-strengthen-usps", "Van Hollen, Curtis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Affordable Housing Crisis, Strengthen USPS", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) introduced bipartisan legislation to confront the shortage of affordable housing across the country while simultaneously helping to address funding shortfalls at the United States Postal Service (USPS). Amid record-breaking housing costs, the Senators\u2019 new bill, the Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act, would allow local communities to lease Postal Service property rights for new affordable housing construction. At the same time, this legislation protects against the sale of Postal Service assets, supports the rehabilitation and new construction of Postal facilities, and eases the Postal Service\u2019s critical financial constraints.\n\n\u201cFar too many working Americans are faced with housing costs they simply cannot afford. At the same time, the Postal Service faces financial struggles that, if left unaddressed, will result in USPS running out of money to operate. With this legislation, we\u2019re not only bringing new, affordable homes to communities across the country, we\u2019re also working to shore up the Postal Service so that it can continue serving Americans for generations to come. It\u2019s a win-win,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cUtah desperately needs more housing, and the Postal Service needs new sources of revenue; this commonsense legislation helps accomplish both,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cBy giving USPS the authority to lease underutilized property for housing development, we can put unused land to work, expand the housing supply, and strengthen an institution that millions of Americans rely on every day.\u201d\n\nCurrently, the Postal Service owns about 8,500 properties around the United States, many of which are located in places suitable for housing construction and in areas with high housing demand. According to a recent analysis from Brookings, housing construction on postal property could build over 200,000 new homes and bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the Postal Service each year.\n\nThe Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act would set guardrails on housing construction by USPS by allowing for the lease, but prohibiting the sale, of Postal Service property for housing construction and ensuring USPS maintains discretion over its real estate assets. The bill also requires housing units constructed on Postal Service property to include tenant affordability restrictions on at least 20% of units, among other provisions.\n\nThis legislation is supported by a broad array of stakeholders including Chamber of Progress, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Inclusive Abundance Action, and Up for Growth.\n\n\u201cSolving the nationwide housing crisis calls for innovative solutions, and Senator Van Hollen and Senator Curtis are proposing one: repurposing U.S. Postal Service-owned properties into housing. This effort would drive new housing to supply-constrained areas like Maryland while also generating revenue and supporting the Postal Service's continued success,\u201d said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. \u201cThis approach echoes what the Moore-Miller Administration is doing at the state level, giving state government-owned property a new life as home to affordable housing, vibrant communities, and walkable places with easy access to transit. I commend the Senators for proposing this common-sense, bipartisan housing bill that would be a win-win for Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cI applaud Senators Van Hollen and Curtis for their leadership in crafting this win-win legislation,\u201d said Aaron Shroyer, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Brookings Metro. \u201cThis bill would enable the United States Postal Service to tap an underutilized asset \u2013 its land \u2013 to create a durable revenue source, while also adding much-needed housing to main streets and downtowns across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cUSPS-owned sites could offer meaningful opportunities to add homes in communities where housing is badly needed,\u201d said Ben Metcalf, Managing Director, Terner Center for Housing Innovation. \u201cTerner Center research has identified hundreds of USPS-owned sites that warrant closer evaluation for housing. While not every site will be feasible, underutilized postal properties could offer one solution to policymakers who are looking for ways to increase their affordable housing stock.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Postal Service owns 8,500 properties, many of them on prime, well-located land that cities and states need for housing,\u201d said Colin Higgins, Executive Director of the National Housing Crisis Task Force. \u201cIn our Federal Housing Policy Agenda, the National Housing Crisis Task Force called for putting federal land to work this way, and it's good to see a bipartisan bill take up the idea. The hope is that cities and states can chart a path to build homes on underused public land while the Postal Service keeps its footprint and earns revenue.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Postal Service is sitting on excess land that could be used for more than 200,000 new homes,\u201d said Adam Kovacevich, Founder and CEO of Chamber of Progress. \u201cSen. Van Hollen and Sen. Curtis\u2019s legislation will turn underused postal sites and parking lots into housing in the places people want to live, and provide much needed revenue back to the Postal Service.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s housing affordability crisis is driven, in part, by a severe shortage of homes. One of the most practical ways to close that gap is to build on well-located land the public already owns,\u201d said Mike Kingsella, Chief Executive Officer of Up for Growth and Up for Growth Action. \u201cThis bill puts underutilized postal property to work creating new homes. Long-term leases on thousands of sites across the country could support affordable housing near jobs and transit while generating steady revenue to help keep the Postal Service strong.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-secures-committee-passage-of-bill-to-rename-post-office-in-olney-after-beloved-employee-edward-ramsey", "Van Hollen Secures Committee Passage of Bill to Rename Post Office in Olney After Beloved Employee, Edward Ramsey", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-Md.) to name the U.S. Post Office located at 3570 Olney Laytonsville Road in Olney, Maryland, after Sergeant Edward Lawrence Ramsey unanimously passed the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee. Ed Ramsey was an Army veteran and employee of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) until his passing in 2022. Ramsey served honorably in the United States Army for over 20 years, serving in Panama, Louisiana, Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. During his 27-year USPS career, he served as a clerk at the Olney Post Office, where he became a beloved fixture of the Olney community. Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) introduced companion legislation, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this year. Following this key Committee passage, the bill is eligible for consideration by the full Senate.\n\n\u201cSergeant Ed Ramsey lived a life of public service \u2013 joining the Army to defend our nation, then going on to serve his community in his local post office for nearly three decades. During those years, his unstinting kindness made such an impression on his neighbors that they launched a grassroots effort to rename the Olney Post Office in his memory after his passing. I have been honored to stand with them and lead this charge in the Senate. Today\u2019s Committee passage is an important step forward, and I will continue working to pass this legislation in the Senate to honor Ed\u2019s legacy as a committed public servant and beloved member of the community,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cSergeant Ed Ramsey spent 20 years serving our country in the Army followed by another 27 years working for USPS. He is a patriot and a public servant who served with courage, kindness, and conviction. At the Olney Post Office, every member of our community became a quick friend of Ed\u2019s. It is fitting that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has passed our bill to rename the Olney Post Office in his honor so every day we can all be reminded of his great service and continue to cherish his memory,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-over-560000-for-workforce-development-supportive-housing-in-western-maryland", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce Over $560,000 for Workforce Development, Supportive Housing in Western Maryland", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $562,851 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for education, workforce development, and supportive housing for adults recovering from mental illness or with developmental disabilities in Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties.\n\n\u201cWhen we invest in opportunities for education, workforce training, and supportive housing, we invest in the long-term success of our communities. These federal dollars from the Appalachian Regional Commission will help create educational opportunities, open pathways to good-paying jobs, and strengthen the financial stability of Marylanders,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cWhen we invest in Western Maryland, our entire state benefits. This federal investment will support research at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science\u2019s Appalachian Lab in Frostburg, create more opportunities for Marylanders developing their careers at Garrett College\u2019s Career Technology Training Center, and renovate critical housing for adults recovering from mental illness or developmental disabilities. This isn\u2019t just an investment in Marylanders; it\u2019s an investment in our economy and our future,\u201dsaid Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cWestern Maryland is full of talent and potential, and these federal investments will help turn that potential into opportunity,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThis funding will expand research and student training at Frostburg\u2019s Appalachian Lab, prepare Garrett College students for good-paying welding jobs, and provide stable housing and employment support through Archway Station. I\u2019ll keep fighting to bring home resources that strengthen our rural communities.\u201d\n\nThe federal grants have been awarded as follows:\n\n$312,851 to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science\u2019s Appalachian Lab in Frostburg to acquire advanced scientific equipment and computing infrastructure, including atmospheric gas analyzers, upgrades to a high-capacity computing cluster, a dilution system for laboratory analysis, and more. The funds will expand the Appalachian Lab\u2019s ability to conduct high-precision environmental and agricultural research, improve data processing and artificial intelligence capabilities, and support workforce training opportunities for students and participants.\n\n$200,000 to Archway Station, Inc., to renovate seven apartments to support up to 18 participants in the Archway Recovery Program. Participants will receive temporary supportive housing, assistance with securing permanent housing, obtaining and retaining jobs, and advancing financial stability.\n\n$50,000 to Garrett College to upgrade equipment in the existing welding lab at the Career Technology Training Center. The funds will support the purchase of 11 multi-process welders and one band saw and are anticipated to support 135 students over the course of three years.\n\nThese investments are provided through the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development partnership entity of the federal government and 13 state governments, focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. Senator Van Hollen secured $200 million in federal funding for the ARC through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, and the lawmakers have since worked to prevent cuts to the program from the Trump Administration.", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-alsobrooks-on-ms-now-americans-are-done-settling-for-the-status-quo/", "ICYMI \u2013 ALSOBROOKS ON MS NOW: AMERICANS ARE DONE SETTLING FOR THE STATUS QUO", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "August 4, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined MS NOW\u2019s The Beat with Melissa Murray to discuss the Trump Administration\u2019s continued attacks on the American people, this President\u2019s disastrous war, and how Democrats plan to win back the Senate in the midterms.\n\n\u201cThe truth is this president took our country into a war without a strategic aim, and he had no idea how to get our country out of this war. We voted here 13 different times to end the war. And what we know, as a matter of fact, is while this war is going on, our kids are dying at the same time that this President\u2019s children are getting rich. The cost of the war is being borne by working-class people in our country, the ones who are not only being killed but those who are injured. We see the gas prices, the utility prices, the grocery prices. The cost of the war is being borne by working-class people in our country, and so it\u2019s beyond a point of being concerned; it absolutely must end,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks during the interview.\n\n\u201cFighting for the status quo is over. Nobody wants the status quo. I think that everyone is hungry at this point for tremendous change\u2026 we need a change in our country for everyday hardworking people who do everything right and still cannot make it. That\u2019s the message,\u201d continued Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-warren-pressley-colleagues-in-probing-insurance-companies-on-usage-of-credit-based-insurance-scores-as-costs-rise", "Van Hollen Joins Warren, Pressley, Colleagues in Probing Insurance Companies on Usage of Credit-Based Insurance Scores As Costs Rise", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chirs Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and 17 other members of Congress in a set of letters to USAA, State Farm, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, and Allstate requesting information on the usage of credit-based insurance scores in homeowners insurance underwriting and pricing.\n\nIn the letters, the lawmakers underscored concerns that insurance companies are unfairly jacking up rates based on customer credit history, \u201cProperty and casualty insurance products price the risk of loss due to damage to a property and its contents; and unlike debt, these products do not hinge on a customer\u2019s ability to repay or carry the risk of defaulting on a loan. Despite this, recent reporting indicates that Americans with weaker credit history pay significantly more for homeowners insurance, all other characteristics of the policyholder and property held equal.\u201d\n\n\u201cInsurers have cited increasing climate-related disasters \u2013 along with rising building and reinsurance costs \u2013 as the key sources behind rising homeowners insurance premiums. Yet recent research shows that credit scores impact homeowners insurance premiums as much, if not more than, disaster risk in many parts of the country,\u201d continued the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cInsurers should not charge consumers higher premiums simply because of their personal credit history, which could have been impacted by job loss, a surprise medical bill, predatory lending, or simply inaccurate information, rather than an actual risk associated with a home,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nThe lawmakers called on the insurance companies to provide information on how they use credit-based scoring when offering or pricing homeowners insurance policies, requesting responses from the companies by August 17.\n\nThe letters are cosigned by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Representatives Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-Ind.), Sean Casten (D-Ill.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Tex.), Al Green (D-Tex.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nikema Williams (D-Geo.).", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-gillibrand-introduce-new-tax-credit-for-seniors/", "ALSOBROOKS, GILLIBRAND INTRODUCE NEW TAX CREDIT FOR SENIORS TO INSTALL AGING-RELATED MODIFICATIONS TO THEIR HOMES", "2026-08-03", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "August 3, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As reported in Politico\u2019s Morning Tax, Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), both members of the Senate Aging Committee, introduced the Senior Accessible Housing Tax Credit Act of 2026 which would create a new tax credit for seniors to install essential, aging-related modifications to their homes. Similar to legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. George Latimer (D-N.Y.), this legislation would help older adults age in place by making their homes safer.\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility to care for our seniors. This critical legislation allows for seniors to stay in their homes \u2013 for many that means homes they love and have been in for decades \u2013 and install essential, aging related modifications. Caring for our seniors isn\u2019t just our duty\u2013it is a privilege, and we should treat it as such by passing this bill,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cA safe, accessible place for seniors to live should be a right, not a privilege,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cThe Senior Accessible Housing Tax Credit Act would help our nation\u2019s older adults age with dignity by assisting with the cost of home modifications that meet their mobility needs. As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, I am committed to getting this bill passed to remove barriers to accessible housing for older Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cHomeownership should support Americans through every stage of life. The Senior Accessible Housing Tax Credit Act recognizes that simple home modifications can help older adults remain safe, independent, and connected to the communities they call home. By helping offset the cost of accessibility improvements, this legislation gives more seniors the opportunity to age in place with dignity while preserving the stability that homeownership provides. The National Association of REALTORS\u00ae is grateful for Senator Alsobrooks\u2019 and Senator Gillibrand\u2019s leadership on this bill and is proud to support this commonsense legislation,\u201d said Shannon McGahn, Chief Advocacy Officer and Executive Vice President of the National Association of REALTORS\u00ae.\n\n\u201cThe opportunity to age in community is critical for America\u2019s older adults to thrive. But too many are not able to do so because of housing that cannot accommodate their needs. Less than five percent of the nation\u2019s homes are accessible to households with even moderate mobility limitations at a time when, due to our country\u2019s rapidly aging population, America desperately needs more age-friendly housing. LeadingAge applauds Senators Alsobrooks and Gillibrand, along with Congressman Latimer, for recognizing this. As the trusted voice for aging, LeadingAge supports the Senior Accessible Housing Tax Credit, which is an important step toward ensuring older adults can make the home modifications they need to live independently for longer,\u201d said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge.\n\nThe Senior Accessible Housing Tax Credit would create a nonrefundable tax credit for taxpayers aged 60 or older for expenses related to certain residence modifications on their principal residence or a qualifying second home. The credit would be equal to the cost of eligible expenditures, with an annual credit limitation of $10,000. Qualifying expenditures would also include certain labor costs related to the preparation, assembly, or installation of an eligible modification.\n\nQualifying expenditures would include:\n\nThe installation of wheelchair ramps\n\nThe widening of doorways\n\nThe installation of handrails or grab bars\n\nThe installation of non-slip flooring\n\nThe installation of bathtub cuts or shower seats\n\nThe installation of furniture risers\n\nThe installation of chair lifts\n\nThe replacement of toilets or bathroom vanities\n\nThe replacement of kitchen or bathroom faucets\n\nRead the full bill text here.", 1, "2026-08-04T07:35:49Z", "2026-08-04T07:37:27Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-leads-20-colleagues-in-urging-trump-administration-to-use-leverage-to-prevent-further-atrocities-in-sudan", "Van Hollen Leads 20 Colleagues in Urging Trump Administration to Use Leverage to Prevent Further Atrocities in Sudan", "2026-08-03", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 20 of his Senate Democratic colleagues in pressing the State Department to use its leverage to prevent further atrocities in Sudan and help bring the war to an end. To do so, the Senators urge the State Department to cease certain U.S. arms sales to external actors like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which continues to arm the Rapid Support Forces\u2019 (RSF) in Sudan. The Senators\u2019 letter notes the immediate need for the State Department to take action in light of the impending siege of the city of El Obeid and following the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher last year.\n\nSenator Van Hollen was joined in sending this letter by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).\n\n\u201cWe write with alarm regarding the Rapid Support Forces\u2019 (RSF) impending siege of the city of El Obeid in Sudan, which threatens a repeat of the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher this past October. While we welcome the State Department\u2019s expression of concern about the escalating situation in El Obeid, words are not enough. The United States must use the leverage and influence at our disposal to prevent further atrocities in El Obeid and help bring this brutal war in Sudan to an end. These actions should include ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to external actors that are fueling this war, including the United Arab Emirates, which continues to arm the RSF,\u201d the Senators begin.\n\nThey continue, \u201cWe have already witnessed what happens when the international community fails to heed warnings of RSF atrocities. The RSF\u2019s siege and devastation of El Fasher bore the \u2018hallmarks of genocide\u2019 according to United Nations investigators. [\u2026] The siege of El Fasher lasted for over 500 days, and the ensuing atrocities were widely foreseen and repeatedly forewarned by the United Nations, intelligence from the U.S. State Department and foreign governments, humanitarian monitors, and researchers. We remain greatly concerned by this administration\u2019s grave failure to act despite the chorus of alarm bells. What occurred in El Fasher is a stark warning of what could unfold in El Obeid and across Sudan if this administration\u2014and the international community\u2014continues this current pattern of inaction.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers go on to warn, \u201cAnd now those alarm bells are ringing once again \u2013 this time in El Obeid. Volker T\u00fcrk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on July 3, \u2018This is not a drill. It is a red alert that needs to land on the desks of heads of state and government around the world. Their phones should be running hot in the coming days and weeks, with ideas on how to prevent atrocity crimes in El Obeid and in other places in Kordofan.\u2019 [\u2026] The State Department has also recognized that this is a critical moment. On June 22, the State Department spokesperson warned of \u2018alarming indications that mass atrocities could be imminent\u2019 and said \u2018the RSF and their allied forces must cease any actions that could endanger civilians, impede humanitarian assistance, or contribute to further atrocities and suffering.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cThe evidence is clear \u2013 the United Arab Emirates is the primary external backer of the RSF, providing unparalleled military, financial, and technical support to the group,\u201d the Senators note.\n\n\u201cNow, an estimated 500,000 civilians are at risk in El Obeid, including many who have sought shelter there after fleeing RSF attacks across the Kordofan region. The encirclement and systematic crippling of resources in El Obeid increasingly parallels El Fasher, and this administration must use its leverage and influence to prevent a repeat of El Fasher\u2019s horrors in El Obeid before it is too late. We urge this administration to take concrete actions to prevent such mass atrocities in El Obeid, including by ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to the UAE and other external actors that are fueling this war. We also request an update on what other actions the administration is taking, beyond just words, to prevent mass atrocities in El Obeid and to help bring this war to an end,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nSecretary Rubio,\n\nWe write with alarm regarding the Rapid Support Forces\u2019 (RSF) impending siege of the city of El Obeid in Sudan, which threatens a repeat of the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher this past October. While we welcome the State Department\u2019s expression of concern about the escalating situation in El Obeid, words are not enough. The United States must use the leverage and influence at our disposal to prevent further atrocities in El Obeid and help bring this brutal war in Sudan to an end. These actions should include ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to external actors that are fueling this war, including the United Arab Emirates, which continues to arm the RSF.\n\nWe have already witnessed what happens when the international community fails to heed warnings of RSF atrocities. The RSF\u2019s siege and devastation of El Fasher bore the \u201challmarks of genocide\u201d according to United Nations investigators. A United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission found that \u201cthe Rapid Support Forces steadily squeezed the life out of El-Fasher and surrounding displacement camps, cutting off food, water, medical supplies, and humanitarian assistance, while subjecting the city to recurring shelling and ground assaults. Civilians were increasingly trapped, as escape routes were restricted or closed, and forced to endure conditions of life progressively incompatible with human survival.\u201d This 18-month siege culminated in a 3-day rampage in October 2025, where survivors describe the slaughter of civilians, mass executions, and crimes against humanity.\n\nEl-Fasher University \u201cbecame one of the bloodiest execution sites in the city.\u201d According to survivors, over a hundred civilians were gunned down or executed as they sought shelter or attempted to flee. Survivors described notorious RSF commander Abu Lulu, known as the \u201cButcher of El-Fasher\", asking a pregnant woman how far she was in her pregnancy and then firing seven bullets into her abdomen when she replied that she was seven months along. He at one point said, \u201cI was planning to kill 2000 people today, but I lost count, so I will start all over again.\u201d In the case of El-Saudi Hospital, RSF forces stormed the hospital and \u201cproceeded to search the wards and killing those they found, including patients, accompanying persons and medical personnel...it is estimated that over 460 patients and others present were killed.\u201d Flight didn\u2019t bring safety, according to survivors, as \u201cThe Rapid Support Forces pursued fleeing civilians along escape routes...where they had established ambushes and checkpoints...the perpetrators chasing people in open fields, firing at them with automatic rifles and mounted submachine guns, and running over fleeing persons with vehicles, causing mass casualties.\u201d The horrors were visible from space, with satellite images analyzed by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab showing bodies piled up in the streets, pools of blood on the ground, and mass burial sites.\n\nThe siege of El Fasher lasted for over 500 days, and the ensuing atrocities were widely foreseen and repeatedly forewarned by the United Nations, intelligence from the U.S. State Department and foreign governments, humanitarian monitors, and researchers. We remain greatly concerned by this administration\u2019s grave failure to act despite the chorus of alarm bells. What occurred in El Fasher is a stark warning of what could unfold in El Obeid and across Sudan if this administration\u2014and the international community\u2014continues this current pattern of inaction.\n\nAnd now those alarm bells are ringing once again \u2013 this time in El Obeid. Volker T\u00fcrk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on July 3, \"This is not a drill. It is a red alert that needs to land on the desks of heads of state and government around the world. Their phones should be running hot in the coming days and weeks, with ideas on how to prevent atrocity crimes in El Obeid and in other places in Kordofan.\u201d Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said of El Obeid on June 30, \u201cToo often in this brutal war, clear warnings have been ignored. Civilians have paid the price. The international community must make itself heard. We cannot say we were not warned.\u201d\n\nThe State Department has also recognized that this is a critical moment. On June 22, the State Department spokesperson warned of \u201calarming indications that mass atrocities could be imminent\u201d and said \u201cthe RSF and their allied forces must cease any actions that could endanger civilians, impede humanitarian assistance, or contribute to further atrocities and suffering.\u201d On June 23, State Department Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos said that he spoke with RSF leadership and \u201cstrongly urged them to halt any actions that could endanger civilians in and around El Obeid.\u201d And this Administration has repeatedly affirmed, including in July 2025, that \u201cThe Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have committed genocide.\u201d In November 2025, you yourself said that the RSF is \u201cclearly receiving assistance from outside\u201d and that \u201csomething needs to be done to cut off the weapons and the support the RSF is getting as they continue their advances.\u201d\n\nThe evidence is clear \u2013 the United Arab Emirates is the primary external backer of the RSF, providing unparalleled military, financial, and technical support to the group. In May 2026, a new report by Human Rights Watch found that the UAE trained hundreds of Colombian mercenaries who then \u201ctook part in combat in and around El Fasher and, according to media reports, provided training to RSF recruits\u2013including child soldiers\u201d. In February 2026, a Reuters investigation found that Ethiopia has built a secret camp to train thousands of RSF fighters, and that the UAE financed the construction of the camp and provided military trainers and logistical support. This follows U.S. intelligence from October 2025, including separate reports from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the State Department\u2019s intelligence bureau, that \u201cshow an increase in the flow of materiel from the U.A.E. to the rebel Rapid Support Forces since the spring.\u201d These findings are part of a large and growing body of credible evidence that the UAE is both arming and providing military support to the RSF.\n\nNow, an estimated 500,000 civilians are at risk in El Obeid, including many who have sought shelter there after fleeing RSF attacks across the Kordofan region. The encirclement and systematic crippling of resources in El Obeid increasingly parallels El Fasher, and this administration must use its leverage and influence to prevent a repeat of El Fasher\u2019s horrors in El Obeid before it is too late. We urge this administration to take concrete actions to prevent such mass atrocities in El Obeid, including by ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to the UAE and other external actors that are fueling this war. We also request an update on what other actions the administration is taking, beyond just words, to prevent mass atrocities in El Obeid and to help bring this war to an end.\n\nWe request a response to this letter by August 17, 2026.", 1, "2026-08-04T07:35:49Z", "2026-08-04T07:37:27Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-warren-and-senators-investigate-rfk-jr-s-unresolved-financial-conflicts-question-whether-his-family-is-profiting-from-bogus-vaccine/", "ALSOBROOKS,\u00a0WARREN,\u00a0AND\u00a0SENATORS\u00a0INVESTIGATE\u00a0RFK JR.\u2019S\u00a0UNRESOLVED FINANCIAL CONFLICTS,\u00a0QUESTION\u00a0WHETHER HIS FAMILY IS PROFITING FROM\u00a0BOGUS VACCINE LAWSUITS", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 30, 2026\n\nText of Letter (PDF)\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2014 As reported in The Hill, U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) opened a new investigation into whether Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.\u2019s family may be financially benefiting from a $50 million anti-vaccine settlement that his actions as Secretary could have influenced.\n\nIn June, Merck & Co., Inc. (Merck) announced that the company would pay $50 million to settle more than 200 lawsuits regarding the use of Gardasil, a safe, effective vaccine that prevents multiple types of cancer. The settlement covers lawsuits for which Secretary Kennedy was listed as the attorney of record and cases represented by Secretary Kennedy\u2019s former employer, Wisner Baum. Secretary Kennedy\u2019s son is currently employed at the same firm.\n\n\u201cThis settlement appears to reinforce a lucrative and dangerous playbook \u2013 litigators with ties to anti-vaccine organizations sue drug companies with scientifically dubious claims and undermine trust in vaccines and America\u2019s public health as a result,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\nDuring his confirmation process last year, Secretary Kennedy revealed he was entitled to \u2014 and initially planned to keep \u2014 a 10 percent fee from settlements tied to cases he referred to Wisner Baum for the Gardasil lawsuit.\n\n\u201cThis arrangement was alarming,\u201d said the lawmakers, warning that Secretary Kennedy could influence public perception of Gardasil\u2019s safety and, in turn, the outcome of the lawsuits \u201cby publishing unfounded anti-vaccine information, influencing Merck\u2019s interest in a settlement, or adding unproven injuries to the vaccine injury table.\u201d\n\nAfter significant pressure from lawmakers, Secretary Kennedy agreed to transfer his stake in the Gardasil cases to his son, a move legal experts have called \u201ca loophole\u201d in federal ethics law. Secretary Kennedy refused to take any further steps to divest the Gardasil stake from his family.\n\n\u201cNow, it appears that your son could stand to gain millions of dollars from Merck\u2019s recent settlement agreement, raising fresh concerns about conflicts of interest,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nSecretary Kennedy has refused to recuse himself from various communications related to Gardasil and from making decisions related to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program \u2014 even while his former employer seeks awards from the program in dozens of cases. He has also refused to decline compensation from vaccine injury lawsuits.\n\n\u201cMerck\u2019s settlement focuses renewed scrutiny on your potential unresolved conflicts of interest as Secretary\u2026The settlement \u2013 and the ongoing questions about whether you or your immediate family will benefit from it \u2013 raise further serious questions about any role HHS may have played in influencing the lawsuit\u2019s outcome,\u201d said the senators.\n\nThe lawmakers asked Secretary Kennedy to reveal whether he played any role in the settlement, how many of the Gardasil cases covered by the settlement he referred to Wisner Baum, and how much money he has received from vaccine injury lawsuits while serving as HHS Secretary by August 11, 2026.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks was the first Senator to call on RFK Jr. to resign or be fired. She has also led the Senate on oversight of RFK Jr\u2019s dangerous actions and rhetoric\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-alsobrooks-votes-yes-again-to-advance-iran-war-powers-resolution-3/", "Senator Alsobrooks Votes Yes AGAIN to Advance Iran War Powers Resolution", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 30, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released the following statement after voting for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand\u2019s (D-N.Y.) Iran War Powers Resolution. The resolution was not agreed to 49-50.\n\n\u201cFor the eleventh time, Republicans have voted against the will of the American people.\n\n\u201cThis war needs to end, but Republicans continue to enable this President. Grocery prices keep rising, gas is above $4 a gallon, and more American servicemembers have died.\n\n\u201cHere is my message to my Republican colleagues: you don\u2019t need to pray for this war to end\u2014vote to end it.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/federal-workforce-caucus-co-chairs-file-amicus-brief-defending-civil-service-protections-for-federal-workers", "Federal Workforce Caucus Co-Chairs File Amicus Brief Defending Civil Service Protections for Federal Workers", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (D-Va.-11), and Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.-05), co-chairs of the Federal Workforce Caucus, led 43 Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief in Jackler and Jaroch v. Department of Justice. The brief urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to reverse a Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) decision that would weaken longstanding civil-service protections for immigration judges and potentially jeopardize due-process rights across the federal workforce.\n\nThe filing comes after the Federal Circuit granted an en banc hearing in the case, following an earlier amicus brief led by Senators Van Hollen, Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).\n\nThe MSPB ruled that the Attorney General has constitutional authority under Article II to remove immigration judges at will, despite protections established by Congress through the Civil Service Reform Act. The brief argues that Congress has the constitutional authority to set protections for federal employees, including notice, an opportunity to respond, and the right to appeal adverse personnel actions.\n\nIf upheld, the decision could allow agencies to argue that other federal employees deemed \u201cinferior officers\u201d are not entitled to traditional civil-service protections. As the Members write in their brief, \u201cMillions of federal workers would become removable at will\u2014the civil service merit system would functionally cease to exist.\u201d The brief warns that the ruling could undermine the merit-based civil service, expose career public servants to arbitrary removal, and erode Congress\u2019s constitutional authority to govern the federal workforce.\n\nThe brief was joined by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.), as well as Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-At Large), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas-37), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.-24), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas-16), Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), Ed Case (D-Hawaii-01), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.-03), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.-05), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.-08), Sean Casten (D-Ill.-06), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.-04), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.-20), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12), Don Beyer (D-Va.-08), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12), Bobby Scott (D-Va.-03), April McClain Delaney (D-Md.-06), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-04), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.-13), Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.-06), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.-04), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.-04), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.-43), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.-10), and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05), Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.-02), and Emily Randall (D-Wash.-06).\n\nIn their brief, the Members argue that immigration judges are covered by the Civil Service Reform Act and that the President\u2019s Article II authority does not permit the executive branch to disregard Congress\u2019s statutory protections. They also note that the Supreme Court\u2019s recent decision in Trump v. Slaughter, concerning removal protections for principal officers, does not control this case involving immigration judges, who are at most inferior officers.\n\nThe brief further warns that the MSPB\u2019s reasoning has no clear limiting principle. If immigration judges can be stripped of civil-service safeguards because of the authority they exercise, countless other career federal employees could face similar challenges to their protections.\n\nFull text of the argument in the brief can be viewed here and below.\n\nINTRODUCTION\n\nThe Merit Systems Protection Board\u2019s decision was incorrect. Article II does not permit the President to override Congress\u2019s constitutional power to pass laws governing the federal civil service. Upholding the final administrative decision would fundamentally alter the balance of power between the Executive and Legislative branches. Millions of federal workers would become removable at will\u2014the civil service merit system would functionally cease to exist.\n\n\u201cPatronage practice is not new to American politics. It has existed at the federal level at least since the Presidency of Thomas Jefferson, although its popularization and legitimation primarily occurred later, in the Presidency of Andrew Jackson.\u201d Elrod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347, 353 (1976). The levels of corruption occurring during the apex of the spoils system in the late 1800s compelled Congress to enact legislative reforms laying the foundation of the civil service for over 140 years. During postreconstruction America, appointments in the federal executive government were not given based on merit: \u201c....federal employees came and went, depending upon party service and changing administrations rather than meritorious performance[.]\u201d United States Civ. Serv. Comm\u2019n v. Nat\u2019l Ass\u2019n of Letter Carriers, 413 U.S. 548, 557 (1973).\n\nThe pitfalls of the spoils system were countless. Corruption and fraud at the expense of the taxpayer were the norm. Officials would regularly take home more than two or three times their government salary in bribes and exactions. See William B. Wedgwood, CIVIL SERVICE REFORM 9-11 (1883). Indeed, \u201c[t]he avenues to bribery were open wide by these practices, and the lapse from a gratuity to a bribe was easy. Many shifted their fealty from the government they professed to serve to the merchants or brokers who paid them a larger compensation.\u201d Id. at 58 (abridged statement of Silas W. Burt, Naval Officer of the Port of New York before the Committee on Civil Service and Retrenchment, Feb. 11, 1882).\n\nInstances of this corruption resulted in significant financial losses to the federal government. See Carl Russel Fish, THE CIVIL SERVICE AND PATRONAGE 137-140 (1905) (discussing the various schemes and frauds resulting in significant losses of public funds). \u201cThese vast losses of revenue, this demoralization of the service, these great scandals, were rendered possible and easy by the methods of appointment. Each one attended sedulously to his partisan work, paid large political assessments cheerfully, and re-imbursed himself from plunder from the merchant or the government.\u201d Wedgwood, supra at 59.\n\nThe government simply did not function efficiently, and the federal employee was less qualified: \u201c[a] spoils system does not drive ability from the civil service. [\u2026] The really deleterious change that the spoils system does make is to throw open the doors of office to a very inferior class of men, and to lower the minimum of capacity required.\u201d Fish, supra at 135. Employees worked in \u201cfear of arbitrary changes\u2026[t]he same thing occurs every time there is a change of administration or Secretary\u2026[i]t is a continued system of terrorism and demoralization.\u201d Wedgwood, supra at 75 (abridged statement of Edward O. Graves, Senior Official at the Treasury Department before the Committee on Civil Service and Retrenchment).\n\nAn early legislative effort to curtail the spoils system was the Tenure of Office Act in 1867. The Act required Senate concurrence before the President could remove certain executive officials. See Raines v. Byrd, 521 U.S. 811, 826 (1997). In the floor debate on the bill, Senator Charles Sumner articulated that the actions of President Andrew Johnson and his administration were the primary motivation for this legislation:\n\nAndrew Johnson, who came to supreme power by a bloody accident, has become the successor of Jefferson Davis in the spirit by which he is governed and in the mischief he is inflicting on his country\u2026. He is a usurper, who promising to be a Moses, has become a Pharoah.\n\nDo you ask for evidence? It is found in public acts which are beyond question. It is already written in the history of our country. And now in the maintenance of his usurpation he has employed the power of removal from office. Some, who would not become the partisans of his tyranny, he has, according to his own language, \u2018kicked out.\u2019\n\nOthers are left, but silenced by this menace\u2026. Wherever any vacancy occurs, whether in the loyal or the rebel States, it is filled by the partisans of his usurpation. Other vacancies are created to provide for these partisans. I need not add that just in proportion as we sanction such nominations or fail to arrest them, according to the measure of our power, we become parties to his usurpation.\n\nFish, supra at 194-95 (quoting Senator Charles Sumner in Congressional Globe, 39 Cong. 2 sess. 542) (ellipses in original). \u201cThe Tenure-of-Office Bill of 1867 marked the first definite success that the Senate had obtained in its contest with the president for the control of the patronage[.]\u201d Id. at 197. The Act was not without its faults, see e.g., Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52, 177 (1926), and it was ultimately repealed in 1887. Raines, 521 U.S. at 826. But Congress continued to combat the patronage system.\n\nIn 1883, Congress passed the Pendleton Act, the precursor to the modern Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA). During consideration of the bill, Edward Graves, an official at the Treasury Department, testified before the Committee on \u201cCivil Service and Retrenchment\u201d and articulated: \u201cclerks suspected of being Democrats were ruthlessly slaughtered. One of my best book-keepers was discharged on that ground, although he was appointed under the civil service rules. I have no doubt, from general information, that the same system prevails with like results in all departments of the Government.\u201d Wedgwood, supra at 7, 13 (emphasis in original). The Act created the Civil Service Commission which could investigate and adjudicate violations of civil service rules promulgated by the President. See Letter Carriers, 413 U.S. at 558.\n\nCongress once again made strides in the battle against patronage via the Lloyd-LaFollette Act of 1911. The Act \u201cprovided that \u2018no person in the classified civil service of the United States shall be removed therefrom except for such cause as will promote the efficiency of said service and for reasons given in writing\u2026.\u2019\u201d Bush v. Lucas, 462 U.S. 367, 383 (1983) (quoting HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE, History of the Civil Service Merit Systems of the United States and Selected Foreign Countries, 94th Cong., 2d Sess., 202-203 (1976)) (ellipses in original). The Act also codified the right of employees to disclose information to members of Congress. Id. at 383-84.\n\nBut patronage practice re-emerged in the early 1970s. The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities found the Nixon Administration imposed an elaborate, multi-layered scheme to maximally corrupt the federal government for partisan political purposes. See SEN. SEL. COMM. ON PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES,93D CONG., 1ST SESS., FINAL REPORT (1974). One aspect of the Nixon Administration\u2019s scheme was to hire individuals into competitive service positions that were politically aligned with the President. Id. at 416. Another finding of the Committee was that evidence suggested the Administration diverted taxpayer-funded grants and contracts to groups and areas that were most politically helpful to the President\u2014and done so in a manner that could constitute a criminal conspiracy. Id. at 439-440. The Nixon Administration even went so far as to meddle with a proceeding before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); evidence presented to the Committee suggested administration officials convinced the Chair of the EEOC to not pursue an action against the University of Texas because it could harm Nixon politically. Id. at 410. The Committee recommended criminal prosecution where appropriate and identified a number of statutory reforms aimed at curtailing the ability of the executive branch to weaponize the government for political ends. Id. at 442-44.\n\nAs part of reversing this Nixon Administration corruption and implementing the Committee\u2019s reforms, the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 transformed the \u201coutdated patchwork of statutes and rules built up over almost a century\u201d with respect to executive branch employees. S. Rep. No. 95-969 at 3 (1978); Pub. L. No. 95-454, 92 Stat. 1111 (1978). The CSRA stands today as the chief line of defense between an independent civil service and a return to the spoils system.\n\nCongress acted squarely within its constitutional authority when creating the position of Immigration Judge and placing it under the protection of the Civil Service Reform Act. This is the will of Congress\u2014that Immigration Judges are entitled to the protections of 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7513. By removing Megan Jackler and Brandon Jaroch without those protections, the President acted against the will of Congress. That action is sustainable \u201conly by disabling the Congress from acting upon the subject.\u201d Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579, 637 (1953) (Jackson, J., concurring). Article II does not allow the President such power.\n\nThese removals run counter to centuries of historical Congressional practice affirmed by the courts. For almost 50 years, the Board has judiciously and even-handedly applied the CSRA while leaving constitutional review to this Court. Until now.\n\nThe Board\u2019s decision must be reversed. Given the nature and consequences of this matter, amici request that this Court issue a decision on an expedited basis.\n\nARGUMENT\n\nI. The Removals of Jackler and Jaroch Are Against the Will of Congress and Not Justifiable Under Article II.\n\nThe position of Immigration Judge was created by Congress pursuant to its power to \u201cestablish a uniform rule of naturalization[.]\u201d U.S. CONST. ART. I, \u00a7 8., cl. 4; 8 U.S.C. \u00a7 1229a(a)(1). As employees defined under 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7511, Immigration Judges are entitled to the procedural protections set forth in 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7513. Appx012. The removals of Jackler and Jaroch without the protections of 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7513 is therefore contrary to the will of Congress. The President\u2019s removal power under Article II cannot \u201cdisabl[e]\u201d Congress from enacting a reasonable restriction on the removal of employees whose duties mirror tremendous swaths of the civil service. Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579, 637-38 (1953) (Jackson, J., concurring).\n\na. The Creation and Regulation of the Position of Immigration Judge Is Well Within the Constitutional Authority of Congress.\n\nThe Constitution vests Congress with the power to \u201cestablish a uniform rule of naturalization\u201d and to enact all laws that are \u201cnecessary and proper for carrying into execution\u201d that power. U.S. CONST. ART. I, \u00a7 8., cl. 4, 18. The naturalization power is understood as a power \u201cexclusively in congress[.]\u201d Chirac v. Lessee of Chirac, 15 U.S. 259, 269 (1817). \u201c[The Supreme Court] has repeatedly emphasized that \u2018over no conceivable subject is the legislative power of Congress more complete than it is over\u2019 the admission of aliens.\u201d Fiallo v. Bell, 430 U.S. 787, 792 (1977) (quoting Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. v. Stranahan, 214 U.S. 320, 339 (1909)). In Federalist No. 42, James Madison stated that \u201c[t]he dissimilarity in the rules of naturalization has long been remarked as a fault in our system.\u201d THE FEDERALIST No. 42 (James Madison). \u201cBy granting Congress the exclusive power to fashion rules of naturalization, the Constitution removes these dissimilarities.\u201d United States v. Vazquez-Ramirez, 163 F.4th 706, 715 (9th Cir. 2026). Additionally, \u201c[a]t the founding, the word \u2018naturalization\u2019 meant \u2018[t]he act of investing aliens with the privileges of native subjects.\u2019\u201d Zivotofsky v. Kerry, 576 U.S. 1, 46 (2015) (Thomas, J., concurring in part, dissenting in part) (quoting 2 S. Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language 1293 (4th ed. 1773)).\n\n\u201c[T]he Necessary and Proper Clause makes clear that the Constitution\u2019s grants of specific federal legislative authority are accompanied by broad power to enact laws that are \u2018convenient, or useful\u2019 or \u2018conducive\u2019 to the authority\u2019s \u2018beneficial exercise.\u2019\u201d United States v. Comstock, 560 U.S. 126, 133-134 (2010) (quoting McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316, 413, 418 (1819)). Indeed, \u201cCongress is permitted to determine for itself what is necessary and what is proper.\u201d Ex parte Curtis, 106 U.S. 371, 372 (1882). This is not a demanding standard: \u201c[i]n determining whether the Necessary and Proper Clause grants Congress the legislative authority to enact a particular federal statute, we look to see whether the statute constitutes a means that is rationally related to the implementation of a constitutionally enumerated power.\u201d Comstock,560 U.S. at 134 (citing Sabri v. United States, 541 U.S. 600, 605 (2004)).\n\nIn Ex Parte Curtis, the Supreme Court upheld a law prohibiting government employees from contributing or soliciting money for political purposes. 106 U.S. at 372-74. The Court analogized to several other laws where Congress set restrictions on government employees, such as a law \u201cwhich makes it unlawful for certain officers of the Treasury Department to engage in the business of trade or commerce\u201d and a law \u201cwhich makes it an offence for a clerk in the same department to carry on trade or business in the funds or debts of the States or of the United States, or in any kind of public property[.]\u201d Id. at 372. Justifying the law at issue, the Court stated: \u201c[t]he evident purpose of Congress in all this class of enactments has been to promote efficiency and integrity in the discharge of official duties, and to maintain proper discipline in the public service.Clearly such a purpose is within the just scope of legislative power[.]\u201d Curtis, 106 U.S. at 373.\n\nCongress explicitly set forth the position and duties of Immigration Judges by statute. As defined, \u201c[t]he term \u2018immigration judge\u2019 means an attorney whom the Attorney General appoints as an administrative judge within the Executive Office for Immigration Review, qualified to conduct specified classes of proceedings, including a hearing under section 1229a of this title.\u201d 8 U.S.C. \u00a7 1101(b)(4). Further, \u201c[a]n immigration judge shall be subject to such supervision and shall perform such duties as the Attorney General shall prescribe[.]\u201d Id. The central function of an Immigration Judge is to \u201cconduct proceedings for deciding the inadmissibility or deportability of an alien.\u201d 8 U.S.C. \u00a7 1229a(a)(1). These proceedings are \u201cthe sole and exclusive procedure for determining whether an alien may be admitted to the United States or, if the alien has been so admitted, removed from the United States.\u201d 8 U.S.C. \u00a7 1229a(a)(3). This statutory scheme and Congress\u2019s decision to apply civil service adverse action procedures to Immigration Judges, is more than fairly \u201crationally related\u201d as a necessary and proper exercise of Congress\u2019s \u201cexclusive\u201d power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. Comstock, 560 U.S. at 134; Chirac, 15 U.S. at 269. It is further consistent with Congress\u2019s Constitutional legislative authority to promote efficiency and integrity in the discharge of immigration judges\u2019 official duties and \u201cto maintain proper discipline\u201d in the immigration court system. See Curtis, 106 U.S. at 373.\n\nb. Congress Protects Immigration Judges Via the Civil Service Reform Act.\n\nThe Civil Service Reform Act provides certain procedural protections for employees in the executive branch. See Pub. L. 95-454, 92 Stat. 1111 (1978); 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7513. Specifically, an employee subjected to an adverse action is entitled to \u201cat least 30 days\u2019 advance written notice\u201d and \u201ca reasonable time, but not less than 7 days, to answer orally and in writing\u201d as well as \u201ca written decision and the specific reasons therefor[e] at the earliest practicable date.\u201d 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7513(b). If the action is sustained, the employee may appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board. 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7513(d).\n\nJackler and Jaroch are employees within the meaning of the CSRA. See 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7511; Appx012 (\u201cthe agency asserts that the appellants met the definition of \u2018employee\u2019 under 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7511 and thus were entitled to appeal certain adverse actions to the Board\u201d). Accordingly, Congress has provided that adverse action may be taken against them \u201conly for such cause as will promote the efficiency of the service\u201d and in accordance with the procedures providing for notice and an opportunity to be heard. 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7513(a).\n\nc. The Exercise of Article II Power in Removing Jackler and Jaroch Cannot Displace the Will of Congress.\n\n\u201cWhen the President takes measures incompatible with the expressed or implied will of Congress, his power is at its lowest ebb, for then he can rely only upon his own constitutional powers minus any constitutional powers of Congress over the matter.\u201d Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579, 637 (1953) (Jackson, J., concurring). \u201cCourts can sustain exclusive presidential control in such a case only by disabling the Congress from acting upon the subject.\u201d Id. at 637-38. The President is in \u201cthe least favorable of possible constitutional postures\u201d under these circumstances. Id. at 640.\n\nThe Board\u2019s decision styles this case as one controlled by Article II of the Constitution, holding that \u201cArticle II abrogates the removal protections 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7513 otherwise provide[d] to employees covered under 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7511[.]\u201d Appx011. That ignores the work and power of Congress.\n\nIndeed, Congress \u201cdetermine[d] for itself\u201d that Immigration Judges, along with the rest of the positions falling under \u00a7 7511, are entitled to the procedural protections of the CSRA. Curtis, 106 U.S. at 372. Doing so is necessary and proper to ensure a uniform rule of naturalization untainted by political pressure or fear of reprisal, as well as a civil service built on \u201cefficiency and integrity[.]\u201d Id. at 373; 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 2301(b)(8)(A) (\u201cEmployees should be\u2014protected against arbitrary action, personal favoritism, or coercion for partisan political purposes\u201d).\n\nThis is the will of Congress. Removing Jackler and Jaroch is contrary to the will of Congress because they were not afforded the procedural guarantees of 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7513. The only way to sustain this action is to hold that the \u201cexclusive presidential control\u201d over the position of Immigration Judge \u201cdisabl[es]\u201d Congress from acting. Youngstown, 343 U.S. at 637-38. In other words, the removal power would disable Congress from enacting laws necessary and proper to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, an area of \u201cexclusive[]\u201d Congressional control. Chirac, 15 U.S. at 269. Under such an interpretation, Congress becomes subordinate to the President\u2019s whims if it wishes to exercise its constitutional power. This result contradicts the text of the constitution and unduly cedes Congressional power to the President.\n\nMoreover, this is not a case where Congress seeks to reserve the removal power for itself, a fact pattern the Supreme Court has viewed with intense skepticism. In Bowsher v. Synar, the Court struck down a removal scheme providing that the Comptroller General was removable only by impeachment or joint resolution of Congress. 478 U.S. 714, 728-32 (1986). In short, \u201cCongress cannot reserve for itself the power of removal of an officer charged with the execution of the laws except by impeachment.\u201d Id. at 726. Two years later, in Morrison v. Olson, the Court distinguished the scheme in Bowsher to a Special Counsel removable only for \u201cgood cause\u201d by the Attorney General. 487 U.S. 654, 695-697 (1988). The Court upheld this removal provision because \u201cthis case simply does not pose a \u2018dange[r] of congressional usurpation of Executive Branch functions.\u2019\u201d Id. at 694 (quoting Bowsher, 478 U.S. at 727) (bracket in original).\n\nCongress, in the CSRA or Immigration and Nationality Act, does not \u201creserve for itself\u201d the power to remove employees of the Executive Branch. Bowsher, 478 U.S. at 726. The opposite is true. The CSRA created the Merit Systems Protection Board, an \u201cindependent body\u201d designed to \u201cadjudicate cases of alleged violation of the merit system, enforce compliance with its decisions and orders, order stays of personnel actions in cases where it determines that such relief is justified, and conduct studies of the civil service and other merit systems.\u201d S. Rep. No. 95-969, at 6 (1978). Congress has no role in the functions of the Board other than Senate confirmation of members of the Board. Id.\n\nCongress was acutely aware of the perception that it was too difficult to fire employees under the prior Civil Service System: \u201cMany managers and personnel officers complain that the existing procedures intended to assure merit and protect employees from arbitrary management actions have too often become the refuge of the incompetent employee.\u201d S. Rep. No. 95-969, at 3. And \u201c[o]ne of the central tasks of the civil service reform bill is simple to express but difficult to achieve: Allow civil servants to be able to be hired and fired more easily, but for the right reasons.\u201d S. Rep. No. 95-969, at 4. Indeed, the structure and requirements of the CSRA are so engrained across OPM and federal agencies that upsetting that framework would have a cascading effect across the entire government.\n\nCongress had no designs to hinder the Executive Branch in the performance of its duties. If the performance of Jackler and Jaroch was unsatisfactory or if they had engaged in misconduct, there is no outright prohibition on their removal. Congress only requires that the employee be given a chance to defend themselves before action is taken. See 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7513. Delaying the ultimate removal of an employee for a short time to ensure they have received due process is a more than tolerable guardrail on the President\u2019s obligation to \u201ctake care that the laws be faithfully executed.\u201d U.S. CONST. ART. II, \u00a7 3.\n\nd. The Constitutional Basis for Congress Setting Removal Restrictions Is Even Stronger Here Than Other Cases Where Restrictions Have Been Upheld.\n\nThe Supreme Court has upheld removal restrictions in cases where Congress acts upon far weaker footing than it does here. See Morrison, 487 U.S. at 660; United States v. Arthrex, 594 U.S. 1, 23-26 (2021). If those restrictions are permissible, then Congress can certainly employ the CSRA\u2019s restrictions to a position created pursuant to a power that is \u201cexclusive[]\u201d and \u201ccomplete[.]\u201d Chirac, 15 U.S. at 269; Fiallo, 430 U.S. at 792 (quoting Oceanic Steam, 214 U.S. at 339).\n\nThe necessary and proper clause allows Congress to enact laws that are \u201cessential to the beneficial exercise of the [enumerated] power, but not indispensably necessary to its existence.\u201d McCulloch, 17 U.S. at 417; see also Comstock, 560 U.S. at 146. For instance, Congress executes \u201cthe power \u201cto establish post offices and post roads\u2019\u2026by the single act of making the establishment,\u201d but this also gives Congress \u201cthe power and duty of carrying the mail along the post road, from one post office to another. And, from this implied power, has again been inferred the right to punish those who steal letters from the post office, or rob the mail.\u201d McCulloch, 17 U.S. at 417. But the more degrees of separation a particular law is from the enumerated power, the more it becomes attenuated and subject to being struck down as an unconstitutional exercise of Congressional power. See Comstock, 560 U.S. at 146 (quoting United States v. Lopez, 514 U.S. 549, 567 (1995)) (\u201cInvoking the cautionary instruction that we may not \u2018pile inference upon inference\u2019 in order to sustain congressional action under Article I\u201d).\n\nThere is an exceptionally close connection between creating the position of Immigration Judge and Congress\u2019s power under the Naturalization Clause. The text reads that Congress has the power to \u201cestablish a uniform rule of naturalization[.]\u201d U.S. CONST. ART. I, \u00a7 8., cl. 4. Creating the position of a Judge obligated to make rulings and decisions concerning naturalization is \u201cindispensably necessary\u201d to \u201cestablish a uniform rule of naturalization[.]\u201d McCulloch, 17 U.S. at 417; U.S. CONST. ART. I, \u00a7 8., cl. 4. And setting the removal conditions for that position is undoubtedly \u201cessential to the beneficial exercise\u201d if not \u201cindispensably necessary\u201d to effectuating that power. McCulloch, 17 U.S. at 417. This connection is far less attenuated than other removal cases with Congressional action based in more general grants of authority, such as the Commerce Clause, yet where the Supreme Court has still upheld removal protections. See U.S. CONST. ART. I, \u00a7 8., cl. 7; e.g.,Comstock, 560 U.S. at 147-148 (\u201cCongress relies on different enumerated powers (often, but not exclusively, its Commerce Clause power) to enact its various federal criminal statutes\u201d).\n\nFor example, Morrison v. Olson involved an Independent Counsel appointed under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and given the power \u201cto investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute certain high ranking Government officials for violations of federal criminal laws.\u201d 487 U.S. at 660. The Court held that removal of the Counsel for only \u201cgood cause\u201d by the Attorney General was constitutional. Id. at 695-697. The McCulloch-style inferences required to justify this scheme are numerous: the substantive criminal laws at issue would first likely have to pass muster under a Commerce Clause analysis, that the conduct at issue \u201csubstantially affect[s]\u201d interstate commerce. See e.g., Gonzales v. Raich, 545 U.S. 1, 17 (2005). Then, from this, Congress has the power to employ people to prosecute these crimes, then the power create a position to specifically prosecute high ranking government officials, and finally, to determine how the Counsel can be removed as a way to further the Counsel\u2019s independence and efficiency. In short, the logic to justify the special prosecutor under the constitutional authority of Congress requires several inferences of the implied power of Congress. McCulloch, 17 U.S. at 417.\n\nSimilarly, in United States v. Arthrex, the Court allowed CSRA removal protections to stand for Administrative Patent Judges provided that their decisions would be reviewed by the Director of the Patent and Trademark Office. 594 U.S. at 17, 23-26. Similar to Morrison, this scheme requires several analytical leaps to get to the Congressional root: the sale of goods and products affects commerce; patents are necessary to protect people that make those goods and products; some office must issue patents; someone in that office must determine the merits of a patent; and for-cause removal ensures the officials that review patents can do their jobs independently.\n\nIn stark contrast, an Immigration Judge, as a neutral, unbiased arbiter of Immigration Laws, is \u201cindispensably necessary\u201d to \u201cestablishing a uniform rule of naturalization[.]\u201d McCulloch, 17 U.S. at 417; U.S. CONST. ART. I, \u00a7 8., cl. 4. Congress would not get far in effecting a uniform law without judges who apply that law. Where the Court has upheld removal protections when Congress has legislated by \u201cinference upon inference\u201d limits of its constitutional power, then removal protections are certainly permissible when Congress legislates directly pursuant to a \u201ccomplete\u201d and \u201cexclusive[]\u201d power. Comstock, 560 U.S. at 146 (quoting Lopez, 514 U.S. at 549); Fiallo, 430 U.S. at 792 (quoting Oceanic Steam, 214 U.S. at 339); Chirac, 15 U.S. at 269.\n\nII. Congress Has Consistently Legislated Protections for the Federal Workforce.\n\nOutside of the Article II removal context, Congress has set, and the Supreme Court has affirmed, a variety of safeguards for federal employees. The Fair Labor Standards Act sets forth a minimum wage that certain employees must be paid. See generally 29 U.S.C. \u00a7\u00a7 201, et. seq. In United States v. Darby, the Supreme Court upheld the Fair Labor and Standards Act as a proper exercise of Congressional power under the Commerce Clause. 312 U.S. 100, 122-126 (1941). The act applies to the United States government as an employer and is a congressional restriction upon how the executive branch may pay certain employees. 29 U.S.C. \u00a7 203(d), (x).\n\nThe Civil Rights Act of 1964 regulates the ways in which the federal government may treat its employees; specifically, the government may not take personnel actions against its employees or applicants on the basis of \u201crace, color, religion, sex, or national origin.\u201d 42 U.S.C. \u00a7 2000e16. In Brown v. GSA, the Court stated: \u201c[a]lthough federal employment discrimination clearly violated both the Constitution, Bolling v. Sharpe, 347 U.S. 497 (1954), and statutory law, 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 7151, before passage of the 1972 Act, the effective availability of either administrative or judicial relief was far from sure.\u201d 425 U.S. 820, 825 (1976) (citations in original) (discussing the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972). The Court\u2019s holding dealt with the exclusivity of the remedies under the Civil Rights Act, but the point remains: Congress may, and has, provided protection for the federal workforce against discrimination.\n\nSimilarly, the Whistleblower Protection Act makes it unlawful for the government to take certain personnel actions against employees that have disclosed violations of law. See generally 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 2302. The Court has acknowledged these protections for public servants, enacted by Congress, stating: \u201cthe government may certainly choose to give additional protections to its employees beyond what is mandated by the First Amendment, out of respect for the values underlying the First Amendment, values central to our social order as well as our legal system. See, e. g., Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989.\u201d Waters v. Churchill, 511 U.S. 661, 674 (1994) (citation in original).\n\nThe Hatch Act broadly prohibits certain federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity both on and off duty. See 5 U.S.C. \u00a7\u00a7 7323-7326. The Supreme Court upheld these restrictions on federal employees against a constitutional challenge in United States Civ. Serv. Comm\u2019n v. Nat\u2019l Ass\u2019n of Letter Carriers, 413 U.S. 548 (1973). The Court succinctly stated: \u201cOur judgment is that neither the First Amendment nor any other provision of the Constitution invalidates a law barring this kind of partisan political conduct by federal employees.\u201d Id. at 556.\n\nThough these cases have not squarely encountered the intersection between Article II removal authority and the CSRA, or its predecessor, the message is clear: Congress setting protections and guardrails for the federal workforce at-large has been a consistent practice since the founding, the very same principle undergirding the decision in Ex Parte Curtis. 106 U.S. at 373 (noting the Congressional purpose to \u201cpromote efficiency and integrity in the discharge of official duties, and to maintain proper discipline in the public service\u201d). Upholding the Board\u2019s decision opens the door for a return to the spoils system and the catastrophic consequences of inefficiency, patronage, and corruption.\n\nIII. The Position of Immigration Judge Does Not Hold Unique Authority Such That Removal Is Obligated by Article II.\n\nIn permitting the removals, the Board reasons that Immigration Judges exercise \u201csignificant policymaking and administrative authority.\u201d Appx015. These duties include receiving evidence, issuing subpoenas, conducting hearings, exercising adjudicative authorities, issuing sanctions, and potentially\u2014if the Attorney General does not disagree\u2014making a final decision of the United States. Appx015-16. These are simply not unique functions.\n\nThroughout the federal workforce, countless other positions share the same or similar duties as Immigration Judges. The 1895 \u2013 Customs and Border Protection job series includes duties such as \u201cmak[ing] informed decisions regarding the admissibility of aliens into the United States and admitting, holding, or releasing merchandise\u201d and \u201cexercis[ing] sound judgment necessary to apprehend, detain, or arrest persons at the point of entry who are violating Federal immigration, customs, agriculture, or other laws.\u201d Positions in the 0967 \u2013 Passport and Visa Examining Series are responsible for \u201cmanaging, supervising, or performing administrative work concerned with adjudicating applications for United States passports or visas, including related work involving determining citizenship or fitness of non-citizens for admission to the United States.\u201d The 1980 \u2013 Agricultural Commodity Grading Series is responsible for \u201cexamining and evaluating agricultural products to determine their official U.S. grade and/or their acceptability in terms of quality or condition in accordance with official standards and related regulations.\u201d\n\nThese are only a few of the many job series that would be swept into the realm of at-will removal and outside of the CSRA if the Board\u2019s decision stands. The danger of a broad impact on swathes of the federal workforce is real\u2014the dividing line on what constitutes an inferior officer is increasingly blurred. See, e.g., Arthrex, 594 US at 55-57 (Thomas, J., dissent). The potential consequence here is that the CSRA is functionally eliminated and federal employees will no longer have protections against arbitrary removal, reprisal, or the assurance of due process.\n\nIV. Trump v. Slaughter Is Not Controlling Because This Case Does Not Concern Principal Officers.\n\nOn June 29, 2026, the Supreme Court decided Trump v. Slaughter, overturning Humphrey\u2019s Executor and holding the for-cause removal restrictions for members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are unconstitutional. No. 25-332, 2026 U.S. LEXIS 2877, 609 U.S. ___ (2026). The decision concerns only principal officers under Article II of the Constitution and therefore is not controlling in this matter because\u2014as Petitioners relay in their opening brief\u2014Immigration Judges are, at most, inferior officers. In the majority opinion, while discussing Justice Story\u2019s analysis of the Decision of 1789, the Chief Justice writes: \u201cHe [Justice Story] identified the very \u2018question\u2019 at issue in this case: \u201c[W]hether congress can give any duration of office in such cases [of principal officers], not subject to the exercise of this [Presidential] power of removal?\u201d 2026 U.S. LEXIS 2877, at 47 n. 6 (quoting 3 Story \u00a71531, at 389) (brackets in original). In fact, the majority opinion never uses theterm inferior officers. Justice Sotomayor notes in dissent (without rebuttal in the majority opinion) that \u201cthe majority studiously ignores\u201d the issue of \u201cinferior officers and civil-service employees.\u201d Id. at *125(Sotomayor, J., dissenting).\n\nJustice Gorsuch in his concurrence also notes this distinction, observing that \u201cthe civil service laws [\u2026] ordinarily afford rank-and-file agency employees considerable protection against removal.\u201d Id. at *65(Gorsuch, J., concurring). Accordingly, as Slaughter\u2019s holding did not extend to inferior officers or civil service employees, it does not control the instant matter\u2014especially in the face of clear contrary authority such as United States v. Perkins, 116 U.S. 483 (1886), Morrison and Arthrex.\n\nCONCLUSION\n\nThat the President now asserts this authority under Article II does not change the fact that the removals of Jackler and Jaroch are in violation of the CSRA, and accordingly against the will of Congress. \u201cNeither the President\u2019s view that he can remove federal executive officials, see [Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52 (1926)], nor his having done so, change the meaning of the statute or the binding nature of this Court\u2019s interpretation of it.\u201d Margolin v. Nat\u2019l Ass\u2019n of Immigr. Judges, 146 S. Ct. 1285, 1289 (May 26, 2026) (Thomas, J., concurring).\n\nAccordingly, amici respectfully ask this Court to reverse the Board\u2019s decision and to issue that decision on an expedited basis.", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-bennet-colleagues-in-demanding-trump-administration-crack-down-on-russian-crypto-sanctions-evasion-network", "Van Hollen Joins Bennet, Colleagues in Demanding Trump Administration Crack Down on Russian Crypto Sanctions Evasion Network", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chirs Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Finance Committee, and seven colleagues in a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent urging the Trump Administration to crack down on A7 LLC, a Russian state-backed cryptocurrency sanctions evasion network supporting Russia\u2019s unprovoked full-scale war against Ukraine. Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) also signed the letter.\n\n\u201cWe write to urge the Trump Administration to immediately investigate and address Russia\u2019s ongoing, widespread evasion of U.S. and allied sanctions through the A7 LLC (A7) network. Doing so is crucial to limit the revenue Russian President Vladimir Putin has available to wage his unjustified war against Ukraine, threaten our NATO allies, and help Iran target U.S. troops, according to public reporting,\u201d began the senators.\n\nThe Russian state-owned bank Promsvyazbank and a Moldovan oligarch convicted of stealing from Moldova\u2019s banking system launched A7 in late 2024. The revenue Moscow accrues through the A7 network \u2013 with the A7A5 stablecoin as its backbone \u2013 directly supports the Russian military-industrial complex and thus Putin\u2019s war on Ukraine. Even after the United States imposed sanctions on a small number of A7 entities in 2025, the network openly claimed to have over 30 shell companies enabling around 1,500 daily transactions with over 10,000 customers. As of January 2026, the A7A5 stablecoin had reportedly processed over $100 billion in transactions, accounting for nearly 19 percent of the total volume of Russian businesses\u2019 foreign trade operations.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, the Trump Administration has largely stood by and watched the growth of this large-scale evasion enterprise. Under previous administrations, the Departments of State and Treasury went beyond targeting Russia\u2019s attempts to establish new evasion pathways by publicly and privately warning third countries to turn away such efforts. [...] In contrast, the Trump Administration has not used its Russia sanctions authority or even, it seems, warned countries to root out A7,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\nAccordingly, the letter urges the Department of the Treasury to:\n\nIdentify remaining unsanctioned entities involved in the A7 network and A7A5 ecosystem;\n\nImpose sanctions on third-country entities facilitating the A7 network;\n\nEngage partner nations to better counter A7;\n\nIdentify G7 financial institutions\u2019 vulnerabilities to A7;\n\nTarget A7A5 developers and facilitators helping Russia purchase missile components despite G7 sanctions;\n\nExplain how the Trump Administration will prevent decentralized exchanges from facilitating U.S. users from trading in A7A5; and\n\nSupport anti-money laundering requirements for business behind decentralized trading platforms and for \u201cfront end\u201d users for interfaces for centralized platforms.\n\nThe text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nSecretary Bessent:\n\nWe write to urge the Trump Administration to immediately investigate and address Russia\u2019s ongoing, widespread evasion of U.S. and allied sanctions through the A7 LLC (A7) network. Doing so is crucial to limit Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s ability to acquire key technology and revenue to wage his unjustified war against Ukraine, threaten our NATO allies, and help Iran target U.S. troops, according to public reporting.\n\nMany of us have warned for over a year that the administration\u2019s halt in the imposition of regular counter evasion sanctions allows Russia to evade restrictions meant to impede Putin\u2019s war of aggression against Ukraine. One clear example is Moscow\u2019s development of A7, a state-enabled cryptocurrency financial system that circumvents standard international payment networks, allowing Russia and shell companies to bypass G7 sanctions.\n\nThe Russian state-owned bank Promsvyazbank and Ilan ?or, a Moldovan oligarch convicted of stealing from Moldova\u2019s banking system, launched A7 in late 2024. The imports and revenue Russia accrues through the A7 network directly support the Russian military-industrial complex and thus Putin\u2019s war on Ukraine. A7 appears to maintain deep ties to Putin and the Kremlin: In September 2025, Putin attended a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of A7\u2019s Vladivostok branch.\n\nThe A7A5 stablecoin, launched in 2025, appears to be the A7 network\u2019s backbone. The Russian ruble-pegged stablecoin enables financial activities that would otherwise be difficult following a range of sanctions that G7 partners have implemented since 2022. As of January 2026, the A7A5 stablecoin had reportedly processed over $100 billion in transactions in less than a year.\n\nIn December 2025, A7 claimed to have accounted for nearly 19 percent of the total volume of foreign trade operations of Russian businesses. While the A7A5 stablecoin claims independence from A7, as of February 2026 the stablecoin continued to advertise A7\u2019s imitation banknotes (issued by A7 Kyrgyzstan) on its site and directs prospective buyers to A7 Russia offices.\n\nEven after the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on a small number of A7 entities in August 2025, the network has openly claimed to have over 30 shell companies enabling around 1,500 daily transactions with over 10,000 customers. Many of these companies operate in \u201csecrecy jurisdictions,\u201d which, through complex legal structures, make tracing difficult. Reports indicate that the United Arab Emirates hosts several shell companies, and that Hong Kong hosts at least one suspected shell company.\n\nUnfortunately, the Trump Administration has largely stood by and watched the growth of this large-scale evasion enterprise. Under previous administrations, the Departments of State and Treasury went beyond targeting Russia\u2019s attempts to establish new evasion pathways by publicly and privately warning third countries to turn away such efforts. The Departments also issued alerts underscoring the sanctions risk for foreign financial institutions that chose to join Russia\u2019s System for Transfer of Financial Messages, and for countries considering allowing the opening of new branches or subsidiaries of Russian banks.\n\nIn contrast, the Trump Administration has not used its Russia sanctions authority or even, it seems, warned countries to root out A7. The administration\u2019s lone August 2025 sanctions rollout \u2013 in which Treasury refrained from using its Russia sanctions authority, making no effort to emphasize A7\u2019s Kremlin ties \u2013 targeted a handful of entities, fell short of what allies and partners have done even last year, and has clearly been insufficient to address A7\u2019s operations. There remain numerous undesignated global affiliates and A7 enablers that the administration has not sanctioned. We also note that this is only one of the alternative payment mechanisms Russia appears to have set up to acquire critical items for its war, without any administration pushback.\n\nOur allies are again pushing forward without us. The European Union (EU) has banned A7A5, and the EU\u2019s 20th sanctions package focused on entities that distribute tokens such as A7A5, such as exchanges and decentralized platforms that list them, and payment agents that settle the underlying trade.\n\nPresident Trump and his administration must similarly employ our considerable financial tools to cut into Russia\u2019s evasion mechanisms. Accordingly, we urge you to:\n\nIdentify all remaining unsanctioned individuals and legal entities involved in the A7 network ecosystem and A7A5 stablecoin project, including but not limited to the aforementioned shell companies;\n\nImpose sanctions on entities in third-country jurisdictions facilitating the A7 network;\n\nEngage third-country governments to more effectively coordinate action to counter A7, and consider sanctions if they do not comply with existing and future sanctions;\n\nIdentify any pathways by which A7 may exploit financial institutions in G7 countries including the United States;\n\nTarget the developers and facilitators of the A7A5 stablecoin who continue to provide services enabling Russia to purchase missile components despite G7 sanctions;\n\nExplain how you will prevent decentralized exchanges from facilitating trades by U.S. users in A7A5, including \u201cwrapped\u201d versions of A7A5; and\n\nSupport basic anti-money laundering requirements for businesses behind decentralized trading platforms and for \u201cfront end\u201d user interfaces for decentralized platforms, which would make it much harder to, for example, swap A7A5 into other currencies without detection.\n\nWe respectfully request that you inform our offices, in writing, of your actions on these seven items by August 21, 2026. We request an unclassified summary with a classified annex, if necessary.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter. We stand ready to work with you in a bipartisan manner to address these important issues.", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-shaheen-call-on-treasury-secretary-bessent-to-explain-inaction-on-long-overdue-harriet-tubman-20-bill-redesign", "Van Hollen, Shaheen Call on Treasury Secretary Bessent to Explain Inaction on Long Overdue Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Redesign", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) led eight of their Senate colleagues in pressing the U.S. Department of the Treasury to explain why it is no longer planning to redesign the $20 bill to depict Harriet Tubman\u2019s likeness \u2013 as indicated in recent comments from Treasury Secretary Bessent \u2013 and urging the Department to resume plans for the new bill. The Senators note that the Department has put this long-standing effort on hold while also devoting resources towards circulating multiple coins with President Trump\u2019s likeness and plans for an illegal $250 bill depicting the President.\n\nThe Senators begin, \u201cWe write to express our deep frustration that the Department of the Treasury is \u2018not at present\u2019 planning to move forward with the long-standing effort to place Harriet Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill. The process to celebrate Tubman through our currency included extensive public engagement and bipartisan recognition of her extraordinary contributions to our nation, but your recent decision ignores that and abandons years of work at Treasury to honor her legacy. We urge you to immediately reconsider and resume plans to create the new bill without further delay.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile we acknowledge the creation of a new currency note is a multi-year process involving design, counterfeit protection and implementation into our financial system, the administration has released plans for a $250 bill depicting President Trump to celebrate America\u2019s 250th birthday, a currency that would be illegal for the Treasury Department to issue under current law. You also released plans for multiple coins featuring President Trump\u2019s likeness for the semiquincentennial. Meanwhile, a woman has not been featured on modern American currency in over a century and recognition for their contributions to our nation are long overdue. If the administration is actively working on new currency notes, the administration should focus on the long-standing plan to feature Harriet Tubman rather than develop a new design,\u201d they continued.\n\n\u201cHonoring Harriet Tubman on our nation's currency is an important recognition of her legacy and we urge you to reconsider. In addition, we request that you provide a detailed explanation of your comments about placing Harriet Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill, including what factors informed the decision and whether the redesign has been permanently canceled or merely delayed. The American people and Congress deserve transparency regarding this decision, and we request a briefing no later than August 12, 2026,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Senators Van Hollen and Shaheen, the letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Bessent:\n\nWe write to express our deep frustration that the Department of the Treasury is \"not at present\" planning to move forward with the long-standing effort to place Harriet Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill. The process to celebrate Tubman through our currency included extensive public engagement and bipartisan recognition of her extraordinary contributions to our nation, but your recent decision ignores that and abandons years of work at Treasury to honor her legacy. We urge you to immediately reconsider and resume plans to create the new bill without further delay.\n\nThe long effort to feature a woman on U.S currency gained momentum in 2015 when a grassroots movement, \u201cWomen on 20s\u201d, launched a public campaign to select a woman to appear on a new twenty-dollar bill in circulation before the 100th anniversary of women\u2019s suffrage in 2020. After over 600,000 people participated in an online ballot, the public chose Harriet Tubman from an array of inspirational women.\n\nNow ten years after that campaign, the American people are understandably frustrated with the delay. While we acknowledge the creation of a new currency note is a multi-year process involving design, counterfeit protection and implementation into our financial system, the administration has released plans for a $250 bill depicting President Trump to celebrate America\u2019s 250th birthday, a currency that would be illegal for the Treasury Department to issue under current law. You also released plans for multiple coins featuring President Trump\u2019s likeness for the semiquincentennial.\n\nMeanwhile, a woman has not been featured on modern American currency in over a century and recognition for their contributions to our nation are long overdue. If the administration is actively working on new currency notes, the administration should focus on the long-standing plan to feature Harriet Tubman rather than develop a new design.\n\nBorn into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom and then repeatedly risked her life to lead dozens of enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War, she served as a spy and nurse for the Union Army and became the first woman to lead an armed military expedition in U.S. history. Her courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment to freedom embody the highest ideals of our nation, making her a fitting choice for the honor of being depicted on our currency.\n\nHonoring Harriet Tubman on our nation's currency is an important recognition of her legacy and we urge you to reconsider. In addition, we request that you provide a detailed explanation of your comments about placing Harriet Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill, including what factors informed the decision and whether the redesign has been permanently canceled or merely delayed.\n\nThe American people and Congress deserve transparency regarding this decision, and we request a briefing no later than August 12, 2026.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-ossoff-colleagues-in-pressuring-trump-administration-to-release-hiv/aids-prevention-funding-to-cdc", "Van Hollen Joins Ossoff, Colleagues in Pressuring Trump Administration to Release HIV/AIDS Prevention Funding to CDC", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and over 10 Senate colleagues in urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to approve the transfer of $2 billion in funds meant for the President\u2019s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to the CDC. This inquiry comes as new internal guidance by the State Department would end the transfer of PEPFAR funds to the CDC. According to former CDC Directors, without this dedicated funding stream, more than 18 CDC outposts could close before the end of the year, reducing the ability for the agency to launch timely and sufficient global health responses to disease outbreaks.\n\nSenators Van Hollen and Ossoff are joined by Senators Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.).\n\n\u201cThe rushed abandonment of a proven and effective structure threatens to increase the risk of future global health pandemics and disease outbreaks,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cCountries are struggling to maintain the programs set up by USAID and PEPFAR funding, facing more new infections and more deaths.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe urge you to immediately rescind any guidance suggesting that State will no longer honor the transfer of $2 billion to CDC and commit to upholding this long-standing transfer that keeps Americans safe,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Rubio,\n\nWe write to you with alarm at the Administration\u2019s cut to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)\u2019s global HIV/AIDs program. This decision is particularly troubling as these funds allow CDC to implement the President\u2019s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and support CDC\u2019s critical global health operations that have provided the backbone for PEPFAR and other U.S. global health programs for decades.1 The rushed abandonment of a proven and effective structure threatens to increase the risk of future global health pandemics and disease outbreaks which is wholly antithetical to an America First Global Health Strategy.\n\nNot only does the proposed fee-for-service mechanism threaten to severely gut PEPFAR efficacy and further hinder CDC\u2019s work identifying and mitigating health threats at their source, which is especially alarming given the expanding outbreak of the novel strain of Ebola, but the Administration also seems to be leveraging these agreements for concessions not related to global health, such as for negotiating access to critical minerals.2 This type of coercive diplomacy does not serve U.S. global health interests and is extremely susceptible to risk of corruption.\n\nTherefore, we urge you to immediately rescind any guidance suggesting that State will no longer honor the transfer of $2 billion to CDC and commit to upholding this long-standing transfer that keeps Americans safe. We also ask you to respond to the following questions by August 11th , 2026:\n\n1. What specific problem or concern is State attempting to address through the proposed fee-for-service model?\n\na. Did State consider alternative approaches? If so, why were these options rejected?\n\nb. What measurable improvements does State expect to achieve with these changes?\n\nc. What are the projected costs of implementing these changes?\n\n2. Please describe the currently proposed timeline for implementation of this new fee-forservice system for FY27.\n\na. If a country has not signed an MOU purchasing CDC services before State implements this new system, will funding for CDC infrastructure within that partner country be terminated?\n\nb. Please explain the rationale for moving forward with the proposed fee-for-service model that risks undermining CDC\u2019s presence and programs overseas, such as the closure of at least 18 CDC global outposts close before the end of the year, before MOU negotiations are finalized and implementation plans are in place?3\n\nc. Given CDC\u2019s significant presence and infrastructure in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and the current Ebola outbreak, are there any plans to delay the implementation of this new system until which time the outbreak has been contained, and CDC technical expertise and resources do not need to be surged?\n\n3. How does the State Department intend to bridge the funding gap that will likely occur between the maximum value of CDC services a country could purchase under the fee schedule, and CDC\u2019s necessary PEPFAR operating budget for that country?\n\na. If there is no intention to bridge this funding gap, please describe any analysis State Department undertook highlighting potential consequences and operational gaps resulting from this gap in funds.\n\nb. If countries are not able to meet their financial commitments, what mitigation efforts is State putting in place to ensure that programming can still continue?\n\nc. How will State ensure that CDC technical expertise is utilized to the maximum possible capacity?\n\nd. Please describe any analysis State did of the risk of service disruption that could occur during the transition.\n\ne. Has State modeled the potential effects on HIV infections, AIDS-related deaths, tuberculosis outcomes, malaria outcomes, or other health indicators? f. How will continuity of care be protected for patients receiving treatment supported by CDC implemented programs?\n\n4. How many CDC personnel will be impacted by this change, including U.S. direct hires and locally-employed staff?\n\na. What, if anything, is State doing to ensure a minimum number of CDC staff is maintained overseas?\n\n5. In light of the current Ebola outbreak, CDC has surged resources and is providing strategic and technical assistance with disease tracking and contact tracing, risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control, among other resources.4 Under this new system, will partner countries be required to pay additional fees for these additional services if a global health outbreak occurs?\n\n6. Will the State Department commit to sharing with Congress the implementation plans of MOUs already signed with partner countries, and any additional MOU that the Administration signs, within 30 days of signature?\n\na. Will the Administration continue to pursue negotiations on other non-health related topics as part of these bilateral health agreements?\n\nFollowing this Administration\u2019s dismantlement of USAID, a key implementor of PEPFAR programming, countries are struggling to maintain the programs set up by USAID and PEPFAR funding, facing more new infections and more deaths.5 Without USAID, CDC\u2019s global health infrastructure remains the most effective tool the U.S. has to monitor and prevent global health emergencies. Ceasing the transfer of these funds only further puts the lives of Americans at risk.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-markey-schumer-peters-colleagues-in-raising-alarm-about-trumps-threats-to-send-armed-federal-agents-to-polling-sites-to-intimidate-voters-during-november-elections", "Van Hollen Joins Markey, Schumer, Peters, Colleagues in Raising Alarm About Trump\u2019s Threats to Send Armed Federal Agents to Polling Sites to Intimidate Voters During November Elections", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and 10 Senate colleagues in writing to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding to know whether the Trump administration plans to deploy armed federal law enforcement officers at polling sites during the November 2026 elections, an escalation of the Administration\u2019s assault on free and fair elections that is clearly meant to intimidate voters.\n\nThe letter was signed by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).\n\nBeginning in October 2025, the Democratic National Committee submitted eleven Freedom of Information Act requests seeking records concerning the possible deployment of federal law enforcement officers to polling places, ballot-drop locations, and election offices. During ensuing litigation, ICE first represented that it had located no responsive records. But earlier this month, after its searches were challenged, ICE acknowledged finding more than 11,000 potentially responsive pages and U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it had turned up almost 117,000 records. These belated disclosures reinforce the fear that the Administration is planning a potentially unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional intrusion into the November election.\n\nIn the letter, the senators wrote, \u201cIn May, when President Trump was asked whether he would send the National Guard or ICE to polling places in November, he refused to rule it out, responding: \u2018I\u2019d do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections.\u2019 And earlier this month, President Trump delivered a prime-time address to the nation in which he repeated outlandish falsehoods about the 2020 election, continuing to sow doubts about voting integrity ahead of the mid-terms. President Trump\u2019s statements, coupled with his repeated threats to invoke the Insurrection Act \u2014 which authorizes the president to deploy military forces inside the United States to suppress rebellion or domestic violence \u2014 only heighten concerns.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cCongress has enacted longstanding criminal prohibitions against sending federal personnel to polling places and using federal power to interfere with elections. For example, federal law makes it a crime for a federal official to bring or keep troops or armed personnel at a place where an election is held. Americans should never have to wonder whether the federal government intends to police the ballot box with armed agents. Yet that is precisely what the Trump administration appears to be considering, if not planning. The Administration now has a choice. It can continue to fuel the appearance that it is laying the groundwork for an unprecedented federal intrusion into state-run elections, or it can finally provide Congress and the American people with the transparency they deserve.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers requested the following information by August 11, 2026:\n\nWill any federal law enforcement officers or troops be deployed to or near any polling place or other election sites during the November 2026 election? If so, identify who, where, under what authority, and for what purpose.\n\nWho directed or authorized discussions concerning the possible deployment of federal law enforcement officers or troops to polling places or other election sites? Identify every meeting or communication concerning this subject involving your Department or agency and the White House, the Executive Office of the President, Stephen Miller, other presidential advisers, or any other federal entity.\n\nProduce all records concerning the possible deployment of federal law enforcement personnel or troops to polling places or other election sites, including legal memoranda, operational plans, policy guidance, emails, text messages, meeting notes, directives, and communications with the White House or other federal entities.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Acting Attorney General Blanche, Secretary Mullin, and Secretary Hegseth:\n\nSenior Trump administration officials have repeatedly refused to rule out deploying federal law enforcement officers at November 2026 mid-term election polling places and other election sites, despite such action being illegal under federal law. President Trump himself has publicly advocated an unprecedented \u2014 indeed, unconstitutional \u2014 federal takeover of state-run elections. And, after initially telling a federal court that your Departments possessed essentially no records concerning federal agents or troops at the polls, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) now acknowledges possessing thousands of potentially responsive records that remain hidden from public view. Congress and the American people must know \u2014 now \u2014 whether the Trump administration is planning to use armed federal officers at the polls and for what purpose.\n\nRather than assuaging public concern about the Administration\u2019s intentions, its highestranking officials have consistently left open the possibility of armed federal law enforcement officers policing polling places, which federal law expressly prohibits. In March, at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Acting Attorney General Blanche rhetorically asked: \u201cWhy is there an objection to sending ICE to polling stations?\u201d Just days ago, during his Senate confirmation hearing, he repeatedly declined to assure Congress that the Department of Justice would not deploy armed federal agents to polling places, responding only that he would \u201cfollow the law.\u201d Likewise, in March, at his confirmation hearing, Secretary Mullin testified that he might send armed federal law enforcement to the polls \u201cif there was a specific threat.\u201d But he could neither articulate such a threat nor explain how it would supersede federal law barring armed law enforcement at the polls. And in May, in similar testimony before the House Armed Services Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, Secretary Hegseth refused to say whether he would deploy troops to polling places.\n\nFor his part, in February, President Trump said: \u201cThe Republicans should say, \u2018We want to take over. We should take over the voting in at least \u2014 many, 15 places.\u2019 The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.\u201d But under the Constitution, states run elections, not the federal government. In May, when President Trump was asked whether he would send the National Guard or ICE to polling places in November, he refused to rule it out, responding: \u201cI\u2019d do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections.\u201d And earlier this month, President Trump delivered a prime-time address to the nation in which he repeated outlandish falsehoods about the 2020 election, continuing to sow doubts about voting integrity ahead of the midterms.\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s statements, coupled with his repeated threats to invoke the Insurrection Act \u2014 which authorizes the president to deploy military forces inside the United States to suppress rebellion or domestic violence \u2014 only heighten concerns. His remarks raise a serious question about whether the Administration believes it possesses emergency authority to deploy federal personnel in connection with the administration of the November election. Congress is entitled to know whether any such legal theory has been developed, considered, or is in the process of being implemented.\n\nThe idea that the Administration might send law enforcement officers or troops to the polls became even more concerning when \u2014 in litigation seeking records about possible pollingplace deployments \u2014 the Administration abruptly reversed its position that it had no responsive documents. Beginning in October 2025, the Democratic National Committee submitted eleven Freedom of Information Act requests seeking records concerning the possible deployment of federal law enforcement officers, immigration agents, military personnel, or National Guard members to polling places, ballot-drop locations, and election offices. Your Departments initially produced virtually nothing. During the ensuing litigation, ICE first represented that it had located no responsive records. But earlier this month, after its searches were challenged, ICE acknowledged finding more than 11,000 potentially responsive pages and U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it had turned up almost 117,000 records. The documents have yet to be produced to the plaintiff for review.\n\nThese belated disclosures reinforce the fear that the Administration is planning a potentially unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional intrusion into the November election. Congress has enacted longstanding criminal prohibitions against sending federal personnel to polling places and using federal power to interfere with elections. For example, federal law makes it a crime for a federal official to bring or keep troops or armed personnel at a place where an election is held. Americans should never have to wonder whether the federal government intends to police the ballot box with armed agents. Yet that is precisely what the Trump administration appears to be considering, if not planning.\n\nThe Administration now has a choice. It can continue to fuel the appearance that it is laying the groundwork for an unprecedented federal intrusion into state-run elections, or it can finally provide Congress and the American people with the transparency they deserve. Accordingly, please respond to the following questions in writing no later than August 11, 2026:\n\n1. Will any federal law enforcement officers or troops be deployed to or near any polling place or other election sites during the November 2026 election? If so, identify who, where, under what authority, and for what purpose.\n\n2. Who directed or authorized discussions concerning the possible deployment of federal law enforcement officers or troops to polling places or other election sites? Identify every meeting or communication concerning this subject involving your Department or agency and the White House, the Executive Office of the President, Stephen Miller, other presidential advisers, or any other federal entity.\n\n3. Produce all records concerning the possible deployment of federal law enforcement personnel or troops to polling places or other election sites, including legal memoranda, operational plans, policy guidance, emails, text messages, meeting notes, directives, and communications with the White House or other federal entities.\n\nThe Administration\u2019s own actions have created the appearance that it may be preparing to do something that Congress has expressly prohibited: sending federal law enforcement officers or troops to polling places. If that is something the Administration is not going to do, you should have no difficulty saying so and proving it through complete transparency.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-klobuchar-welch-colleagues-in-raising-concerns-about-usda-rural-development-reorganization", "Van Hollen Joins Klobuchar, Welch, Colleagues in Raising Concerns About USDA Rural Development Reorganization", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and 19 of their colleagues in raising strong concerns about the plan to reorganize the Rural Development mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.\n\n\u201cWe write with significant concern regarding the reorganization of the Rural Development mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cRural communities, small businesses, and families will lose access to important services if the proposed reorganization plan moves forward. Rural Development is a unique division within the Department, supporting agriculture and ensuring that rural communities prosper by administering grants and loans to support rural businesses, providing financial support for rural housing, financing the construction of rural health clinics and daycare centers, and championing critical infrastructure projects for water, electric, or broadband.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn order for rural communities to benefit from these projects, the Rural Development agency must have the capacity to process applications and disburse funds,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cRural Development\u2019s depletion of staff has already left rural America without the support it needs as the prices of gas, groceries, and agricultural inputs are skyrocketing as a result of tariffs and foreign conflicts. Without adequate and expert staff, the money that Congress has appropriated to help rural communities will not reach its intended beneficiaries.\u201d\n\nAlong with Van Hollen, Klobuchar and Welch, the letter was signed by Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Deputy Secretary Vaden:\n\nWe write with significant concern regarding the reorganization of the Rural Development mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rural communities, small businesses, and families will lose access to important services if the proposed reorganization plan moves forward.\n\nRural Development is a unique division within the Department, supporting agriculture and ensuring that rural communities prosper by administering grants and loans to support rural businesses, providing financial support for rural housing, financing the construction of rural health clinics and daycare centers, and championing critical infrastructure projects for water, electric, or broadband.\n\nIn order for rural communities to benefit from these projects, the Rural Development agency must have the capacity to process applications and disburse funds. The mission area has already lost about 36 percent of its staff last year, with nearly a third of those who left having more than 20 years of USDA experience. The reorganization plan for Rural Development will result in even further cuts, with 60 percent of staff in the National Capital Region being required to relocate to St. Louis or Dallas.\n\nRecent court filings reveal the intention of these relocations. Internal memos set a goal of reducing Rural Development staff by 50 percent, according to a March 13, 2025 Agency RIF and Reorganization Plan submission, achieved through forced relocations because the agency was \u201canticipating that a significant number of employees will decline geographic reassignments \u2026.\u201d\n\nRural Development\u2019s depletion of staff has already left rural America without the support it needs as the prices of gas, groceries, and agricultural inputs are skyrocketing as a result of tariffs and foreign conflicts. Without adequate and expert staff, the money that Congress has appropriated to help rural communities will not reach its intended beneficiaries.\n\nPlease provide a response to the following requests about the planned reorganization by August 5, 2026:\n\nWhat analysis did the Department conduct to determine the impacts of staffing cuts on delivering Rural Development services?\n\nPlease provide a current breakdown of staffing levels and projection of staffing for the next two years by sub-mission area.\n\nGiven the significant depletion of staff, is Rural Development hiring now or planning to recruit new staff in the next three months? If so, for what positions and where?\n\nIf USDA anticipates hiring new staff, how will the Department ensure they receive the training needed to effectively serve rural communities with the required expertise and level of service?\n\nHow does the USDA plan to successfully recruit the next generation of Rural Development employees?\n\nWhile we appreciate the willingness to modernize Rural Development\u2019s technology, previous efforts have been unsuccessful and costly. How will the Department ensure that these technology projects remain within budget and on time? When will these new technologies be available to staff and customers?\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.", 1, "2026-08-01T07:27:26Z", "2026-08-01T07:28:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-democrats-urge-ferc-to-protect-marylanders-from-rising-electricity-costs-due-to-out-of-state-data-centers", "Maryland Democrats Urge FERC to Protect Marylanders from Rising Electricity Costs Due to Out-of-State Data Centers", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Maryland Congressional Delegation members \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.) \u2013 are calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to take action to ensure Marylanders are not forced to bear skyrocketing electricity costs due to increasing energy demand from data centers located outside of the state. The lawmakers urged FERC to require PJM Interconnection (PJM) to implement strong protections that would ensure fair energy costs for Marylanders after PJM, the grid operator responsible for coordinating electricity transmission in the region, assigned roughly $2 billion in costs to Maryland ratepayers for infrastructure that is needed primarily to serve out-of-state data centers. The lawmakers\u2019 letter supports a complaint at FERC filed by the Maryland Office of People\u2019s Counsel challenging PJM\u2019s existing transmission cost allocation rules.\n\n\u201cAs members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation, we write regarding a pressing matter that has the potential to significantly raise energy costs for our constituents. PJM Interconnection LLC\u2019s (PJM) existing transmission cost allocation rules result in the unjust assignment of billions of dollars in costs to Marylanders, contributing to unaffordable electricity bills,\u201d the lawmakers begin.\n\nOn the rising costs of electricity due to data centers outside of Maryland, the lawmakers write, \u201cData centers being built outside of Maryland are driving one of the largest transmission expansions in PJM\u2019s history. Across its three most recent regional transmission planning rounds, PJM has advanced $22 billion in projects needed principally to serve data centers. Under PJM\u2019s current cost allocation rules, roughly $2 billion of those costs have been assigned to Maryland ratepayers rather than the data centers that are driving the demand.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarylanders are already shouldering the immense burden of skyrocketing electricity costs, and it is unjust and unreasonable to force our constituents to subsidize the energy infrastructure needs of the wealthiest companies in the world. Unless the Commission acts, our constituents will pay an estimated $1.6 billion on their electric bills over the next ten years for these projects alone, and $823 million of that total cost will fall on residential customers, which equates to roughly $345 for the average customer,\u201d the lawmakers continue.\n\nOn PJM\u2019s current cost allocation rules, the Maryland lawmakers note, \u201cPJM\u2019s cost allocation rules have not kept pace with the build out of hyperscale data centers, just one of which can equal the electricity demand of a small city. PJM\u2019s current rules spread costs broadly across the region regardless of where, and for whom, the underlying projects are actually needed. Maryland regulators have no ability to assign such costs to data centers located in other states, and with tens of thousands of megawatts of additional data center demand growth projected across PJM over the next two decades, our constituents face billions of dollars in further charges absent Commission action to address this unjust and unreasonable cost allocation. Furthermore, because much of the forecasted growth in data center energy demand is speculative, our constituents bear the unacceptable risk of paying for projects built to serve potential data centers that are never built due to any number of external reasons.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe urge the Commission to act expeditiously to provide relief from these costs for Maryland ratepayers, including as requested in OPC\u2019s complaint. Thank you for your consideration of this important issue that is essential to ensuring just and reasonable energy costs for our constituents,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Chairman Swett,\n\nAs members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation, we write regarding a pressing matter that has the potential to significantly raise energy costs for our constituents. PJM Interconnection LLC\u2019s (PJM) existing transmission cost allocation rules result in the unjust assignment of billions of dollars in costs to Marylanders, contributing to unaffordable electricity bills. This matter has been brought before the Commission by the Maryland Office of People's Counsel (OPC) (Docket: EL26-63), and the basic principle underpinning this issue is simple: our constituents should not be forced to pay for transmission projects that they did not cause and from which they will not meaningfully benefit.\n\nData centers being built outside of Maryland are driving one of the largest transmission expansions in PJM\u2019s history. Across its three most recent regional transmission planning rounds, PJM has advanced $22 billion in projects needed principally to serve data centers. Under PJM\u2019s current cost allocation rules, roughly $2 billion of those costs have been assigned to Maryland ratepayers rather than the data centers that are driving the demand.\n\nMarylanders are already shouldering the immense burden of skyrocketing electricity costs, and it is unjust and unreasonable to force our constituents to subsidize the energy infrastructure needs of the wealthiest companies in the world. Unless the Commission acts, our constituents will pay an estimated $1.6 billion on their electric bills over the next ten years for these projects alone, and $823 million of that total cost will fall on residential customers, which equates to roughly $345 for the average customer.\n\nPJM\u2019s cost allocation rules have not kept pace with the build out of hyperscale data centers, just one of which can equal the electricity demand of a small city. PJM\u2019s current rules spread costs broadly across the region regardless of where, and for whom, the underlying projects are actually needed. Maryland regulators have no ability to assign such costs to data centers located in other states, and with tens of thousands of megawatts of additional data center demand growth projected across PJM over the next two decades, our constituents face billions of dollars in further charges absent Commission action to address this unjust and unreasonable cost allocation. Furthermore, because much of the forecasted growth in data center energy demand is speculative, our constituents bear the unacceptable risk of paying for projects built to serve potential data centers that are never built due to any number of external reasons.\n\nWe were encouraged by the Commission\u2019s June 18, 2026 orders directing PJM and five other grid operators to justify or reform how they assign the costs of serving large loads, which advance the essential goal of protecting ordinary consumers. Those orders, however, are forward-looking. We also seek to obtain relief for our constituents from the billions in costs PJM has already assigned, and because most of those costs have not yet appeared on customer bills, timely Commission action can prevent much of this harm before it occurs.\n\nWe urge the Commission to act expeditiously to provide relief from these costs for Maryland ratepayers, including as requested in OPC\u2019s complaint. Thank you for your consideration of this important issue that is essential to ensuring just and reasonable energy costs for our constituents.", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-alsobrooks-votes-yes-again-to-advance-iran-war-powers-resolution-2/", "Senator Alsobrooks Votes Yes AGAIN on\u00a0Iran War Powers Resolution", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 23, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released the following statement after voting for Senator Chris Van Hollen\u2019s (D-Md.) Iran War Powers Resolution. The resolution was not agreed to 47-49.\n\n\u201cCongress voted in a bipartisan, bicameral way to end this war. The President won\u2019t end the war, prices continue to rise, and more American servicemembers have died.\n\n\u201cI have heard from my colleagues across the aisle saying they are praying for an end to this war. I urge them to vote for that too.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-puts-forward-war-powers-resolution-to-stop-iran-war", "Van Hollen Puts Forward War Powers Resolution to Stop Iran War", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spoke on the Senate floor urging his Senate colleagues to vote in favor of his war powers resolution, which would require an end to the illegal Iran war that President Trump launched over 140 days ago. A video of the Senator\u2019s remarks is available here, and a transcript is available below:\n\nMr. President, I want to start by thanking Senator Sheehy for his service to our country in our armed forces \u2013 and thank every single soldier who serves our country in uniform \u2013 and mourn the deaths of every single American service member who has been lost in this war and any other war.\n\nI listened carefully to the Senator from Montana. He's right that the Iranian regime doesn't care about what's happening in the United States \u2013 doesn't care about politics in the United States. You know what else they don't care about? They don't care about the Constitution of the United States of America. They don't care about that either.\n\nBut we, we in the Senate, we should care about the Constitution of the United States of America, because the framers of our Constitution deliberately vested the power to declare war in Congress, because they understood the enormous consequences of sending Americans into harm's way.\n\nSo, if our Republican colleagues have the strength of their convictions, they should bring an authorization to use military force in Iran to this floor. We've not seen that in 140 days. We've seen nothing. If you want to be true to the Constitution of the United States, that's what Republicans would do.\n\nAnd the Iranians don't give a damn about our Constitution. But I would hope that those in this body who've been sworn to uphold it would give a damn about our Constitution.\n\nBecause the framers understood \u2013 they understood that decisions involving war and peace should not rest with any one individual. You can glorify President Trump all you want, but the founders, the founders, those who helped write the Constitution, understood that that power should not vest with one person, whoever that person may be, regardless of party. That\u2019s what the founders said.\n\nThe Constitution entrusted that solemn responsibility to the Congress, where the elected representatives could openly debate and vote on those questions before any President sent our sons and daughters to fight and die in foreign lands. We may disagree about whether this is a good idea or a bad idea, but we should not disagree that that is what the Constitution requires, and that is what our oath requires.\n\nSo, Mr. President, yes, I rise to urge my colleagues to support my War Powers Resolution to end this disastrous and illegal war against Iran that President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu launched over 140 days ago.\n\nThe Constitution is unambiguous. This is not a close call. And yet, right now, right now, we are finding ourselves confronting exactly the circumstances the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973 were designed to prevent. They were designed to prevent one person from taking this country to war. They were actually designed in hopes that this Senate and this Congress would do their constitutional duty and vote yes or no, but take responsibility for decisions that send our men and women into harm's way. Take responsibility.\n\nNearly five months ago, President Trump launched this illegal war. He launched it against Iran. And as I said, he launched it without any authorization.\n\nSince then, Senate Democrats and some Republicans have tried to reassert the constitutional role of Congress. We have voted 11 times on resolutions to end the war.\n\nAnd finally, last month both chambers passed House Concurrent Resolution 86, directing the President to terminate hostilities against Iran. It was a historic vote. It marked the first time since the War Powers Resolution was enacted in 1973 that Congress successfully used this mechanism that was designed to halt the unauthorized use of force by a president \u2013 by any president.\n\nThat resolution was not a suggestion. It is legally binding.\n\nThe Iranian regime may not care about that resolution, but we should care, and the Constitution requires that we care. The passage of that resolution should have marked the end of this disastrous war. But time and again, President Trump has shown he has no respect for the Constitution. He was asked months ago whether he had to abide by the Constitution. His answer: \u201cI don't know.\u201d That is a president who has no respect for the rule of law. But we should. Instead, what the Trump Administration has done is steadily expanded this conflict, moved farther away from diplomacy, and farther away from a durable peace.\n\nWhen the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran was signed in June, I stood on this floor and said I hoped it would become the foundation for a broader diplomatic settlement. Many of my Republican colleagues opposed that Memorandum of Understanding. I hoped that it would finally begin the long task of climbing out of the big hole this illegal war has created. That hope is gone now.\n\nMr. President, this moment, this moment we're in now is a pivotal one in the war and for our role in it. Just this morning, the House of Representatives passed another resolution to end the war. That's how democracy works. The Iranian regime doesn't care about our democracy, but we should. And the Senate should pass this resolution just as the House passed a War Powers resolution.\n\nThis is the first War Powers resolution since the United States resumed daily strikes against Iran, and the first since we reimposed a full naval blockade. It's the first resolution since another four American soldiers were killed. It's the first resolution since shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has once again been ground to a halt. And I think all of us here in the Senate know the Strait of Hormuz was open before President Trump launched this war.\n\nIn the weeks since the last vote, more civilians have been killed as well. And the United States and Iran are now deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. President Trump said that he will destroy a bridge or power plant in Iran for every ship attacked in the Strait.\n\nIt did not have to be this way. Many of us warned before this war began that military force would not achieve the vague, constantly shifting objectives its advocates promised. We warned that abandoning diplomacy would make the region more dangerous, not less. We warned that military action would strengthen the most hardline voices inside Iran rather than weaken them. We warned that this conflict would destabilize the region, threaten the global economy, drive up costs for American families, and ultimately leave the United States worse off.\n\nAnd Mr. President, since then, every single one of those warnings has come true. I wish they hadn't, but they have.\n\nMr. President, we\u2019ve heard the arguments warmongers have used to justify this stupid war before. The promises of quick victories \u2013 just one more bombing campaign would finally produce lasting peace. We have heard that regime change is just around the corner. We have heard repeated calls for military adventurism while diplomacy \u2013 diplomacy was dismissed as some kind of weakness. Those arguments were wrong before. And they are wrong today.\n\nThis is the same kind of delusional thinking that sucked the United States into endless wars in the past. The kind of endless wars that this President promised he would keep us out of when he promised he would focus on bringing down prices \u2013 he's done the opposite.\n\nSo, Mr. President, we must make better choices, and we cannot allow the past to repeat itself. But that\u2019s what happens when your objectives keep changing. That\u2019s what happens when you convince yourself, against all available evidence, that just one more week or one more month of fighting will bring victory.\n\nYou know, on March 1st, the day after starting the war, President Trump was asked how long the war would go on. Does anybody remember what he said? \u201cFour to five weeks. It'll be over in four to five weeks,\u201d he said. Well, the President said that about 20 weeks ago, and it was all a lot of nonsense. In late March, he repeatedly claimed victory. President Trump said we won. Go look it up. It's all over his social media channels. \u201cWe won, we won.\u201d\n\nColleagues, I have some questions. If we won back in March, why are more Americans getting killed in July? If we won in March, why is the Strait of Hormuz closed? If we won back in March, why is the war expanding, as the Houthis attack ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into the Red Sea? If we won back in March, why are oil and gas prices and diesel prices shooting through the roof again, imposing costs on every American family? Is that their definition of \u201dwinning\u201d?\n\nWell, I wondered what their answer to that question was. So, earlier this week, I asked Secretary of Defense Hegseth what his definition of winning looks like. And there was no clear answer. And that\u2019s because their objectives keep changing. He finally settled on making sure Iran does not get a nuclear weapon.\n\nBut colleagues, remember this: last year, just last year, shortly after Operation Midnight Hammer, the Twelve-Day War \u2013 here's what Secretary Hegseth told the country, and I quote, \u201cOur bombing campaign obliterated Iran\u2019s ability to create nuclear weapons.\u201d The President told us the same thing. And the President's Director of National Intelligence testified in this Senate just months ago that it was the assessment of the U.S. government that Iran did not intend to restart any enrichment program. The President, during the time the Memorandum of Understanding was in place, hailed the fact that the Iranians said they had no plans and would not build a nuclear weapon. Apparently, the President had not been informed that they had made that commitment over a period of years.\n\nThe whole purpose of the JCPOA was to hold them to that commitment \u2013 to make sure that we could identify immediately if they were violating that commitment. Of course, that's the agreement that President Trump tore up in his first administration.\n\nBut so, when I pointed all this out to Secretary Hegseth, all he could go back was to tired old talking points that have gotten us into this mess and keep us in this mess. In fact, it clarified the reality of what we've known since day one. That the Iran war is a war in search of a mission.\n\nAnd Mr. President, that's how forever wars begin.\n\n18 American servicemembers have lost their lives.\n\nHundreds more have been wounded, including over 100 just from the last two weeks.\n\nAnd the civilian death toll continues to rise.\n\nAt the start of the war, an American Tomahawk missile strike killed more than 150 Iranian civilians in Minab, more than 100 of them children. On top of those killings of school kids, thousands of other civilians have been killed or injured across Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and the rest of the region.\n\nAnd on top of that, oil prices have jumped, then they settled a little bit during the Memorandum of Understanding, and now they're jumping again. They've risen back to a national average of around $4 a gallon and rising. Diesel prices have surged above $5 a gallon.\n\nAll of us understand that when gas and diesel prices go up, those increased costs filter throughout the economy. Trucks that are trucking food from one place to another \u2013 higher diesel prices, higher food prices, higher grocery prices throughout our economy \u2013 imposed on families already struggling with the costs of groceries, and housing, and health care, and child care, and other necessities.\n\nAnd again, this is the President who said that he was going to end wars and focus on bringing down costs.\n\nThis is a strategic blunder on a massive scale. It's a self- inflicted wound on our country. And all for what? That is the question every one of us should be asking as we vote shortly on this War Powers Resolution.\n\nHow has continuing this war made the American people safer? How has it made the Middle East more stable? How has it strengthened America's national security? I have yet to hear a credible answer to that question, and that\u2019s because there isn\u2019t one. You know, Mr. President, these are the kind of questions that should be asked before a war is started \u2013 before we put American troops at risk.\n\nColleagues, there is no good way out of a bad war.\n\nBut as I have said repeatedly, when you're digging yourself a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging. And that's what this resolution seeks to do. Let us stop pretending that Congress has no role to play while American servicemembers remain in harm's way.\n\nMany of the people who enthusiastically supported launching this war have been unwilling to take responsibility for authorizing it. That should concern every member of this body. It should concern every American, regardless of party. Because if a member of the Senate truly believes that this war is justified and the right thing to do, put it up for a vote. Put it up for a vote for an authorization to use military force.\n\nI disagreed with the decision to go to war in Iraq. President Bush asked for an authorization for military force, and this Congress acted on it. My view \u2013 they made the wrong decision, but at least they took responsibility for their actions as the Constitution requires.\n\nSo, Mr. President, this is an opportunity \u2013 as the war escalates even further, as more American servicemembers are killed, as more civilians are killed, as oil and gas prices and other prices go up \u2013 this is an opportunity for this Congress to finally take responsibility. We passed a concurrent resolution that passed. We know the President has no respect for the law, but we have an obligation to our constituents. We should not duck that responsibility.\n\nWe should not simply allow this war to go on without an up or down votes on an authorization to use military force.\n\nAnd today, we have a chance to take accountability and send a message by supporting this War Powers Resolution.\n\nI urge all my colleagues to adopt it, and I yield the floor.", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-barragan-introduce-three-bills-to-close-gaps-in-dental-coverage/", "ALSOBROOKS, BARRAG\u00c1N\u00a0INTRODUCE THREE BILLS TO CLOSE\u00a0GAPS IN\u00a0DENTAL\u00a0COVERAGE", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 22, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (D-Calif.-44) introduced three bills that will close historical gaps in dental coverage across the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, and Medicare. These bills will ensure that children, low-income adults, and seniors can access necessary dental care without facing the barriers of caps and optional benefits.\n\nThe Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act strengthens CHIP by banning annual and lifetime dollar limits in children\u2019s dental benefits and requiring wraparound coverage where it is currently optional.\n\nThe Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026 makes adult dental care a mandatory Medicaid benefit rather than a state-by-state option with full federal funding for the first three years.\n\nThe Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2026 would add routine, basic, major, and emergency dental coverage to Medicare Part B, reducing the disparities that leave half of all Medicare beneficiaries without dental coverage today.\n\n18 years ago, a young Marylander named Deamonte Driver died of complications from a tooth infection because his family was kicked off Medicaid and could not afford the care they needed. He was only 12 years old. Senator Cardin worked tirelessly throughout his career to ensure that no child should ever suffer Deamonte\u2019s fate, and Senator Alsobrooks is continuing to carry on that legacy.\n\n\u201cNo one. No child, adult, or senior should have to choose between affording groceries or being able to have access to dental treatment. I am so proud to be introducing three bills to address this issue and to finally ensure quality, affordable access to dental care for Marylanders \u2013 and all Americans. In Maryland, we know all too well that access to dental care is literally a matter of life and death. In 2007, we lost 12-year-old Deamonte Driver because of a toothache. That should have never happened. And while Republicans seem hellbent on kicking as many people off their health insurance as possible, we will fight to expand coverage and to ensure that every American, every child in particular, has access to the care they need,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cDental health is an often-overlooked part of your overall health, particularly for those from underserved and vulnerable communities who lack comprehensive health insurance coverage and cannot afford to pay for these routine services out-of-pocket. That is why Senator Alsobrooks and I are reintroducing my bills to strengthen dental benefits so we can make dental care more affordable and prevent health conditions before they become more expensive and deadly,\u201d said Congresswoman Barrag\u00e1n.\n\n\u201cDental care and coverage is key to overall health, employment, and economic stability. There is widespread concern about rising health care costs, including for oral care access and affordability \u2014 and especially among low-income families and seniors on fixed incomes. The Medicaid Dental Benefit Act and Medicare Dental Benefit Act would close the oral health gap for those on key public programs: guaranteeing comprehensive dental coverage for adults on Medicaid, and adding dental care to Medicare Part B. We applaud Representative Barrag\u00e1n and Senator Alsobrooks for their leadership in reimagining what affordable, accessible oral health care can look like for all,\u201d said Anthony Wright, Executive Director of Families USA\n\n\u201cEveryone deserves access to comprehensive dental care,\u201d said Melissa Burroughs, Senior Director of Public Policy at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to support this legislation that addresses existing gaps in oral health coverage for seniors, children, low-income families, and people with disabilities. Oral health is essential to overall health, and ensuring people have access to this critical form of care will support healthier communities, reduce health care costs, and advance health equity across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cOral health is health care, yet far too many people still struggle to get the dental care they need because of gaps in coverage and affordability. Community Catalyst is proud to stand with partners supporting legislation that strengthens and expands oral health coverage in Medicaid, Medicare, and the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These bills would help ensure adults can access comprehensive dental services, bring needed dental coverage to Medicare beneficiaries, and strengthen protections so children can receive the care they need without unnecessary coverage limits. Together, these proposals represent an important step toward treating oral health as an essential part of health care,\u201d said Shaina Goodman, Vice President for Policy & Government Affairs, Community Catalyst\n\nThe Medicaid Dental Benefit Act has been endorsed by: American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, American Academy of Orofacial Pain, American Academy of Periodontology, American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, American Association of Public Health Dentistry, American Dental Education Association, American Student Dental Association, National Network for Oral Health Access, Society of American Indian Dentists, ASTDD Foundation, Inc., American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and National Dental Association.\n\nThe Medicare Dental Benefit Act has been endorsed by: Community Catalyst, Families USA, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, Center for Medicare Advocacy, and Justice in Aging.\n\nThe Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act has been endorsed by: American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, American Academy of Orofacial Pain, American Academy of Periodontology, American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, American Association of Endodontists, American Association of Public Health Dentistry, American Dental Education Association, American Student Dental Association, National Network for Oral Health Access, Society of American Indian Dentists, ASTDD Foundation, Inc., American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, National Dental Association, and American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.\n\nRead full bill text for the Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act here.\n\nRead full bill text for the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026 here.\n\nRead full bill text for the Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2026 here.", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-cramer-introduce-legislation-to-ease-federal-permitting-process-for-transit/", "ALSOBROOKS,\u00a0CRAMER INTRODUCE\u00a0LEGISLATION\u00a0TO\u00a0EASE FEDERAL PERMITTING PROCESS\u00a0FOR TRANSIT", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 22, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) Chairman of the EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, introduced the Modal Parity in Permitting Act, legislation that would allow transit and passenger rail project sponsors to acquire \u2018real property interest\u2019 and parity during the federal permitting process.\n\nCongresswoman Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01) and Congressman Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.-08) introduced this bipartisan legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nCurrently, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds may only be used for acquisition of rights-of-way such as rail assignments, guideways, and associated easements, before a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review is completed. This limits transit agencies\u2019 ability to secure other property needed for projects like station sites, maintenance facilities, and parking areas. This bill would expand eligibility by allowing FTA funds to be used for a wider range of real property interests, giving transit agencies more flexibility to acquire land and facilities needed to move projects forward.\n\n\u201cI am proud to partner with Senator Cramer in introducing the Modal Parity in Permitting Act. This bipartisan bill will allow transit and passenger rail projects to have the same flexibility as highway projects when it comes to securing the property they need while their environmental reviews move forward. It just makes sense, let\u2019s get this done,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cEvery time we cut red tape and get the federal government out of the way, infrastructure projects move faster and more efficiently,\u201d said Senator Cramer. \u201cThe Modal Parity in Permitting Act removes unnecessary permitting hurdles, allowing local agencies to spend less time navigating bureaucracy and more time delivering transportation improvements for their communities. It\u2019s a simple change with a significant impact.\u201d\n\n\u201cProviding transit and passenger rail projects with greater flexibility to secure property needed for future investments, while maintaining important environmental protections, means agencies like the Maryland Department of Transportation can better manage project timelines, costs and risks,\u201d said Maryland Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. \u201cWe value Senator Alsobrooks\u2019 leadership in advancing solutions that help our state deliver meaningful transportation projects.\u201d\n\n\u201cMany folks in Southern Nevada depend on bus services to get around our community,\u201d said Congresswoman Titus. \u201cAnother emerging critical mode of transportation in our region is passenger rail. When high-speed rail comes to Southern Nevada, it will support tourism, improve air quality, and ease traffic congestion. The Modal Parity in Permitting Act will help ensure that the permitting process that allows these services to be built in our community is in line with the process for highway projects.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe applaud Sen. Alsobrooks and Sen. Cramer for introducing the Modal Parity in Permitting Act. Public transit and passenger rail projects deserve the same permitting opportunities as highway projects. By allowing FTA and FRA projects to acquire property before completion of the NEPA review\u2014just as highway projects can\u2014this bipartisan legislation will help advance critical public transportation investments more efficiently. We urge Congress to pass this commonsense bill without delay,\u201d said American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President and CEO, Paul P. Skoutelas.\n\nRead full bill text here.", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-presses-supreme-court-to-make-good-on-commitment-to-prevent-abuse-of-prediction-markets-by-justices-staff", "Van Hollen Presses Supreme Court to Make Good on Commitment to Prevent Abuse of Prediction Markets by Justices, Staff", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called on the Supreme Court of the United States to fulfil the commitment Justices Barrett and Kagan made in response to his questioning at the July 14, 2026, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee hearing requesting that the Court review its codes of conduct to ensure there is a prohibition against participation in prediction markets both for justices and for staff of the Supreme Court, as well as for lower court judges and their staff. In the letter, Senator Van Hollen also requests that the Court announce any resulting changes to ensure public transparency on these policies.\n\nSenator Van Hollen begins, \u201cAt the July 14, 2026, hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, I asked Justice Kagan and Justice Barrett if the Court would adopt a prohibition against participation in prediction markets both for justices and for the staff of the Supreme Court. They responded that their understanding is that it is already covered by the \u2018prohibition on using information that you know within the court to make financial gain,\u2019 but Justice Kagan also said the Court would \u2018willingly take on\u2019 the charge to \u2018go back and look for any loopholes.\u2019 I write in the spirit of that commitment and the Supreme Court\u2019s responsibility to avoid both impropriety and the appearance of impropriety to encourage you to take action that will bolster public trust.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs I noted in my questioning of Justice Kagan and Justice Barrett, the use of prediction markets by judges and judicial personnel can raise significant concerns. These instruments create new opportunities for conflicts of interest if judges or staff make wagers about ongoing litigation or matters that are likely to come before the courts. And I am concerned that prediction markets can compromise the judiciary\u2019s independence from other branches of government were judges or their clerk permitted to place bets on official action from Congress or the Executive Branch. Our courts work best when the public knows judges approach cases and litigants impartially. Judges\u2019 unrestricted participation in the wide range of bets that prediction markets allow risks compromising that confidence,\u201d Senator Van Hollen continues.\n\nOn the current Code of Conduct for insider trading, Senator Van Hollen writes, \u201cWhile the Justice\u2019s Code of Conduct, the Judge\u2019s Code of Conduct, and the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees may protect against insider trading, they do not adequately prevent other inappropriate uses of prediction markets. For example, if justices or their staff place bets on government activities, even without nonpublic information, it could create conflicts of interest with future cases or undermine perceptions of the Court\u2019s independence from other branches of government. Confidence in the Court is likewise undermined were a justice or their staff to hold a contract on an issue likely to come before the courts, or about a matter that could sow doubt about their impartiality, such as an election outcome. It is vitally important that the American public have trust in the courts, and taking further action to create a clear standard is critical to regaining that trust.\u201d\n\n\u201cI respectfully encourage the Court to review the codes for the judicial branch and consider clearly and expressly prohibiting all justices, judges, staff, clerks, officers, and employees of the judicial branch from participating in prediction markets. I also request that the Court make a public announcement of the resulting changes to ensure that the public knows the Court has a clear policy in place. The American public must be able to have confidence that the court and its officers are acting exclusively in the interest of justice,\u201d Senator Van Hollen concludes.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Chief Justice Roberts:\n\nAt the July 14, 2026, hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, I asked Justice Kagan and Justice Barrett if the Court would adopt a prohibition against participation in prediction markets both for justices and for the staff of the Supreme Court. They responded that their understanding is that it is already covered by the \u201cprohibition on using information that you know within the court to make financial gain,\u201d but Justice Kagan also said the Court would \u201cwillingly take on\u201d the charge to \u201cgo back and look for any loopholes.\u201d I write in the spirit of that commitment and the Supreme Court\u2019s responsibility to avoid both impropriety and the appearance of impropriety to encourage you to take action that will bolster public trust.\n\nAs I noted in my questioning of Justice Kagan and Justice Barrett, the use of prediction markets by judges and judicial personnel can raise significant concerns. These instruments create new opportunities for conflicts of interest if judges or staff make wagers about ongoing litigation or matters that are likely to come before the courts. And I am concerned that prediction markets can compromise the judiciary\u2019s independence from other branches of government were judges or their clerk permitted to place bets on official action from Congress or the Executive Branch. Our courts work best when the public knows judges approach cases and litigants impartially. Judges\u2019 unrestricted participation in the wide range of bets that prediction markets allow risks compromising that confidence.\n\nWhile the Justice\u2019s Code of Conduct, the Judge\u2019s Code of Conduct, and the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees may protect against insider trading, they do not adequately prevent other inappropriate uses of prediction markets. For example, if justices or their staff place bets on government activities, even without nonpublic information, it could create conflicts of interest with future cases or undermine perceptions of the Court\u2019s independence from other branches of government. Confidence in the Court is likewise undermined were a justice or their staff to hold a contract on an issue likely to come before the courts, or about a matter that could sow doubt about their impartiality, such as an election outcome. It is vitally important that the American public have trust in the courts, and taking further action to create a clear standard is critical to regaining that trust.\n\nOn April 30, 2026, the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution amending the Standing Rules of the Senate to prohibit Senators, Senate staff, and all officers and employees of the Senate from trading on prediction markets. The Senate did so because it recognized that as public servants, we are uniquely responsible for upholding public trust in our democracy, and even the appearance of insider trading, conflict of interest, or other impropriety erodes that trust. The Senate resolution also stated that, \u201cIt is the sense of the Senate that the House of Representatives, executive branch, and judicial branch should establish restrictions similar to those [in the resolution] relating to participation in prediction markets.\u201d I believe this step is crucial to strengthening the American public\u2019s trust in our courts.\n\nI respectfully encourage the Court to review the codes for the judicial branch and consider clearly and expressly prohibiting all justices, judges, staff, clerks, officers, and employees of the judicial branch from participating in prediction markets. I also request that the Court make a public announcement of the resulting changes to ensure that the public knows the Court has a clear policy in place. The American public must be able to have confidence that the court and its officers are acting exclusively in the interest of justice.", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-joins-60-colleagues-in-cosponsoring-legislation-to-hold-purchasers-of-russian-oil-accountable/", "ALSOBROOKS JOINS 60+ COLLEAGUES IN COSPONSORING LEGISLATION TO HOLD PURCHASERS OF RUSSIAN OIL ACCOUNTABLE", "2026-07-17", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 17, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Darline Graham (R-SC), and over 60 members of the Senate in introducing the Senator Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, legislation to hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine.\n\nU.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the effort last week and secured an agreement with the White House on Friday, before his death.\n\n\u201cVladimir Putin\u2019s illegal war in Ukraine has raged on for too long and cost countless innocent lives. This critical legislation will hold the enablers of Putin\u2019s war machine accountable and represents one of the most consequential Congressional efforts to promote peace in Europe. Let\u2019s get this done,\u201d said Alsobrooks.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD); U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-AL); U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus; U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee; U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI); U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE); U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO); U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), Chair of the Senate Banking Committee; U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME); U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Majority Whip; U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA); U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY); U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ); U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC); U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY); U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA); U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV); U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE); U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI); U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX); U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA); U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT); U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN); U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT); U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA); U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK); U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL); U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI); U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK); U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO); U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS); U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM); U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN); U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD); U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR); U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD); U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND); U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV); U.S. Senator Jon Husted (R-OH); U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND); U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE); U.S. Senator Jim Justice (R-WV); U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD); U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX); U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA); U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY); U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK); U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL); U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-NC); U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS); U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL); U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA); U.S. Senator Alan Armstrong (R-OK); and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT).\n\n\u201cUkraine is at a critical crossroads \u2014 and we must meet this pivotal moment with a powerful sanctions bill. As Ukraine turns the tide on the battlefield, our Russia sanctions bill would be historically impactful in stopping Russia\u2019s murderous slaughter,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201cWhen Senator Graham and I last spoke, he was absolutely exultant, calling from Kyiv with news that President Trump would support this bill to impose scorching tariffs and sanctions on purchasers of Russian oil and stop them from fueling Putin\u2019s war machine. Now is the time to push Russia toward peace. Ukraine is gaining net territory and reaching deep into Russia with its drones and missiles. Sanctions provide a path toward peace. Our bill is the product of lengthy, detailed, difficult bipartisan work, and now has broad bipartisan support. Passing this legislation right now would be a fitting tribute to Senator Graham\u2019s fierce support for Ukraine\u2019s freedom.\u201d\n\n\u201cUntil the very day he passed, Lindsey remained focused on passing the Russia sanctions bill. Passing this legislation would honor my brother\u2019s steadfast commitment to our national security and it would provide President Trump with additional leverage to bring this war to an end. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation and send it to President Trump\u2019s desk,\u201d said Senator Darline Graham.\n\n\u201cLindsey was a firm believer that the United States is a force for good around the world, and he worked tirelessly on this important effort,\u201d said Thune. \u201cI\u2019m proud to support this legislation that not only honors our friend and colleague, but will also promote peace by cutting off the funding fueling Russia\u2019s war machine. I can\u2019t think of a better way to honor his legacy.\u201d\n\n\u201cRussia is losing ground, it is suffering tens of thousands of casualties each month and Ukraine continues to bring the consequences of the war to the Kremlin\u2019s doorstep through its deep strike campaign. Putin is in an incredibly precarious position both at home and on the battlefield. This legislation would level tough new sanctions on Russia and choke off key export markets for the energy it sells to fund its war machine. We must seize on the opportunity before us to finally exert economic pressure on the Kremlin and bring this war to a close,\u201d said Shaheen.\n\n\u201cOne of the many pillars of Senator Graham\u2019s exemplary career of public service was his dedication to putting America\u2019s national security first and promoting liberty around the world. It is an honor to help champion one of his highest priorities: imposing crushing sanctions to cripple Russia\u2019s war machine and hold those fueling it accountable. Putin\u2019s war against Ukraine has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, and it must end. Lindsey believed that getting this legislation passed and signed into law would be the most consequential thing he achieved in his career. I am sincerely grateful to Senators Blumenthal, Shaheen, and Wicker for their continued leadership on this issue and, very importantly, for the support of President Trump and the White House\u2014these sanctions will provide President Trump with a critical tool to hold Russia accountable and secure a lasting peace,\u201d said Britt.\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan bill that Senator Graham worked so tirelessly to advance couldn\u2019t be better timed. Momentum in the war has shifted toward Ukraine and tightening sanctions on Russia and those key purchasers of Russian oil should help add pressure for the Kremlin to finally negotiate. Having just returned from the NATO Summit, I can share that we and our NATO allies are united in wanting to see Ukraine prevail in this bloody war started by Vladimir Putin. I am pleased to help co-lead this timely legislation,\u201d said Durbin.\n\n\u201cWe should enact this bipartisan measure to exert maximum economic pressure on Putin\u2019s war machine and help bring this unjust war to an end,\u201d said Wicker.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s bill continues the work of the late Senator Graham, my dear friend and one of Ukraine\u2019s most relentless advocates in the Senate,\u201d said Whitehouse. \u201cThis forceful, bipartisan measure will disrupt the Kremlin\u2019s massive oil and gas economy, up the financial stakes, and help achieve victory for Ukraine.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud to support the imposition of new, hard-hitting sanctions on key sectors of Russia\u2019s war economy, including the shadow fleet, and penalties on bad actors like China who help fund the war. Russia is not winning this war against Ukraine, and applying additional pressure now will force Putin to shift his calculus and bring us closer to ending the war. In honor of our friend Lindsey Graham, I strongly encourage my colleagues to pass this legislation and send it to the President\u2019s desk as soon as possible,\u201d said Risch.\n\n\u201cUkraine is winning on the battlefield against Russian invaders, and there\u2019s much more the United States can do to strangle Russia\u2019s war machine without putting ourselves at risk. Curbing Russian revenue by sanctioning the foreign buyers of their oil that are keeping Russia\u2019s economy and military afloat will strengthen Ukraine, weaken Moscow, and hasten a just and lasting end to this war,\u201d said Coons.\n\n\u201cPutin\u2019s invasion of Ukraine unleashed destruction, chaos and bloodshed in the largest land war in Europe since World War II. Our legislation sends a clear message to Putin: your unprovoked, violent invasion comes at an enormous cost. The late-Senator Graham was a champion of this bipartisan legislation, and I\u2019m proud to help move it forward as an original cosponsor,\u201d Grassley said.\n\n\u201cFor over four years, the Ukrainian people have shown us what it looks like to fight and die for democracy, for their country, and for the West. Their courage in the face of Vladimir Putin\u2019s war offers the greatest example of how to fight back against authoritarian aggression. Amid Putin\u2019s intransigence at the negotiating table and daily attacks on civilians across Ukraine, Congress must make Russia pay a further price,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cThis bill will impose greater pressure on Putin to end his unprovoked war, especially as Ukraine makes progress on the battlefield and as the Russian economy struggles under the weight of U.S. and allied measures. Only by demonstrating our firm resolve can the United States and our allies support Ukraine\u2019s pursuit of a just and durable end to this war and successfully defend the principle of a Europe whole, free, and at peace. Backing Ukraine today will be our best deterrence against authoritarian ambitions tomorrow.\u201d\n\n\u201cVladimir Putin\u2019s unprovoked war has dragged on for more than four years. As Senator Graham knew well, raising the costs on Russia is the only solution. Our bill will further restrict their energy sales to strangle Putin\u2019s war machine and bring him to the negotiating table. Congress should pass this bill immediately and help finish a war Lindsey fought so hard to end,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cThis measure is a tribute to Senator Graham\u2019s tenacious, bipartisan work in support of Ukraine, and a necessary step to deprive Putin\u2019s war machine of financial resources for its illegal invasion,\u201d said Reed.\n\n\u201cSouth Carolina lost a statesman, and I lost a friend. Lindsey Graham spent his time in the Senate reminding us that peace is protected by strength, and that America has a responsibility to stand up to dictators who threaten our allies, our interests, and the values we hold dear,\u201d said Tim Scott. \u201cThis legislation is a fitting way to honor Lindsey\u2019s legacy: tough, principled, and focused on keeping America safe. Lindsey would be proud to see Republicans and Democrats come together in support of his and the President\u2019s goal to end Moscow\u2019s senseless war in Ukraine.\u201d\n\n\u201cPutin\u2019s war of aggression against Ukraine has gone on long enough, and I believe this legislation is an important step on bringing this bloody, unprovoked conflict to an end,\u201d said King. \u201cThis war has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives on both sides unnecessarily, and we believe that this step will finally bring Putin face to face with the reality that he is not going to be successful in subjugating the Ukrainian people.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a pivotal moment in the Ukrainian people\u2019s fight to protect their freedom. While Ukraine continues to demonstrate impressive resilience and patriotism and real expertise on the battlefield, Russians are becoming increasingly exhausted by Putin\u2019s war, which his own finance officials are telling him he can\u2019t afford,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cThis is the perfect time for the United States to bring down the full force of comprehensive sanctions on Russia, and I\u2019m proud to join a bipartisan group of colleagues in putting forward a plan that would do that.\u201d\n\n\u201cVladimir Putin\u2019s brutal, unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine must end. As Ukraine makes important gains on the battlefield, now is the time to increase the economic pressure on Russia and those who continue to finance Putin\u2019s war machine,\u201d said Collins. \u201cSenator Lindsey Graham understood the consequences of allowing Putin\u2019s aggression to go unchecked and worked tirelessly to build bipartisan support for this consequential legislation. I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting this bill, which would both honor Lindsey\u2019s legacy and help pressure Putin to bring an end to this horrific war.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe fastest way to end this illegal war is to cut off the money that Putin is using to fuel it,\u201d said Kelly. \u201cStronger sanctions will put pressure on Putin and those helping him. This is a crucial step toward achieving lasting peace that protects Ukraine\u2019s sovereignty and strengthens U.S. national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Russia continues its needless bloodshed of innocent people and drags out peace talks, I am proud to join my colleagues in enacting crippling sanctions against them,\u201d said Ernst. \u201cThis legislation carries forward the tireless work Senator Graham was doing until his final days and strengthens the fight I\u2019ve led for years against Putin\u2019s shadow fleet, shutting down the network of tankers and shell insurers keeping his oil money flowing and fueling this war.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor more than four years, Vladimir Putin has conducted a brutal, unprovoked war against Ukraine in an attempt to take over a sovereign nation. The time is now for the U.S. to increase pressure and do all we can to end this war and send a clear message to Putin that he cannot act with impunity. This is why I\u2019m joining my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring forward this critical bipartisan bill to make those who enable Russia\u2019s energy and defense sectors pay a heavy price,\u201d said Rosen.\n\n\u201cLindsey Graham was clear eyed on Putin and fought for years to build peace through strength,\u201d said Ricketts. \u201cThis bill is a small part of his legacy combatting a foreign adversary threatening peace and prosperity for Americans. Sanctioning Putin and his cronies is necessary for undermining their aggression around the world.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Graham was unyielding in his support for the Ukrainian people as they fight to defend their sovereignty, and I can think of few ways more fitting to honor him than by finishing what he started and imposing strict sanctions on the bad actors who have supported Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine,\u201d said Cornyn. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join with my colleagues on this bipartisan legislation, which will honor Lindsey\u2019s legacy, help dismantle Putin\u2019s war machine, and strengthen U.S. national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cStanding with the Ukrainian people has been a bipartisan goal of our Congress for more than four years. This bill reaffirms that commitment by enacting the sanctions needed to curtail Russia\u2019s primary source of income and cripple its war effort \u2014 the single most important thing the U.S. government can do to end Russia\u2019s war of aggression against Ukraine,\u201d said Schiff.\n\n\u201cThe surest way to bring about peace through strength and get Putin to the negotiating table is to cut off the money funding his war machine. This bipartisan legislation delivers real consequences for those keeping Russia\u2019s economy afloat. Senator Lindsey Graham spent years leading this fight, and passing this bill will be a fitting tribute to his commitment to American strength and the cause of freedom,\u201d said Sheehy.\n\n\u201cSince I visited Ukraine with Lindsey Graham and John McCain in 2016, Lindsey and I worked together in support of Ukraine\u2019s democracy, meeting with President Zelenskyy multiple times and advocating for the return of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia. This legislation will add significant economic pressure on Russia, helping to move us closer to ending this war,\u201d said Klobuchar.\n\n\u201cAs long as Vladimir Putin\u2019s war machine is funded by countries willing to buy Russian oil and gas, the war in Ukraine will continue,\u201d said Curtis. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation gives a powerful tool to increase pressure on Russia, hold its enablers accountable, and ensure Russia does not win this war.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must hold Russia and its enablers accountable, and stand with Ukraine,\u201d said Fetterman. \u201cThis is just and important legislation. I know it will honor our late colleague Senator Lindsey Graham.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese strong sanctions, a top priority I shared with my friend and our late colleague Senator Graham, are critically important to weakening Putin\u2019s grip in Ukraine, imposing severe costs on those supporting Russia\u2019s unprovoked war of aggression, and undermining the energy-fueled Russian war machine that threatens our allies,\u201d said Sullivan.\n\n\u201cUkraine is in the fight of their lives, and this bipartisan announcement is the boost they need to inflict maximum pain on Russia,\u201d said Duckworth. \u201cOur bipartisan bill will rightfully hit foreign buyers of Russian oil with heavy sanctions, cutting Putin off from the money machine funding his unprovoked war of aggression against our ally. Senator Graham knew it and we do too: The United States must remain united with Ukraine, now and always.\u201d\n\n\u201cUkraine is standing strong against Russian aggression, but the United States must use every tool possible to help secure a lasting peace for the Ukrainian people and the entire region,\u201d said Peters. \u201cImposing strong sanctions on Russia would send a clear message that the American people will always stand alongside Ukraine against Putin\u2019s invasion.\u201d\n\n\u201cPutin is a murderous KGB thug, and the countries still buying Russian oil and natural gas know they are funding his war against Ukraine. If we cut off Russia\u2019s oil money, we cut off the weapons murdering Ukrainians. Lindsey Graham was an outspoken advocate for the freedom-loving people of Ukraine. Let\u2019s finish what he started and put the pressure on Russia and everyone who bankrolls them,\u201d said Lankford.\n\n\u201cThis bill honors Senator Lindsey Graham\u2019s legacy by strengthening pressure on Russia and those who continue to finance Vladimir Putin\u2019s illegal and brutal war against Ukraine, which threatens our own national security and economic interests. I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation to continue the work that our late friend and colleague fought so hard to advance,\u201d said Hyde-Smith.\n\n\u201cBy securing this agreement with the White House to impose sanctions on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, Senator Graham delivered a powerful tool to hold those who are enabling Putin\u2019s war accountable,\u201d said Blackburn. \u201cThis bill will help bring this war to an end.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Graham tirelessly worked to impose real consequences on Putin and end Russia\u2019s war of aggression against Ukraine. This bipartisan and thoughtfully crafted legislation is a testament to his tremendous leadership,\u201d said Boozman. \u201cI am proud to join my colleagues and send a clear message that Senator Graham\u2019s work will not go unfinished and that Moscow must finally end its unprovoked attack on Ukrainian sovereignty.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 will issue decisive consequences aimed at deterring Russian aggression. This bill sends a clear message: bullies have a price to pay for their actions. Vladimir Putin and Russia must face serious consequences for their destructive and unprovoked war on Ukraine,\u201d said Cramer.\n\n\u201cRussia\u2019s war against Ukraine, which has killed far too many and upended global stability, must come to an end,\u201d said Capito. \u201cThis legislation empowers President Trump to cut off the financial flows that enable Putin\u2019s deadly invasion and to impose serious consequences on the countries that are helping finance Russia\u2019s war machine. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in honoring Senator Graham\u2019s life by advancing this effort to strengthen America\u2019s national security and give President Trump the economic leverage to secure a lasting peace.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, Senator Lindsey Graham led the effort to hold Russia accountable for its aggression and support Ukraine\u2019s fight for freedom. This bill honors his legacy by tightening sanctions on the energy exports and financial tools that sustain the Russian war machine. With support from the White House and a bipartisan group of senators, we are sending a clear message to Putin: America stands with Ukraine, and we will continue working to bring this unjust war to a durable end,\u201d said Husted.\n\n\u201cRussia relies on oil and gas revenue to fund its war against Ukraine, and those enabling this aggression should be held accountable,\u201d said Hoeven. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation strengthens sanctions to increase pressure on Russia, reduce the resources fueling Putin\u2019s aggression, and help advance a lasting peace. Senator Lindsey Graham dedicated tremendous effort to moving this legislation forward, and Congress should act to pass it.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Lindsey Graham was relentless in his quest to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Because of his extensive work over the years, we have an opportunity to help bleed Putin\u2019s war machine dry. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for taking this necessary action,\u201d said Fischer.\n\n\u201cSenator Graham was one of the most formidable foes America\u2019s enemies ever faced in the United States Senate. He was unapologetic and uncompromising in countering the threat the Russian regime poses to American national security and the safety and security of the American people. I worked alongside my friend for years to counter those malign activities, including through sanctions legislation aimed at depriving Putin\u2019s war machine of the resources it needs to threaten America and our allies. This bipartisan legislation honors Senator Graham\u2019s legacy while advancing the badly needed policies for which he tirelessly advocated. I urge my colleagues to pass it without delay,\u201d said Cruz.\n\n\u201cLindsey Graham spent his final months fighting to make sure Putin knew America\u2019s fuse hadn\u2019t burned out. Wyoming understands what it means to power the world responsibly, and it\u2019s long past time Russia stopped profiting from war while claiming to seek peace. This bill puts real teeth behind that demand by telling every nation still buying Russian oil that they\u2019re choosing a side, and it puts Putin on notice that the road to any lasting peace runs through economic ruin if he refuses to take it,\u201d said Lummis.\n\n\u201cRussia\u2019s unprovoked and illegal war against the people of Ukraine has left the nation scarred and battered over the last four years, but no less determined to defend its sovereignty,\u201d said Murkowski. \u201cThe bipartisan Sanctioning Russia Act honors Senator Graham\u2019s longstanding leadership in foreign affairs by supporting Ukraine while reaffirming America\u2019s commitment to stand with peaceful democracies against the authoritarian regimes that seek to destroy them.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe time to increase pressure on Moscow is now. Our overwhelmingly bipartisan sanctions package has the power to cripple Putin\u2019s revenue streams by targeting the energy exports that bankroll Russia\u2019s unjust war machine. Our colleague and friend, Senator Lindsey Graham, worked tirelessly to stand up to Russian aggression, and now we have the opportunity to honor his leadership and cement his legacy,\u201d said Budd.\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan legislation would make a difference against Russia\u2019s unjust war in Ukraine and serves as a fitting tribute to the legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham,\u201d said Moran. \u201cAmerica\u2019s continued involvement and leadership throughout the world are critical to deterring Vladimir Putin. This legislation sends a clear message to friends and foes alike: you can do business with Russia, or you can do business with the United States, but you can\u2019t do both. I look forward to voting for the Sanctioning Russia Act and sending it to the President to be signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cImposing stronger sanctions on Russia will ensure America remains strong on the world stage and will help bring an end to Putin\u2019s unjust war against Ukraine. I can think of no better way to cement the legacy of Lindsey Graham, who spent years of his life devoted to this cause and to fighting for freedom across the globe,\u201d said Daines.\n\nThe Sanctioning Russia Act would impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine.\n\nThe sanctions target Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, and Russian banks and financial institutions, as well as the Russian Shadow Fleet.\n\nThe legislation also directs the President to impose up to 100 percent tariffs on imported goods from countries that buy the majority of Russian oil, gas, and enable Russian sanctions evasion. The new text limits these tariffs to the five largest importers of Russian crude oil and gas.\n\nA one-pager on the legislation is available here. The text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:00:34Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-keith-sonderling-is-the-wrong-pick-to-be-labor-sec/", "ALSOBROOKS:\u00a0KEITH SONDERLING\u00a0IS\u00a0THE\u00a0WRONG PICK TO BE LABOR\u00a0SEC", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 16, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), questioned Keith Sonderling, nominee for Secretary of Labor.\n\n\u201cWhen we last met and had our last exchange, it was in February, and it was at that time that I asked you a question about whether collective bargaining agreements were legally enforceable. You shared with me that you were unfamiliar with the collective bargaining process, and in fact, went on to say this was basically above your pay grade and outside your area of expertise, and that you would \u2018rely on career experts\u2019 to work on those issues. And in the weeks that followed our exchange, I was horrified to see this Administration took successive action and steps to undermine the [collective bargaining agreement]\u2019s and to hurt federal workers, and it started with the Executive Order removing collective bargaining rights for large portions of the federal workforce. It is so disturbing to me and really a horrible twist of fate that we are now faced with your nomination, a person who I have seen aid and abet this President\u2019s protracted campaign against federal workers\u2019 rights,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-russell-vought-has-traumatized-our-civil-servants-and-destroyed-the-consumer-financial-protection-bureau/", "ALSOBROOKS: RUSSELL VOUGHT\u00a0HAS TRAUMATIZED OUR CIVIL SERVANTS\u00a0AND DESTROYED\u00a0THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 16, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, questioned Russell Vought, Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) during the hearing \u201cThe CFPB Semi-Annual Report: A New Day at the CFPB Through Reform.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe 160,000 federal employees in my state \u2013 these are the patriots of our country who have worked for decades. They did not care whether the president is a Democrat or Republican. They are here to serve the American people, and they will not forget how they were treated, and neither will I. In fact, one Marylander who lost his federal job said the following, \u2018I can\u2019t tell you how terrifying it is to be a parent of two children faced with the thought that you cannot provide for your family.\u2019 So, I ask you, is that the kind of trauma you were talking about? Did you intend to sow terror for parents who need to provide for their families?\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-pettersen-lead-lawmakers-in-introducing-legislation-to-bring-transparency-to-corporate-abuse-of-tax-havens-job-offshoring", "Van Hollen, Pettersen Lead Lawmakers in Introducing Legislation to Bring Transparency to Corporate Abuse of Tax Havens, Job Offshoring", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.-07) led their colleagues in reintroducing the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, legislation to provide transparency around corporations\u2019 use of tax havens and incentives to offshore jobs. This bill would require public companies to disclose their financial reporting on a country-by-country basis. Ensuring public access to this information would both provide investors the tools they need to understand the tax structures and risks of the businesses in which they invest and give Americans insight into the extent to which the tax system is incentivizing the outsourcing of American jobs or enabling corporations to dodge U.S. taxes. Senator Van Hollen and Representative Pettersen were joined in introducing this legislation by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).\n\n\u201cWhile working Americans struggle to get by, large corporations continue to ship jobs overseas and take advantage of tax loopholes to hide their profits. This bill will provide critical transparency to both the American public and investors as to how these corporations abuse our broken tax system and the risks they are taking in the use of offshore tax havens. We must stand up for American workers, end incentives for big corporations to offshore jobs, and unrig our broken corporate tax code. Sunlight is the best disinfectant \u2013 shining a light on this issue is the first step,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cAs everyday families struggle to find jobs and pay for basic necessities, corporations are dodging taxes by shifting profits outside the country and making the rest of us pay. I'm proud to support this legislation that will require companies to disclose foreign operations, and ensure corporations pay into the system here at home,\u201d said Congresswoman Pettersen. \u201cThe Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act will increase transparency, and make corporations start paying their fair share.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor too long, many of the world\u2019s most profitable corporations have taken advantage of foreign tax havens to skirt paying their fair share here in the U.S. And it only became easier when Republicans passed their tax plan, which was chockfull of new incentives for corporations to ship profits and jobs overseas,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cWe cannot let this go unnoticed. With the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, we can finally hold these corporations accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s wrong that corporations can use their wealth to secretly exploit foreign tax havens while everyday Americans contribute their fair share,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThis common-sense legislation would shine a light on the murky world of offshore tax dodging to hold corporations accountable and provide important information to investors.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile hardworking American families are paying their fair share, many of the world\u2019s most profitable corporations abuse tax havens to avoid paying the taxes they owe,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cThis critical legislation ensures necessary transparency for consumers and investors about how corporations are taking advantage of our country\u2019s broken tax system and sending their jobs overseas. The Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act makes it easier to hold corporations accountable for tax avoidance.\u201d\n\n\u201cBig companies know how to scheme our tax system and hide their profits \u2013 all while hard-working families are playing by the rules and paying their fair share. It\u2019s a sham. We need to right this ship, and it starts with some basic transparency so Americans can see exactly how these wealthy companies are abusing our tax system and shipping their profits and American jobs overseas,\u201d said Senator Baldwin.\n\n\u201cCorporations have long abused offshore loopholes to avoid paying their fair share in taxes and move their profits overseas\u2014and jobs along with it,\u201d said Senator Duckworth. \u201cConsumers deserve to know if the companies they\u2019re buying from are outsourcing American jobs to other countries and dodging American taxes. It\u2019s long past time that we pass our commonsense legislation to help deliver transparency and hold these corporations accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans should not have to pay while corporations exploit tax loopholes to avoid paying their fair share,\u201d said Senator Smith. \u201cPresident Trump has made it easier than ever for big corporations to get away with dodging U.S. taxes through foreign tax havens, and American are forced to foot the bill as more jobs and investment move overseas. This bill would hold corporations accountable by requiring them to publicly report tax information on their foreign activities and reveal the extent of their offshore tax avoidance.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur tax law in the United States is totally broken\u2013we have a system where corporations are incentivized to ship profits and good-paying jobs overseas. The American people deserve full transparency about how companies are using these loopholes to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. We\u2019re working to ensure that corporations are held accountable for hiding profits in foreign tax havens,\u201d said Senator Welch.\n\nWhile the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act established a new global tax framework, it also introduced incentives for large U.S. companies to shift profits and jobs overseas. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act largely preserved those incentives. New research shows that in 2025, large corporations reduced their tax liability by more than $11 billion through the use of tax havens. Firms continue to benefit from shifting profits because they can pool income and foreign taxes across affiliates in both high- and low-tax countries, while foreign income remains subject to a significantly lower U.S. tax rate than domestic income.\n\nThe Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act would ensure there is more transparency in these tax practices by requiring large corporations to disclose basic information on each of their subsidiaries, and country-by-country financial information that sums together all of their subsidiaries in each country \u2013 including profits, taxes, employees, and tangible assets.\n\nAll of this information is already reported to the Internal Revenue Service, under an international Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development framework, but this legislation would ensure public disclosure to provide data on how international tax laws are working and where corporations are locating their business activities and taxes. Thus, when a corporation sends jobs overseas, their country-by-country financial report would show the extent to which the U.S. tax system is rewarding their behavior.\n\n\u201cBillionaires and large corporations continue to rake in record profits while exploiting tax loopholes to avoid paying their fair share in U.S. taxes,\u201d said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. \u201cMany of these companies are moving jobs overseas to benefit their bottom line, while draining resources from the communities they leave behind. The Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act would ensure long overdue transparency for these large corporations that are offshoring jobs and profits to avoid paying U.S. taxes. It is unacceptable that while working people pay our taxes, many of the most profitable corporations pay little or nothing in taxes. Corporate tax avoidance means less funding for the services people need to go to work\u2014like health care, child care, and public transportation. We thank Sen. Van Hollen and his colleagues for introducing this legislation to shine a light on corporations who are moving jobs overseas to avoid taxes, and we urge Congress to act swiftly to pass it.\u201d\n\nRobert Weissman, co-president, Public Citizen, said \u201cCorporations mock their duty to pay taxes by pretending that that they earned their profits in tax haven countries, depriving the government of tax revenue for urgent priorities like healthcare, education and addressing the climate crisis -- and making suckers of those of us who do pay our taxes, fair and square. Sen. Van Hollen and Rep. Pettersen\u2019s Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act would simply use the sunlight of disclosure to disinfect this dirty corporate practice. Every member should support this commonsense measure.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe applaud Senator Van Hollen and Representative Pettersen for leading this vital legislation to pull back the curtain of tax secrecy and strengthen our tax system,\u201d said Zorka Milin, policy director at the FACT Coalition. \u201cRecent accounting disclosures have provided fresh evidence of widespread tax haven use among the nation's largest and most profitable companies. Increased transparency is essential to creating a fairer corporate tax system that raises needed revenue and protects American manufacturing and jobs from offshoring.\"\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration's regrettable choice to end cooperation with the OECD's global minimum tax makes it all the more important for the U.S. to require detailed tax disclosures. The Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act would pull back the curtain on the rampant offshoring our most profitable corporations are currently engaged in,\u201d said Matthew Gardner, Senior Fellow, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.\n\nThis legislation is supported by the Financial Accountability & Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition, Public Citizen, Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-votes-to-advance-water-resources-development-act-of-2026/", "ALSOBROOKS\u00a0VOTES TO ADVANCE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2026", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 15, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works\u2019 (EPW) Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, attended the EPW\u2019s Committee markup of the Water Resources Development Act of 2026. After the markup, Senator Alsobrooks voted \u201cyes\u201d along with Committee colleagues to unanimously advance the Water Resources Development Act of 2026.\n\nWATCH ALSOBROOKS\u2019 FULL QUESTIONING HERE\n\n\u201cEvery family, every business, every school, and every community depends on safe, abundant, reliable water\u2014and on the partnerships that cross municipal lines and unite rural and urban communities to manage flood risk and harness the economic opportunities afforded to us by our waterways. In Maryland\u2014whether you\u2019re from the Eastern Shore or Mountain Maryland, Baltimore or the suburbs, we are all connected by the same rivers, the same streams, and the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks is proud of the real results for Maryland included in this legislation:\n\nEnvironmental Infrastructure Implementation\n\nAmends Section 219, which authorizes the Army Corps to assist non-federal partners with local environmental infrastructure and water-related projects, to allow non-federal interests to lead design and construction and receive reimbursement for the federal share of costs, which will streamline implementation and lower costs.\n\nPotomac River Basin Water Supply Study\n\nMuch of Montgomery County, Prince George\u2019s County, Washington, DC, and parts of Northern Virginia rely on the Potomac River for drinking water. If the river were contaminated by a chemical spill, major infrastructure failure, or other emergency, there is only a limited amount of stored treated water available. The Army Corps has noted that some systems have only 24 to 48 hours of supply if the Potomac became unusable. This study will evaluate long-term and large-scale secondary water supply options in the Potomac River Basin, primarily for Montgomery County, Prince George\u2019s County, and DC.\n\nAssateague Island Shoreline Restoration\n\nAssateague Island has been eroding at an accelerated rate and is extremely vulnerable to breaching. This bill authorizes a study to extend federal participation in the shoreline restoration project.\n\nChesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery Program Authorization Increase\n\nThe Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery Program focuses on the restoration and rehabilitation of reef habitat to provide for self-sustaining native oyster populations and associated fish and wildlife habitat within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The program is roughly $38M away from its authorized cap of $120M. The bill increases authorized funds for the oyster recovery program from $120,000,000 to $150,000,000, allowing for critical oyster recovery work to continue.\n\nChesapeake & Ohio Canal Re-Watering Cost Share Adjustment\n\nUnder previous WRDA authorities, the federal government is responsible for 65 percent of project costs, and the City of Cumberland is responsible for 35 percent of the project costs. This high cost ratio is overly burdensome for Cumberland\u2019s budget, and work is currently halted for the project. The cost share for the C&O re-watering project is adjusted from 65-35 to 90-10, allowing the Corps and Cumberland to begin to move forward with the project. The project will restore and rewater the historic C&O Canal terminus, supporting downtown revitalization, tourism, and economic development while complementing Cumberland\u2019s broader flood risk management efforts.\n\nMussel Restoration Authorization\n\nAdds mussels to the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery Program, allowing Maryland to continue its mussel restoration work.\n\nCurtis Creek Maintenance\n\nThe Curtis Creek Federal Navigation Channel serves the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, the Coast Guard\u2019s only shipbuilding and major repair facility. The existing federal maintenance dredging authorization is limited to a depth of 22 feet, which no longer reflects the operational needs of the modern Coast Guard fleet. The Coast Guard is currently funding and completing an initial dredging of the channel to accommodate newer vessels. However, once that work is complete, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will only be authorized to maintain the channel at its currently authorized depth of 22 feet. This bill fixes that and allows the Corps to dredge to maintain a depth of 27 feet, provided the Corps determines that it is economically justified, important for national security benefits, and environmentally acceptable. Maintaining reliable access to the Yard is not just critical for our national security, but it is also important to Maryland\u2019s economy. The Yard supports more than 6,500 jobs and generates approximately $900 million in annual economic output. Ensuring the channel can continue accommodating modern Coast Guard vessels protects these jobs, sustains Maryland\u2019s maritime industrial base, and preserves the Yard\u2019s long-term operational capability.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-lujan-beyer-schrier-van-drew-reintroduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-help-reduce-medical-misdiagnosis", "Van Hollen, Luj\u00e1n, Beyer, Schrier, Van Drew Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Help Reduce Medical Misdiagnosis", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-Va.), Kim Schrier (D-Wash), and Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) announced their reintroduction of the Saving Lives and Reducing Health Care Waste by Improving Diagnosis in Medicine Act \u2013 bipartisan, bicameral legislation to address the alarming rate of medical diagnostic error in our country. The lawmakers\u2019 legislation aims to prevent and mitigate the devastating impacts these errors can have, including misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, permanent disability, and death. Recent research published in March 2025 estimates that across health care settings, over 900,000 Americans a year suffer permanent disability or death because of diagnostic error. These findings build on a 2015 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that concluded most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, and it\u2019s estimated that 80% of all harm caused by diagnostic error is preventable.\n\nThis legislation would create an Interagency Council on Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, as well as a new grant program for the establishment and maintenance of Research Centers of Diagnostic Excellence \u2013 such as the Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence at Johns Hopkins \u2013 that advance research and progress in diagnostic quality, safety, and health care value.\n\n\u201cFar too many Americans have experienced the loss, pain, and hardship that come with a misdiagnosed medical condition \u2013 and for many, these errors cause permanent disability or death. Medical diagnostic errors not only impact patients\u2019 lives \u2013 they also cost patients and our nation billions of dollars each year. This legislation will invest in efforts to prevent and reduce diagnostic errors, giving medical experts, patients, and their families the research and resources they need to better treat patients and save lives,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cEvery year, millions of Americans suffer the consequences of diagnostic errors, costing lives and burdening patients and our health care system with billions of dollars in avoidable costs. Every patient deserves an accurate diagnosis delivered in time to make a difference,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThat's why I'm joining my colleagues in reintroducing the Improving Diagnosis in Medicine Act to advance research and improve diagnostic quality and safety. No one should lose their life to a mistake we have the power to prevent.\u201d\n\n\u201cDiagnostic delays affect millions of Americans, drive up health care costs, and contribute to thousands of preventable deaths each year \u2013 but it doesn\u2019t have to be this way. Our bill invests in better data collection, stronger research, and sharing of best practices to improve diagnostic accuracy, deliver better outcomes for patients, and reduce health disparities. It also establishes Research Centers of Diagnostic Excellence to advance research, helps bring proven methods for preventing misdiagnosis into everyday clinical practice, and gives patients pathways to report delays and contribute to a growing body of data to inform policymaking. I thank Senators Van Hollen and Luj\u00e1n and Representatives Schrier and Van Drew for their leadership on this legislation, and will continue to work with colleagues to build support for it in the House,\u201d said Representative Beyer.\n\n\u201cGetting the right diagnosis at the right time can make the difference between life and death,\u201d said Representative Van Drew. \u201cToo many patients are suffering because of preventable mistakes that should never happen. This bipartisan bill focuses on improving the way we diagnose illnesses, giving doctors better tools and helping patients get the care they need sooner.\u201d\n\nDiagnostic errors stem from a wide variety of causes, including failure to provide an accurate or timely diagnosis; inadequate communication between providers, patients, and their families; a lack of information for patients on navigating the diagnostic process; and a system that discourages transparency and disclosure of diagnostic errors, which impedes attempts to learn from these events and improve diagnosis. The National Academies study concluded that: \u201cDespite the pervasiveness of diagnostic errors and the risk for serious patient harm, diagnostic errors have been largely unappreciated within the quality and patient safety movements in health care.\u201d\n\nThe Saving Lives and Reducing Health Care Waste by Improving Diagnosis in Medicine Act would:\n\nAuthorize a federal grant program for the establishment and maintenance of Research Centers of Diagnostic Excellence that advance research and progress in diagnostic quality, safety, and value in health care\n\nRequire the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to develop a strategic plan to modernize federal approaches and mechanisms to enable patients and their families to voluntarily report experiences of diagnostic error\n\nEstablish an Interagency Council on Improving Diagnosis in Health Care to:\n\nEnhance the quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of diagnosis in health care;\n\nIdentify and eliminate systemic barriers to supporting research in improving diagnosis in health care; and\n\nIdentify knowledge gaps, research and data needs, and policies to strengthen the clinical and translational research pipeline to improve diagnostic safety and quality\n\nThe text of the bill is available here.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by Patients for Patient Safety US, the Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence, and Physician-Parent Caregivers.\n\n\"Diagnostic errors are the most common, the most costly, and the most catastrophic of serious medical errors. Diagnostic errors stem from a wide variety of causes, including inadequate communication between providers, patients, and their families; the absence of metrics to gauge performance, limited feedback to clinicians, and system failures, like lost test-results which happened in my family\", said Sue Sheridan, President and CEO of Patients For Patient Safety US. \"Much of the research to date has focused on defining the magnitude of the problem. This legislation moves us toward identifying solutions to equip clinicians, patients and their families with the tools needed to arrive at the right diagnosis timely. It will save lives. PFPS US commends Senators Van Hollen and Lujan, and Representatives Beyer, Schrier, and VanDrew for their leadership and willingness to take on difficult healthcare issues that others often overlook. We look forward to this bill moving through the legislative process and into law\u201d.\n\n\u201cSenator Van Hollen and Representatives Beyer, Dr. Schrier, and Van Drew should be warmly applauded by patients and clinicians everywhere for taking up the call\", said David Newman-Toker, MD, Ph.D, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence at Johns Hopkins. \"Accurate diagnosis is a prerequisite for quality healthcare \u2014put simply, it\u2019s hard to apply the right treatment if you start out with the wrong diagnosis. Furthermore, failure to accurately diagnose is a major driver of excess healthcare costs. But diagnosis is also one of the most complex tasks in modern medicine; until we have a larger body of research that supports data-driven, reliable improvement strategies that are \u2018shovel ready,\u2019 our clinicians and healthcare system will be left struggling. There is much work yet to be done by all healthcare stakeholders to move this life-saving research forward.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-murphy-colleagues-in-introducing-bill-to-block-trump-from-taking-qatari-jet-with-him-when-he-leaves-office", "Van Hollen Joins Murphy, Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Block Trump from Taking Qatari Jet with Him When He Leaves Office", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), in introducing legislation to block President Trump from taking the luxury jumbo jet gifted by the Qatari government with him for his own personal use after he leaves office. The Luxury Jet Ethics and Transparency Act would bar Trump from transferring the jet away from the U.S. Air Force to his personal control \u2013 in line with the brazenly corrupt plan he, his administration, and his family cling to. The bill would also require an independent GAO review of the cost of the jet\u2019s retrofit and the potential conflicts of interest and national security impacts of the president accepting a $400 million plane from a foreign country.\n\n\u201cWe cannot allow this brazen corruption to stand. American foreign policy decisions must be made based on the interests of our national security \u2013 not based on the highest bidder. Since the President wouldn\u2019t reject the gift of a $400 million luxury jet, Congress must step in and prohibit Trump from transferring the jet away from the U.S. Air Force to his own personal control,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s hard to decide what\u2019s worse: accepting a $400 million bribe from a foreign government or spending a billion dollars in American taxpayer money to put gold plating on that bribe,\u201d said Senator Murphy. \u201cFor Donald Trump, it\u2019s not enough to sell our national security to enrich himself. He also has to steal from American taxpayers.\u201d\n\n\u201cJumbo jet, jumbo corruption,\u201d said Senator Markey. \u201cSo let\u2019s 86 this 747 transfer to Trump after he leaves office, and pass the Luxury Jet Ethics and Transparency Act.\u201d\n\n\"This President and his family are the most corrupt we\u2019ve ever seen in the White House. And we know he will be corrupt as the day is long\u2014planes, pardons, falsifying business records, and the list goes on. It is my responsibility, and the responsibility of Congress, to bar this President from transferring his new Qatari jet from the U.S. Air Force to his personal control. We need to take every possible step to stop this President from his own corruption. Our country deserves better,\" said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cWe cannot allow this brazen corruption to stand. American foreign policy decisions must be made based on the interests of our national security \u2013 not based on the highest bidder. Since the President wouldn\u2019t reject the gift of a $400 million luxury jet, Congress must step in and prohibit Trump from transferring the jet away from the U.S. Air Force to his own personal control,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump has repeatedly used the Presidency to enrich himself and leave taxpayers with the bill\u2014and it has to stop,\u201d said Senator Duckworth. \u201cAccepting a foreign jet was a mistake from the start and a tremendous waste of resources. Trump burned through nearly half a billion taxpayer dollars, only to partially retrofit his Qatari-gifted 747 that is still less safe than the old Air Force One. Taxpayers deserve a guarantee that their money didn\u2019t just go toward bankrolling needless upgrades for yet another private jet in this Grifter-in-Chief\u2019s personal collection.\u201d\n\n\u201cDonald Trump and his regime are defined by rampant corruption, treating the presidency as a get-rich-quick scheme at the expense of the American people. Trump never should have been able to accept a $400 million gift from another country. Under no circumstances should he be able to keep a luxury jet, whose upgrades and retrofitting cost millions of taxpayer dollars, for his personal use. This common-sense legislation will ensure he cannot,\u201d said Senator Hirono.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump continues to sell access and influence to the highest bidders. Without action, we stamp a Congressional seal of approval on this corruption,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cWe need the Luxury Jet Ethics and Transparency Act because Americans deserve answers and accountability for the Trump Administration\u2019s misuse of taxpayer funds for Trump\u2019s luxury jumbo jet.\u201d\n\nThis month, Senators Van Hollen and Murphy sent a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Air Force and a key government contractor to demand basic details about the Qatari jet\u2019s costs to taxpayers, national security risks, and the questionable process the Trump administration pursued to upgrade the plane.", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-joins-epw-committee-leadership-in-introducing-the-water-resources-development-act-of-2026/", "ALSOBROOKS JOINS EPW COMMITTEE\u00a0LEADERSHIP\u00a0IN\u00a0INTRODUCING\u00a0THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2026", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 14, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, joined U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the EPW Committee, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the EPW Committee, Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chairman of the EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the EPW Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee in introducing the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026).\n\nThe Water Resources Development Act is biennial legislation that authorizes flood risk management, navigation, and ecosystem restoration projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). WRDA 2026 also reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) drinking water and wastewater infrastructure programs, including the State Revolving Funds (SRFs).\n\nSenator Alsobrooks is proud of the real results for Maryland included in this legislation:\n\nEnvironmental Infrastructure Implementation\n\nAmends Section 219, which authorizes the Army Corps to assist non-federal partners with local environmental infrastructure and water-related projects, to allow non-federal interests to lead design and construction and receive reimbursement for the federal share of costs, which will streamline implementation and lower costs.\n\nPotomac River Basin Water Supply Study\n\nMuch of Montgomery County, Prince George\u2019s County, Washington, DC, and parts of Northern Virginia rely on the Potomac River for drinking water. If the river were contaminated by a chemical spill, major infrastructure failure, or other emergency, there is only a limited amount of stored treated water available. The Army Corps has noted that some systems have only 24 to 48 hours of supply if the Potomac became unusable. This study will evaluate long-term and large-scale secondary water supply options in the Potomac River Basin, primarily for Montgomery County, Prince George\u2019s County, and DC.\n\nAssateague Island Shoreline Restoration\n\nAssateague Island has been eroding at an accelerated rate and is extremely vulnerable to breaching. This bill authorizes a study to extend federal participation in the shoreline restoration project.\n\nChesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery Program Authorization Increase\n\nThe Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery Program focuses on the restoration and rehabilitation of reef habitat to provide for self-sustaining native oyster populations and associated fish and wildlife habitat within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The program is roughly $38M away from its authorized cap of $120M. The bill increases authorized funds for the oyster recovery program from $120,000,000 to $150,000,000, allowing for critical oyster recovery work to continue.\n\nChesapeake & Ohio Canal Re-Watering Cost Share Adjustment\n\nUnder previous WRDA authorities, the federal government is responsible for 65 percent of project costs, and the City of Cumberland is responsible for 35 percent of the project costs. This high cost ratio is overly burdensome for Cumberland\u2019s budget, and work is currently halted for the project. The cost share for the C&O re-watering project is adjusted from 65-35 to 90-10, allowing the Corps and Cumberland to begin to move forward with the project. The project will restore and rewater the historic C&O Canal terminus, supporting downtown revitalization, tourism, and economic development while complementing Cumberland\u2019s broader flood risk management efforts.\n\nMussel Restoration Authorization\n\nAdds mussels to the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery Program, allowing Maryland to continue its mussel restoration work.\n\n\u201cAs Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, I am so proud of this bipartisan effort and the commitment we\u2019ve had to advancing this critical legislation. I\u2019m especially proud to have fought for provisions that deliver real results for Maryland\u2014from increasing the federal cost share for the Cumberland flood risk management project to extending federal participation in the Assateague Island Shoreline Restoration and authorizing a funding increase for the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery Program. We\u2019re working together to modernize our infrastructure, protect our habitats, accomplish our environmental goals, and support communities across the country and Maryland. That is worth celebrating,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Army Corps of Engineers conducts essential work to modernize water resources infrastructure, manage risk from floods and coastal storms, and improve navigation along our waterways and at Ports. This work protects lives and property, and bolsters our economy. As Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I am proud to have led this bipartisan effort in crafting WRDA 2026, which will provide the Army Corps with the resources it needs to continue its critical work nationwide. WRDA 2026 will also help provide West Virginia with vital funds to address our water infrastructure needs. This bill includes key wins for West Virginia and all fifty states. I hope to see it move forward with strong bipartisan support during Wednesday\u2019s business meeting,\u201d said Chairman Capito.\n\n\u201cOur markup to advance this significant package of legislation demonstrates a bipartisan commitment to maintaining and upgrading the nation\u2019s water infrastructure. The Ocean State stands to benefit much from this bill, which supports investments in safe drinking water and wastewater systems as well as flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, and navigation,\u201d said Ranking Member Whitehouse.\n\n\u201cUnder both Republican and Democrat leadership, members of the Environment and Public Works Committee have worked together to pass a bipartisan Water Resources Development Act every two years through regular order. This year\u2019s WRDA is a testament to the continued cooperation of the committee, especially the leadership of Chairman Capito and Ranking Member Whitehouse. The bill delivers wins for communities across North Dakota and the nation by authorizing critical water infrastructure programs, advancing efforts to streamline project delivery, and pursuing key regulatory reforms. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this done,\u201d said Senator Cramer.\n\n\u201cOur bipartisan legislation will provide critical resources to address water supply, conservation and development, advance resilient water infrastructure, and deliver clean drinking water to millions of Americans. In California, these investments will lower rising water bills, provide necessary flood protection, and modernize aging infrastructure to ensure reliable access to safe drinking water,\u201d said Senator Schiff.\n\nThe bill text is availablehere.\n\nA section-by-section overview of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-to-vote-no-on-advancing-2027-ndaa/", "ALSOBROOKS\u00a0TO VOTE NO ON\u00a0ADVANCING\u00a02027\u00a0NDAA", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 14, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released the following statement ahead of voting \u201cNo\u201d on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act.\n\n\u201cMaryland is home to thousands of servicemembers, veterans, and civilians who work every day to protect our nation\u2019s national security. I am proud of the wins I secured in this legislation for them and their service to this nation. However, I cannot overlook that this bill authorizes over $1 trillion, which will continue to enable this President to take America deeper into a war with Iran that Congress has voted in a bipartisan and bicameral way to end. This war continues to rage on against the will of Congress and the American People. It remains clear this President has no plan to get us out of this war. All the while, hardworking Americans are paying for it at the gas pump and at their grocery stores.\n\n\u201cI am voting no on the National Defense Authorization Act today. War is always paid for by hardworking Americans. We cannot afford this.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-democrats-urge-omb-to-rescind-rule-politicizing-federal-grant-decision-making", "Maryland Democrats Urge OMB to Rescind Rule Politicizing Federal Grant Decision-Making", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Maryland Congressional Delegation members \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.) \u2013 are calling out the Trump Administration\u2019s attempts to undermine and politicize the federal grant-making process. In a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, the lawmakers press OMB to rescind a new proposed rule that would overhaul the grantmaking and cooperative agreement processes across the entire federal government, centralizing power within OMB, reducing transparency and accountability, undermining Congress, and clearing the path for the Trump Administration to continue weaponizing and politicizing the federal grantmaking process.\n\n\u201cWe write to express strong opposition to the Office of Management and Budget\u2019s sweeping proposed \u201cRegulation for Federal Financial Assistance\u201d rule that would completely overhaul and politicize the grantmaking and cooperative agreement processes across the entire federal government,\u201d the lawmakers begin.\n\nThey go on to stress the importance of federal grants, noting, \u201cAcross the state, federal investment supports research into our ocean and waterways as well as our air, crops, livestock and soil. Federal grants support advancements in health and medicine including research into the treatment of diseases such as pediatric cancer and sickle cell disease and drive the development of new technologies that will keep Americans healthy. Grant-funded childcare through Head Start and Early Head Start serves families from the Eastern Shore to Garrett County. These dollars power cutting-edge developments in space technology, satellites, AI, and quantum computing. Federal funds also allow organizations to support victims of sexual assault, violence, and other crimes. The proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance represents a threat to every one of those efforts to better American lives, strengthen our economy, and keep our country competitive.\u201d\n\nOn the proposed rule, the lawmakers write, \u201cIn reality, if finalized, this more than 400-page rule will make significant, sweeping, and binding policy changes to the Uniform Guidance across more than 40 federal grant-making agencies and offices responsible for awarding billions of dollars in funding and federal financial assistance each fiscal year. It would codify the Trump Administration\u2019s campaign to eviscerate our research infrastructure and authorize more arbitrary cancellations, job losses due to funding uncertainty, and disruptions of work that require consistent data collection to maintain scientific validity.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis rule would further centralize power within OMB giving it authority over the heads of dozens of federal agencies as well as merit-based processes in matters of grantmaking and cooperative agreements. In doing so, this rule would place layers of bureaucratic and political red tape between elected representatives who are Constitutionally-responsible for appropriations, the federal agencies whose resources support our state and help drive our local economies, and Marylanders who rely on grants to support valuable research and services,\u201d they continue.\n\nThe lawmakers detail the impact of federal grants on Maryland, noting, \u201cSince the beginning of the President\u2019s term, the Administration and OMB\u2019s intentional delay in spending appropriated funds, grant terminations and disruptions, and overall fewer federal grants being awarded has impacted billions of dollars in federal funding to Maryland, including our state and local governments, schools, and research institutions. As a result, hundreds of our constituents have lost their jobs, Maryland research institutions and universities are undergoing hiring freezes and layoffs, and graduate and post-doctoral programs have been forced to cut or limit admissions\u2013all which threaten to stifle U.S. leadership and innovation for decades to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe people of Maryland and the United States deserve actual transparency, reliability, and accountability from our federal government, not arbitrary rules and political interference from OMB that would weaken our scientific and research enterprise, risk more jobs, and slow down hard-won progress. We urge you to rescind this proposed rule immediately,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Director Vought:\n\nWe write to express strong opposition to the Office of Management and Budget\u2019s sweeping proposed \u201cRegulation for Federal Financial Assistance\u201d rule that would completely overhaul and politicize the grantmaking and cooperative agreement processes across the entire federal government.\n\nYear after year, Maryland turns federal investment into public goods with national and global benefits. Across the state, federal investment supports research into our ocean and waterways as well as our air, crops, livestock and soil. Federal grants support advancements in health and medicine including research into the treatment of diseases such as pediatric cancer and sickle cell disease and drive the development of new technologies that will keep Americans healthy. Grant- funded childcare through Head Start and Early Head Start serves families from the Eastern Shore to Garrett County. These dollars power cutting-edge developments in space technology, satellites, AI, and quantum computing. Federal funds also allow organizations to support victims of sexual assault, violence, and other crimes. The proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance represents a threat to every one of those efforts to better American lives, strengthen our economy, and keep our country competitive. We urge you to immediately rescind this proposed rule that will further risk evidence-based science, research, and innovation in Maryland and across the United States.\n\nOn Friday, May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in conjunction with federal grant-making agencies, published a proposed rule in the federal register with the stated intent to \u201cimprove and clarify government-wide policies and requirements related to the management of Federal financial assistance including grants and cooperative agreements.\u201d The purported objectives of the proposed rule include: improving transparency, accountability, and oversight of federal funds; reducing recipient burden; and clarifying 2 C.F.R regulatory text\u2013 commonly referred to as the \u201cUniform Guidance\u201d\u2013 as an OMB regulation.\n\nIn reality, if finalized, this more than 400-page rule will make significant, sweeping, and binding policy changes to the Uniform Guidance across more than 40 federal grant-making agencies and offices responsible for awarding billions of dollars in funding and federal financial assistance each fiscal year. It would codify the Trump Administration\u2019s campaign to eviscerate our research infrastructure and authorize more arbitrary cancellations, job losses due to funding uncertainty, and disruptions of work that require consistent data collection to maintain scientific validity.\n\nThis rule would further centralize power within OMB giving it authority over the heads of dozens of federal agencies as well as merit-based processes in matters of grantmaking and cooperative agreements. In doing so, this rule would place layers of bureaucratic and political red tape between elected representatives who are Constitutionally-responsible for appropriations, the federal agencies whose resources support our state and help drive our local economies, and Marylanders who rely on grants to support valuable research and services.\n\nThe federal grantmaking process includes essential, non-political guardrails that this rule seeks to eviscerate. Should it be finalized, OMB would have the legal authority to cancel any grant at any time simply because it no longer aligns with \u201cfederal agency priorities.\u201d In almost all circumstances, Maryland grant recipients would not be able to appeal that decision or have a neutral party, such as a judge, review it. Just last year, legal action helped restore millions of dollars in wrongfully cancelled funding by the Trump Administration for AmeriCorps, mental health services, and biomedical research, among others. This proposed rule would make such cancellations easier. Without the ability to appeal or contest an arbitrary cancellation, grant- supported research including clinical trials and jobs can end with the stroke of a pen. Allowing political appointees to have the final say, rather than merit-based processes or Congress\u2019s decision to fund programs, does not advance the stated goals of transparency or accountability.\n\nFurther, the rule contains a tangle of undefined new standards that would not clarify regulations. Federal regulations must be sufficiently clear to allow recipients to understand and comply with their obligations in good faith. This proposed rule introduces new criteria for evaluating grants such as adherence to \u201cgold standard science,\u201d whether they \u201cpromote anti-American values,\u201d or specific consideration for, \u201ca history of questionable practices,\u201d like \u201caffiliation with a group that has undermined public safety\u201d but does not provide meaningful definitions for these new standards. Grantees must even ensure that all subrecipients do not, \u201ctake actions that could significantly damage the reputation of the pass-through entity, the Federal agency making the award, or the Federal Government.\u201d The rule does make clear, however, that non-compliance with any of the new vague and underdefined standards can result in immediate termination of support.\n\nBeyond the arbitrary standards that are ripe for abuse, this proposed rule seeks to prohibit freedom of association, speech, and the international collaboration that has made Maryland a leader not only in our region, but in the world. This regulation would bar researchers from using federal funds to publish the research they undertake with our collective resources and would prohibit researchers from attending professional conferences without pre-approval from the federal government. This rule would also presumptively prohibit many international collaborations and further restrict any scientific engagement with foreign entities. Fields from biomedical research to space science regularly put Marylanders in the position of leading work with teams of scientists and engineers in other countries. While security safeguards are always important, this rule would not strengthen them, but in practice, will limit freedom, research, and collaboration in the name of security.\n\nOf course, this proposal does not come in a vacuum; it is being offered in the midst of illegal attacks, uncertainty, and gutting of the entire U.S. scientific and research enterprise by the Trump Administration. We are facing the consequences of these actions in real time. In fiscal year 2025 alone, the Trump Administration indiscriminately terminated thousands of NIH grants and disrupted more than 300 clinical trials, putting thousands of patients including children at risk. Recent reports suggest hundreds of NIH grants are actively being delayed because of the Administration\u2019s unprecedented politicalization of the NIH grant review process\u2013and as a result, Maryland-specific NIH competitive awards have decreased by 33% in fiscal year 2026 compared to prior years.\n\nSince the beginning of the President\u2019s term, the Administration and OMB\u2019s intentional delay in spending appropriated funds, grant terminations and disruptions, and overall fewer federal grants being awarded has impacted billions of dollars in federal funding to Maryland, including our state and local governments, schools, and research institutions. As a result, hundreds of our constituents have lost their jobs, Maryland research institutions and universities are undergoing hiring freezes and layoffs, and graduate and post-doctoral programs have been forced to cut or limit admissions\u2013 all which threaten to stifle U.S. leadership and innovation for decades to come.\n\nThe people of Maryland and the United States deserve actual transparency, reliability, and accountability from our federal government, not arbitrary rules and political interference from OMB that would weaken our scientific and research enterprise, risk more jobs, and slow down hard-won progress. We urge you to rescind this proposed rule immediately.", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-highlight-2-million-in-federal-funding-to-support-veteran-owned-small-businesses", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Highlight $2 Million in Federal Funding to Support Veteran-Owned Small Businesses", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-Md.) joined the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) at their annual INTERNATIONAL training program to present the organization and leaders from the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation (MCCCF) with a $2,000,000 federal investment to expand VIP and provide more resources to veteran-owned small businesses in Maryland and across the country. The Senators fought to secure this investment in Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations.\n\n\u201cWe can never fully repay our veterans for their sacrifice in serving our country. But we have a duty to support them when they return home \u2013 and that includes ensuring they have every opportunity to succeed. That\u2019s why we fought to secure this $2 million in federal funds to build on our investments over the years and continue expanding the Veteran Institute for Procurement\u2019s small-business and workforce training programs. I\u2019ve been proud to partner with VIP to support their critical work over the years, and with these funds, the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation and VIP will continue to support veteran entrepreneurs and help veteran-owned small businesses continue to grow,\u201d said U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.\n\n\u201cWe have an obligation to do more than say thank you to those who served our country. We must ensure veterans have the health care they need, housing that is affordable and safe, and opportunities to generate wealth and truly thrive. I am proud to have partnered with Senator Van Hollen to secure $2 million to support veteran-owned businesses and veteran entrepreneurs. Small businesses are the backbone of Maryland and our nation. Veteran-owned small businesses help fuel our economy while supporting those who served,\u201d said Senator Angela Alsobrooks.\n\nVIP delivers training programs that support small businesses owned by veterans \u2013 including those with service-connected disabilities \u2013 and help them secure federal small business contracts, pursue entrepreneurship, and invest in their workforces. It has served more than 3,600 veteran-owned businesses across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa. VIP graduates have secured over $50 billion in prime federal contracts and $15 billion in subcontract awards to date.\n\n\u201cVeteran-owned small businesses in Maryland play a vital role in creating jobs and strengthening communities, while also contributing to the national economy,\u201d said Barbara Ashe, National Director of the Veteran Institute for Procurement and President of the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation. \u201cWith the support of Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks, this funding enables us to help more Veteran entrepreneurs build sustainable companies that fuel economic growth locally and well beyond our state.\u201d\n\nSenator Van Hollen has a long history of supporting VIP, including supporting the organization\u2019s national expansion in 2011, securing $2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending in FY 2023, and supporting investments from the Small Business Administration to VIP.", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-markey-garcia-fitzpatrick-in-reintroducing-legislation-to-strengthen-supports-for-airport-service-workers", "Van Hollen Joins Markey, Garc\u00eda, Fitzpatrick in Reintroducing Legislation to Strengthen Supports for Airport Service Workers", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and and Representatives Chuy Garc\u00eda (D-Ill.-04) and Brian Fitzpatrick (D-Pa.-01) in reintroducing the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, legislation that would improve wages and working conditions for airport service workers. The legislation would also support working families and help stabilize the air travel industry as airlines pocket record profits while airport service workers remain stuck at minimum wage.\n\n\u201cOur airports \u2013 and the workers that keep them running \u2013 are critical to our economy, moving millions of people and goods throughout our country every day. It\u2019s past time these workers see the pay, benefits, and working conditions that they deserve. I am proud to fight for the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, legislation to provide improved wages, benefits, and labor standards to this vital workforce,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThese workers serve through extreme temperatures, holiday travel surges, and even pandemics \u2014 yet too many still struggle with low pay, unaffordable care, and rising costs,\u201d said Senator Markey. \u201cBecause airports are the gateway to the world for travelers, they must also be the gateway to stable, middle-class jobs for workers. I am proud to partner with Congressmen Garcia and Fitzpatrick to lead this bipartisan, pro-worker legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s airports support millions of jobs and move hundreds of millions of travelers each year. While U.S. airlines generated $6 billion in profit last year, airport frontline workers, who are predominantly Latino, Black and immigrant, are barely making ends meet. In fact 7 per cent of them live under the poverty level,\u201d said Congressman Chuy Garc\u00eda. \u201cThe Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, seeks to ensure airport workers, who make our air travel possible, get the dignity and compensation they deserve for their hard work.\u201d\n\n\u201cAirport service workers are entrusted every day with the safety, order, and reliability of one of the most complex transportation systems in the world. We cannot ask them to carry that responsibility while denying them the economic security that comes with fair wages and meaningful benefits. The Good Jobs for Good Airports Act establishes one clear principle: the value of the work does not change because a job is outsourced or a different contractor signs the paycheck. By investing in the people who keep our airports moving, we strengthen the entire aviation system\u2014and uphold our obligation to the workers, families, and travelers who depend upon it,\u201d said Congressman Fitzpatrick.\n\nThe legislation is also cosponsored in the Senate by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).\n\n\u201cAirport workers keep millions of Americans moving every day\u2014and a job that keeps America moving should be a job that lets a family get ahead. The Good Jobs for Good Airports Act will raise wages, strengthen benefits, and ensure these workers finally receive the dignity and respect they\u2019ve earned. It\u2019s past time Congress made sure good jobs take off at every airport in America,\u201d said Senator Schumer.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a no-brainer that we should be paying our airport service workers fairly for all they do to keep our transportation systems safe and running. I\u2019m fighting hard alongside Senator Markey to make sure airport workers finally get the compensation they deserve, which will make our infrastructure even stronger in Massachusetts and across the country,\u201d said Senator Warren.\n\n\u201cGeorgia\u2019s airports connect tens of millions of travelers to the state\u2019s incredible history, culture, and businesses,\u201d said Senator Warnock. \u201cThis is only possible because of the airport service workers who keep our aviation system running. Our legislation is an important step toward ensuring these workers receive the support and compensation they have earned.\u201d\n\n\u201cProviding airport workers with fair compensation and protections is long overdue,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cAirlines have consolidated power and raked in profits while airport service workers struggle to make ends meet. The Good Jobs for Good Airports Act will deliver the fair pay and benefits these critical workers who keep our country moving deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Arizonan deserves to be fairly compensated for their hard work, including the men and women who keep our airports running smoothly,\u201d said Senator Gallego. \u201cThe Good Jobs for Good Airports Act invests in airports that invest in their workers, ensuring airports are economic hubs not just for travels, but for the communities they\u2019re located in. I\u2019m proud to help reintroduce this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day, thousands of airport workers get passengers to their next destination, but many don\u2019t make enough to cover their basic needs. The Good Jobs for Good Airports Act will make sure federal investments in our nation\u2019s airports also support the workers who keep them running,\u201d said Senator Murphy.\n\nThe Good Jobs for Good Airports Act is endorsed by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), UNITE HERE, and the Communications Workers of America (CWA).\n\n\u201cI've given years of my life to this airport, keeping planes clean and passengers safe \u2014 and I still can't afford to take my kids to the doctor,\u201d said Nicole Ray, a wheelchair agent at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. \u201cSomething is deeply wrong when the airlines I serve are posting record profits while I'm choosing between groceries and medicine. It\u2019s time for Congress to decide whose side they\u2019re on and pass the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day, airport service workers keep our country moving. They do the essential work that keeps our airports safe, our aviation system running, and millions of travelers connected. Airport service workers deserve more than our thanks, they deserve good jobs that provide dignity, security, and the opportunity to build a better life,\u201d said April Verrett, President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU). \u201cThe Good Jobs for Good Airports Act is about recognizing the value of that work. Congress should stand with the workers who keep our airports running and pass this legislation. When we invest in working people, we build a stronger economy and a stronger nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur tax dollars continue to be invested in the expansion and improvement of the nation\u2019s airports. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act committed billions for airports, with the final $2.9 billion invested this year. However, airports are not just buildings with tarmacs and airplanes: a successful airport depends on its workers. Despite this, there are UNITE HERE members working in airport concessions and airline catering who are struggling to make ends meet. Some of them work multiple jobs and with no healthcare. Our investments must support a healthy workforce and offer wages that lift workers out of poverty \u2014 the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act would set a fair national standard for wages and benefits for airport workers across the United States,\u201d said Gwen Mills, President of UNITE HERE.", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-murray-call-out-blanche-for-failing-to-meet-with-epstein-survivors-press-him-to-make-good-on-his-commitment", "Van Hollen, Murray Call Out Blanche for Failing to Meet with Epstein Survivors, Press Him to Make Good on His Commitment", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called on Acting United States Attorney General Todd Blanche to fulfill the commitment he made at the May 19, 2026, CJS Appropriations hearing to meet with Epstein survivors. The Senators\u2019 letter comes nearly two months after Acting AG Blanche committed to meet with the survivors in response to the Senators\u2019 questioning at the hearing and nearly seven months after the first tranche of Epstein files were released by DOJ in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Despite repeated attempts from the Senators\u2019 offices to facilitate a meeting, Blanche has still not done so.\n\nThe senators begin, \u201cAt the May 19, 2026, hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, we asked whether you would meet with Epstein survivors if we connected you with them. You responded, \u2018Absolutely.\u2019 It has been nearly two months since then, and even though we provided the Department of Justice (the Department) with the point of contact for the Epstein survivors\u2014and have followed up on this request multiple times\u2014the survivors have not received the promised outreach.\u201d\n\n\u201cRecently, reporting revealed that you were present at several meetings last summer in the White House Situation Room with the President\u2019s closest advisors, confirming that the White House and the Department have been more interested in minimizing damage to the President relating to his personal friendship with Jeffrey Epstein than providing transparency to survivors and holding accountable those who may be implicated in Epstein\u2019s crimes,\u201d they note.\n\n\u201cYour responsibility as Acting Attorney General is to pursue justice, not to shield the President. We therefore expect a response no later than July 28, 2026, confirming a date for the meeting with survivors you committed to hold,\u201d the senators conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Acting Attorney General Blanche:\n\nAt the May 19, 2026, hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, we asked whether you would meet with Epstein survivors if we connected you with them. You responded, \u201cAbsolutely.\u201d\n\nIt has been nearly two months since then, and even though we provided the Department of Justice (the Department) with the point of contact for the Epstein survivors\u2014and have followed up on this request multiple times\u2014the survivors have not received the promised outreach. Additionally, our offices have not received any substantive responses from the Department indicating when the meeting will be scheduled.\n\nRecently, reporting revealed that you were present at several meetings last summer in the White House Situation Room with the President\u2019s closest advisors, confirming that the White House and the Department have been more interested in minimizing damage to the President relating to his personal friendship with Jeffrey Epstein than providing transparency to survivors and holding accountable those who may be implicated in Epstein\u2019s crimes.\n\nYour responsibility as Acting Attorney General is to pursue justice, not to shield the President. We therefore expect a response no later than July 28, 2026, confirming a date for the meeting with survivors you committed to hold.", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-over-800000-for-infrastructure-workforce-development-in-washington-allegany-counties", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce Over $800,000 for Infrastructure, Workforce Development in Washington, Allegany Counties", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $802,731 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for infrastructure and workforce development in Washington and Allegany Counties. These investments will support water infrastructure upgrades, improve the Evergreen Heritage Center, and expand job training opportunities for local students.\n\n\u201cFrom upgrading water infrastructure and expanding access to our natural resources to creating more workforce training opportunities for good-paying jobs, these investments will directly support Western Maryland communities and contribute to Mountain Maryland\u2019s economy and growth,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cWestern Maryland has so much to offer our state and our entire nation, that\u2019s why it is so critical that we improve our infrastructure, make sure young people have access to apprenticeship and trade programs, and maintain all the recreation opportunities Mountain Maryland has to offer \u2013 fueling our tourism economy,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cWhen we invest in our communities, we invest in our people. I'm committed to bringing federal resources home to Western Maryland to help lower costs and expand opportunity. These investments will modernize critical infrastructure, strengthen workforce development, and support local organizations that make our communities stronger. I'm proud to work alongside Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to ensure Western Maryland receives the federal support it deserves,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\nThe federal grants have been awarded as follows:\n\n$577,000 to the Town of Keedysville to replace approximately 2,600 linear feet of aging ductile iron water lines in the Bedrock and Coffman Farms neighborhoods with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lines. The water infrastructure upgrades will provide improved service to 129 businesses and 1,826 households connected to the system.\n\n$197,331 to Hagerstown Community College (HCC) to expand apprenticeship and trade programs to accommodate 274 students. HCC will provide students with hands-on training and connect participants to local employers, establishing a pipeline to help meet the growing demand for HVAC technicians, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and more in Appalachian Maryland.\n\n$28,400 to the Evergreen Heritage Center Foundation to install 5 experiential enhancements on its Forest Evolution Trail in partnership with Allegany County Public Schools and Frostburg State University, and will create Activity User Guides for residents and tourists who visit the trail. These upgrades will benefit an estimated 200 visitors in the first year alone, while supporting the education of 500 public school students and 15 Frostburg State University students.\n\nThese investments are provided through the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development partnership entity of the federal government and 13 state governments, focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. Senator Van Hollen secured $200 million in federal funding for the ARC through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, and the lawmakers have since worked to prevent cuts to the program from the Trump Administration.", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-gillibrand-colleagues-in-demanding-pentagon-release-long-awaited-report-on-us-bombing-of-iranian-elementary-school", "Van Hollen Joins Gillibrand, Colleagues in Demanding Pentagon Release Long-Awaited Report on U.S. Bombing of Iranian Elementary School", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and 23 of their Senate colleagues in continuing to demand answers from the Department of Defense (DoD) over the U.S.\u2019 bombing of an Iranian elementary school in February. The strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, which reportedly killed approximately 120 children and at least 175 people in total, represented the worst civilian casualty incident caused by the U.S. military in decades.\n\nIn a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper, the senators called for the swift completion and release of the Pentagon\u2019s investigation into the school strike, which was reportedly submitted in April, but remains under review by senior military officials. They also requested that the Pentagon provide Congress with a comprehensive plan to ensure that this type of incident does not happen again.\n\n\u201cMore than four months after the strike, and after the reported submission of the investigation in April, Congress and the American people still have not received the Department\u2019s investigation and findings,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cThere is no justification for withholding an unclassified accounting of what happened, what went wrong, and what the Department is doing to prevent recurrence.\u201d\n\nIn early March, Reuters first reported that U.S. military investigators believed U.S. forces were likely responsible for the Minab strike. Days later, Pentagon officials reportedly concluded through their preliminary investigation that a U.S. Tomahawk missile had struck the school. Investigators have also reportedly found that multiple failures led the school to be targeted in error, including missed 2019 remarks by an intelligence analyst indicating that the site had changed from a naval facility to a school. The analyst had entered the remarks into a digital system that was not connected to the authoritative targeting database, and officials planning the attack used imagery that had not been updated in several years and did not show a school at the site. In fact, according to recent reporting, senior U.S. military commanders ignored warnings that intelligence about potential targets was severely out of date for the sake of \u201cexpediency,\u201d which directly contributed to the strike on the school.\n\n\u201cThese reported issues, if accurate, raise deeply troubling questions about the integrity of U.S. target development, the adequacy of target validation and vetting procedures, the interoperability of intelligence and targeting databases, the timeliness and reliability of intelligence used for lethal targeting, and the Department\u2019s implementation of civilian harm mitigation policies,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cThey also raise urgent questions about whether the Department has sufficient targeting personnel, training, accountability mechanisms, and technical safeguards to support large-scale conventional operations.\n\nDespite this reporting, Trump administration officials have not publicly taken responsibility for the strike or the resultant civilian deaths. President Trump himself has suggested multiple times that the strike was not the U.S.\u2019 fault and has even blamed Iran. Additionally, Sec. Hegseth has spent his tenure deriding the rules of engagement and cutting DoD programs that aim to prevent harm to civilians during war, including slashing civilian harm mitigation and response staff at the U.S. combatant commands by over 90 percent.\n\nThe senators concluded, \u201cThe United States military has a legal and moral obligation to take all feasible precautions to prevent civilian harm. When a U.S. strike kills civilians, the Department owes Congress, the American people, and the victims\u2019 families a clear accounting of what happened and a credible plan to prevent future failures.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senators Van Hollen and Gillibrand, the letter was signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Hegseth and Admiral Cooper:\n\nWe write regarding the Department of Defense\u2019s investigation into the February 28, 2026 strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School for girls in Minab, Iran, which reportedly killed approximately 120 children and at least 175 people in total. If true, this incident would constitute the U.S. military\u2019s largest civilian casualty incident since 1991. The Department must promptly provide Congress with the complete and unredacted investigation, and submit a concrete plan to ensure such a tragedy does not happen again.\n\nRecent press reporting indicates that the investigation ordered by Admiral Cooper was submitted in April but remains under review by senior DoD leadership. That reporting further indicates that investigators have identified multiple potential failures, including that an analyst noted as early as 2019 that the site appeared to have changed from a naval facility into a school, but that remark was entered into a digital intelligence tool that was not connected to the authoritative targeting database used to develop strike targets. The reporting also indicates that the site was reviewed multiple additional times in subsequent years without the targeting database being updated. Additional reporting from this week alleges that warnings were made in the system indicating the intelligence for the targets was dated, but those warnings were ignored for \u201cexpediency\u201d even though the Administration spent weeks planning for President Trump\u2019s war of choice.\n\nThese reported issues, if accurate, raise deeply troubling questions about the integrity of U.S. target development, the adequacy of target validation and vetting procedures, the interoperability of intelligence and targeting databases, the timeliness and reliability of intelligence used for lethal targeting, and the Department\u2019s implementation of civilian harm mitigation policies. They also raise urgent questions about whether the Department has sufficient targeting personnel, training, accountability mechanisms, and technical safeguards to support large-scale conventional operations.\n\nMore than four months after the strike, and after the reported submission of the investigation in April, Congress and the American people still have not received the Department\u2019s investigation and findings. There is no justification for withholding an unclassified accounting of what happened, what went wrong, and what the Department is doing to prevent recurrence.\n\nAccordingly, we request that the Department of Defense and U.S. Central Command take the following actions no later than July 20, 2026:\n\n1. Promptly finalize the investigation into the February 28 strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School and provide Congress with the complete and unredacted investigation.\n\n2. Provide an unclassified version of the report to Congress, suitable for public release.\n\n3. Submit to Congress a prevention and remediation plan that identifies the specific corrective actions the Department will take to ensure this does not happen again.\n\n4. Provide a briefing to Congress on the investigation and all steps being taken to ensure errors of this kind do not happen again.\n\nThe United States military has a legal and moral obligation to take all feasible precautions to prevent civilian harm. When a U.S. strike kills civilians, the Department owes Congress, the American people, and the victims\u2019 families a clear accounting of what happened and a credible plan to prevent future failures.\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-statement-on-passing-of-senator-lindsey-graham", "Van Hollen Statement on Passing of Senator Lindsey Graham", "2026-07-12", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the passing of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m deeply saddened by Senator Lindsey Graham\u2019s sudden passing. While Lindsey and I disagreed on many, many things, we always had an open line of communication and honest conversation. Whenever possible, we worked together to find common ground, including our joint efforts to support our Syrian Kurdish partners and the SDF, who have been our main allies in the fight against ISIS.\n\n\u201cMy heart goes out to Lindsey\u2019s loved ones during this difficult time.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-road-to-housing-becomes-law/", "ALSOBROOKS:\u00a0ROAD TO HOUSING\u00a0BECOMES\u00a0LAW", "2026-07-11", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, released the following statement after the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act officially became law, without the President\u2019s signature.\n\n\u201cMarylanders across our state tell me the same thing: housing costs too much.\n\n\u201cAt midnight, the ROAD to Housing Act became law without President Trump\u2019s signature. His priorities are clear \u2013 he doesn\u2019t care to lower the cost of housing. He only cares about himself and his billionaire friends. What a shame.\n\n\u201cI am proud I worked across the aisle with colleagues in the Senate to ensure this legislation became law \u2013 the most comprehensive housing legislation in over 30 years. This bill will lower costs, cut red tape, increase the housing supply, and help make the dream of homeownership more affordable.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-12T07:28:31Z", "2026-07-12T07:30:18Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-breaks-ground-on-new-springhill-lake-elementary-school-built-through-p3-she-spearheaded/", "ALSOBROOKS BREAKS GROUND\u00a0ON NEW SPRINGHILL LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL\u00a0BUILT THROUGH P3 SHE SPEARHEADED", "2026-07-09", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 9, 2026\n\nGREENBELT, MD \u2013 Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined Prince George\u2019s County Public Schools (PGCPS) and Prince George\u2019s County Executive Aisha Braveboy to break ground on the new 103,000-square-foot Springhill Lake Elementary School, which will accommodate up to 850 prekindergarten through 5th grade students. When she served as County Executive of Prince George\u2019s County, Senator Alsobrooks worked with former PGCPS CEO Dr. Monica Goldson to create a Public Private Partnership (P3) school construction model that they worked to pass through the Maryland General Assembly. Under the continued guidance and leadership of the Progressive Education Partners (PEP), county students will see a total of 14 new P3 schools in 6 years \u2013 18 schools in all including traditional school construction.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks released the following statement following the groundbreaking:\n\n\u201cOur communities can tell what you value by where you invest your resources. As County Executive, I learned Prince George\u2019s County faced an $8.5 billion school construction backlog. The truth is \u2013 it\u2019s expensive to build and maintain schools. Coming up with a plan would take vision. It would require a willingness to act boldly because the need was immediate. And because these kinds of projects take a lot of time \u2013 even without unexpected challenges like a global pandemic \u2013 making it to this point would take patience and a commitment to the process even when success wasn\u2019t immediately visible. This was a bold move \u2013 an innovative public-private model that had never before been done at this level for any school system. I am so proud of this work and know we need to continue working together, in innovative ways, to deliver for our children. This is a model that worked and should be used across the nation.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-warner-kaine-press-administration-for-answers-on-trumps-takeover-of-dc-golf-courses", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Warner, Kaine Press Administration for Answers on Trump\u2019s Takeover of DC Golf Courses", "2026-07-09", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), pressed the Trump Administration for detailed answers to a series of questions on the Department of the Interior\u2019s plans for East Potomac Park redevelopment, citing concerns about impacts on public access and affordability, historic preservation, misuse of taxpayer funds, and environmental and public health. The Senator\u2019s letter comes after public reporting and the Administration\u2019s social media announcements of new plans for the park \u2013 which have yet to be detailed to the public \u2013 and follows up on a previous unanswered letter from the Senators earlier this year.\n\n\u201cWe write to follow up on our letter from January 26, 2026 that raised serious concerns regarding the Administration\u2019s termination of the lease held by the National Links Trust (NLT) for operation of East Potomac Golf Links, Langston Golf Course, and Rock Creek Park Golf Course. More than five months have passed since this letter was sent to you, and we have yet to receive a response. At an April Senate Appropriations hearing, Secretary Burgum acknowledged that he had not seen the letter, but assured Senator Van Hollen that the Department would respond. In the interim, the Administration has continued to advance plans for these courses, including Secretary Burgum's announcement on social media of a renovation design by Fazio Design for East Potomac Golf Links, without any disclosure to the public or to Congress of the scope, cost, or basis on which that engagement was awarded. The absence of any reply is itself troubling, and recent developments have made our concerns considerably more urgent,\u201d the Senators begin.\n\nOn the National Park Service\u2019s plans for East Potomac redevelopment and the lack of transparency, the Senators wrote, \u201cthe only detail provided was a low-resolution image of the proposed course, leaving the public and Congress entirely in the dark about the scope of the redevelopment, including to what extent redevelopment will ensure continued public access to the waterfront, address existing infrastructure issues on Hains Point, and protect important artifacts such as the historic cherry trees on the White Course \u2013 the oldest grove of Japanese cherry trees in D.C..\u201d\n\nOn Trump\u2019s visit to East Potomac Golf Links on June 28, 2026, the Senators wrote, \u201cFollowing that visit, the President announced on social media that work on East Potomac would begin on September 1, 2026, described the course as severely neglected, and stated that the redesigned course could host major professional golf tournaments. These photos and statements seem to illustrate the Administration\u2019s plans for East Potomac Park, yet the Department has still not provided Congress or the public with basic details about the scope of the project, the funding source, the expected period of closure or disruption, the effect on current users, or how such an accelerated timeline can be reconciled with applicable environmental, historic-preservation, procurement, and public-engagement requirements.\u201d\n\nThe Senators go on to request answers to the following questions:\n\nHow will the Department ensure that course fees and access at East Potomac Golf Links remain genuinely affordable for the communities that have depended on these public courses for nearly a century? Does the Department anticipate that course fees will increase or that the annual number of publicly available rounds of golf will decrease, as compared to when the course was managed by National Links Trust? If so, please provide estimates of the expected changes in cost and availability.\n\nHow will the Department ensure continued access for the bikers, walkers, runners, and recreational fishermen that utilize the popular waterfront Hains Point Loop Trail at East Potomac Park?\n\nWhat assessment has been made of potential health risks to golfers, course employees, youth program participants, and the surrounding environment at East Potomac Park, including the Potomac River?\n\nWhat plans are in place to remediate hazardous substances identified in the debris pile, what is the expected timeline for remediation actions, and who will bear the cost of these cleanup efforts?\n\nHow does the Department intend to ensure compliance with all applicable federal environmental and public health laws, including any requirements for environmental assessment?\n\nDoes the Department intend to rebuild the seawall before starting broader redevelopment at East Potomac Golf Links? How does the Department intend to fund the full scope of redevelopment, including seawall reconstruction? Will this be financed through federal appropriations, private donations, or some combination thereof, and has Congress been consulted about any use of taxpayer funds?\n\nWhat steps is the Department taking to protect the historic cherry trees on the White Course at East Potomac Golf Links, reportedly among the last surviving trees from the original 1910 gift from Japan, from any planned redevelopment or restoration work? How will the Department protect cherry trees along the waterfront at East Potomac Park?\n\nEast Potomac Park serves a wide range of users beyond golfers, including runners, cyclists, tennis players, fishermen, and families who rely on its open spaces and waterfront access. What assurances can the Department provide that the planned redevelopment will preserve access to these public spaces?\n\n\u201cThe municipal golf courses of Washington, D.C. are public assets with deep historical, recreational, and community value. Decisions affecting their future, and the health and safety of those who use them, must be guided by law, transparency, and fidelity to the public trust. The Administration\u2019s failure to respond to the questions posed in the January letter, combined with the significant new developments outlined above, compels us to seek answers with greater urgency,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Burgum and Acting Director Bowron,\n\nWe write to follow up on our letter from January 26, 2026 that raised serious concerns regarding the Administration\u2019s termination of the lease held by the National Links Trust (NLT) for operation of East Potomac Golf Links, Langston Golf Course, and Rock Creek Park Golf Course. More than five months have passed since this letter was sent to you, and we have yet to receive a response. At an April Senate Appropriations hearing, Secretary Burgum acknowledged that he had not seen the letter, but assured Senator Van Hollen that the Department would respond. In the interim, the Administration has continued to advance plans for these courses, including Secretary Burgum's announcement on social media of a renovation design by Fazio Design for East Potomac Golf Links, without any disclosure to the public or to Congress of the scope, cost, or basis on which that engagement was awarded. The absence of any reply is itself troubling, and recent developments have made our concerns considerably more urgent.\n\nOn May 8, 2026, the Department of the Interior announced an agreement under which the National Links Trust will receive a new long-term lease for Langston Golf Course and Rock Creek Park Golf, while continuing to operate East Potomac Golf Links until the National Park Service is prepared to begin a restoration project there. Public statements accompanying the agreement referenced future restoration and redevelopment concepts at the courses, including expanded facilities and community programming, as well as continued partnerships with organizations including First Tee of Greater Washington, D.C., the Western Golf Association, and the Evans Scholars Foundation. While we welcome commitments to keep the courses open, accessible, and affordable, the announcement raises important questions about the scope of any future work contemplated for East Potomac and the extent to which plans have already been developed. Secretary Burgum publicized the agreement on social media, posting that he was excited to unveil a renovation design from Fazio Design. However, the only detail provided was a low-resolution image of the proposed course, leaving the public and Congress entirely in the dark about the scope of the redevelopment, including to what extent redevelopment will ensure continued public access to the waterfront, address existing infrastructure issues on Hains Point, and protect important artifacts such as the historic cherry trees on the White Course \u2013 the oldest grove of Japanese cherry trees in D.C..\n\nThose concerns were further heightened by President Trump\u2019s unannounced visit to East Potomac Golf Links on June 28, 2026, with Secretary Burgum, representatives of Fazio Design, and White House staff. Photos captured during that visit show President Trump holding designs with a substantially increased project scope as compared to the initial design shared by Secretary Burgum. This new golf course design appears to encompass the entire peninsula stretching down to the southern end of Hains Point. The design also appears to jeopardize some of East Potomac Park\u2019s most popular features including the Hains Point bicycle trail, the miniature golf course, and historic cherry trees. Following that visit, the President announced on social media that work on East Potomac would begin on September 1, 2026, described the course as severely neglected, and stated that the redesigned course could host major professional golf tournaments. These photos and statements seem to illustrate the Administration\u2019s plans for East Potomac Park, yet the Department has still not provided Congress or the public with basic details about the scope of the project, the funding source, the expected period of closure or disruption, the effect on current users, or how such an accelerated timeline can be reconciled with applicable environmental, historic-preservation, procurement, and public-engagement requirements. A public commitment to preserve access is welcome, but it is not a substitute for a transparent plan that ensures East Potomac Park remains a genuinely affordable municipal golf course and public parkland for residents of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.\n\nThe environmental and public health concerns stemming from the Administration\u2019s decision to dump dirt and debris from the White House East Wing project on the White Course at East Potomac, raised in our original letter, have also grown more serious. A recent analysis of the debris provided by Jacobs Engineering Group detected many toxic compounds in the dirt pile including heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and pesticides. Several of these compounds, including arsenic and lead, were detected at levels that could pose a risk to human health. The public deserves a full account of what has been deposited there and what risks, if any, it poses.\n\nThe questions posed in the original letter remain unanswered. We respectfully request responses to all of the following:\n\nHow will the Department ensure that course fees and access at East Potomac Golf Links remain genuinely affordable for the communities that have depended on these public courses for nearly a century? Does the Department anticipate that course fees will increase or that the annual number of publicly available rounds of golf will decrease, as compared to when the course was managed by National Links Trust? If so, please provide estimates of the expected changes in cost and availability.\n\nHow will the Department ensure continued access for the bikers, walkers, runners, and recreational fishermen that utilize the popular waterfront Hains Point Loop Trail at East Potomac Park?\n\nWhat assessment has been made of potential health risks to golfers, course employees, youth program participants, and the surrounding environment at East Potomac Park, including the Potomac River?\n\nWhat plans are in place to remediate hazardous substances identified in the debris pile, what is the expected timeline for remediation actions, and who will bear the cost of these cleanup efforts?\n\nHow does the Department intend to ensure compliance with all applicable federal environmental and public health laws, including any requirements for environmental assessment?\n\nDoes the Department intend to rebuild the seawall before starting broader redevelopment at East Potomac Golf Links? How does the Department intend to fund the full scope of redevelopment, including seawall reconstruction? Will this be financed through federal appropriations, private donations, or some combination thereof, and has Congress been consulted about any use of taxpayer funds?\n\nWhat steps is the Department taking to protect the historic cherry trees on the White Course at East Potomac Golf Links, reportedly among the last surviving trees from the original 1910 gift from Japan, from any planned redevelopment or restoration work? How will the Department protect cherry trees along the waterfront at East Potomac Park?\n\nEast Potomac Park serves a wide range of users beyond golfers, including runners, cyclists, tennis players, fishermen, and families who rely on its open spaces and waterfront access. What assurances can the Department provide that the planned redevelopment will preserve access to these public spaces?\n\nThe municipal golf courses of Washington, D.C. are public assets with deep historical, recreational, and community value. Decisions affecting their future, and the health and safety of those who use them, must be guided by law, transparency, and fidelity to the public trust. The Administration\u2019s failure to respond to the questions posed in the January letter, combined with the significant new developments outlined above, compels us to seek answers with greater urgency.\n\nWe look forward to a response by July 20, 2026.", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-schrier-demand-action-on-infant-mortality-due-to-rising-rate-of-vitamin-k-refusal/", "ALSOBROOKS, SCHRIER\u00a0DEMAND ACTION ON INFANT MORTALITY DUE TO RISING RATE OF VITAMIN K REFUSAL", "2026-07-08", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "July 8, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As reported today in the New York Times, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-Wash.-08) demanded immediate action to address a growing and preventable public health crisis: the rising rate of vitamin K refusal at birth and resulting vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) among newborns in a letter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya.\n\n\u201cRFK Jr. has spewed lies and dangerous rhetoric about vaccines, and now we are seeing the devastating consequences. Newborns are dying because their parents are refusing to give them a shot of vitamin K, an essential nutrient. We need leadership and action right now. Rep. Schrier and I are calling on the CDC to monitor and understand the burden of vitamin K refusal rates, and the related deaths \u2013 and then to make that information publicly available. This is objective information that the public deserves to see,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe vaccine misinformation and confusion that RFK Jr. has championed for years has now created a \u2018spillover effect\u2019 that is causing parents to refuse the vitamin K shot and other routine care, putting their babies at risk of life-threatening hemorrhage,\u201d said Congresswoman Kim Schrier. \u201cAs a pediatrician and member of Congress, I am focused on doing all I can to hold RFK Jr. accountable for every preventable death and illness of our nation\u2019s children. That is why I am proud to join Senator Alsobrooks in this effort to demand the CDC follow and publicly release data on the burden of vitamin K refusal rates.\u201d\n\n\u201cMore than 60 years ago, scientists discovered that a simple injection of vitamin K administered shortly after childbirth could protect newborn babies from potentially deadly bleeding disorders. This was a game changer and is why the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended a vitamin K injection as part of a newborn \u201csafety bundle\u201d since the 1960s. But false and misleading claims have led to increased rates of refusal, putting the youngest and most vulnerable babies at unnecessary risk, and now we\u2019re seeing the devastating impacts,\u201d said AAP President Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP. \u201cI want to thank Representative Schrier and Senator Alsobrooks for bringing attention to this important issue and calling on HHS to take action to protect children, and I encourage parents with questions about vitamin K or any aspect of newborn care to speak with their child\u2019s doctor.\u201d\n\nRead full text of the letter here or below:\n\nDear Dr. Bhattacharya:\n\nWe write to urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to take immediate action to address a growing and preventable public health crisis: the rising rate of vitamin K refusal at birth and resulting vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) among newborns. Specifically, we call on the CDC to establish ways to monitor and understand the burden of vitamin K refusal rates, VKDB and VKDB-related deaths, and to make that information publicly available.\n\nVitamin K is an essential nutrient which helps blood clot. Because infants are born with very low levels of vitamin K, they are at high risk for developing dangerous bleeding disorders, including internal bleeding. A single vitamin K shot is a highly effective newborn intervention to help prevent bleeding until babies can absorb sufficient vitamin K when they typically begin eating solid foods containing the nutrient and their gut microbiomes develop. Without it, babies are 81 times more likely to develop late VKDB, which can cause bleeding in the brain. According to CDC data, 1 in every 5 babies who develop VKDB will die. There are no warning signs in most cases of VKDB: a baby can be bleeding into their intestines or brain before their parents know anything is wrong. Some parents are requesting oral vitamin K instead, which is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) or CDC. Babies don\u2019t absorb oral vitamin K consistently, and research shows oral drops are ineffective.\n\nUnfortunately, as medical misinformation grows, it appears that more American parents are declining the vitamin K shot for their newborns. A December 2025 study of more than 5 million births found that more than 5 percent of U.S. babies did not receive the vitamin K shot at birth in 2024, a 77 percent increase from 2017. Recent informal pulse surveys of pediatricians across the country also show that doctors are seeing parents and caregivers refuse routine preventative care for newborns, including vitamin K shots, erythromycin eye ointment, and hepatitis B vaccination, according to AAP. Pediatricians are also reporting that vitamin K refusal often occurs alongside vaccine hesitancy.\n\nRecent reporting from ProPublica has highlighted a major problem: the federal government does not currently track vitamin K shot refusal, vitamin K deficiency bleeding, or the preventable deaths related to vitamin K deficiency.\n\nWithout a good understanding of the scope of these issues, we cannot assess the true toll of refusal, identify trends, or develop targeted public health campaigns. Since vitamin K became a part of standard newborn care in 1961, there was previously no need for robust monitoring systems to track incidences of VKDB in infants. However, rising vitamin K refusal rates justify investing in modern diagnostic tests to better assess the scope and impact of VKDB in babies who do not receive the vitamin K shot. This will help clinicians gain the information they need to effectively counsel families. The CDC has the tools to better understand the burden of vitamin K shot refusal, VKDB, and VKDB-related deaths. We urge you to use them, and to share that data with the public, so that we can prevent tragic illness and death in infants and VKDB-related deaths. We urge you to use them, and to share that data with the public, so that we can prevent tragic illness and death in infants.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-09T08:24:13Z", "2026-07-09T08:26:05Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/trumps-luxury-jet-corruption-van-hollen-joins-murphy-senate-democrats-in-demanding-answers-on-misuse-of-federal-resources-after-rushed-costly-retrofit-job", "Trump\u2019s Luxury Jet Corruption: Van Hollen Joins Murphy, Senate Democrats in Demanding Answers on Misuse of Federal Resources After Rushed, Costly Retrofit Job", "2026-07-07", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), both members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, and eleven of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Troy E. Meink, Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, and Christopher Kubasik, CEO of L3Harris, demanding transparency into the taxpayer-funded modification of the $400-million luxury jet gifted to President Trump by the government of Qatar. Since Trump announced the gift in May 2025, the Trump administration has refused to provide Congress with basic details about the costs to taxpayers, national security risks, diversion of federal resources, and questionable decision-making process associated with sprinting to upgrade President Trump\u2019s new luxury plane.\n\nIn the letter, Van Hollen and Murphy, along with U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), note that available public reporting indicates the Trump administration dedicated as much as $1 billion dollars to rushing the sensitive Air Force One modification process, with hundreds working around the clock to condense a yearslong process into just ten months. The Senators\u2019 letter demands answers on this irresponsible use of federal resources.\n\n\u201cAmericans deserve answers on how the administration has decided to spend their taxpayer dollars and assume new national security risks with the VC-25B Bridge aircraft and the rushed retrofit program contracted to L3Harris \u2013 all in service to President Trump\u2019s interest in having a pretty, luxurious plane for himself,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nThe Senators called out the Trump administration for withholding information from Congress, preventing oversight of the luxury jet and its upgrade program: \u201cFor over a year, the administration has stonewalled congressional requests for information about Qatar\u2019s luxury jet gift to President Trump. Congress and the American public have expressed due outrage about this corrupt, illegal exchange, but Pentagon officials have mostly deflected questions or claimed inability to share classified details about the luxury jet, the memorandum of understanding with Qatar, and the program to modify it for use by the President. The Trump administration has refused to share the information Congress needs to conduct oversight of this foreign gift and the estimated $1 billion in taxpayer dollars spent to upgrade and outfit the luxury jet for President Trump\u2019s use during \u2013 and reportedly after \u2013 his term in office.\u201d\n\nThey highlighted new reporting that indicates the luxury jet project has been another hotbed for corruption and misuse of taxpayer dollars: \u201cAfter months of limited public information about the jet, new reporting has deepened concerns about the administration\u2019s irresponsible management of U.S. national security funding to prioritize President Trump\u2019s personal interest in this jet. In a Breaking Defense interview on June 23, L3Harris executive Jason Lambert reported that the company was contracted by the Air Force to oversee the jet\u2019s modifications, with a deadline of July 4, 2026, from the White House. This timeline drove L3Harris to scale back the usual Air Force One upgrade package while committing 400 employees to working around the clock to complete in ten months a process that would normally take years. This accelerated luxury jet upgrade required other large expenses, including building a 3D mockup of the plane\u2019s interior and the leasing and purchase of additional 747 aircraft for pilot and crew training.\u201d\n\nThe Senators objected strongly to the Trump administration decision to shift resources away from national security priorities just so President Trump could enjoy luxury flying as soon as possible: \u201cThe Air Force seems to have committed to a rushed, expensive aircraft modification program in order to meet President Trump\u2019s demand to fly on \u2018the world\u2019s most luxurious plane,\u2019 with his favored paint job, during Independence Day festivities. Trump\u2019s own statements \u2013 including his celebration of \u2018a level of luxury that nobody\u2019s ever seen before\u2019 \u2013 make it clear that these decisions prioritized Trump\u2019s personal comfort and tastes over U.S. national security.\u201d\n\nThe Senators concluded by calling for a congressional briefing and demanding full transparency from the Secretary of the Air Force and the Pentagon contractor responsible for the project: \u201cCongress needs full information about program costs, the diversion of resources away from other Pentagon priorities, and the national security and funding implications of upgrades skipped during the rush. The American public deserves transparency into this costly and questionable modification work \u2013 conducted with their taxpayer dollars on a luxury jet that President Trump reportedly plans to take with him after he leaves office.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Meink and Mr. Kubasik:\n\nWe write to ask the U.S. Air Force and L3Harris to provide Congress full information on the modification work recently completed on the $400-million Boeing 747-8 luxury jumbo jet gifted by the Government of Qatar to President Donald Trump. Americans deserve answers on how the administration has decided to spend their taxpayer dollars and assume new national security risks with the VC-25B Bridge aircraft and the rushed retrofit program contracted to L3Harris \u2013 all in service to President Trump\u2019s interest in having a pretty, luxurious plane for himself.\n\nFor over a year, the administration has stonewalled congressional requests for information about Qatar\u2019s luxury jet gift to President Trump. Congress and the American public have expressed due outrage about this corrupt, illegal exchange, but Pentagon officials have mostly deflected questions or claimed inability to share classified details about the luxury jet, the memorandum of understanding with Qatar, and the program to modify it for use by the President. The Trump administration has refused to share the information Congress needs to conduct oversight of this foreign gift and the estimated $1 billion in taxpayer dollars spent to upgrade and outfit the luxury jet for President Trump\u2019s use during \u2013 and reportedly after \u2013 his term in office.\n\nAfter months of limited public information about the jet, new reporting has deepened concerns about the administration\u2019s irresponsible management of U.S. national security funding to prioritize President Trump\u2019s personal interest in this jet. In a Breaking Defense interview on June 23, L3Harris executive Jason Lambert reported that the company was contracted by the Air Force to oversee the jet\u2019s modifications, with a deadline of July 4, 2026, from the White House. This timeline drove L3Harris to scale back the usual Air Force One upgrade package while committing 400 employees to working around the clock to complete in ten months a process that would normally take years. This accelerated luxury jet upgrade required other large expenses, including building a 3D mockup of the plane\u2019s interior and the leasing and purchase of additional 747 aircraft for pilot and crew training.\n\nThe Air Force seems to have committed to a rushed, expensive aircraft modification program in order to meet President Trump\u2019s demand to fly on \u201cthe world\u2019s most luxurious plane,\u201d with his favored paint job, during Independence Day festivities. Trump\u2019s own statements \u2013 including his celebration of \u201ca level of luxury that nobody\u2019s ever seen before\u201d \u2013 make it clear that these decisions prioritized Trump\u2019s personal comfort and tastes over U.S. national security.\n\nCongress needs full information about program costs, the diversion of resources away from other Pentagon priorities, and the national security and funding implications of upgrades skipped during the rush. The American public deserves transparency into this costly and questionable modification work \u2013 conducted with their taxpayer dollars on a luxury jet that President Trump reportedly plans to take with him after he leaves office.\n\nTo this end, we request that the Air Force and L3Harris coordinate to provide written answers to the following questions no later than July 27, 2026. Recognizing that some of this information is classified, we also request a joint classified briefing for all U.S. Senators no later than August 6, 2026, to discuss your answers and the upgrade program in greater detail.\n\nWhat was the total cost of preparing the VC-25B Bridge aircraft for delivery? Provide a comprehensive breakout of costs of L3Harris\u2019s upgrade work, as well as associated expenses by the Air Force (including new equipment, mockups, and training).\n\nHow were the work schedule and timeframe for this aircraft modification program developed? What were the Air Force\u2019s stated priorities for this program? Who, formally or informally, played a role in setting requirements and finalizing the contract? Describe the contract negotiations in detail and release the contract text for review.\n\nHow did the surge of Air Force and L3Harris personnel and resources to support the program\u2019s accelerated schedule impact overall cost?\n\nHow did the surge of Air Force and L3Harris personnel and resources to support the program\u2019s accelerated schedule impact other Air Force efforts or other Pentagon work being conducted at L3Harris? How were resources diverted from other programs?\n\nHow would the Air Force and L3Harris have adjusted the program\u2019s schedule and cost structure have changed without a July 4, 2026, deadline?\n\nHow did the program\u2019s accelerated schedule impact the scope of the Air Force One upgrade package? Detail capabilities that were not added to the VC-25B Bridge aircraft and describe the national security implications.\n\nWhat additional resources, personnel, and equipment will be necessary to make up for the neglected upgrades when operating the aircraft as Air Force One? What will the cost be?\n\nHow did the aircraft modification program account for President Trump\u2019s stated plan to transfer the VC-25B Bridge aircraft to his Presidential library upon leaving office?\n\nWe urge you to answer these questions and arrange the briefing as soon as possible to shed much-needed light on Trump\u2019s luxury jet upgrade program. We look forward to the opportunity to finally deliver answers to the American people about Trump\u2019s foreign-gifted luxury jet and the federal resources poured into upgrading and delivering it in time for his July 4 celebrations.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-hickenlooper-colleagues-in-urging-white-house-to-rescind-political-rule-that-hurts-american-science-research", "Van Hollen Joins Hickenlooper, Colleagues in Urging White House to Rescind Political Rule That Hurts American Science, Research", "2026-07-07", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator John Hickenlooper and 9 of thier Senate colleagues in submitting public comment to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought to demand OMB rescind a proposed rule, broadly titled \u201cRegulation for Federal Financial Assistance\u201d that could alter how nearly all federal agencies administer grants and financial agreements. The proposed change would give more political control over these awards by the White House, which could enable corruption, undermine U.S. scientific investments and competitiveness, and block funding for critical life-saving research and collaboration.\n\n\u201cThe proposed changes solidify federal grant-making as an unprecedented partisan power-grab that eliminates transparency of how taxpayer dollars are spent. This rule would derail American innovation and competitiveness at the local and national levels, kill good-paying American jobs, drive up costs for families, and halt essential projects in local communities,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cInstead of supporting data-driven investments that pay dividends for the American people, this guidance facilitates partisan ideals and cronyism, leaving Americans in the dark.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued: \u201cWe share the goals of improved transparency, accountability, and oversight; clarification of regulatory structure; and reducing recipient burden\u2013all in pursuit of continuing America\u2019s global leadership in science and innovation. However, these regulations would act in opposition to these goals. They would undermine our country\u2019s competitiveness, erode our scientific ecosystem, increase unwanted bureaucracy, enable corruption, and perpetuate uncertainty across our local communities. We strongly urge you to withdraw this proposed rule.\u201d\n\nOMB has proposed sweeping changes to the rules governing how federal agencies award and administer grants and cooperative agreements. These are the primary mechanisms through which the country funds basic research, applied science, and scientific workforce development. These agencies also fund a wide array of grants for local projects including but not limited to infrastructure, public health, resource conservation, and rural development. The proposed rules formalize an August 7, 2025, Executive Order that directed OMB to expand political oversight over all federal awards.\n\nAlso joining the public comment were Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Angus King (I-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-warren-wyden-lofgren-lead-new-probe-into-cantor-fitzgerald-usar-after-16-billion-trump-administration-deal", "Van Hollen, Warren, Wyden, Lofgren Lead New Probe Into Cantor Fitzgerald, USAR After $1.6 Billion Trump Administration Deal", "2026-07-07", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ranking Member on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, pressed Cantor Fitzgerald (Cantor) \u2014 led by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick\u2019s sons \u2014 and USA Rare Earth (USAR) on ethics concerns following their recent $1.6 billion agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce).\n\nUSAR\u2019s reported engagement with Secretary Lutnick and financial arrangement with Cantor in conjunction with the Commerce deal \u2014 an agreement that potentially resulted in a multi-million-dollar payout to a firm led by the Secretary\u2019s sons \u2014 raises glaring red flags.\n\n\u201cIt is imperative your compan(ies) provide complete transparency about the substantive conflict of interest concerns raised by the circumstances of this investment,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nIn January 2026, USAR and Commerce announced a tentative $1.6 billion deal in which the federal government agreed to take a 10% stake in USAR. To close the deal, USAR raised $1.5 billion in a private offering for the company\u2019s stock and selected Cantor, Secretary Lutnick\u2019s former financial firm, as the deal\u2019s placement agent. Cantor is currently led by Secretary Lutnick\u2019s son, Brandon Lutnick.\n\nSecretary Lutnick appears to have played a key role in securing the lucrative deal. USAR\u2019s CEO attested to Secretary Lutnick\u2019s decisive and personal involvement after a meeting in November, describing how he opened doors to influential agency staff that manage billions in CHIPS Act funding and officials at other federal agencies. The lawmakers sounded the alarm on potential bribery concerns surrounding the deal, both in relation to Secretary Lutnick and company officials.\n\n\u201cThe circumstances around how this deal came together raise serious questions about Secretary Lutnick\u2019s exposure to federal conflicts of interest and bribery laws,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cIf USAR selected Cantor as its broker as a way to induce, reward, or otherwise curry favor with the Department of Commerce, Secretary Lutnick, or other government officials, it would raise serious questions about USAR\u2019s exposure to federal anti-bribery or gratuity laws,\u201d continued the lawmakers.\n\nSenator Van Hollen has previously joined Senator Warren and members of Congress in raising concerns over the Commerce Department\u2019s investment in USAR. In response, USAR\u2019s CEO said: \u201c(o)ur best move was to go with the team who knew us.\u201d Following Secretary Lutnick's refusal to provide answers, the lawmakers expanded their investigation to press Cantor and USAR directly.\n\nThe lawmakers pushed Cantor Fitzgerald and USA Rare Earth to provide answers regarding the circumstances around this deal and transaction documents by July 23, 2026.\n\nThe full text of the letter to Cantor Fitzgerlad is available here. The full text of the letter to USA Rare Earth is available here. The full text of both letters are available below.\n\nLetter to Cantor Fitzergerald\n\nMr. Lutnick:\n\nWe write regarding ongoing ethics and corruption concerns in light of the June 3, 2026 announcement that the U.S Department of Commerce (Commerce) has finalized a $1.6 billion definitive agreement with USA Rare Earth (USAR). Given the massive investment by the American public in USAR, and USAR\u2019s fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders as a publicly traded company, it is imperative your company provide complete transparency about the substantive conflict of interest concerns raised by the circumstances of this investment.\n\nIn February of this year, we wrote to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in regard to our concerns about the January 2026 announcement that USAR and Commerce had reached a tentative $1.6 billion deal in which the federal government tentatively agreed to take a 10% stake in USAR. To close the deal, USAR set a $1.5 billion-dollar private offering for the company\u2019s stock and selected Secretary Lutnick\u2019s former financial firm, Cantor Fitzgerald (Cantor), as the deal\u2019s placement agent. The deal likely benefited two of Secretary Lutnick\u2019s adult sons, who now operate the firm. Secretary Lutnick has refused to provide answers, and we are expanding our investigation to seek information regarding any knowledge you may have involving Secretary Lutnick\u2019s role or the role of Cantor Fitzgerald.\n\nUnder the terms of the January 2026 deal, Commerce would offer \u201cup to $277 million in direct funding and up to $1.3 billion in loans\u201d to USAR. In conjunction with this investment agreement, the US government also took a direct 10% stake in USAR, tentatively agreeing to purchase 16.1 million shares.\n\nCommerce\u2019s $1.6 billion investment in USAR was predicated on a capital matching requirement that mandated USAR raise its own private funds. To meet Commerce\u2019s conditions, USAR raised $1.5 billion in a \u201cprivate investment in public equity\u201d (PIPE) transaction, in which the company sold 69.8 million USAR shares\u2014offering around one-third of its outstanding stock\u2014at a discounted price to private investors through a financial broker. USAR chose Cantor as \u201clead placement agent,\u201d alongside Moelis, and the two were ultimately successful in securing the requisite investors, including several prominent donors to President Trump.\n\nSecretary Lutnick appears to have played a part in facilitating USAR\u2019s deal with Commerce. USAR\u2019s CEO Barbara Humpton attested to Secretary Lutnick\u2019s decisive and personal involvement after meeting with him in November, describing how he opened doors to influential agency staff that manage billions in CHIPS Act funding and officials at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DoD). The USAR CEO claimed that Secretary Lutnick was especially interested in USAR, and recounted that Secretary Lutnick asked: \u201c[w]hat would it take to go faster and scale further?\u201d\n\nUltimately, the deal was likely lucrative for the Lutnick family. Secretary Lutnick led Cantor for decades, before transferring his stake in the company to his sons last year. Though no estimate of the fee Cantor collected has been released publicly, previous SEC disclosures and industry estimates indicate that fees for placement agents in PIPE transactions can range between 2.5-10%. USAR\u2019s public filings indicate that the company incurred approximately $50 million in PIPE financing costs. Even a conservative estimate, therefore, indicates that USAR may have paid Cantor millions\u2014if not tens of millions\u2014in its quest to secure a $1.6 billion government contract from a government agency led by Cantor\u2019s former CEO. The circumstances around how this deal came together raise serious questions about Secretary Lutnick\u2019s exposure to federal conflicts of interest and bribery laws.\n\nSecretary Lutnick\u2019s Ethics Commitments & Exposure to Federal Conflict of Interest Laws\n\nWe and other members of Congress previously raised concerns about the conflicts of interest posed by this deal. In response, USAR\u2019s CEO explained USAR\u2019s selection of Cantor by saying: \u201c[o]ur best move was to go with the team who knew us.\u201d\n\nIndeed, USAR and Cantor\u2019s relationship appears to date back to when Secretary Lutnick was still CEO and Chairman of Cantor. In August 2024, USAR announced that it would become a publicly traded company via a business combination with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) with ties to Cantor dating back to May 2023 when Cantor served as the representatives of the underwriters for the SPAC\u2019s initial public offering. Since then, Mr. Lutnick became Secretary of Commerce but the relationship between Cantor and USAR continued. USAR\u2019s CEO confirmed that Cantor helped USAR go public in March, and Cantor led USAR\u2019s first post-merger PIPE in the following months.\n\nThis history raises questions about the degree to which Secretary Lutnick was aware of the preexisting business relationship and connection between USAR and Cantor when USAR\u2019s CEO met with him November and strengthens the arguments that Secretary Lutnick should have recused himself from any particular involvement in the USAR deal. Notably, Secretary Lutnick agreed in his federal ethics agreement that pursuant to the impartiality regulation at 5 C.F.R. \u00a7 2635.502, he would \u201cnot participate personally and substantially in any particular matter involving specific parties in which I know Cantor Fitzgerald L.P., or its subsidiaries, is a party or represents a party\u201d for a period of one year following his resignation from the company. If Lutnick was personally involved in negotiating or approving Commerce\u2019s side of the deal\u2014 which included the capital matching requirement that ultimately involved and benefitted Cantor \u2014Lutnick\u2019s involvement would likely be a textbook conflict of interest.\n\nAccordingly, we seek clarity as to Lutnick\u2019s direct involvement in the USAR-Cantor deal, including whether and to what degree USAR or Cantor representatives met with Secretary Lutnick with regards to the Department of Commerce\u2019s negotiations or tentative investment agreement with USAR.\n\nUSAR\u2019s Exposure to Federal Anti-Bribery Laws\n\nEven if Secretary Lutnick was not aware of USAR\u2019s relationship to Cantor, the deal may implicate federal bribery and gratuity laws and regulations concerning use of public office for private gain.\n\nFederal laws forbid bribing or rewarding federal public officials. Anyone who \u201cdirectly or indirectly, corruptly gives, offers or promises anything of value to any public official\u201d with the intent to influence any official act or decision may be in violation of bribery laws. Even without a direct quid pro quo, federal law also prohibits anyone who \u201cdirectly or indirectly gives, offers, or promises anything of value to any public official . . . for or because of any official act performed or to be performed by such public official.\u201d If USAR selected Cantor as its broker as a way to induce, reward, or otherwise curry favor with the Department of Commerce, Secretary Lutnick, or other government officials, it would raise serious questions about USAR\u2019s exposure to federal anti-bribery or gratuity laws. USAR\u2019s reported personal engagement with Secretary Lutnick and financial arrangement with Cantor in the pursuit of the Commerce deal\u2014 an agreement that potentially resulted in a multi-million-dollar payout to a firm led by the Secretary\u2019s sons\u2014raises glaring red flags.\n\nThough Secretary Lutnick may no longer hold a direct stake in Cantor, the direct financial interest of his family members is a central legal consideration in this matter. Legal experts and federal courts have determined that a \u201cthing of value need not go to the public official himself\u201d for an action to be considered germane under bribery law. The multi-million dollar fundraising fee Cantor may have collected on USAR\u2019s requisite private stock transaction, which was needed to secure the Commerce investment, could reasonably be considered a tangible \u201cthing of value.\u201d USAR should disclose at what point it notified US government officials that Cantor would be acting on its behalf in this transaction.\n\nYour actions and the involvement of Cantor may also expose Secretary Lutnick to federal antibribery laws. Federal law applies equal scrutiny to those soliciting bribes as to those offering them. Any government official who \u201cdirectly or indirectly, corruptly demands, seeks, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive or accept anything of value\u201d in order to be influenced in the performance of an official act, such as approving a government contract, may also be subject to federal anti-bribery laws.\n\nLikewise, 5 C.F.R. \u00a7 2635.702 prohibits federal employees from using public office for their own private gain or for the private gain of relatives. Specifically, employees \u201cmay not use or permit the use of their Government position or title, or any authority associated with their public office, in a manner that is intended to coerce or induce another person . . . to provide any benefit, financial or otherwise, to the employee or to . . . relatives.\u201d The extent of Lutnick\u2019s involvement in the USAR-Commerce deal, therefore, could raise additional red flags.\n\nCantor should immediately report if any US government representatives, including Secretary Lutnick, Commerce employees, or other Trump administration officials, suggested that Cantor be involved or chosen as the broker in USAR\u2019s private fundraising round.\n\nQuestions\n\nIn order to better inform our legislative responsibilities as they relate to rooting out corruption and securing critical minerals supply chains, we ask that you answer the following questions by July 20, 2026:\n\n1. Have any employees or representatives of Cantor Fitzgerald met with any members of the Department of Commerce regarding critical mining investments or CHIPS and Science Act funding? If so, please provide a log with the date of any meeting, list of meeting attendees, meeting notes, and any correspondence between Commerce officials and Cantor.\n\na. Have any employees or representatives of Cantor Fitzgerald met with Secretary Lutnick, or any other representative from the Office of the Secretary regarding USAR?\n\nb. Have Cantor Fitzgerald employees or representatives met with the CHIPS and Science team?\n\nc. Have Cantor Fitzgerald employees or representatives met with Commerce officials regarding the Department\u2019s potential investment in USAR?\n\nd. Have Cantor Fitzgerald employees or representatives met with Commerce officials with regards to Cantor\u2019s role as the lead placement agent in USAR\u2019s PIPE transaction?\n\n2. How was Cantor chosen as the lead placement agency in the USAR PIPE?\n\na. When and how did Cantor become aware of the PIPE?\n\nb. With whom at USAR did Cantor negotiate with over its role as lead placement agency?\n\nc. When did these negotiations begin, and when were they finalized?\n\nd. When and how did Cantor inform Commerce Department officials of its role?\n\ne. How was Cantor compensated for its role as the lead placement agent in the USAR PIPE?\n\nf. Did Cantor collect a placement agent fee for its role in the PIPE? If so, what was the rate it charged USAR?\n\ng. How much was Cantor compensated for its services in the PIPE transaction?\n\n3. What internal policies, trainings, and procedures, does Cantor have, if any, as they relate to engagement with federal employees and compliance with federal bribery and ethics laws?\n\na. What processes does USAR have in place to address potential breaches of such ethics policies?\n\nSincerely,\n\nLetter to USA Rare Earth\n\nMs. Humpton: We write regarding ongoing ethics and corruption concerns in light of the June 3, 2026 announcement that the U.S Department of Commerce (Commerce) has finalized a $1.6 billion definitive agreement with USA Rare Earth (USAR). Given the massive investment by the American public in USAR, and USAR\u2019s fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders as a publicly traded company, it is imperative your company provide complete transparency about the substantive conflict of interest concerns raised by the circumstances of this investment.\n\nIn February of this year, we wrote to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in regard to our concerns about the January 2026 announcement that USAR and Commerce had reached a tentative $1.6 billion deal in which the federal government tentatively agreed to take a 10% stake in USAR. To close the deal, USAR set a $1.5 billion-dollar private offering for the company\u2019s stock and selected Secretary Lutnick\u2019s former financial firm, Cantor Fitzgerald (Cantor), as the deal\u2019s placement agent. The deal likely benefited two of Secretary Lutnick\u2019s adult sons, who now operate the firm. Secretary Lutnick has refused to provide answers, and we are expanding our investigation to seek information regarding any knowledge you may have involving Secretary Lutnick\u2019s role or the role of Cantor Fitzgerald.\n\nUnder the terms of the January 2026 deal, Commerce would offer \u201cup to $277 million in direct funding and up to $1.3 billion in loans\u201d to USAR. In conjunction with this investment agreement, the US government also took a direct 10% stake in USAR, tentatively agreeing to purchase 16.1 million shares.\n\nCommerce\u2019s $1.6 billion investment in USAR was predicated on a capital matching requirement that mandated USAR raise its own private funds. To meet Commerce\u2019s conditions, USAR raised $1.5 billion in a \u201cprivate investment in public equity\u201d (PIPE) transaction, in which the company sold 69.8 million USAR shares\u2014offering around one-third of its outstanding stock\u2014at a discounted price to private investors through a financial broker. USAR chose Cantor as \u201clead placement agent,\u201d alongside Moelis, and the two were ultimately successful in securing the requisite investors, including several prominent donors to President Trump.\n\nSecretary Lutnick appears to have played a part in facilitating USAR\u2019s deal with Commerce. You attested to Secretary Lutnick\u2019s decisive and personal involvement after meeting with him in November, describing how he opened doors to influential agency staff that manage billions in CHIPS Act funding and officials at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DoD). You claimed that Secretary Lutnick was especially interested in USAR, and recounted that Secretary Lutnick asked: \u201c[w]hat would it take to go faster and scale further?\u201d\n\nUltimately, the deal was likely lucrative for the Lutnick family. Secretary Lutnick led Cantor for decades, before transferring his stake in the company to his sons last year. Though no estimate of the fee Cantor collected has been released publicly, previous SEC disclosures and industry estimates indicate that fees for placement agents in PIPE transactions can range between 2.5-10%. USAR\u2019s public filings indicate that the company incurred approximately $50 million in PIPE financing costs. Even a conservative estimate, therefore, indicates that USAR may have paid Cantor millions\u2014if not tens of millions\u2014in its quest to secure a $1.6 billion government contract from a government agency led by Cantor\u2019s former CEO.\n\nThe circumstances around how this deal came together raise serious questions about Secretary Lutnick\u2019s exposure to federal conflicts of interest and bribery laws.\n\nSecretary Lutnick\u2019s Ethics Commitments & Exposure to Federal Conflict of Interest Laws\n\nWe and other members of Congress previously raised concerns about the conflicts of interest posed by this deal. In response, you have explained USAR\u2019s selection of Cantor by saying: \u201c[o]ur best move was to go with the team who knew us.\u201d\n\nIndeed, USAR and Cantor\u2019s relationship appears to date back to when Secretary Lutnick was still CEO and Chairman of Cantor. In August 2024, USAR announced that it would become a publicly traded company via a business combination with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) with ties to Cantor dating back to May 2023 when Cantor served as the representatives of the underwriters for the SPAC\u2019s initial public offering. Since then, Mr. Lutnick became Secretary of Commerce but the relationship between Cantor and USAR continued. You confirmed that Cantor helped USAR go public in March, and Cantor led USAR\u2019s first post-merger PIPE in the following months.\n\nThis history raises questions about the degree to which Secretary Lutnick was aware of the preexisting business relationship and connection between USAR and Cantor when you met in November and strengthens the arguments that Secretary Lutnick should have recused himself from any particular involvement in the USAR deal. Notably, Secretary Lutnick agreed in his federal ethics agreement that pursuant to the impartiality regulation at 5 C.F.R. \u00a7 2635.502, he would \u201cnot participate personally and substantially in any particular matter involving specific parties in which I know Cantor Fitzgerald L.P., or its subsidiaries, is a party or represents a party\u201d for a period of one year following his resignation from the company. If Secretary Lutnick was personally involved in negotiating or approving Commerce\u2019s side of the deal\u2014 which included the capital matching requirement that ultimately involved and benefited Cantor \u2014Lutnick\u2019s involvement would likely be a textbook conflict of interest.\n\nAccordingly, we seek clarity as to Lutnick\u2019s direct involvement in the USAR-Cantor deal, including whether and to what degree USAR or Cantor representatives met with Secretary Lutnick with regards to the Department of Commerce\u2019s negotiations or tentative investment agreement with USAR.\n\nUSAR\u2019s Exposure to Federal Anti-Bribery Laws\n\nEven if Secretary Lutnick was not aware of USAR\u2019s relationship to Cantor, the deal may implicate federal bribery and gratuity laws and regulations concerning use of public office for private gain.\n\nFederal laws forbid bribing or rewarding federal public officials. Anyone who \u201cdirectly or indirectly, corruptly gives, offers or promises anything of value to any public official\u201d with the intent to influence any official act or decision may be in violation of bribery laws. Even without a direct quid pro quo, federal law also prohibits anyone who \u201cdirectly or indirectly gives, offers, or promises anything of value to any public official . . . for or because of any official act performed or to be performed by such public official.\u201d If USAR selected Cantor as its broker as a way to induce, reward, or otherwise curry favor with the Department of Commerce, Secretary Lutnick, or other government officials, it would raise serious questions about USAR\u2019s exposure to federal anti-bribery or gratuity laws. USAR\u2019s reported personal engagement with Secretary Lutnick and financial arrangement with Cantor in the pursuit of the Commerce deal \u2014 an agreement that potentially resulted in a multi-million-dollar payout to a firm led by the Secretary\u2019s sons\u2014raises glaring red flags.\n\nThough Secretary Lutnick may no longer hold a direct stake in Cantor, the direct financial interest of his family members is a central legal consideration in this matter. Legal experts and federal courts have determined that a \u201cthing of value need not go to the public official himself\u201d for an action to be considered germane under bribery law. The multi-million dollar fundraising fee Cantor may have collected on USAR\u2019s requisite private stock transaction, which was needed to secure the Commerce investment, could reasonably be considered a tangible \u201cthing of value.\u201d USAR should disclose at what point it notified US government officials that Cantor would be acting on its behalf in this transaction.\n\nYour actions and the involvement of Cantor may also expose Secretary Lutnick to federal antibribery laws. Federal law applies equal scrutiny to those soliciting bribes as to those offering them. Any government official who \u201cdirectly or indirectly, corruptly demands, seeks, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive or accept anything of value\u201d in order to be influenced in the performance of an official act, such as approving a government contract, may also be subject to federal anti-bribery laws.\n\nLikewise, 5 C.F.R. \u00a7 2635.702 prohibits federal employees from using public office for their own private gain or for the private gain of relatives. Specifically, employees \u201cmay not use or permit the use of their Government position or title, or any authority associated with their public office, in a manner that is intended to coerce or induce another person . . . to provide any benefit, financial or otherwise, to the employee or to . . . relatives.\u201d The extent of Lutnick\u2019s involvement in the USAR-Commerce deal, therefore, could raise additional red flags.\n\nUSAR should immediately report if any US government representatives, including Secretary Lutnick, Commerce employees, or other Trump administration officials, suggested that Cantor be involved or chosen as the broker in USAR\u2019s private fundraising round.\n\nQuestions\n\nIn order to better inform our legislative responsibilities as they relate to rooting out corruption and securing critical minerals supply chains, we ask that you answer the following questions by July 20, 2026:\n\n1. Was Secretary Lutnick involved in USAR\u2019s PIPE transaction in which Cantor acted as a placement agent?\n\na. What was the nature of your meeting with Secretary Lutnick in November, 2025? Please provide the date, list of attendees, and any transcripts, notes, or agendas, from your meeting with Secretary Lutnick and any correspondence between USAR and government officials related to the meeting.\n\ni. Did you discuss any role for Cantor Fitzgerald in the USAR transaction at that meeting?\n\nb. Have you met or spoken with Secretary Lutnick since November, 2025?\n\nc. Was USAR in any way pressured or solicited to choose Cantor as its placement agent by officials at the Department of Commerce?\n\n2. Did the Department of Commerce have any involvement in USAR\u2019s PIPE transaction?\n\na. Did USAR notify the Department of Commerce about its intention to proceed with a PIPE transaction to raise matching funds during its negotiations with the Department?\n\nb. Did USAR notify the Department of Commerce that Cantor Fitzgerald would represent USAR as its lead placement agent in the PIPE transaction? If so, when? Please provide all correspondence between USAR and Commerce officials related to the PIPE transaction.\n\nc. Did representatives of Cantor meet with Commerce officials in relation to the PIPE transaction?\n\n3. What was the nature of the interagency meeting between USAR and the Departments of Defense, Commerce, and Energy at the Pentagon?\n\na. Please provide the date, list of attendees, and any transcripts, notes, or agendas, from the meeting and any correspondence between USAR and government officials related to the meeting.\n\n4. Please provide a copy of USAR\u2019s negotiated agreement with the Department of Commerce, including any negotiated milestones, cost-sharing agreements, and reporting requirements for the duration of the contract.\n\na. Please provide a copy of the negotiated agreement between USAR and the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s National Energy Technology Laboratory.\n\n5. Please describe the history between USAR and Cantor Fitzgerald.\n\na. Identify the date on which USAR first engaged, retained, or otherwise entered into any business relationship with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. or any Cantor Fitzgerald affiliate, including any relationship or role in connection with the August 2024 business combination agreement with Inflection Point & Acquisition Corp. II.\n\nb. Describe the process by which USAR selected Cantor as lead placement agent for both the April-May 2025 $75 million PIPE and the January 2026 $1.5 billion PIPE, including whether competing proposals from other entities were solicited, reviewed, or considered for the transactions.\n\n6. Have you or anyone else at USAR communicated with Brandon Lutnick or Kyle Lutnick regarding the $1.5 billion PIPE anchored by Cantor?\n\na. Please provide a copy of any and all correspondence between Brandon and Kyle Lutnick, and USAR with regards to the January 2026 PIPE transaction.\n\n7. USAR\u2019s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ending March 31, 2026 states that the financing costs for the January 2026 PIPE reached approximately $50 million. Please provide a breakdown of that $50 million.\n\na. How did USAR compensate Cantor for its role as the lead placement agent in the $1.5 billion PIPE transaction? What was the negotiated fee between Cantor and USAR for Cantor\u2019s role in the PIPE transaction? i. How much was Cantor compensated for its services in the PIPE transaction?\n\nb. How much did USAR pay\u2014in fees, commissions or other compensation\u2014to other agents involved in the USAR-Commerce deal and PIPE, including Moelis & Company.\n\n8. What internal policies, trainings, and procedures, does USAR have, if any, as they relate to engagement with federal employees and compliance with federal bribery laws?\n\na. What processes does USAR have in place to address potential breaches of such ethics policies?\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 1474, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"party\" = :p1 and \"state\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "Democrat", "p2": "MD"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=MD", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 1474, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MD", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=MD", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 1474, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=MD", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=MD", "results": [{"value": "MD", "label": "MD", "count": 1474, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=MD", "results": [{"value": "2026", "label": "2026", "count": 345, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=MD&year=2026", "selected": false}, {"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 342, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=MD&year=2025", "selected": false}, {"value": "2024", "label": "2024", "count": 300, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=MD&year=2024", "selected": false}, {"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 262, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=MD&year=2023", "selected": false}, {"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 222, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=MD&year=2020", "selected": false}, {"value": "2017", "label": "2017", "count": 2, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=MD&year=2017", "selected": false}, {"value": "2021", "label": "2021", "count": 1, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=MD&year=2021", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2026-07-07,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Evanhollen~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fvan-hollen-warren-wyden-lofgren-lead-new-probe-into-cantor-fitzgerald-usar-after-16-billion-trump-administration-deal", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=MD&_next=2026-07-07%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Evanhollen~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fvan-hollen-warren-wyden-lofgren-lead-new-probe-into-cantor-fitzgerald-usar-after-16-billion-trump-administration-deal&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 242.97600332647562, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}