{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"AR\" and year = 2021 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-braun-introduce-bill-to-curb-reliance-on-chinese-pharmaceuticals", "Cotton, Braun Introduce Bill to Curb Reliance on Chinese Pharmaceuticals", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nDecember 15, 2021\n\nCotton, Braun Introduce Bill to Curb Reliance on Chinese Pharmaceuticals\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Mike Braun (R-Indiana) today introduced the Anyone But China Safe Drugs Act, or the ABC Safe Drug Act, legislation to track active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), prohibit pharmaceutical purchases from China, and create transparency within the medical supply chain. Bill text may be found here.\n\n\u201cShortages in the medical supply chain are a matter of life and death, and we cannot rely on China for our citizens\u2019 survival. Our bill will encourage pharmaceutical production in friendly countries and end dependency on the Chinese Communist Party,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated why we cannot continue to rely so heavily on communist China for lifesaving medications. I am proud to join Senator Cotton on this legislation that will ban the use of federal funds for the purchase of drugs manufactured in China and add more much-needed transparency to our drug supply chain,\u201d said Braun.\n\nThe ABC Safe Drug Act would:\n\nRequire the Food and Drug Administration to create a registry of all drugs and corresponding APIs that are produced outside the United States and are determined to be critical to the health and safety of Americans.\n\nRequire that the Department of Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and all other federally qualified health facilities purchase pharmaceutical products that have no APIs produced in China.\n\nThis requirement will be phased in over two years. The FDA may issue waivers if the APIs are only available in China, however, no waivers may be issued after 2027.\n\nRequire drug companies to list the APIs and their countries of origin on the labels of imported and domestically produced finished drug products.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-passage-of-the-ndaa", "Cotton Statement on Passage of the NDAA", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nDecember 15, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Passage of the NDAA\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on the National Defense Authorization Act:\n\n\u201cDemocrats tried to use this defense bill to draft America\u2019s daughters and force their radical social ideologies onto our troops. Thankfully, they failed, and this year\u2019s defense bill largely does what it should: support and strengthen our troops. By increasing our defense budget, fully funding our nuclear weapons, giving the troops a raise, and investing substantially in our Navy, this bill is an important step to providing our military with the resources it needs to protect the United States. But there\u2019s more work to do, and I\u2019ll stay dedicated to supporting our troops and not letting Democrats use the military for left-wing social engineering.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-bidens-crushing-inflation", "Cotton Statement on Biden\u2019s Crushing Inflation", "2021-12-10", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nDecember 10, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Biden\u2019s Crushing Inflation\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the growing inflation rate in the United States:\n\n\u201cPresident Biden promised never to raise taxes on middle class and working-class Americans\u2014President Biden lied. He allowed the cruelest tax of all, inflation, to skyrocket. Today, we learned that inflation is at the highest level in more than a generation. This is a direct result of President Biden\u2019s trillion dollar spending binges, his appointment of an inexperienced and absentee Transportation Secretary who mangled our supply chains, and his anti-energy policies that have driven up the price of gas. The President should immediately reverse course, apologize for his undeniable and unforced failures, and end his extreme agenda.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-introduce-bill-targeting-palestinian-terror-payments", "Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill Targeting Palestinian Terror Payments", "2021-12-06", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nDecember 6, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill Targeting Palestinian Terror Payments\n\nClick Here to View Senator Cotton\u2019s Remarks in Full.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), along with twelve of his Senate colleagues, today introduced the Taylor Force Martyr Payment Prevention Act, legislation aimed at eliminating Palestinian \u201cmartyr payments.\u201d The bill would deter foreign banks from making these payments by putting at risk their access to the United States financial system. A one-pager about the bill may be found here. Bill text may be found here.\n\nThis evening, Senator Cotton and Senators Steve Daines (R-Montana), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) held a press conference on the bill. They were joined by Stuart and Robbi Force, whose son Taylor Force was murdered by Palestinian terrorists during a trip to Israel. A video of the press conference may be found here.\n\n\u201cRadical Islamic terrorists shouldn\u2019t be rewarded for killing innocent people, and banks should be held responsible for processing any sort of \u2018martyr payments.\u2019 Our bill will build upon the Taylor Force Act to ensure Palestinian terrorists don\u2019t benefit financially for committing these senseless murders,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cThe 2018 Taylor Force Act was an important first step toward ending the Palestinian Authority\u2018s outrageous \u2018pay-for-slay\u2019 system that incentivizes deadly terrorist attacks against Israelis and Americans. Senator Cotton's bill will make important progress toward this goal by targeting the financial institutions that facilitate these so-called \u2018martyr payments,\u2019\u201d said Republican Jewish Coalition National Chairman Norm Coleman.\n\nJoining Senator Cotton on the bill are Senators Steve Daines (R-Montana), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina).\n\nThe Taylor Force Martyr Payment Prevention Act is supported by the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), and Christians United for Israel (CUFI).\n\nBackground:\n\nIn March 2016, a member of the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas murdered U.S. Army veteran Taylor Force in Tel Aviv, Israel. The terrorist that stabbed Taylor also severely wounded ten others before being killed by Israeli police. Soon thereafter, the terrorist\u2019s family started receiving \u201cmartyr payments\u201d from the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a reward for his actions.\n\nIn 2018, Congress passed the bipartisan Taylor Force Act, which significantly restricts non-humanitarian U.S. aid to the PA until it ends its \u201cpay to slay\u201d program. The Taylor Force Act recognized the fact that money is fungible and that U.S. aid, even if restricted towards good governance programs, frees up money for the PA to spend more on martyr payments. Although this act penalized the PA for its use of martyr payments, further action is required.\n\nRecent reporting reveals that Palestinian banks and other banks in the Middle East continue to knowingly process these martyr payments, sometimes in U.S. dollar-denominated transactions. These banks flout U.S. anti-terrorism financial regulations but escape sanctions by avoiding an official U.S. presence while maintaining correspondent accounts in the United States. This untenable status quo offers a lifeline to the PA \u201cpay to slay\u201d program.\n\nThe Taylor Force Martyr Payment Prevention Act would:\n\nStrengthen the Treasury Department\u2019s existing anti-terrorism financing authorities by giving Treasury the additional authority to designate foreign banks as institutions of primary money laundering concern and to forbid them from holding or using correspondent accounts in the United States if:\n\nThe banks are used to facilitate or promote martyr payments to terrorists.\n\nThe banks knowingly provide financial services to Hamas.\n\nEstablish the sense of Congress urging Treasury to find foreign financial institutions that flout anti-terrorism financial regulations to be of primary money laundering concern and to prohibit them from holding or using correspondent accounts in the United States.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-diplomatic-boycott-of-the-2022-winter-olympics", "Cotton Statement on Diplomatic Boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics", "2021-12-06", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nDecember 6, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Diplomatic Boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding President Biden\u2019s announcement of a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing:\n\n\u201cToday, the Biden administration announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. The President has once again opted for a half measure, when bold leadership was required. The United States should fully boycott the Genocide Games in Beijing. American businesses should not financially support the Chinese Communist Party and we must not expose Team USA to the dangers of a repugnant authoritarian regime that disappears its own athletes.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-action-from-doj-following-attack-in-waukesha", "Cotton Demands Action from DOJ Following Attack in Waukesha", "2021-12-01", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nDecember 1, 2021\n\nCotton Demands Action from DOJ Following Attack in Waukesha\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding answers about how the Department of Justice will respond to the mass-murder attack in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where a career criminal was arrested for driving an SUV through a Christmas parade.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote, \u201cIn October, you issued a memorandum to all United States Attorneys and to the FBI, directing them to bring a federal law enforcement presence to local school board meetings all across the country, despite a lack of any apparent federal crime or national outbreak of violence.\u201d\n\n\u201cYet, while you seemed to have no hesitation to prioritize chilling free speech from concerned parents, neither you nor the Department of Justice appear to have even issued a public statement about the mass murder in Waukesha. You have also issued no statements about the lenient bail policies that appear to have allowed this attack to take place,\u201d he continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nDear Attorney General Garland,\n\nI am writing regarding the recent mass-murder attack in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in which law enforcement arrested a career criminal for allegedly driving an SUV through a Christmas parade, killing at least six and injuring more than 60 others. The defendant in this case has spent more than two decades committing crimes, including a number of violent and sexual felonies, and had also reportedly shared anti-Semitic posts and called for violence against white people. Just three weeks before the attack in Waukesha, the same defendant was reportedly arrested for attacking his ex-girlfriend and running over her with his car, but he was released on bail of just $1,000. He was still out on bail at the time of the attack.\n\nIn October, you issued a memorandum to all United States Attorneys and to the FBI, directing them to bring a federal law enforcement presence to local school board meetings all across the country, despite a lack of any apparent federal crime or national outbreak of violence. Yet, while you seemed to have no hesitation to prioritize chilling free speech from concerned parents, neither you nor the Department of Justice appear to have even issued a public statement about the mass murder in Waukesha. You have also issued no statements about the lenient bail policies that appear to have allowed this attack to take place.\n\nPlease respond to the following questions no later than 5:00 P.M. on Monday, December 6:\n\nWhat is the Department doing to investigate or assist in the investigation in Waukesha, Wisconsin?\n\nIs the Civil Rights Division investigating the racist postings allegedly made by the defendant in this case?\n\nHave you directed federal prosecutors and the FBI to take any actions to fill gaps in the criminal justice system left by soft-on-crime policies like the weakening or elimination of cash bail?\n\nI look forward to your prompt response regarding this important matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/11/25/2021/cotton-statement-on-thanksgiving", "Cotton Statement on Thanksgiving", "2021-11-25", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nNovember 25, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Thanksgiving\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on Thanksgiving:\n\n\u201c400 years ago, our Pilgrim Fathers, who battled sorrow and starvation for the promise of freedom in a New World, joined together with the Wampanoag tribe for a celebration, which we know as the first Thanksgiving. That hardscrabble colony of brave and devout Christians has grown into a great continental nation that stretches from sea to shining sea and that has ascended into the heavens. This year, like every year, our exceptional nation has much for which to be grateful. From the Cotton family to yours, we wish you and your loved ones a happy Thanksgiving.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-hinson-introduce-bill-to-provide-parental-leave-and-compensation-for-miscarriages-and-stillbirths", "Cotton, Hinson Introduce Bill to Provide Parental Leave and Compensation for Miscarriages and Stillbirths", "2021-11-18", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nNovember 18, 2021\n\nCotton, Hinson Introduce Bill to Provide Parental Leave and Compensation for Miscarriages and Stillbirths\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Representative Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) today introduced the Helping with Equal Access to Leave and Investing in Needs for Grieving for Mothers and Fathers Act, or HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act, to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to include the spontaneous loss of an unborn child as a qualifying medical condition for FMLA leave. The bill would also establish a tax credit for a woman that suffers the loss of a child in the womb. More information about the bill may be found here. Bill text may be found here.\n\n\u201cNo amount of money can heal the unexpected loss of a child, but parents must be given time to mourn. Our bill will ensure families are given the resources and support they need to recover,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cExpecting parents who endure a stillbirth, the loss of a baby after 20 weeks or more through a pregnancy, should be able to mourn their baby without the added stress of expensive medical bills. Our legislation will give families the time and resources to help them through this unimaginable loss,\u201d said Hinson.\n\nThe HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act mirrors a similar bill in Arkansas introduced by State Representative Les Eaves called Paisley\u2019s Law, named in honor of his late granddaughter, Paisley, which was signed into law earlier this year.\n\nThe Susan B. Anthony List and National Right to Life Committee support this bill.\n\nThe HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act would:\n\nAmend the FMLA to include spontaneous loss of an unborn child as a qualified medical condition for FMLA leave and civil service employee leave.\n\nWomen and their spouses would be entitled to take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for loss of an unborn child.\n\nSpontaneous loss of an unborn child is defined in the bill as \u2018the loss of a child in the womb that is unplanned and not resulting from a purposeful act.\u2019\n\nAll requirements related to certification, notice, flexibility and leave substitution are consistent with current standards for claiming FMLA leave.\n\nEstablish a $3,600 refundable tax credit for any mother, or couple, who suffers a stillbirth.\n\nStillbirth is defined as \u201cthe delivery of a child where there was a spontaneous death, not induced by any purposeful act, before the complete delivery from the child\u2019s mother.\u201d\n\nA family would be eligible for the tax credit if a stillbirth certificate, under applicable state law, has been issued for the child.\n\nThese funds could not be used for any abortion procedure\n\nProhibit Title X funds from going to abortion providers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-call-on-secretary-raimondo-to-blacklist-companies-that-provide-ai-technology-to-the-chinese-military", "Cotton, Colleagues Call on Secretary Raimondo to Blacklist Companies that Provide AI Technology to the Chinese Military", "2021-11-16", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nNovember 16, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Call on Secretary Raimondo to Blacklist Companies that Provide AI Technology to the Chinese Military\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo urging the Department of Commerce to blacklist Chinese Artificial Intelligence companies that help arm the People\u2019s Liberation Army.\n\nIn part, the senators wrote, \u201cDespite the pressing need to restrict the PLA\u2019s advancement in key technology areas, our government has done little to impede the flow of U.S. exports and investment to Chinese AI companies with PLA ties.\u201d\n\n\u201cGiven these troubling gaps in the United States\u2019 strategy to protect its core technologies, we urge BIS to emulate the Intelligence Community by identifying key American technologies that need to be safeguarded from the Chinese Communist Party,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nThe Honorable Gina Raimondo\n\nSecretary\n\nDepartment of Commerce\n\n1401 Constitution Ave NW\n\nWashington, DC 20230\n\nDear Secretary Raimondo,\n\nWe write to urge the Department of Commerce\u2019s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to follow the examples set by other U.S. government entities and identify core technologies essential to U.S. national security. We further urge BIS to take all steps necessary to prevent key technologies from falling into the hands of the People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA).\n\nAs you may be aware, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) recently identified five technology areas key to America\u2019s strategic competition with China: artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, and autonomous systems. NCSC is using this framework to guide its efforts to prevent U.S. adversaries like China from acquiring technologies necessary for America\u2019s future economic growth and military advantage.\n\nDespite the pressing need to restrict the PLA\u2019s advancement in key technology areas, our government has done little to impede the flow of U.S. exports and investment to Chinese AI companies with PLA ties. These Chinese companies with PLA ties have been readily identified through open-source analysis. A recent report from Georgetown University\u2019s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) revealed that only eight percent of the 273 companies that supply AI equipment to the PLA are on the Department of Commerce\u2019s Entity List. The remaining 92% of Chinese AI companies are free to purchase key U.S. technology for use in military applications.\n\nGiven these troubling gaps in the United States\u2019 strategy to protect its core technologies, we urge BIS to emulate the Intelligence Community by identifying key American technologies that need to be safeguarded from the Chinese Communist Party. Congress has already mandated the creation of such lists in the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA). We further urge BIS to expeditiously review and then add all the PLA AI suppliers listed in the CSET report to the Entity List. Both of these actions will help bolster our national security and assure Congress that the Department of Commerce takes its duties seriously.\n\nWith these concerns in mind, we request that you answer the following questions:\n\nIf the intelligence community can identify core technologies vital to the United States\u2019 competition with China, why has BIS failed to identify foundational technologies and a comprehensive range of emerging technologies, as required by law?\n\nWhy weren\u2019t all of the PLA\u2019s 273 AI suppliers listed in the CSET report already on the Entity List, given that these companies\u2019 ties to the PLA were apparently open-source information?\n\nNow that these PLA AI supplier firms have been identified, will BIS add these Chinese AI companies to the Entity List?\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter of national security. We look forward to hearing from you.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-from-garland-after-doj-raids-journalists-home", "Cotton Demands Answers from Garland after DOJ Raids Journalist\u2019s Home", "2021-11-15", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nNovember 15, 2021\n\nCotton Demands Answers from Garland after DOJ Raids Journalist\u2019s Home\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding answers about the Department of Justice\u2019s investigation into the disappearance of Ashley Biden\u2019s diary.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote, \u201cThe Department of Justice follows rules and regulations when investigating members of the news media. The regulations state the Department of Justice \u2018views the use of certain law enforcement tools, including . . . search warrants to seek information from, or records of, non-consenting members of the news media as extraordinary measures, not standard investigatory practices.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cGiven the execution of these search warrants were not \u2018standard investigatory practices,\u2019 I have concerns about the origins of this investigation, the motivations of the investigations, and tactics used by your Department,\u201d he continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nThe Honorable Merrick Garland\n\nU.S. Department of Justice\n\n950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20530-0001\n\nDear Attorney General Garland,\n\nI am writing regarding recent reports of search warrants executed by the FBI on members of the news media in the course of investigating the alleged theft of Ashley Biden\u2019s diary. Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that the FBI had executed search warrants on the homes of several individuals connected to media outlet Project Veritas, including its founder, journalist James O\u2019Keefe.\n\nThe Department of Justice follows rules and regulations when investigating members of the news media. The regulations state the Department of Justice \u201cviews the use of certain law enforcement tools, including . . . search warrants to seek information from, or records of, non-consenting members of the news media as extraordinary measures, not standard investigatory practices.\u201d\n\nGiven the execution of these search warrants were not \u201cstandard investigatory practices,\u201d I have concerns about the origins of this investigation, the motivations of the investigations, and tactics used by your Department.\n\nPlease respond to the following questions and requests by November 19, 2021:\n\n1. According to court filings, the crimes predicating the search warrants fall primarily under the National Stolen Property Act (NSPA), which, inter alia, criminalizes the transport of stolen property across state lines.\n\nPlease provide any case where federal prosecutors charged conspiracy to transport stolen goods and/or receipt of stolen goods with respect to a journalist receiving information from a source and describe how that comports with the First Amendment protections articulated in Bartnicki v. Vopper.\n\nPlease provide all cases where federal prosecutors charged NSPA where a personal effect such as a diary had been stolen in an isolated incident.\n\nPlease provide the search warrants for any cellphones collected from O\u2019Keefe and his associates as well as the supporting applications.\n\nPlease provide all federal prosecutions where prosecutors charged transportation of stolen property where a good had been abandoned by the complaining owner.\n\nThe NSPA has a jurisdictional requirement that the property stolen have a value of $5,000 or more. Please provide the process in which you assessed Ashley Biden\u2019s diary as having a fair market value of $5,000 or more.\n\n2. Please provide a detailed description of the steps you took to comply with the Department of Justice regulations governing obtaining information from journalists, including steps taken to comply with your July memo broadly prohibiting acquiring journalists\u2019 records through compulsory process. If such regulations were not followed, please provide a detailed description about why you failed to follow these procedures.\n\n3. Court records show that reporters from the New York Times contacted James O\u2019Keefe for comments very shortly after federal agents searched the home of an associate and O\u2019Keefe\u2019s home. Please provide all communications between employees of the Department of Justice and the New York Time concerning the investigation into the disappearance of Ashley Biden\u2019s diary. Please describe any actions the Department has taken to investigate the leaks from the Department of Justice to the New York Times.\n\n4. Please provide all communications between officials from the Department of Justice and the White House concerning the investigation into the disappearance of Ashley Biden\u2019s diary. Did anyone at the White House have advance notice of the search warrants for the cellphones of journalists affiliated with Project Veritas?\n\nI look forward to your prompt response regarding this important matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/11/11/2021/cotton-statement-on-veterans-day", "Cotton Statement on Veterans Day", "2021-11-11", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nNovember 11, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Veterans Day\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement in observance of Veterans Day:\n\n\u201cFew titles are more prized or noble than that of veteran of the United States. The sacrifice of these exceptional men and women has ensured our nation\u2019s strength, security, and success from one generation to the next. Our veterans deserve our unending gratitude and reverence. Today, we pay special tribute to their remarkable service.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-khanna-colleagues-lead-bipartisan-effort-to-support-taiwans-standing-in-global-health-community", "Cotton, Khanna, Colleagues Lead Bipartisan Effort to Support Taiwan\u2019s Standing in Global Health Community", "2021-11-05", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nNovember 5, 2021\n\nCotton, Khanna, Colleagues Lead Bipartisan Effort to Support Taiwan\u2019s Standing in Global Health Community\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Representative Ro Khanna (D-California) introduced the U.S.-Taiwan Public Health Protection Act to establish a U.S.-Taiwan Infectious Disease Monitoring Center within the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) to partner with Taiwan\u2019s Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Representative Michael Waltz (R-Florida) are co-sponsors of the bill. Bill text may be found here.\n\n\u201cBeijing\u2019s efforts to exclude Taiwan from the global health community have had deadly consequences. Our bill will ensure the United States has the resources it needs to monitor health threats emerging in the Indo-Pacific and will allow Taiwan to share its knowledge with the world,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cFor too long, the United States has been myopically focused on traditional national security issues and it has hurt our ability to promptly respond to new threats like the COVID-19 pandemic. We must learn from countries like Taiwan that grasped the dangers of this pandemic early on and had success in suppressing it,\u201d said Khanna. \u201cBy establishing a U.S.-Taiwan Infectious Disease Monitoring Center, Congress can help prevent future pandemics and ensure important knowledge sharing can take place between the U.S. and Taiwan.\u201d\n\n\u201cTaiwan\u2019s response to the pandemic has been incredibly successful, and it is unacceptable that the Chinese government is excluding them from global efforts to combat infectious diseases,\u201d said Cortez Masto. \u201cThis legislation will allow the U.S. to partner with Taiwan to safely monitor health threats and help prevent future pandemics.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe should not be surprised that the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s genocidal regime has willingly withheld information on the COVID-19 pandemic, causing devastating effects around the world,\u201d said Rubio. \u201cWe need a reliable and transparent partner in the Indo-Pacific that will provide us with accurate information in order to prevent and mitigate future health crises. Taipei has a comparative advantage in global health and is a trustworthy democratic ally and a valued friend. I am glad to support this effort, which will strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations and benefit global health.\u201d\n\n\u201cTaiwan has been a global leader in monitoring infectious diseases and developed one of the most successful responses in fighting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d said Waltz. \u201cBy establishing a joint disease monitoring center with Taiwan, we can safely monitor the impacts of infectious diseases, share best practices, and develop responses so we can effectively combat the next global pandemic.\u201d\n\nThe bill is supported by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) and Taiwan\u2019s CDC.\n\nThe U.S.-Taiwan Public Health Protection Act would:\n\nEstablish a U.S.-Taiwan Infectious Disease Monitoring Center within the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) to partner with Taiwan\u2019s Centers for Disease Control.\n\nThe center would monitor infectious diseases originating in the region, engage in people-to-people contacts with medical and health officials in the region, and provide expertise on health threats to the U.S. and Taiwanese governments.\n\nThe center will be staffed by U.S. government detailees, including at least three Health and Human Services (HHS) infectious disease experts and at least one staffer from other federal departments, and may employ local Taiwanese staff and employees of Taiwan\u2019s Centers for Disease Control (CDC).\n\nRequire a one-year study and report to Congress to determine the Center\u2019s funding and staffing needs and its level of cooperation with Taiwanese health authorities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-klobuchar-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-competition-and-consumer-choice-online", "Cotton, Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Competition and Consumer Choice Online", "2021-11-05", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nNovember 5, 2021\n\nCotton, Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Competition and Consumer Choice Online\n\nThe Platform Competition and Opportunity Act will help stop anticompetitive mergers and acquisitions by dominant online platforms\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent monopolistic big tech firms from making killer acquisitions that harm competition and eliminate consumer choice. Bill text may be found here. A one-pager about the bill may be found here.\n\n\u201cBig tech firms have bought up rivals to crush their competition, expand their monopolistic market share, and to harm working Americans. That\u2019s bad for America. Under this bill, the largest tech monopolies will have the burden of proving that further acquisitions are lawful and good for the American people,\u201dsaid Cotton.\n\n\u201cCompetition is critical to protecting workers and consumers and spurring innovation. But today, we\u2019re increasingly seeing companies choose to buy their rivals rather than compete,\u201d said Klobuchar. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation will put an end to those anticompetitive acquisitions by making it more difficult for dominant digital platforms to eliminate their competitors and enhance the platform\u2019s market power. It\u2019s past time to address our nation\u2019s monopoly problem and modernize our antitrust laws for the digital economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, American Principles Project has been urging Congress to do everything in its power to rein in the power of Big Tech. We are thrilled that Senator Cotton has taken the lead on this important issue. This bill will make it more difficult for these Big Tech companies to engage in predatory mergers and acquisitions, which will help promote a free and fair market where consumers benefit because innovation and competition are finally allowed to flourish. We encourage Republicans in both the House and Senate to take a serious look at this bill and consider providing support,\u201d said Jon Schweppe, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, American Principles Project.\n\n\u201cFree markets only work if there\u2019s competition. Trillion-dollar Big Tech monopolists like Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple use their staggering market power to buy start-ups that could threaten their dominance. This unfair and abusive practice prevents competition, crushes small businesses, harms consumers and leads to a decline in innovation. The Internet Accountability Project applauds the leadership of Senators Cotton and Klobuchar for their bipartisan legislation to put the burden on Big Tech to prove their acquisitions won't strengthen their monopolistic market share while still allowing for due process and a day in court,\u201d said Mike Davis, President and Founder, Internet Accountability Project.\n\n\u201cIf Facebook hadn\u2019t been able to acquire WhatsApp, consumers would still be able to choose between WhatsApp\u2019s privacy-first, 99-cents-a-year subscription service and Facebook\u2019s personal data collection and exploitation-based service. This bill would make it more likely that consumers have access to diverse innovative services that challenge Big Tech\u2019s way of doing business. The bill would require corporations running the largest online platforms to justify big acquisitions, making it harder for them to simply buy and neuter competitors, and further raise entry barriers,\u201d said Sumit Sharma, Senior Researcher, Tech Competition at Consumer Reports.\n\n\u201cRight on the heels of the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, the Platform Competition and Opportunity Act of 2021 is another strong, bipartisan solution for addressing a piece of the Big Tech puzzle. Senators Klobuchar and Cotton should be applauded for this targeted bill to combat one of the major strategies Big Tech uses to entrench its dominance: mergers and acquisitions. With a bill like this in place, truly innovative ideas that are disruptive to the Big Tech status quo will have a chance to flourish. This bill is an important step towards a better internet for users and small businesses alike, free from Big Tech\u2019s control,\u201d said Charlotte Slaiman, Competition Policy Director at Public Knowledge.\n\n\u201cFor too long, the tech giants have been allowed to use predatory mergers to eliminate their competitors, seize control of pivotal new technologies, and expand their dominance. Big Tech\u2019s track record of unimpeded acquisitions offers one of the most glaring examples of how current antitrust policy has failed America\u2019s entrepreneurs and small businesses. We applaud this bi-partisan effort, led by Senators Klobuchar and Cotton, to stand up to Big Tech by introducing legislation that would end these anti-competitive acquisitions and help usher in a more dynamic and innovative economy. Together with other measures, including structural separation and the nondiscrimination legislation, the Platform Competition and Opportunity Act of 2021 will rein in the tech giants\u2019 monopoly power and safeguard the well-being of independent businesses, workers, and local communities,\u201d said Stacy Mitchell, Co-Director at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.\n\n\u201cWe applaud Sens. Klobuchar and Cotton for developing bi-partisan legislation that aims to prevent platform monopolists from cementing and augmenting their already dangerous levels of power. This bill is an important step toward ensuring that Big Tech platforms cannot continue to fortify and expand their dominance through acquisition, or to eliminate competitive threats simply by buying them. Absent congressional action, platform monopolists will continue to manipulate commerce and communications in ways that threaten our democracy and wreak havoc on the free press, workers, communities, and small businesses across the country. We look forward to working closely with Sen. Klobuchar and other partners to further strengthen this bill, and other legislative efforts to loosen Big Tech\u2019s concentrated control of America\u2019s critical infrastructure of speech and commerce,\u201d said Barry Lynn, Executive Director of the Open Markets Institute.\n\n\u201cBig Tech monopolies have shamelessly gobbled up hundreds of potential competitors over the last decade. Even when faced with historic antitrust enforcement, they have continued to pursue anticompetitive acquisitions. The answer is to make clear that predatory behavior \u2013 like Facebook\u2019s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp \u2013 will no longer be tolerated. This legislation will do just that and is an important step towards reining in the power of these companies that believe they should be above the law. We are encouraged by the bipartisan interest in this important issue and appreciate the leadership of Sen. Klobuchar to take on the Big Tech monopolies,\u201d said Alex Harman, Competition Policy Advocate at Public Citizen.\n\nA bipartisan group led by Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York), House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David N. Cicilline (D-Rhode Island), and Ranking Member Ken Buck (R-Colorado) introduced a similar version of the bill in the House, which was voted out of the House Judiciary Committee.\n\nAt a moment when the digital economy has become highly concentrated and prone to monopolization, the Platform Competition and Opportunity Act will halt further harmful consolidation by:\n\nGiving antitrust enforcers stronger authority to stop acquisitions by dominant platforms that primarily serve to kill competitive threats or enhance the platform\u2019s monopoly power, including acquisitions:\n\nOf direct competitors;\n\nThat reinforce or expand a platform\u2019s market position;\n\nOf potential competitors; and\n\nOf data that strengthen or expand a platform\u2019s dominance.\n\nShifting the burden in merger enforcement to dominant platforms to demonstrate the merger is not anticompetitive.\n\nStriking the appropriate balance for merger enforcement in digital markets by permitting dominant platforms to make acquisitions that do not threaten competition or enhance monopoly power.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-announces-internships-for-state-offices", "Cotton Announces Internships for State Offices", "2021-10-29", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nOctober 29, 2021\n\nCotton Announces Internships for State Offices\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today announced he is seeking interns for his state offices in Little Rock and Rogers. Internships will be offered in two sessions: January 18 \u2013 March 8 and March 14 \u2013 May 2.\n\nInterns will have the opportunity to help with the daily operations of Senator Cotton's office. Depending on their college requirements, students may be able to receive academic credit for their service. Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to state_internships@cotton.senate.gov and specify their desired office location and session before November 19, 2021.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-biden-plan-to-give-illegal-immigrants-hundreds-of-millions-in-cash", "Cotton Statement on Biden Plan to Give Illegal Immigrants Hundreds of Millions in Cash", "2021-10-28", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nOctober 28, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Biden Plan to Give Illegal Immigrants Hundreds of Millions in Cash\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after reports that the Biden administration intends to give illegal immigrants nearly $450,000 each, for a total of at least $1 billion overall.\n\n\u201cIt would be unthinkable to pay damages to a burglar who broke into your home for the \u2018psychological trauma\u2019 they endured during the crime. And yet the Biden administration wants to reward migrants who illegally entered our country with up to $450,000 each for just that reason. The Biden administration\u2019s promises of citizenship and entitlement programs have already caused the worst border crisis in history\u2014a huge cash reward will make it even worse. This is the height of insanity.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/biden-administration-wrong-about-evacuation-numbers-must-do-more", "Biden Administration Wrong About Evacuation Numbers, Must Do More", "2021-10-22", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nOctober 22, 2021\n\nBiden Administration Wrong About Evacuation Numbers, Must Do More\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the statement below after the State Department said that 363 US citizens remain in Afghanistan, 176 of whom want to leave. Previously, the Biden administration said that only approximately 100 Americans remaining in Afghanistan wanted to evacuate.\n\n\u201cUnsurprisingly, the administration either miscalculated, didn\u2019t care, or outright lied about the number of Americans President Biden left behind in Afghanistan. Despite continued evacuations, even more Americans remain now than the Biden administration estimated months ago, along with countless Afghan allies. President Biden must do more to rescue Americans trapped in a disaster of his own making.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-cassidy-condemn-biden-administration-for-naming-chinese-run-tiktok-as-us-cyber-games-sponsor", "Cotton, Cassidy Condemn Biden Administration for Naming Chinese-Run TikTok as U.S. Cyber Games Sponsor", "2021-10-21", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nOctober 21, 2021\n\nCotton, Cassidy Condemn Biden Administration for Naming Chinese-Run TikTok as U.S. Cyber Games Sponsor\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-Louisiana) released the following statement condemning the Biden administration for allowing Chinese state-owned TikTok to be named the founding sponsor of the U.S. Cyber Games. As part of the deal, TikTok Chief Security Officer Roland Cloutier will join representatives from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as members of the Cyber Games Advisory Board.\n\n\u201cAllowing a Chinese state-sponsored data harvesting company to be the lead sponsor for the U.S. Cyber Games is another unbelievable demonstration of this administration\u2019s incompetence. TikTok is required by Chinese law to share U.S. user data with the Chinese Communist Party. They have no business being anywhere near this event and the Biden administration needs to pull their sponsorship,\u201d said the senators.\n\nBackground\n\nTik Tok is required by Chinese law to share its user data with the Chinese Communist Party. They are also currently the subject of a criminal investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a national security investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department and were recently fined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for violating the privacy of children.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-prevent-schools-from-concealing-gender-transitions-from-parents", "Cotton Introduces Bill to Prevent Schools from Concealing Gender Transitions from Parents", "2021-10-21", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nOctober 21, 2021\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Prevent Schools from Concealing Gender Transitions from Parents\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Empower Parents to Protect Their Kids Act, legislation that would prevent K-12 schools from performing a \u201cgender transition\u201d on children behind their parents\u2019 backs. This bill would also empower parents to sue schools that violate this Act by hiding or withholding information about their child\u2019s \u201ctransition.\u201d Bill text may be found here.\n\n\u201cSchools should never be allowed to impose radical, harmful ideologies on children\u2014especially without parents\u2019 knowledge and consent. My bill will protect students and ensure that parents are in control of their children\u2019s education. Schools must remain institutions of education, not indoctrination camps where minors are manipulated and brainwashed,\u201d said Cotton.\n\nThis bill would ensure that all federally funded elementary school and secondary school employees abide by the following requirements regarding minor students:\n\nReceive parental consent before facilitating a student\u2019s gender transition in any way.\n\nDo not withhold information from parents or coerce students to withhold information from their parents about their purported gender identity.\n\nDo not pressure parents or students to proceed with a gender transition.\n\nThe American Principles Project, Heritage Action, The Ethics and Public Policy Center, and Parents Defending Education Action support this bill.\n\nBackground:\n\nPublic schools have adopted radical policies to allow students of any age to change their name, pronouns, gender identity, and even sex-based accommodations (e.g. locker rooms) without telling parents. Schools are deliberately hiding these changes from parents. The following are examples of these egregious policies:\n\nNew Jersey\u2019s statewide policy: \u201cA school district shall accept a student\u2019s asserted gender identity; parental consent is not required.\u201d\n\nMadison, Wisconsin\u2019s district policy: \u201cSchool staff shall not disclose any information that may reveal a student\u2019s gender identity to others, including parents or guardians.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-blackburn-colleagues-fight-for-free-speech-on-college-campuses", "Cotton, Blackburn, Colleagues Fight For Free Speech On College Campuses", "2021-10-20", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nOctober 20, 2021\n\nCotton, Blackburn, Colleagues Fight For Free Speech On College Campuses\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) launched the Senate Campus Free Speech Caucus to defend the rights of students on college campuses. This caucus is part of a larger bicameral effort alongside the Young America\u2019s Foundation (YAF) to protect free speech. Cotton and Blackburn were joined by Senators Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), and John Boozman (R-Arkansas).\n\nIn addition to the Senate Campus Free Speech Caucus, Senators Cotton and Blackburn introduced the Campus Free Speech Resolution of 2021 and Campus Free Speech Restoration Act.\n\nThe Campus Free Speech Resolution of 2021 urges greater First Amendment protection at public universities. Senators Cotton and Blackburn introduced this legislation alongside Senators Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).\n\nThe Campus Free Speech Restoration Act would protect the First Amendment rights of students at public universities from improperly restrictive speech-codes. Senators Cotton and Blackburn introduced this legislation along with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and Mike Braun (R-Indiana).\n\n\u201cUniversities should encourage a variety of viewpoints\u2014but today, colleges and students often silence classmates and faculty who disagree with ideas like Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project. Senator Blackburn and I started The Campus Free Speech Caucus to return free speech to higher education across the country,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cFree speech is under attack on college campuses,\u201d said Blackburn. \u201cWe must fight to ensure that our students are not silenced because of their political views. That is why I am spearheading multiple efforts alongside Senator Cotton and our colleagues to champion essential freedoms for students in Tennessee and across the nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe right to freedom of speech is our most fundamental right as Americans, and I\u2019m proud to join the Campus Free Speech Caucus to fight back against suppression of free speech on college campuses and ensure our students\u2019 First Amendment rights are not being trampled upon,\u201d said Braun.\n\n\u201cCollege campuses should be encouraging debate and for students to exchange political views\u2014not silencing and punishing those they disagree with. We must fight for this foundational right to free speech for our next generation, not give into the wokeness on college campuses,\u201d said Daines.\n\n\u201cFree speech is guaranteed in our Constitution. It should be revered on our college campuses. Sadly, this is where it\u2019s most at risk,\u201dYoung America\u2019s Foundation President Governor Scott Walker said. \u201cThe Campus Free Speech Caucus will help us fight back and ensure all voices can be heard on campus!\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nA 2020 Gallup-Knight Foundation study revealed that eighty-one percent of students support a campus environment where students are exposed to all types of speech, even if they may find it offensive.\n\nA 2019 poll conducted by Young America\u2019s Foundation revealed that of students stopped themselves from sharing their ideas in the classroom.\n\nRelated:\n\nSens. Cotton, Blackburn: Free speech is under fire on America's college campuses. Here's how we'll protect it", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-hagerty-demand-that-estevez-confirm-chinese-communist-party-threat", "Cotton, Hagerty Demand that Estevez Confirm Chinese Communist Party Threat", "2021-10-14", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nOctober 14, 2021\n\nCotton, Hagerty Demand that Estevez Confirm Chinese Communist Party Threat\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee) today wrote to Alan Estevez, nominee to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, demanding answers about his commitment to address the threat the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) poses to the United States.\n\nThe senators wrote, \u201cAs your nomination proceeds for consideration before the entire United States Senate, we request that you provide written answers to the enclosed questions. Thank you for your attention to these important matters of national security. We look forward to hearing from you.\u201d\n\nText of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nMr. Alan F. Estevez\n\nUnder Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Designate\n\nUnited States Department of Commerce\n\n1401 Constitution Ave. NW\n\nWashington, DC 20230\n\nDear Mr. Estevez,\n\nAs your nomination proceeds for consideration before the entire United States Senate, we request that you provide written answers to the enclosed questions.\n\nThank you for your attention to these important matters of national security. We look forward to hearing from you.\n\nSincerely,\n\nQuestions for Mr. Alan Estevez\n\nNote: When asked to make a commitment, please begin your written response with either a \u201cYes\u201d or a \u201cNo.\u201d\n\n1. China threat briefings:\n\n(A)Prior to your possible confirmation, will you commit to receiving a briefing on China\u2019s overseas technology-acquisition strategy from think tank experts working on these issues? Our offices are happy to recommend nonpartisan scholars at Georgetown\u2019s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, the American Enterprise Institute, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Center for a New American Security, or other think tanks.\n\n(B)If confirmed, will you commit to ensuring that Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) officials processing People\u2019s Republic of China-related licensing requests are regularly briefed by both open-source and Intelligence Community experts on China\u2019s technology and Military-Civil Fusion plans?\n\n2. Accelerating emerging and foundational technology lists:\n\n(A)If confirmed, will you commit to accelerating the process at BIS to develop and publish a list of foundational technologies and to further develop BIS\u2019s incomplete list of emerging technologies?\n\n(B) If confirmed, will you commit to briefing Congress, including our offices, regularly regarding the ongoing, interagency process on emerging and foundational technologies set up by law?\n\n3. Controlling semiconductor design and production tools: If confirmed, will you commit to strengthening U.S. restrictions on the export of semiconductor software and tooling to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and PRC end-users? This commitment would include a review of U.S. export control policies towards electronic design automation (EDA) software, extreme ultraviolet lithography (EULV) systems, and related tools.\n\n4. BIS use of classified systems: BIS is a national-security bureau. Based on your years of experience in government, is the BIS security infrastructure\u2014including access to SCIFs and use of classified networks\u2014comparable to other national security agencies? If confirmed, will you commit to reviewing BIS security practices, especially security practices used during export-control licensing and entity list deliberations?\n\n5. Foreign Direct Product Rule:\n\na. Do you believe the use of the Foreign Direct Product Rule on Huawei achieved a national security success with limited harm to U.S. industry?\n\nb. If your answer to 5A was \u201cYes,\u201d will you commit to conducting a review regarding the possible expansion of the foreign direct product rule to all entities on the Commerce Department\u2019s Entity List from the PRC that are related to the Chinese military or linked to the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s human rights violations?\n\n6. Huawei Cloud Services: Is the global spread of Huawei Cloud Services a data security and privacy concern for the United States?\n\n7. Honor (Huawei): Do you believe that Chinese smartphone-maker Honor should be placed on the Commerce Department\u2019s Entity List?\n\n8. Genocide against the Uyghurs: Do you believe that Chinese technology companies are actively assisting the Chinese government\u2014which is currently committing genocide\u2014in maintaining a surveillance system in Xinjiang used to track and suppress the Uyghur population?", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-calls-on-us-trade-representative-to-stop-chinas-admission-to-11-nation-trading-pact", "Cotton Calls on U.S. Trade Representative to Stop China\u2019s Admission to 11-Nation Trading Pact", "2021-10-06", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nOctober 6, 2021\n\nCotton Calls on U.S. Trade Representative to Stop China\u2019s Admission to 11-Nation Trading Pact\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai calling on her to use tools available under the USMCA to stop China\u2019s admission to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), an 11-nation free trade agreement (FTA).\n\nThe Honorable Katherine Tai\n\nU.S. Trade Representative\n\n600 17th Street, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20508\n\nDear Ambassador Tai,\n\nI write to express my concerns about China\u2019s interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). China reportedly sent a formal notice on September 16th to New Zealand requesting to join the pact.\n\nAs you know, the CPTPP is an 11-nation trading pact between market economies from around the Pacific Rim. China comes nowhere close to complying with CPTPP\u2019s standards on state-owned enterprises, intellectual property, labor, the environment, and many other areas. Its policy of economic warfare against market economies stands in stark contrast to the general practices of the participating nations. China\u2019s entry into the CPTPP would reward the state-sponsored theft and economic coercion that has been a hallmark of the Chinese Communist Party. For example, the 2004 theft of Canadian company Nortel\u2019s intellectual property by Chinese hackers ended with the bankruptcy of Nortel, a company that was one of the world\u2019s preeminent fiber optic data transmission systems producers. Market economies should decouple themselves from communist China, not encourage Beijing\u2019s malign behavior with more market access.\n\nFor these reasons, one would expect that the CPTPP nations\u2014which include several strong U.S. allies and partners\u2014will swiftly reject China\u2019s cynical bid for membership. But we know China is not above using economic coercion, kidnapping, and bribery to achieve its objectives. Moreover, China\u2019s membership in CPTPP would have major consequences for the United States, as China effectively would be able to free-ride off of the duty-free access that CPTPP members have to the U.S. market through our own free trade agreements.\n\nFortunately, you are in a position to take action. As you know, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USCMA) includes a provision that requires any member of the USMCA to notify the other members if they intend to enter into free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with \u201cnon-market\u201d economies. Further, the pact allows USMCA parties to terminate the agreement within six months if any member enters into an FTA with a non-market economy. As CPTPP members, Canada and Mexico have the power to veto China\u2019s accession to the agreement. And under Article 32.10 of the USMCA, each would be required to formally notify the United States three months before negotiations on China\u2019s accession begin and provide us with information about the negotiating objectives. The United States should use the leverage we negotiated in USMCA to encourage our trading partners to reject China\u2019s application and to support them in resisting any pressure tactics China may employ against them.\n\nI urge you to remind Canada and Mexico of their obligations under the USMCA. I further request that you to notify them that the United States will use all mechanisms available to us in the USMCA to ensure China not be allowed to join the CPTPP.\n\nI would also note that on October 4th, during a question-and-answer session at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, you were asked, \u201care you going to block China joining the CPTPP?\u201d While you refrained from directly answering the question at that time, I request that you clearly state your position in your response to this letter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-from-biden-doj-about-investigations-of-anti-crt-parents-as-domestic-terrorists", "Cotton Demands Answers from Biden DOJ About Investigations of Anti-CRT Parents as Domestic Terrorists", "2021-10-06", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nOctober 6, 2021\n\nCotton Demands Answers from Biden DOJ About Investigations of Anti-CRT Parents as Domestic Terrorists\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding answers about a memo he drafted addressing protests against local school board officials. This memo came after the National School Boards Association (NSBA) sent a letter to President Biden requesting federal law enforcement be tasked with investigating a \u201cgrowing number of threats of violence and acts of intimidation\u201d against local school board officials.\n\nIn part, Cotton wrote, \u201cThe NSBA letter requested that the Biden administration examine whether these purported acts violated several statutes, including the PATRIOT Act and the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The letter further asserted that these acts may amount to a form of \u2018domestic terrorism.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cYour memo, issued just five days after the NSBA letter and copying some of its recommendations, certainly appears to be a response to and tacit approval of that letter. The Department of Justice\u2019s endorsement of such outlandish allegations threatens to intimidate parents, chill free speech, and discourage lawful assemblies,\u201d Cotton continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nThe Honorable Merrick Garland\n\nAttorney General\n\nU.S. Department of Justice\n\n950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20530-0001\n\nDear Attorney General Garland,\n\nI write regarding your October 4th memo addressing protests against local school board policies.\n\nYour memo was issued shortly after the National School Boards Association (NSBA) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to task federal law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with investigating a \u201cgrowing number of threats of violence and acts of intimidation\u201d against local school board officials. The NSBA letter requested that the Biden administration examine whether these purported acts violated several statutes, including the PATRIOT Act and the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The letter further asserted that these acts may amount to a form of \u201cdomestic terrorism.\u201d\n\nIt is never appropriate to use violence or threats of violence to achieve political goals. However, NSBA went much further by suggesting that concerned parents, who are merely exercising their constitutionally protected rights to speak freely and protect their children, should be treated as domestic terrorists. Your memo, issued just five days after the NSBA letter and copying some of its recommendations, certainly appears to be a response to and tacit approval of that letter. The Department of Justice\u2019s endorsement of such outlandish allegations threatens to intimidate parents, chill free speech, and discourage lawful assemblies.\n\nGiven these concerns, please respond to the following questions by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13, 2021:\n\n1. Did the NSBA letter prompt you to issue the aforementioned memorandum? If not, what considerations prompted you to issue the memorandum\n\n2. Have any state or local authorities or other organizations besides the NSBA requested or encouraged the Biden administration to take action against this alleged rise in violence and intimidation against school officials? If so, which organizations?\n\n3. Please provide all sources to support your claim in the memorandum that \u201cthere has been a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff.\u201d\n\n4. Please document any cases of physical violence committed against school district officials in recent protests against school policies and curriculum.\n\n5. When, according to your analysis, did this purported spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence occur? Do you agree with the NSBA\u2019s claim that the alleged spike is being fomented by mask mandates and curricula teaching critical race theory?\n\n6. Do you agree with the NSBA\u2019s assessment that protests against school district policies and curricular instruction may amount to domestic terrorism?\n\n7. The NSBA requested that you invoke specific authorities to prosecute as \u201cdomestic extremists\u201d parents who disagree with the positions of their school boards. Please explain whether you believe any of the following federal laws could be used to prosecute those who protest against local school board policies and their members:\n\nGun-Free School Zones Act\n\nPATRIOT Act\n\nMatthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act\n\nViolent Interference with Federally Protected Rights statute\n\nConspiracy Against Rights statute\n\nI look forward to your prompt response regarding this important matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-about-afghan-evacuee-independent-departures", "Cotton Demands Answers About Afghan Evacuee \u2018Independent Departures\u2019", "2021-10-04", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nOctober 4, 2021\n\nCotton Demands Answers About Afghan Evacuee \u2018Independent Departures\u2019\n\nThe Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas\n\nSecretary\n\nDepartment of Homeland Security\n\nWashington, D.C. 20528\n\nDear Secretary Mayorkas:\n\nAccording to public reports, hundreds of Afghan evacuees housed at U.S. military bases have simply walked off of the bases at which they were being housed. Individuals with lawful immigration status prior to the Biden administration\u2019s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan\u2014such as United States citizens, lawful permanent residents, and approved special immigrant visa holders\u2014justly expected a speedy departure from U.S. custody once they arrived safely in the United States. However, a more extensive review and vetting process is absolutely essential for the tens of thousands of unknown Afghans who were airlifted during the evacuation. The Biden administration\u2019s obfuscation and steadfast refusal to answer oversight inquiries from Congress exacerbates these concerns.\n\nThe U.S. government is currently investigating multiple crimes committed in evacuee facilities. The American people have seen reports of a group of male Afghan evacuees assaulting a female servicemember at a Fort Bliss facility in New Mexico. An Afghan evacuee allegedly sexually assaulted young boys at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. Another Afghan evacuee reportedly choked his wife at Fort McCoy. The State Department has raised concerns about child trafficking by older Afghan men. Even previously-deported criminals\u2014including an Afghan who had previously been convicted of rape in the United States, and another who had previously been convicted of aggravated robbery \u2014were airlifted back to the United States. In light of these reports, it is alarming that hundreds of Afghan evacuees have reportedly left U.S. military bases directly into our communities, possibly before completing our vetting and immigration processes. Accordingly, please provide answers to the following questions:\n\n1. How many Afghan evacuees have made \u201cindependent departures,\u201d in which they simply left U.S. military bases on their own accord?\n\n2. What requirements, if any, must Afghan evacuees meet before being allowed to leave military bases in the United States? What conditions are placed on such Afghan evacuees when they leave?\n\n3. What vetting, if any, have Afghan evacuees completed before arriving at military bases in the United States? Is the Department of Homeland Security undertaking any additional vetting after Afghan evacuees have arrived at military bases in the United States? If so, how many of the evacuees who have made \u201cindependent departures\u201d completed all additional vetting prior to their leaving the military base?\n\n4. Of the number of evacuees who have made \u201cindependent departures,\u201d how many received affirmative approval from Department of Homeland Security officials to leave the base?\n\n5. What are the immigration statuses, if any, held by evacuees who have made \u201cindependent departures?\u201d Please provide a breakdown of the number of evacuees who had American citizenship, lawful permanent residency (\u201cgreen cards\u201d), approved special immigrant visas (SIVs), or other status, as well as the number of evacuees who have only been paroled into the United States but who do not have any other immigration status.\n\n6. What measures is the Department of Homeland Security taking to track the whereabouts and activities of evacuees who have made \u201cindependent departures\u201d in the United States?\n\n7. Of the evacuees who have made \u201cindependent departures,\u201d for how many does the Department of Homeland Security have a confirmed current location?\n\nPlease provide complete, written responses to these questions as soon as possible, but no later than 5:00PM on Friday, October 8, 2021. Please also arrange for a staff briefing on this matter by contacting my office\u2019s counsel at (202) 224-2353. Thank you for your attention to this concerning matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-about-blinkens-whereabouts-during-afghanistan-withdrawal-drill", "Cotton Demands Answers About Blinken\u2019s Whereabouts During Afghanistan Withdrawal Drill", "2021-09-30", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken questioning his whereabouts during an Afghanistan withdrawal rehearsal upon learning that Blinken was absent from the exercise.\n\nIn part, Cotton wrote, \u201cIt has come to my attention that, on May 8, 2021, the Biden administration held an exercise for principals to rehearse the plan for withdrawal from Afghanistan.\u201d\n\n\u201cConspicuously, you reportedly did not attend the exercise. You also did not send your top deputy, Wendy Sherman. Instead, you sent the third-ranking official at the Department of State. Where were you on May 8, 2021?\u201d he continued.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-gallagher-call-for-chinese-biotechnology-companies-to-be-blacklisted", "Cotton, Gallagher Call for Chinese Biotechnology Companies to be Blacklisted", "2021-09-30", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 30, 2021\n\nCotton, Gallagher Call for Chinese Biotechnology Companies to be Blacklisted\n\nDear Secretaries Yellen, Raimondo, and Austin,\n\nI write to you today regarding China\u2019s use of biotechnology companies including the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) as part of the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s (CCP) strategy of \u201cMilitary-Civil Fusion\u201d (MCF). I urge you to add BGI and other Chinese biotechnology companies to the Department of the Treasury\u2019s Non-SDN Chinese Military Industrial Complex Companies List (NS-CMIC List), the Department of Commerce\u2019s Entity List, and the Department of Defense\u2019s list of Chinese military companies required by Section 1260H of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.\n\nBGI and other Chinese biotech companies meet the grounds for inclusion on the NS-CMIC List, the Entity List, and the Section 1260H list. BGI operates in the defense and related materiel sector of the Chinese economy, it is involved in activities contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, and it is a clear military-civil fusion contributor to China\u2019s defense industrial base.\n\nThe CCP\u2019s ambition to dominate biotechnology is well known. The Chinese government designated biotech as a \u201cstrategic emerging industry\u201d and has prioritized state support for the industry through Made in China 2025 and other state-directed MCF plans. BGI plays a key role in these biotech aspirations. Thanks to at least $1.5 billion in Chinese state subsidies, BGI has grown to become China\u2019s biotech \u201cnational champion\u201d and now manages China\u2019s national gene database. BGI has also purchased American firms and used state subsidies to undercut the global DNA sequencing market.\n\nBGI has used its dominant position to further the CCP\u2019s strategic goals by acquiring sensitive health data from the rest of the world. BGI and at least 14 other Chinese companies perform genomic sequencing for U.S. healthcare patients. As mandated by Chinese law, these companies have almost certainly shared this data with the Chinese government.\n\nBGI also attempted to take advantage of the pandemic to acquire U.S. data, reaching out to the governors of six states with offers to build advanced COVID-19 testing labs before top U.S. intelligence officials convinced states to reject BGI\u2019s offers. Most recently, reports revealed that BGI was selling prenatal tests to pregnant women around the world and using the tests to collect vast swathes of genetic data on different populations.\n\nThe Party\u2019s focus on biotech also extends to biotech\u2019s potential military applications. The former head of the People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA) National Defense University identified biology as one of seven \u201cnew domains of warfare,\u201d including the possibility of \u201cspecific ethnic genetic attacks,\u201d in a 2017 publication.\n\nBGI has a history of collaboration with the PLA and serving the PLA\u2019s interests. A review of 40 publicly-available research papers demonstrates BGI\u2019s work on PLA priorities, such as improved high-altitude soldier performance, neuroscience, and pathogens. BGI\u2019s worldwide prenatal test was itself developed in collaboration with the PLA. BGI has also partnered with the PLA\u2019s National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) to advance bioinformatics research and leverage supercomputers for biological research. Joint BGI-PLA research could have an application in future bioweapons\u2014which is especially concerning because BGI\u2019s national gene bank is presumably made available for military research.\n\nGiven BGI\u2019s and other Chinese biotechnology companies\u2019 support for and collaboration with the PLA, I urge you to include BGI and other Chinese biotech companies on the NS-CMIC List, the Entity List, and the Section 1260H Chinese military companies list. The United States must not turn a blind eye to the threat posed by Chinese biotechnology companies operating at the CCP\u2019s behest. Blacklisting BGI and its fellow biotech companies will help the United States counter the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s efforts to capture Americans\u2019 most private information\u2014their DNA.\n\nThank you for considering this important national security.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-huawei-extradition-deal", "Cotton Statement on Huawei Extradition Deal", "2021-09-24", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 24, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Huawei Extradition Deal\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after reports that the Justice Department reached an agreement to allow Huawei\u2019s Chief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou, to return to China:\n\n\u201cMeng Wanzhou violated U.S. sanctions, but the Biden administration chose to appease the Chinese Communist Party rather than enforcing the law. Instead of standing firm against China\u2019s hostage-taking and blackmail, President Biden folded. This surrender only encourages the Communists in Beijing to take more Americans and our allies hostage in the future.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/09/23/2021/cotton-accepting-service-academy-applications", "Cotton Accepting Service Academy Applications", "2021-09-23", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 23, 2021\n\nCotton Accepting Service Academy Applications\n\nWashington, D.C.\u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) announced that he is accepting applications for Service Academy nominations. In order to be considered for a nomination, materials must be submitted by Monday, November 1, 2021.\n\n\"Students who attend U.S. service academies and go on to serve their country in uniform are the pride of Arkansas, and I encourage each young Arkansan with a sincere interest to apply,\" Cotton said.\n\nInterested students can find the application, along with information on eligibility and other requirements, here. Please contact Nicole Millar (501) 223-9081 for any additional questions.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-calls-for-investigation-of-chinese-stock-trading-app", "Cotton Calls for Investigation of Chinese Stock Trading App", "2021-09-23", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 23, 2021\n\nCotton Calls for Investigation of Chinese Stock Trading App\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote to Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence, to raise concerns about the national security risks posed by Webull, a Chinese stock trading app, and to call for an investigation into the company.\n\nIn part, Cotton wrote, \u201cAs a broker-dealer, Webull collects sensitive, personal information from its clients. That includes Social Security numbers, home addresses, bank accounts, and more. While Webull claims to store user data locally, Webull is still required to adhere to the laws of China.\u201d\n\n\u201cGiven these concerns, we believe that Webull is a potential counterintelligence threat and we ask that the Intelligence Community conduct an assessment of the potential national security risks posed by Webull and other China-based broker-dealers operating in the United States. Further, we request that the Intelligence Community brief Congress on these findings,\u201d Cotton continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nThe Honorable Avril Haines\n\nDirector of National Intelligence\n\nOffice of the Director of National Intelligence\n\nWashington, DC 20511\n\nDear Director Haines,\n\nWe write to express our concerns about potential national security risks posed by the growing use of Webull, a registered broker-dealer and securities trading platform, in the United States.\n\nWebull is owned by Fumi Technology, a financial analysis firm that offers market trading tools for personal investors. Webull\u2019s customer-facing unit and brokerage wings are located in New York City, however, their technology team is located in Hunan, China.\n\nWebull does not earn commissions on trades but rather makes money via order flow payments, short selling fees, subscriptions, interest paid on margin, as well as investments of cash on balance. A 2018 profile of Webull described their Wall Street office as \u201ca Chinese force in the \u2018nerve center\u2019 of the international financial community.\u201d Webull had over eleven million users as of last year and is planning an initial public offering that could raise between $300-$400 million. From April to June of 2020, Webull\u2019s trading volume exploded by 500% and trading accounts grew by 450,000.\n\nAs a broker-dealer, Webull collects sensitive, personal information from its clients. That includes Social Security numbers, home addresses, bank accounts, and more. While Webull claims to store user data locally, Webull is still required to adhere to the laws of China.\n\nChina's deliberately vague patchwork of intelligence, national security, and cybersecurity laws compel companies to support and cooperate with the government\u2019s intelligence work. With no independent judiciary to review government demands to provide user data or take other actions on the government\u2019s behalf, there is no legal alternative for Chinese companies if they don\u2019t want to comply. There is no independent press to make the situation public. And penalties for non-compliance can include destruction of the firm and long prison sentences.\n\nGiven these concerns, we believe that Webull is a potential counterintelligence threat and we ask that the Intelligence Community conduct an assessment of the potential national security risks posed by Webull and other China-based broker-dealers operating in the United States. Further, we request that the Intelligence Community brief Congress on these findings.\n\nThank you for your consideration regarding this important matter. We look forward to hearing from you.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-about-biden-strategy-to-counter-huawei", "Cotton Demands Answers About Biden Strategy to Counter Huawei", "2021-09-22", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 22, 2021\n\nCotton Demands Answers About Biden Strategy to Counter Huawei\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin) today wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the continued proliferation of Huawei\u2019s cloud services and to demand information regarding the Biden administration\u2019s strategy to counter Huawei Cloud\u2019s spread.\n\nIn part, the members wrote, \u201cHuawei\u2019s cloud services present an obvious danger to U.S. firms and citizens. This threat could manifest itself in the CCP\u2019s access to the personal data of visiting U.S. citizens, services members, businesspersons, and diplomats. Such an outcome could severely disadvantage U.S. diplomatic, intelligence, and economic efforts and must be resisted accordingly.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must combat Huawei as a whole and target each of the company\u2019s commercial units, including their 5G, cloud services, mobile-phone, and underwater cable businesses. The purpose behind Clean Cloud, Clean Apps, and Clean Cable was to have a broad suite of Clean Network efforts beyond 5G designed to unify and mobilize allies against collaborating with untrusted Beijing-backed firms to advance global information security,\u201d the members continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nThe Honorable Antony Blinken\n\nSecretary\n\nUnited States Department of State\n\n2201 C Street, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20520\n\nDear Secretary Blinken,\n\nWe write to express our concern over the continued proliferation of Huawei\u2019s cloud services and to seek information regarding the Biden administration\u2019s strategy to stop Huawei Cloud\u2019s spread.\n\nToday, Huawei has at least 70 cloud service agreements with foreign governments or state-backed enterprises. These projects span more than 40 nations on almost every continent. They include projects in countries of immense geopolitical importance to the United States, such as, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, Huawei\u2019s cloud services revenues reportedly rose by almost 170 percent in 2020. This accelerating revenue stream threatens to undermine U.S. efforts to curtail Huawei\u2019s power, influence, and financial strength.\n\nThe international threat to data security and integrity posed by Huawei extends far beyond 5G. To cite just one example, China reportedly spied on the African Union (AU) headquarters using Huawei-made cameras that China installed when it built the building in 2012. Huawei also installed the AU headquarters\u2019 information and computer systems. In 2018, it was revealed that China had built backdoors into these systems, which it used to send sensitive information to Shanghai. If allowed to proliferate, Huawei\u2019s cloud services could give the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) similar access to additional governments, companies, and other important institutions, delivering Beijing a distinct information advantage.\n\nHuawei Cloud\u2019s e-Government services promise to help countries streamline document digitization, tax services, national ID systems, elections, and more. However, they also expose Huawei\u2019s clients to the prying eyes of the CCP. When Huawei\u2019s client is a private firm, every one of its customers is at risk. When Huawei\u2019s client is a country, its entire population and political structure sits in the crosshairs.\n\nHuawei\u2019s cloud services present an obvious danger to U.S. firms and citizens. This threat could manifest itself in the CCP\u2019s access to the personal data of visiting U.S. citizens, services members, businesspersons, and diplomats. Such an outcome could severely disadvantage U.S. diplomatic, intelligence, and economic efforts and must be resisted accordingly.\n\nDuring the previous administration, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Undersecretary of State Keith Krach launched the \u201cClean Network\u201d program to address the long-term threat malign authoritarian actors pose to data privacy, security, and human rights in the free world. Rooted in internationally accepted digital-trust standards and democratic values, it was expected to be an enduring effort involving a coalition of trusted partners.\n\nThis approach includes the Clean Cloud initiative, which aims to prevent U.S. citizens\u2019 sensitive personal information and U.S. business\u2019 intellectual property from being stored or processed on cloud-based systems accessible to foreign adversaries. Since last May, 60 countries\u2014representing over 66% of the world\u2019s GDP\u2014200 telecoms companies, and a host of other industry-leading companies have joined the Clean Network. The Clean Network\u2019s progress and all of its associated lines of effort must continue.\n\nGiven the national security threat posed by Huawei cloud services, we seek detailed answers to the below questions:\n\n1. What actions is the Biden administration currently taking to stop the continued proliferation of Huawei cloud services?\n\n2. Does the Biden administration plan to continue the Clean Network, including the Clean Cloud initiative? If not, why not? What\u2014if anything\u2014will replace it?\n\n3. To what extent has the Biden administration engaged governments that have signed Huawei cloud service contracts to discuss the threats posed by their decisions?\n\n4. Is the Biden administration actively working to provide other countries with alternative options to Huawei cloud services? If so, what are these alternatives and what is their status?\n\n5. Are any additional resources or authorities needed to successfully prevent the continued proliferation of Huawei cloud services?\n\nWe must combat Huawei as a whole and target each of the company\u2019s commercial units, including their 5G, cloud services, mobile-phone, and underwater cable businesses. The purpose behind Clean Cloud, Clean Apps, and Clean Cable was to have a broad suite of Clean Network efforts beyond 5G designed to unify and mobilize allies against collaborating with untrusted Beijing-backed firms to advance global information security.\n\nThank you for considering this important matter. We look forward to hearing from you.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-sasse-introduce-bill-to-block-taliban-access-to-chabahar-port", "Cotton, Sasse Introduce Bill to Block Taliban Access to Chabahar Port", "2021-09-21", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 21, 2021\n\nCotton, Sasse Introduce Bill to Block Taliban Access to Chabahar Port\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska) today introduced the No Harbor for Terror Act to revoke the Afghanistan exception to the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012, which currently provides Afghanistan with access to the Chabahar Port for exports. Text of the legislation may be found here.\n\n\u201cIran\u2019s Chabahar Port provides a lifeline for Afghanistan\u2019s trade exports, but the United States shouldn\u2019t continue to waive sanctions for a nation now run by a terrorist organization. Our legislation would revoke Afghanistan\u2019s exception and limit the Taliban and Iranian regime\u2019s ability to use the Port as a harbor for their illicit trade,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cPresident Biden\u2019s shameful surrender has put the Taliban back in charge of Afghanistan,\u201d said Sasse. \u201cWhy on earth should these bloodthirsty terrorists now enjoy the economic benefits from access to an Iranian controlled port? It\u2019s time to ditch this sanctions waiver.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-democrats-plan-to-block-iron-dome-funding", "Cotton Statement on Democrats\u2019 Plan to Block Iron Dome Funding", "2021-09-21", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 21, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Democrats\u2019 Plan to Block Iron Dome Funding\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after Democrats announced a plan to remove funding for Israel\u2019s Iron Dome missile defense system from a government funding package:\n\n\u201cOn the same day that President Biden pledged to stand with our allies at the United Nations, members of his own party want to deny Israel the equipment to defend its citizens from terrorist missiles. Despite their best efforts, the United States will support Israel\u2019s right to defend itself and fund the Iron Dome.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-about-faa-flight-restriction-over-southern-border", "Cotton Demands Answers About FAA Flight Restriction Over Southern Border", "2021-09-17", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 17, 2021\n\nCotton Demands Answers About FAA Flight Restriction Over Southern Border\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) demanding answers about the FAA\u2019s temporary flight restriction over the southern border in Del Rio, Texas.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote, \u201cLast night, the FAA implemented a two-week Temporary Flight Restriction over the migrant camp. This decision has forced media organizations covering the ongoing border crisis to ground their aircraft. I\u2019m disturbed by the possibility that the FAA closed the airspace over the border for political reasons, perhaps to blackout unfavorable media coverage of the humanitarian disaster. The American people deserve to have access to information about this crisis.\u201d\n\nText of the letter may be found here or below.\n\nDear Administrator Dickson,\n\nI write with deep concerns about a recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decision to restrict the airspace over Del Rio, Texas.\n\nAs you know, in recent days thousands of illegal aliens have poured over the U.S.-Mexico border into Del Rio, Texas. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol estimates that over 9,000 aliens, including many Haitians, are currently sheltering under the Del Rio International Bridge. Authorities expect thousands more to illegally cross the border in the coming days.\n\nLast night, the FAA implemented a two-week Temporary Flight Restriction over the migrant camp. This decision has forced media organizations covering the ongoing border crisis to ground their aircraft. I\u2019m disturbed by the possibility that the FAA closed the airspace over the border for political reasons, perhaps to blackout unfavorable media coverage of the humanitarian disaster. The American people deserve to have access to information about this crisis.\n\nI ask that you promptly answer the following questions:\n\n1. Why did the FAA implement a Temporary Flight Restriction over this area of Texas?\n\n2. Who at the FAA made the decision to restrict this airspace?\n\n3. In making this decision, did FAA leadership have any direct contact with the White House? If so, did White House officials order or pressure the FAA to make this decision?\n\nI appreciate your consideration of this important matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-the-20th-anniversary-of-9/11", "Cotton Statement on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11", "2021-09-11", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 11, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks:\n\n\u201cOn this 20th anniversary of 9/11 we remember the nearly 3,000 Americans who were taken from us on that terrible day. We also honor the thousands of veterans who fought to ensure that such an attack would never happen again. For many, this is an especially painful anniversary, but I urge those commemorating it to not only remember the anguish, but also the courage we saw on 9/11 and since. From the riders of Flight 93 who charged a cockpit and saved the Capitol, to the firefighters and police officers who ran into the burning towers of New York, to the countless men and women who volunteered to fight and avenge the attack, the heroes of 9/11 outnumbered the terrorists many times over. God bless them and God bless the victims of the attack. We shall never forget.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-chipman-nomination-withdrawal", "Cotton Statement on Chipman Nomination Withdrawal", "2021-09-09", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 9, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Chipman Nomination Withdrawal\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding President Biden\u2019s decision to withdraw David Chipman\u2019s nomination to serve as the head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF):\n\n\u201cDavid Chipman is an erratic, anti-gun radical who planned to outlaw nearly every single sporting rifle in America. He is wholly unfit to run the ATF, and I\u2019m glad to see President Biden has withdrawn his nomination.\u201d\n\nDuring a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing earlier this year, Senator Cotton questioned Mr. Chipman about his calls for an assault weapon ban, revealing his intention to outlaw the large majority of modern sporting rifles.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-afghan-green-cards-benefits", "Cotton Statement on Afghan Green Cards, Benefits", "2021-09-08", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 8, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Afghan Green Cards, Benefits\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on the Biden administration\u2019s proposed short-term funding resolution that would grant green cards and other benefits to Afghans without regard for the normal screening and approval process.\n\n\u201cJoe Biden left behind thousands in Afghanistan who already have American citizenship, green cards, or pending visas, but now he wants to award unlimited green cards to people who didn\u2019t serve alongside our troops and who may even threaten our safety and health\u2014all while exempting them from the normal refugee screening process. This proposal is just another chapter in Biden\u2019s rolling fiasco of an Afghanistan policy.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nThe Biden administration's unprecedented proposal allows any Afghans who come to the United States over at least the next year to obtain green cards, backdated to the day they entered the country, without completing the normal refugee screening or approval process.\n\nThe proposal would give better benefits and less stringent screening to completely unknown Afghans than to our Afghan allies and interpreters.\n\nThe proposal specifies that none of these Afghans will be counted against the normal annual refugee caps, despite that each of them would also be able to access all refugee benefits and services.\n\nThe only screening required under the proposal is whatever screening Secretary Mayorkas deems sufficient. The proposal also gives Secretary Mayorkas explicit authority to waive any grounds of inadmissibility (including criminal records or ties to terrorism) if he feels it is useful for \"humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-demand-answers-about-afghanistan-withdrawal", "Cotton, Colleagues Demand Answers About Afghanistan Withdrawal", "2021-09-02", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nSeptember 2, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Demand Answers About Afghanistan Withdrawal\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and 25 of his senate colleagues today sent a letter to President Joe Biden demanding information regarding the humanitarian crisis created by his withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan. Specifically, the letter requests information on Americans and allies who were left behind, and on the vetting process for evacuees who are being brought to the United States.\n\nIn part, the senators wrote, \u201cThe signatories of this letter may have differing opinions about whether the United States should have maintained a military presence in Afghanistan, but we all agree that the arbitrary and poorly-planned method by which you withdrew from Afghanistan caused this crisis.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe request thorough, unclassified answers to these questions that can be made available to the general public. Americans need to see that the United States will not abandon them to terrorists abroad forever,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nSenator Cotton was joined on the letter by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi).\n\nText of the letter may be found here or below.\n\nSeptember 2, 2021\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nWe write regarding the humanitarian crisis created by your withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan, and the safety and well-being of our fellow countrymen and allies who you left behind. The signatories of this letter may have differing opinions about whether the United States should have maintained a military presence in Afghanistan, but we all agree that the arbitrary and poorly-planned method by which you withdrew from Afghanistan caused this crisis.\n\nYou say that more than 123,000 individuals have been evacuated from Afghanistan in recent weeks (nearly half of whom were evacuated by groups or countries other than the United States), but only an estimated 5,500 \u201cself-identified\u201d American citizens (4.5% of the total evacuees) were evacuated or left on their own. Further, while it does not appear that you have released exact numbers of our Afghan partners who were evacuated, your administration has publicly confirmed that fewer than 50% of evacuated Afghans were Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants or their families.\n\nOur immediate priority is the safety and well-being of American citizens, permanent residents, and allies who were left behind in Afghanistan. We are also concerned by reports that ineligible individuals, including Afghans with ties to terrorist organizations or serious, violent criminals, were evacuated alongside innocent refugee families. We request that you provide answers to the following questions no later than 5:00PM on Tuesday, September 7:\n\nHow many American citizens does the administration believe to remain in Afghanistan?\n\nOf the American citizens still in Afghanistan, how many are currently in contact with the State Department?\n\nOf the American citizens still in Afghanistan, how many have expressed a desire to be repatriated to the United States?\n\nHow did the administration reach this estimate, and what steps is the administration taking to find and connect with Americans who may still be in Afghanistan but who are not in contact with the State Department?\n\nHow many green-card holders does the administration believe to remain in Afghanistan?\n\nOf the green-card holders still in Afghanistan, how many are currently in contact with the State Department?\n\nOf the green card holders still in Afghanistan, how many have expressed a desire to be repatriated to the United States?\n\nHow did the administration reach this estimate, and what efforts is the administration taking to find and connect with green-card holders who may still be in Afghanistan but who are not in contact with the State Department?\n\nHow many Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants remain in Afghanistan?\n\nOf the SIVs remaining in Afghanistan, how many have already received final SIV approval from the U.S. Center for Immigration Services?\n\nOf the SIVs remaining in Afghanistan, how many are currently in contact with the State Department?\n\nOf the approved SIVs and the SIV applicants who were evacuated, how many served for a year or more as interpreters or translators for American or allied armed forces in Afghanistan?\n\nAre the State Department and USCIS still processing pending SIV applications? What steps are being taken to ensure that pending applicants are safe from Taliban reprisals as their applications are adjudicated?\n\nAccording to your administration, more than 50% of evacuated Afghans were not SIV applicants or their families, including vulnerable Afghans such as women and girls at high risk for Taliban reprisals. Of the more than 57,000 Afghans who are not American citizens, green-card holders, or SIV applicants or their families, how many had no pending immigration application or status with the United States prior to being airlifted?\n\nBy what criteria did your administration select these individuals for the airlift while leaving American citizens, green-card holders, and SIV applicants and their families behind?\n\nHow many evacuees, in total, are Afghans who are not American citizens, green-card holders, or SIV applicants or their families? Please also provide a breakdown of how many of these individuals are adult men, adult women, girls, or boys.\n\nWhat steps did your administration take to verify the identities of these individuals before evacuation?\n\nWhat steps are your administration taking to ensure that individuals are thoroughly vetted and their identities verified before entering the United States?\n\nWho is responsible for vetting these evacuated individuals before they reach the United States?\n\nIs the administration checking for potential criminal records and national-security concerns before admitting individuals to the United States?\n\nThere are reports that a convicted rapist\u2014who had previously served a prison sentence in the United States before being deported\u2014was flown to the national capital region as part of this airlift operation. Was that individual vetted before being flown to the United States? If so, was his criminal record found and ignored, or was it not found in the first place?\n\nHow many other individuals have been allowed to enter the United States as part of this evacuation before undergoing vetting and background checks?\n\nWe request thorough, unclassified answers to these questions that can be made available to the general public. Americans need to see that the United States will not abandon them to terrorists abroad forever. If your answers implicate classified material, you may also submit a classified appendix to your answers and coordinate with us to provide a classified briefing.\n\nWe look forward to your prompt response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-kabul-airport-bombing", "Cotton Statement on Kabul Airport Bombing", "2021-08-26", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nAugust 26, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Kabul Airport Bombing\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after the bombing outside the Kabul airport:\n\n\u201cU.S. troops sacrificed their lives today to rescue their fellow Americans fleeing Afghanistan. We mourn their deaths and grieve with their families. To honor their lives, we should finish their mission: the United States must use all its might to rescue our remaining countrymen in Afghanistan and bring justice to the terrorists responsible for today\u2019s savagery. We must send the clear and unmistakable message that we leave no man behind, and if you kill our service members, your days are numbered.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-august-31st-deadline-for-afghanistan-withdrawal", "Cotton Statement on August 31st Deadline for Afghanistan Withdrawal", "2021-08-24", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nAugust 24, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on August 31st Deadline for Afghanistan Withdrawal\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after news of President Biden\u2019s decision to keep August 31st as the deadline to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan:\n\n\u201cPresident Biden should commit to staying in Afghanistan until we have rescued every American citizen and those Afghans who risked their lives for American troops. Instead, he intends to abandon stranded Americans to appease the Taliban and meet his own arbitrary political deadline. Joe Biden\u2019s impotence leaves Americans in harm\u2019s way and dishonors our entire nation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-calls-for-military-rescue-of-trapped-americans", "Cotton Calls for Military Rescue of Trapped Americans", "2021-08-19", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nAugust 19, 2021\n\nCotton Calls for Military Rescue of Trapped Americans\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding President Biden\u2019s response to the ongoing crisis in Kabul, Afghanistan:\n\n\u201cPresident Biden\u2019s ill-planned, chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan has stranded thousands of American citizens behind enemy lines, turning them in effect into hostages of the Taliban. Instead of ordering rescue missions to save our people, as our allies have done, the Biden administration is relying on the Taliban\u2019s good graces to ensure the safety of our citizens. As a result, terrified Americans are being forced to run a gauntlet of armed terrorist checkpoints to reach the safety of Kabul airport. My office has received numerous reports of American citizens and Afghan allies being harassed, beaten, and abused by Taliban thugs. These reports are in addition to the televised scenes of chaos at the airport perimeter.\n\n\u201cThis catastrophe of the president\u2019s making must come to an end. It\u2019s time for President Biden to authorize the military to stop this rolling humiliation, expand the perimeter at Kabul airport, and rescue Americans trapped behind enemy lines. Anything less amounts to an abandonment of our fellow Americans and a shameful abdication of duty in a moment of crisis.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/contact-information-for-americans-stranded-in-afghanistan", "Contact Information for Americans Stranded in Afghanistan", "2021-08-16", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nAugust 15, 2021\n\nContact Information for Americans Stranded in Afghanistan\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement providing contact information for Americans stranded in Afghanistan:\n\n\u201cIf you\u2019re an American stranded in Afghanistan, or know one who is, please contact my office immediately at (501) 223-9081 or evac@cotton.senate.gov . The situation is dire, but we\u2019ll do everything in our power to help keep you informed and to help get you out.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-situation-in-afghanistan", "Cotton Statement on Situation in Afghanistan", "2021-08-14", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nAugust 14, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Situation in Afghanistan\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the situation in Afghanistan:\n\n\u201cThe fiasco in Afghanistan wasn\u2019t just predictable, it was predicted. Joe Biden\u2019s ill-planned retreat has now humiliated America and put at risk thousands of Americans left in Kabul. At a minimum, President Biden must unleash American air power to destroy every Taliban fighter in the vicinity of Kabul until we can save our fellow Americans. Anything less will further confirm Joe Biden\u2019s impotence to the world.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-amendment-to-fight-critical-race-theory-in-schools", "Cotton Introduces Amendment to Fight Critical Race Theory in Schools", "2021-08-10", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nAugust 10, 2021\n\nCotton Introduces Amendment to Fight Critical Race Theory in Schools\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced an amendment to the budget reconciliation package to prevent federal funds from being used to promote Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Pre-K programs and K-12 schools. A one pager about the amendment may be found here. Text of the amendment may be found here.\n\n\u201cOur future depends on raising a generation of kids who love America and love each other as fellow citizens, no matter their race. But Critical Race Theory teaches that our country is irredeemably racist, that \u2018equality\u2019 is a sham, and that true justice requires treating everyone differently\u2014based on the color of their skin. Our tax dollars should never support indoctrinating the youngest Americans with such poison,\u201dsaid Cotton.\n\nSenator Cotton has been a leader in the fight against Critical Race Theory for more than a year:\n\nSenator Cotton introduced the Stop CRT Act in July 2021 to bar federal funds from being sent to K-12 schools that promote Critical Race Theory, as well as colleges and universities that compel students or faculty to affirm tenets of Critical Race Theory.\n\nCotton sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice in October 2020 noting the alarming reappearance of racial segregation in education in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.\n\nCotton introduced the Combatting Racist Training in the Military Act in March 2021 to prohibit the U.S. Armed Forces from promoting Critical Race Theory.\n\nIn May 2021, Cotton and Congressman Dan Crenshaw launched a whistleblower webpage where members of the military can share accounts of Critical Race Theory-inspired training and other forms of discrimination to which they have been subjected.\n\nOn June 2nd, 2021, Cotton sent a letter to Lockheed Martin demanding answers regarding the company\u2019s race and gender diversity training.\n\nOn July 13th, 2021, Cotton sent a similar letter to Raytheon questioning the company\u2019s diversity training, which appears to violate federal non-discrimination law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-infrastructure-package", "Cotton Statement on Infrastructure Package", "2021-08-10", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nAugust 10, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Infrastructure Package\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding passage of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act:\n\n\u201cArkansans support real infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, waterways, rural broadband, and ongoing maintenance. They do not want President Biden\u2019s \u2018social infrastructure\u2019 and climate alarmism, especially under the threat of increased inflation and higher taxes.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-amendment-to-infrastructure-bill-to-allow-fish-farmers-to-protect-ponds-from-predatory-birds", "Cotton Introduces Amendment to Infrastructure Bill to Allow Fish Farmers to Protect Ponds from Predatory Birds", "2021-08-03", "2021", "2021-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nAugust 3, 2021\n\nCotton Introduces Amendment to Infrastructure Bill to Allow Fish Farmers to Protect Ponds from Predatory Birds\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) introduced the Cormorant Relief Act as an amendment to the infrastructure package being considered on the Senate floor. This amendment would fully restore the ability of catfish farmers and other aquaculture producers to cull predatory double-crested cormorant populations. It would also restore U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations to allow producers to fight the cormorants, which threaten the livelihoods of aquaculture operations in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and other states. Text of the amendment may be found here.\n\n\"Double-crested cormorants pose a significant threat to Arkansas's fish farmers, but unnecessary regulation currently prevents them from taking additional steps to protect their ponds. This amendment would once again give fish farmers the ability to adequately defend their fish populations from the birds that are eating into their bottom line,\" said Cotton.\n\nBackground:\n\nCormorant populations have increased dramatically in recent decades to an estimated 1,031,757 birds. These large water birds that feast primarily on fish cause substantial damage and disruption to aquaculture and fishery operations. Ironically, efficient production practices by fish farmers make the ponds highly susceptible to bird predation, particularly by cormorants.\n\nA two-year study published in 2012 of double-crested cormorant feeding on farm-raised catfish in Mississippi during the winter months found that cormorant depredation represents an annual estimated economic loss of $34.3 million to $73.4 million. A Government Accountability Office report noted: \u201cFish-eating birds (e.g., cormorants, herons, egrets, and pelicans) can cause severe damage at aquaculture farms, eating catfish, crawfish, salmon, bass, trout, and ornamental fish. According to a USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) survey of catfish producers from 15 states, 69 percent reported some wildlife-caused losses, with a financial loss of $12.5 million to wildlife predation in 1996.\u201d Absent a proper aquaculture depredation order many fish farms will continue to face significant economic losses.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:11:17Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-ban-anti-semitic-country-of-origin-labels", "Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ban Anti-Semitic Country-of-Origin Labels", "2021-07-29", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJuly 29, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ban Anti-Semitic Country-of-Origin Labels\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) introduced the Anti-BDS Labeling Act to prohibit the Biden administration from reversing current guidelines that require Israeli goods produced in areas where Israel exercises the relevant authorities to be labeled as \u201cMade in Israel.\u201d Such a change would help the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Movement to target particular Israeli companies and goods. Text of the bill may be found here.\n\n\u201cLeft-wing activists abuse county-of-origin labels in order to stigmatize products made in Israel. Our bill will defend the integrity of the Jewish State by ensuring that Israeli products may proudly bear the label \u2018Made in Israel,\u2019\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cAs our most strategic and important ally in the Middle East, Israel should be assured that the U.S. government will not reverse course and take part in the campaign to delegitimize its authority and punish its economy,\u201d said Boozman. \u201cThis legislation would ensure our support for the Jewish state, which reached new heights under the Trump administration, remains steadfast and rejects anti-Semitic movements attempting to undermine it.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe cannot allow the disgusting rise of anti-Semitism to continue to permeate our country and the halls of Congress. I\u2019m proud to join this effort and continue my strong support of our great ally Israel. I will always stand with our Jewish community and fight the BDS movement and anti-Semitism wherever it is found,\u201d said Scott.\n\n\u201cAs the co-author of the bipartisan Combating BDS Act of 2021, I\u2019m proud to join this legislative effort that would prohibit President Biden and his administration from reversing a common-sense Trump-era policy,\u201d said Rubio. \u201cAs the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement continues with its destructive anti-Israel campaign, we must ensure products made in Israel aren\u2019t the prime targets of economic warfare.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe antisemitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement is engaged in discriminatory economic warfare targeting the Jewish state of Israel. Last year, President Trump dealt a serious blow to the BDS movement when he ended the U.S. government\u2019s discriminatory treatment of Israeli goods produced in Judea and Samaria, and required these imported goods to be labeled as \u2018Made in Israel.\u2019 I\u2019m proud to support Senator Cotton\u2019s important legislation to counter efforts by the BDS movement and its anti-Israel supporters to pressure the Biden Administration into reversing President Trump\u2019s pro-Israel policy change,\u201d said Hagerty.\n\n\u201cTennesseans are proud to stand with Israel. We must not allow the Biden Administration to roll back existing policy and allow the singling out and discrimination against products made in Israel,\u201d said Blackburn. \u201cIt is a double standard that is not applied to other sovereign nations involved in territorial disputes.\u201d\n\n\u201cCampaigns to boycott or discriminate against Israel and Israeli Jews are driven by antisemitic hate. I am proud to join Sen. Cotton on this bill blocking the Biden administration from reversing current guidelines that allow the State of Israel to exercise their sovereignty when marking goods made in their own country,\u201d said Cruz.\n\n\u201cIsrael is a pluralistic democracy in a repressive region, and one of America\u2019s closest allies. Amid rising hate crimes and increasing anti-Israel rhetoric, we should not be supporting policies that promote anti-Semitism,\u201d said Tillis. \u201cI am proud to co-sponsor this legislation to allow Israel to maintain appropriate country-of-origins labeling for goods produced in areas they exercise relevant authority.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nIn 1995, the Clinton administration changed longstanding U.S. policy and required \u201cMade in West Bank\u201d country-of-origin (COO) labels for Israeli goods produced in Judea and Samaria, even though the U.S. government treats these products as \u201carticles of Israel\u201d for trade purposes.\n\nIn 2016, the Obama administration republished these labeling guidelines as part of a broader effort to oppose the Israeli government.\n\nIn November 2020, Senator Cotton led a letter to President Trump urging the administration to change U.S. customs policy and guidelines to allow Israeli goods produced in Judea and Samaria to be labeled \"Made in Israel.\"\n\nFollowing Senator Cotton\u2019s letter, the Trump administration created new guidelines that required Israeli goods produced in areas where Israel exercised the relevant authorities to be labeled as \u201cMade in Israel.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-call-on-president-biden-to-deny-entry-to-iranian-president-senior-iranian-officials", "Cotton, Colleagues, Call on President Biden to Deny Entry to Iranian President, Senior Iranian Officials", "2021-07-28", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJuly 28, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues, Call on President Biden to Deny Entry to Iranian President, Senior Iranian Officials\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today sent a letter to President Biden calling on him to deny entry visas to Iranian President-elect Ebrahim Raisi and other senior Iranian officials to attend the UN General Assembly in September.\n\nIn part, the senators wrote, \u201cRaisi\u2019s record as a violator of human rights is long-standing and clear. In 1988, during his tenure as the deputy prosecutor of Tehran, Raisi served on a four-member Death Commission which oversaw the killing of over 5,000 prisoners, including women and children. The Death Commission conducted interviews that lasted only minutes to determine a prisoner\u2019s loyalty to the Islamic Republic of Iran, then sentenced them to death without a lawyer, right to appeal, or fair trial. The executions, conducted by hanging or firing squad, often occurred on the same day as the Death Commission\u2019s interrogations. After burying the dead in unmarked mass graves, Iranian officials refused to notify families for months and never shared with them the locations of their graves. Raisi\u2019s Death Commission executed children as young as 15.\u201d\n\n\u201cEbrahim Raisi should remain sanctioned under U.S. law. If the United Nations General Assembly maintains its current plans to allow some in-person attendance, the White House should deny Raisi and other Iranian leaders visas to attend. Allowing Raisi to travel to the United States\u2014to the same city where the Iranian regime just tried to kidnap a U.S. citizen\u2014would legitimize his repression, undermine America\u2019s moral leadership, and potentially endanger our national security, given the likely presence of intelligence agents in the Iranian traveling party,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here or below.\n\nJuly 27, 2021\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe are writing to express our concern about the prospect of incoming Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, visiting the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly.\n\nRaisi\u2019s record as a violator of human rights is long-standing and clear. In 1988, during his tenure as the deputy prosecutor of Tehran, Raisi served on a four-member Death Commission which oversaw the killing of over 5,000 prisoners, including women and children. The Death Commission conducted interviews that lasted only minutes to determine a prisoner\u2019s loyalty to the Islamic Republic of Iran, then sentenced them to death without a lawyer, right to appeal, or fair trial. The executions, conducted by hanging or firing squad, often occurred on the same day as the Death Commission\u2019s interrogations. After burying the dead in unmarked mass graves, Iranian officials refused to notify families for months and never shared with them the locations of their graves. Raisi\u2019s Death Commission executed children as young as 15.\n\nEbrahim Raisi is proud of his record. In 2018, Raisi defended his role on the 1988 Death Commission, calling it \u201cdivine punishment\u201d and \u201cone of the proud achievements of the system.\u201d In the thirty years since the commission, Raisi continued to subject the Iranian people to extrajudicial prosecution, torture, and execution. During the 2009 Green Revolution, when Iranians protested the rigged presidential election, Raisi served as Iran\u2019s deputy chief justice. In this role, Raisi was directly involved in the regime\u2019s prosecution and death sentences of peaceful protesters. Years after, when Raisi served as prosecutor general, he advocated for maintaining Iran\u2019s house arrests on Green Revolution leaders.\n\nRaisi also consistently supports inhumane punishment against the Iranian people. In 2010, Raisi celebrated the Iranian judiciary\u2019s amputation of a prisoner\u2019s hand for stealing as \u201ca source of pride for us.\u201d More recently, Ebrahim Raisi led Iran\u2019s judiciary from 2019 to 2021. During his tenure, the judiciary regularly tortured its prisoners.\n\nRecently, the United States designated Raisi for his role as head of Iran\u2019s judiciary in facilitating the Supreme Leader of Iran\u2019s tyrannical agenda, where he oversaw the state\u2019s crackdown and murder of non-violent protesters. In 2019, the U.S. Department of the Treasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Raisi, pursuant to Executive Order 13876, for his oversight over the executions of juveniles, torture, and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of Iranian prisoners, including amputations.\n\nEbrahim Raisi should remain sanctioned under U.S. law. If the United Nations General Assembly maintains its current plans to allow some in-person attendance, the White House should deny Raisi and other Iranian leaders visas to attend. Allowing Raisi to travel to the United States\u2014to the same city where the Iranian regime just tried to kidnap a U.S. citizen\u2014would legitimize his repression, undermine America\u2019s moral leadership, and potentially endanger our national security, given the likely presence of intelligence agents in the Iranian traveling party.\n\nThere is strong precedent for denying an entry visa to a foreign leader. In 1988, the United States barred PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat from entering the United States to attend a meeting of the United Nations. In 2014, President Obama denied an entry visa to Iranian Ambassador Hamid Aboutalebi, who was involved in taking American diplomats hostage in 1979. In 2020, the United States declined to issue a visa for Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. Ebrahim Raisi\u2019s role in the Death Commissions, brutal crackdowns on Iranian protesters, and his association with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps should disqualify him from receiving a visa to the United States.\n\nThank you for considering this important matter. We look forward to hearing from you.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-end-us-dependence-on-chinese-manufactured-pharmaceuticals", "Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to End U.S. Dependence on Chinese-Manufactured Pharmaceuticals", "2021-07-28", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJuly 28, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to End U.S. Dependence on Chinese-Manufactured Pharmaceuticals\n\nWashington, D.C.\u2014Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) along with Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Rick Scott (R-Florida), will today introduce the Protecting our Pharmaceutical Supply Chain from China Act, which would end U.S. dependence on China for pharmaceutical manufacturing. Specifically, the bill will:\n\nTrack active pharmaceutical ingredients through an FDA registry.\n\nProhibit pharmaceutical purchases from China or products with active pharmaceutical ingredients created in China*.\n\nCreate transparency in the supply chain by instituting a country-of-origin label of all imported drugs.\n\nProvide economic incentives for manufacturing drugs and medical equipment in the United States.\n\n\"The Chinese Communist Party has threatened to cut off America's access to vital drugs in the midst of a pandemic caused by its own failures. It's time to pull America's supply chains for life-saving medicine out of China and make the CCP pay for contributing to this global emergency,\"said Cotton.\n\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic has underscored America\u2019s heavy dependence on China for critical prescription drugs,\u201d said Blackburn. \u201cWe cannot continue to allow Beijing to hold the keys to our pharmaceutical supply chain and risk future drug shortages, contaminated drugs, or ineffective drugs. This legislation helps to ensure Communist China no longer plays a role in creating or providing U.S. prescription drugs and further incentivizes manufacturers to produce necessary medication on American soil.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe majority of active ingredients for pharmaceuticals are made in China, and the Chinese Communist Party showed through their lies, coverups, and threats to cut off American access to drugs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic that they can\u2019t be trusted. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Cotton\u2019s bill to incentivize making drugs in the U.S. and end our dependence on China for drug manufacturing,\u201d said Braun.\n\n\u201cAmerican dependence on Chinese supply chains is not only a health threat but a national security threat. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw mouthpieces of the Chinese Communist Party threatening to withhold critical medical materials. I am proud to join Sen. Cotton on this bill to defend American drug manufacturers from China\u2019s economic warfare, and most importantly, protect American lives,\u201d said Cruz.\n\n\u201cWe cannot continue to rely on countries like Communist China, who lied about the coronavirus and refuses to be a partner in solving this crisis, for critical supplies and medicine. This outbreak has shown why we need to end our reliance on foreign supply chains. Removing Communist China from our pharmaceutical supply chain is the right move,\u201d said Scott.\n\nClick here for a one-pager on the bill.\n\n* This requirement will be phased in over two years. The FDA may issue waivers if the active pharmaceutical ingredients are only available in China, however, no waivers may be issued after 2026.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-warner-introduce-bill-to-prohibit-funding-for-huawei-chinese-technology", "Cotton, Warner Introduce Bill to Prohibit Funding for Huawei, Chinese Technology", "2021-07-28", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJuly 28, 2021\n\nCotton, Warner Introduce Bill to Prohibit Funding for Huawei, Chinese Technology\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Mark Warner (D-Virginia) introduced the American Telecommunications Security Act to prohibit federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act from being used to purchase Chinese telecommunications equipment, including from Huawei and ZTE.\n\nText of the bill may be found here.\n\n\"American tax dollars should not be sent to Chinese spy companies like Huawei that undermine our national security. The U.S government must take strong action to cut the Chinese Communist Party out of our networks. Americans deserve both reliable and secure telecommunications technologies,\" said Cotton.\n\n\u201cWith states across the country mapping out their plans for quality and affordable high-speed internet as a result of historic funding from the American Rescue Plan, we\u2019ve got to make sure no community is sacrificing network security,\u201d said Warner. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m joining Sen. Cotton on a bipartisan bill to ensure states do not purchase equipment or services from companies that pose national security risks \u2013 such as Huawei and ZTE.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-fund-the-police-act", "Cotton Introduces Fund the Police Act", "2021-07-21", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJuly 21, 2021\n\nCotton Introduces Fund the Police Act\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Fund the Police Act to reallocate $50 billion in unspent funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to establish a Law Enforcement Support Trust Fund at the United States Department of Justice and to support two federal grant programs to hire, train, and equip more state and local police officers. Text of the bill may be found here.\n\n\u201cSome Democrats seem eager to rewrite history and hide their advocacy for \u2018defunding the police,\u2019 but that\u2019s exactly what they\u2019ve tried to do. My bill will immediately fund two federal grant programs to support police officers and establish a trust to maintain these grants for decades to come,\u201d said Cotton.\n\nThe Fund the Police Act will reallocate $50 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act to:\n\nImmediately provide $1 billion each to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne JAG Grants) and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office Grants.\n\nCreate a Law Enforcement Support Trust Fund at the U.S. Department of Justice, which can be used to supply an additional $500 million per year for each of the Byrne JAG and COPS Office grant programs in future years.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-arkansas-youth-transgender-law", "Cotton Statement on Arkansas Youth Transgender Law", "2021-07-21", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJuly 21, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Arkansas Youth Transgender Law\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding a court decision in Arkansas to place a hold on Arkansas\u2019 law to ban transgender medical interventions for children:\n\n\u201cOur legislature made the reasonable decision to protect minors from dangerous and life-altering drugs, hormones, and surgeries. Against the will of Arkansans, liberal activists have now put those children back in harm\u2019s way.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-us-german-deal-on-russian-nord-stream-2-pipeline", "Cotton Statement on U.S.-German Deal on Russian Nord Stream 2 Pipeline", "2021-07-20", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJuly 20, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on U.S.-German Deal on Russian Nord Stream 2 Pipeline\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the news that the United States and Germany have reached a deal allowing completion of Russia\u2019s Nord Stream 2 pipeline:\n\n\u201cThis deal is a grave mistake. It gives Vladimir Putin enormous leverage over the European Union and NATO, with no promise of enforcement when Putin inevitably turns the gas off in the winter. President Biden should impose sanctions on the pipeline to ensure it\u2019s never completed.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-defund-critical-race-theory", "Cotton Introduces Bill to Defund Critical Race Theory", "2021-07-14", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJuly 14, 2021\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Defund Critical Race Theory\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Stop CRT Act, legislation to bar federal funds from being sent to K-12 schools that promote Critical Race Theory, as well as colleges and universities that compel students or faculty to affirm tenets of Critical Race Theory. The Stop CRT Act would also codify former President Trump\u2019s Executive Order on Race and Sex Discrimination, which would prohibit the federal government and federal contractors from using trainings inspired by Critical Race Theory.\n\nRepresentative Dan Bishop (R-North Carolina) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cCritical Race Theory teaches people to obsess over race and to believe that America is an evil, oppressive place. Federal funds should not be used to support activists in schools who want to teach our kids to hate each other and their country,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cCritical Race Theory (CRT) is nothing more than state-sanctioned racism. Why should this poisonous, neo-Marxist ideology be funded by the federal government? CRT simply has no place in America\u2019s schools, institutions, or the military. I applaud Senator Tom Cotton for taking up the Stop CRT Act in the Senate as it will fully defund efforts to put CRT into practice at the federal level, setting the right tone for the rest of the nation,\u201d said Bishop.\n\nThe Stop CRT Act of 2021 would:\n\nBar federal funds to K-12 schools that promote Critical Race Theory, hire consultants to promote Critical Race Theory, or compel faculty members, students, or any other individual to affirm the tenets of Critical Race Theory\n\nBar federal funds to colleges and universities that compel faculty, students, or any other individual to profess or affirm the tenets of Critical Race Theory\n\nCodify President Trump\u2019s Executive Order on Preventing Race and Sex Stereotyping to prohibit the federal government and federal contractors from indoctrinating employees or any other individual using trainings that advocate Critical Race Theory\n\nThe Stop CRT Act of 2021 would not:\n\nPrevent any individual from accessing materials about Critical Race Theory for the purposes of research or independent study\n\nPrevent individuals from exercising lawful, protected speech\n\nThe Stop CRT Act is supported by Citizens for Renewing America, Heritage Action, The Center for the American Way of Life, and the Texas Public Policy foundation.\n\nSenator Cotton has been a leader in the fight against Critical Race Theory for more than a year:\n\nIn July 2020, Senator Cotton introduced the Saving American History Act to prohibit federal funds from being used to teach The New York Times\u2019s 1619 Project curriculum. Cotton re-introduced the bill in June 2021 along with six of his Republican colleagues, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell\n\nCotton sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice in October 2020 noting the alarming reappearance of racial segregation in education in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.\n\nCotton introduced the Combatting Racist Training in the Military Act in March of 2021 to prohibit the U.S. Armed Forces from promoting racist theories, such as Critical Race Theory.\n\nIn May 2021, Cotton and Congressman Dan Crenshaw launched a whistleblower webpage where members of the military can share accounts of Critical Race Theory-inspired training and other forms of discrimination to which they have been subjected.\n\nOn June 2nd, 2021, Cotton sent a letter to Lockheed Martin demanding answers regarding the company\u2019s race and gender diversity training.\n\nOn July 13th, 2021, Cotton sent a similar letter to Raytheon questioning the company\u2019s diversity training, which appears to violate federal non-discrimination law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-regarding-raytheon-diversity-training", "Cotton Demands Answers Regarding Raytheon Diversity Training", "2021-07-13", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJuly 13, 2021\n\nCotton Demands Answers Regarding Raytheon Diversity Training\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) wrote a letter to Gregory Hayes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Raytheon Company, demanding information about the company\u2019s use of training materials that rely heavily on racial stereotypes and appear to violate federal non-discrimination law. Cotton requested a response from Raytheon by July 23rd.\n\nIn part, Cotton wrote, \u201cThe training materials in question, such as Raytheon\u2019s \u2018Stronger Together Employee Guide,\u2019 encourage employees to become \u2018anti-racists,\u2019 a term popularized by Ibram X. Kendi, who the guide approvingly quotes. This material is rooted in a radical ideology called Critical Race Theory that denounces the United States as systemically racist and rejects important aspects of the American civil-rights tradition, including equality before the law.\u201d\n\n\u201cSetting aside the business sense of your company\u2019s advocacy, Raytheon\u2019s employee trainings appear to violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which forbids employers from discriminating on the basis of race or engaging in any activities that \u2018limit, segregate, or classify\u2019 employees,\u2019\u201dCotton continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here or below.\n\nJuly 13, 2021\n\nMr. Gregory J. Hayes\n\nChairman and Chief Executive Officer Raytheon Company\n\n870 Winter Street\n\nWaltham, MA 02451-1449\n\nMr. Hayes,\n\nI\u2019m writing in response to a troubling news story that alleges your company is using training materials that rely heavily on racial stereotypes and appear to violate federal non-discrimination law.\n\nThe training materials in question, such as Raytheon\u2019s \u201cStronger Together Employee Guide,\u201d encourage employees to become \u201canti-racists,\u201d a term popularized by Ibram X. Kendi, who the guide approvingly quotes. This material is rooted in a radical ideology called Critical Race Theory that denounces the United States as systemically racist and rejects important aspects of the American civil-rights tradition, including equality before the law. Kendi, for example, openly advocates for discrimination on the basis of race to correct perceived injustices. Your company\u2019s trainings repeat aspects of Critical Race Theory, urging employees not to treat each other equally, without regard to race, but \u201cequitably,\u201d a term that is often used to justify unequal treatment on the basis of race.\n\nYour company\u2019s trainings also contain gross stereotypes about various groups, including the racial stereotype that black people as a group are \u201cexhausted, frustrated, stressed, barely sleeping, scared, and overwhelmed.\u201d The guide also stereotypes white people, Christians, ablebodied individuals, straight people, and English speakers, as members of \u201cprivileged\u201d groups who have \u201cthe luxury to ignore ... injustices.\u201d\n\nFinally, your company\u2019s trainings direct Raytheon employees to a variety of radical reading materials, including an article that advocates the \u201cDefund the Police\u201d movement. Given Raytheon\u2019s extensive business with law-enforcement groups, I find it hard to believe that the \u201cDefund the Police\u201d movement is in the interests of Raytheon\u2019s shareholders, let alone its employees and customers\u2014all of whom are normal citizens who would suffer the consequences of rising crime.\n\nSetting aside the business sense of your company\u2019s advocacy, Raytheon\u2019s employee trainings appear to violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which forbids employers from discriminating on the basis of race or engaging in any activities that \u201climit, segregate, or classify\u201d employees.\u201d\n\nThe previous administration observed that the kind of stereotyping and scapegoating commonly found in these trainings \u201cmay contribute to a hostile work environment and give rise to potential liability under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.\u201d\n\nGovernment contractors, as stewards of federal taxpayer dollars, have a special obligation to treat their employees equally, without regard for race. In fact, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act ensures that \u201cno person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin...be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.\u201d 4 If Raytheon or any other contractor is not fulfilling its legal obligations, Congress will respond, which could affect that company\u2019s contracts and ability to do business with the U.S. government in the future.\n\nWith these concerns in mind, please disclose to my office by July 23 any training materials on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that Raytheon uses to teach its employees. Please also disclose any vendors, companies, or individuals that Raytheon pays to administer such trainings.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-delivery-of-a-report-on-the-fighting-culture-of-the-navys-surface-fleet", "Cotton Statement on Delivery of A Report on the Fighting Culture of the Navy\u2019s Surface Fleet", "2021-07-12", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJuly 12, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Delivery of A Report on the Fighting Culture of the Navy\u2019s Surface Fleet\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the delivery of A Report on the Fighting Culture of the United States Navy\u2019s Surface Fleet. Cotton, along with Representatives Jim Banks (R-Indiana), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), and Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin), directed this investigation into the Navy\u2019s culture after several high-profile losses of sailors and warships. The full report may be found here.\n\n\u201cThe findings of this report are very concerning. Our sailors are too often deprived of the training and leadership they need to fight and win at sea. A Navy that puts lethality, warfighting, and operational excellence at the heart of its culture is absolutely essential to our national security. America counts on the Navy to keep us safe and keep our seas open. I appreciate the hard work of the distinguished veterans who wrote this report. I intend to work with them, Navy leaders, and my colleagues in Congress to implement the report\u2019s recommendations,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cThis report doesn\u2019t mince words. At a time when the Navy\u2019s readiness is more critical than ever before, this report depicts a Navy leadership that\u2019s distracted from the number one threat to American national security: The Chinese Communist Party. As China\u2019s Navy exceeds ours in size, the U.S. Navy must be ready to face any threat. I look forward to implementing the recommendations of the report and refocusing our Navy on threats from China,\u201d said Banks.\n\n\u201cA strong Navy is critical to our national security interests around the world. The findings clearly indicate that our sailors are not receiving the training they need to perform the essential functions of the Navy: to find and sink enemy fleets and ensure freedom of navigation. We must immediately address the concerns detailed in the report. I look forward to working with Navy leadership and my colleagues in Congress to implement the changes necessary to ensure our Navy and our sailors are war-ready and capable of defending the United States,\u201d said Crenshaw.\n\n\u201cAs we've seen from a tragic string of accidents in recent years, it is clear that all is not well in our surface Navy. In order to beat China, we need a sense of urgency to provide and maintain the Navy that our nation needs. I look forward to working with my colleagues to implement the report's recommendations and help ensure America continues to rule the waves,\u201d said Gallagher.\n\nBackground:\n\nAfter several high-profile mishaps in the Navy\u2019s surface fleet, Senator Tom Cotton and Congressmen Jim Banks, Dan Crenshaw, and Mike Gallagher requested a strictly non-partisan report on the fighting culture of the Navy\u2019s surface fleet. This review began after the total loss of the USS Bonhomme Richard pier-side one year ago today. Other mishaps include the collision of the USS McCain in the South China Sea, the collision of the USS Fitzgerald off the coast of Japan, and the surrender of two small Navy craft to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy in the Arabian Gulf.\n\nThe report, briefed to Members of Congress on Friday, found that a staggering 94% of sailors interviewed believe that the surface Navy suffers from a crisis of leadership and culture. Sailors warned that the surface fleet has suffered a critical loss of focus from its primary purpose of fighting and winning wars. Administrative bloat, excessive requirements, chaotic training pipelines, overtasked ships, and erratic maintenance cycles have all contributed to a fleet that is distracted and unprepared for the realities of 21st century conflict.\n\nThe nonpartisan findings note that these problems have metastasized for three decades. No single president, Member of Congress, or high-ranking naval leader was found to be solely responsible for the surface Navy\u2019s drift. Rather, slow and profound changes beginning with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War have eroded the Navy\u2019s combat edge.\n\nDetails on the Report\n\nTwo retired flag officers, Lieutenant General Robert E. Schmidle, United States Marine Corps, and Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, United States Navy, led an interview team consisting of Congressional staff, military veterans, and outside experts to produce this report. Approximately 90% of the interview team are veterans of one of the five branches of service. This team conducted interviews between September 2020 and March 2021, along with weekly meetings to discuss findings and validate that the interview process remained focused and nonpartisan.\n\nThe report\u2019s methodology incorporated an iterative, long-form approach to interviews. The review team employed a high-touch, analytical approach that proceeded without reliance on an interview subject's chain of command. The objective was to encourage nuance and candor on the part of interviewees, as opposed to wider-reach, lower-touch survey methods that are common in military climate assessments. A total of 77 exhaustive and intensive interviews were conducted with sailors of all walks of naval life\u2014active duty and reserve, officer and enlisted, retired and separated\u2014producing over 100 hours of transcripts. All interviews were conducted in-person or by phone/telecon and recorded to ensure accuracy.\n\nSubjects were identified by a blind referral process, with a preference for officers with surface warfare experience and significant time at sea. 78% of interviewees were active duty, both current and separated/retired, with approximately 20% serving as reservists. The sample selection was overwhelmingly officers between the grades of Lieutenant (O-3) and Captain (O-6). Of the 77 interviewed, 67 were male and 10 were female.\n\nA full copy of A Report on the Fighting Culture of the United States Navy Surface Fleet may be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-supreme-court-decision-regarding-arizona-voting-provisions", "Cotton Statement on Supreme Court Decision Regarding Arizona Voting Provisions", "2021-07-01", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJuly 1, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Supreme Court Decision Regarding Arizona Voting Provisions\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the decision by the United States Supreme Court to uphold two Arizona voting provisions:\n\n\u201cBallot harvesting\u2014particularly when practiced by political activists\u2014should be illegal. I was proud to join my colleagues in an amicus brief in support of Arizona\u2019s election integrity measures, and I\u2019m glad the Supreme Court has ruled in favor.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-georgia-lawsuit", "Cotton Statement on Georgia Lawsuit", "2021-06-25", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 25, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Georgia Lawsuit\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the decision by the Department of Justice to sue the State of Georgia over its voting rights bill:\n\n\u201cPresident Biden packed the Department of Justice with left-wing ideologues like Merrick Garland, Vanita Gupta, and Kristen Clarke. Now they\u2019re suing to block Georgia from making it easy to vote but hard to cheat. This baseless lawsuit is a reminder that bad things happen when Democrats use our institutions to push their radical agenda.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/arkansas-delegation-asks-epa-to-keep-navigable-waters-protection-rule", "Arkansas Delegation Asks EPA to Keep Navigable Waters Protection Rule", "2021-06-24", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 24, 2021\n\nArkansas Delegation Asks EPA to Keep Navigable Waters Protection Rule\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas), with Representatives Rick Crawford (R-Arkansas), French Hill (R-Arkansas), Steve Womack (R-Arkansas), and Bruce Westerman (R-Arkansas) sent a letter condemning the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to repeal and replace the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR).\n\nIn part, the members wrote, \u201cThe NWPR preserves our waterways while giving producers and landowners the clarity they need to farm and build without burdensome regulations and government overreach.\u201d\n\n\u201cArkansans are good stewards of the land and should make their own decisions about their own property\u2014as they have for generations\u2014without the EPA looking over their shoulders,\u201d the members continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here or below.\n\nDear Administrator Regan and Acting Assistant Secretary Pinkham:\n\nOn June 9, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) announced plans to repeal and replace the Trump administration\u2019s Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR). The members of the Arkansas congressional delegation adamantly oppose this decision, which will harm businesses, foresters, and farmers across the State of Arkansas. The NWPR preserves our waterways while giving producers and landowners the clarity they need to farm and build without burdensome regulations and government overreach. It is our position that states and localities should regulate waters within their borders\u2014not the federal government.\n\nThe Trump administration championed cooperative federalism with regard to the environment, and the current administration should continue this practice going forward. The Obama administration\u2019s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule was a vast and vague expansion of federal regulation that placed significant hardships on Arkansans and took authority away from states and localities. Arkansans are good stewards of the land and should make their own decisions about their own property\u2014as they have for generations\u2014without the EPA looking over their shoulders.\n\nInstead of returning to the mistaken policies of the past, we respectfully ask that the EPA and the Corps reconsider their proposal to repeal and replace the current rule, which will have a dire impact on our state.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-bill-to-equalize-minimum-penalties-for-powder-and-crack-cocaine-trafficking", "Cotton Bill to Equalize Minimum Penalties for Powder and Crack Cocaine Trafficking", "2021-06-21", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 21, 2021\n\nCotton Bill to Equalize Minimum Penalties for Powder and Crack Cocaine Trafficking\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced legislation that would strengthen the minimum penalties for powder cocaine trafficking to match penalties for crack cocaine trafficking. Bill text may be found here.\n\n\u201cCrack and powder cocaine both kill thousands of Americans every year, but the penalties for selling each substance aren\u2019t the same. My bill would increase penalties for criminals trafficking powder cocaine to ensure fairness in sentencing without granting early release to violent drug traffickers.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nNationwide, cocaine overdose deaths have tripled since 2015, and are now the most common cause of overdose death after opioids.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-juneteenth", "Cotton Statement on Juneteenth", "2021-06-19", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 19, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Juneteenth\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement in observance of Juneteenth:\n\n\u201cJuneteenth commemorates the emancipation of slaves in America and is a fitting addition to our national holidays. On Independence Day, we celebrate our Declaration of Independence and our country\u2019s birth on the principle of the natural equality of all mankind. On Martin Luther King Day and now Juneteenth, we remember our striving to live up to our founding principles in practice. On Veterans Day and Memorial Day, we honor those who fought and died for our country and its noble heritage. And we give thanks to God on Thanksgiving for the blessings of liberty and prosperity. So on this first national holiday of Juneteenth, let us all take pride in our great nation and the strides it has made to realize fully the promise of America.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-restrict-chinese-access-to-american-visas", "Cotton, Colleagues, Introduce Legislation to Restrict Chinese Access to American Visas", "2021-06-17", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 17, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues, Introduce Legislation to Restrict Chinese Access to American Visas\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Mike Braun (R-Indiana) introduced the People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA) Visa Security Act, legislation to prohibit individuals currently or previously employed or sponsored by Chinese military institutions from receiving student or research visas to the United States. This bill would also establish a list of research institutions affiliated with the PLA and mandate that the State Department conduct background checks on Chinese nationals applying for research visas in the United States. Bill text may be found here.\n\n\u201cAllowing members of the People\u2019s Liberation Army unfettered access to research visas is an open invitation to steal American research, ingenuity, and intellectual property. The United States shouldn\u2019t be arming our greatest adversary\u2014our bill will block Chinese military affiliated people from receiving student and research visas to the United States,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party exploits our visa system to infiltrate American institutions at every level. The People\u2019s Liberation Army systematically sends Chinese engineers and scientists abroad to exploit research projects to access sensitive data and technology. The PLA Visa Security Act provides an additional screening layer to ensure applicants are not affiliated with the Chinese military. I am proud to again join Sen. Cotton on this important bill,\u201d said Cruz.\n\n\u201cCOVID-19 has made it clear just how vulnerable we are to the global threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party,\u201d said Rubio. \u201cWe must ensure that individuals linked to the CCP\u2019s People\u2019s Liberation Army are not able to obtain research and student visas, which enable the theft of American technology. It is in our national security interest to ensure the CCP isn\u2019t taking advantage of our open system to steal American intellectual property.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerican innovation and ingenuity are our nation\u2019s greatest assets and the envy of adversaries around the globe including China,\u201d said Tuberville. \u201cWithout a hardline approach to safeguard our research, Chinese military institutions will continue to steal our intellectual property for their own benefit. Restricting Chinese military institution\u2019s access to American visas ensures our innovation and research cannot be used against us.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party exploits the student visa system to build its military on the backs of American research and ingenuity. Our universities and tech companies have become targets of Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft. We must secure American research and development against the Chinese Communist Party and their military,\u201d said Hawley.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve seen time and again how the communist Chinese government has sought to infiltrate and exploit U.S. research and academic institutions. This bill ensures that visa applicants are thoroughly vetted and Chinese nationals affiliated with the People\u2019s Liberation Army aren\u2019t granted access to our most sensitive research and intellectual property,\u201d said Grassley.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party doesn\u2019t play by the rules, and there is a serious risk to American national security and our intellectual property by allowing those who are currently or have previously been involved with Chinese military institutions to study in the United States. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Cotton to stop the U.S. from arming China\u2019s People\u2019s Liberation Army with American innovation,\u201d said Braun.\n\nIn a recent think tank report, the PLA Visa Security Act was endorsed by President Biden\u2019s current NSC Senior Director for International Economics and Competitiveness Peter Harrell, NSC Senior Director for China Rush Doshi, nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Indo-Pacific Ely Ratner, and nominee to serve as DoD Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Susanna Blume, and nominee to serve as Assistance Secretary for Terrorist Financing Elizabeth Rosenberg.\n\nBackground:\n\nSenator Cotton advocated for a similar provision in his recently released report, \u201cBeat China: Target Decoupling and the Economic Long War.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-hagerty-blackburn-scott-introduce-bill-to-protect-american-universities-from-foreign-influence", "Cotton, Hagerty, Blackburn, Scott Introduce Bill to Protect American Universities from Foreign Influence", "2021-06-17", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 17, 2021\n\nCotton, Hagerty, Blackburn, Scott Introduce Bill to Protect American Universities from Foreign Influence\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), and Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) introduced the Foreign Funding Accountability Act, legislation to combat malign foreign influence in American colleges and universities by strengthening Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. Bill text may be found here.\n\nSpecifically, the bill would:\n\nRequire the disclosure of full names of foreign donating entities\u2014individual, institutional, or otherwise\n\nRequire the disclosure of the specific purposes of foreign gift-transactions\n\nClose the loophole allowing gifting by registered foreign agents\n\nClose the loophole exempting in-kind gifts from counting towards the disclosure minimum\n\nClarify that foreign gifts to university foundations are not exempt from disclosure\n\nLower the minimum reporting threshold for disclosure in terms of dollar amount\u2014from $250,000 to $25,000\n\nLevy a graduated civil penalty structure against institutions willfully, and repeatedly violating Section 117\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party has made consistent attempts to infiltrate American colleges and universities. Our bill will close donation loopholes, barring the CCP and other foreign agents from donating millions, or even billions, to levy influence and steal American intellectual property,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cAs a strategic adversary seeking to overtake the United States, the Chinese Communist Party is going to extraordinary lengths to exert malign influence over America\u2019s free and open society, including our higher education system. By increasing transparency, closing loopholes, and imposing new civil penalties in U.S. law, this important legislation seeks to prevent the CCP and its intermediaries from hiding in the shadows to buy control and influence within our higher education, to manipulate what American students are taught about China, and to steal intellectual property from our nation\u2019s researchers,\u201d said Hagerty.\n\n\u201cCommunist China has infiltrated American colleges and universities. It is imperative we cut off Beijing\u2019s access to funnel money in exchange for influence in higher education. Our children\u2019s education should not be available for purchase by the CCP,\u201d said Blackburn.\n\n\u201cAttempts by the Chinese Communist Party and other bad actors to infiltrate the American education system is a blatant example of foreign competitors trying to maintain and expand their global power to our detriment,\u201d said Scott. \u201cBy holding institutions of higher education accountable for foreign donations we are taking necessary steps to promote transparency, protect our intellectual property, and ensure our country\u2019s future leaders get a quality education.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nSection 117 of the Higher Education Act requires universities to report foreign gifts and contract transactions twice per year. Compliance with and enforcement of this statute has historically been underwhelming and many institutions do not properly abide by it, allowing malign foreign influence to creep into American higher education.\n\nIn October 2020, the Department of Education issued a report detailing the lack of Section 117 compliance by many colleges and universities. The report describes how the Department of Education created an online reporting portal last June, that has since recorded $3.8 billion in foreign gifts and contracts.\n\nSeparate department investigations since June 2019 uncovered an additional $6.5 billion in unreported foreign gifts. Of the approximately 7,000 transactions recorded in the online portal, 60 institutions were classified as \u201cnew filers,\u201d implying they hadn\u2019t submitted any reporting data, as mandated, from 1986 until June 2020.\n\nIn February 2021, Senator Cotton published a report, \u201cBeat China: Targeted Decoupling and the Economic Long War\u201d which explored the threat China poses to the U.S. economy and detailed how the U.S. should respond.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-call-on-department-of-commerce-to-implement-export-control-laws-or-risk-losing-export-control-authority", "Cotton, Colleagues Call on Department of Commerce to Implement Export Control Laws or Risk Losing Export Control Authority", "2021-06-15", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 15, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Call on Department of Commerce to Implement Export Control Laws or Risk Losing Export Control Authority\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), and Mike Braun (R-Indiana) today sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo demanding that the Department of Commerce immediately identify \u201cemerging and foundational technologies\u201d as mandated nearly three years ago by the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA). Text of the letter may be found here.\n\nIn part, the senators wrote, \u201cSo long as these lists remain incomplete and underutilized, the federal government will lack a properly functioning export control system and foreign investment screening process. American companies will continue to export advanced technologies to companies subject to CCP control, despite the U.S. government wanting to restrict the export of these items. CFIUS may also be constrained in its ability to screen predatory Chinese investment in emerging and foundational technologies. This leaves the United States unacceptably vulnerable to China\u2019s economic predation.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe therefore urge the Department of Commerce to release these lists as soon as possible and abide by its duty to faithfully execute the laws passed by Congress. The Department of Commerce\u2019s unwillingness to implement these clear, essential mandates after nearly three years calls into question the department\u2019s central role in the U.S. export control system. If Commerce continues to delay its implementation of key national security priorities like the emerging and foundational technologies lists, Congress may be forced to consider entrusting these tasks and other export control authorities to a department that can approach trade and investment controls with the urgency required to safeguard our national security,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here or below.\n\nJune 15, 2021\n\nThe Honorable Gina Raimondo\n\nSecretary\n\nDepartment of Commerce\n\n1401 Constitution Ave NW\n\nWashington, DC 20230\n\nDear Secretary Raimondo,\n\nWe write to urge the Department of Commerce to expeditiously identify \u201cemerging and foundational technologies,\u201d as mandated nearly three years ago by the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA).\n\nThe Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is executing a strategy of \u201cMilitary-Civil Fusion\u201d (MCF), in which notionally \u201cprivate\u201d Chinese companies acquire cutting-edge technology overseas in part to help the People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA) develop and field advanced military capabilities. In practice, MCF transforms the technology sector of the Chinese economy into a military-driven ecosystem, centrally coordinated by the CCP. We remain concerned that U.S. businesses export sensitive technologies to ostensibly civilian Chinese firms or accept investment from them only for these Chinese firms to promptly hand over this technology to the Chinese military or intelligence services.\n\nIn response to the CCP\u2019s economic predation against the United States, Congress passed the bipartisan ECRA and the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) in August 2018. These laws reflected Congress\u2019 belief that U.S. export control and foreign investment screening efforts must be more agile and should protect our most advanced and sought-after technologies. At the heart of both pieces of legislation was a requirement for the Department of Commerce to develop lists of \u201cemerging and foundational technologies.\u201d Such a mechanism allows the U.S. government to identify national security risks not covered by existing export controls, develop new corresponding controls under ECRA, and better equip the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to protect these technologies from malign inbound investment.\n\nFor these reasons, we find the Department of Commerce\u2019s slow pace of fulfilling its obligations under ECRA deeply troubling. While Commerce has taken steps to solicit expert advice and public comment on these lists, these efforts have only resulted in a limited set of controlled emerging technologies and omit many of the 45 potential emerging technologies that Commerce listed in an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking in November 2018. Commerce has yet to release a proposed list of foundational technologies.\n\nSo long as these lists remain incomplete and underutilized, the federal government will lack a properly functioning export control system and foreign investment screening process. American companies will continue to export advanced technologies to companies subject to CCP control, despite the U.S. government wanting to restrict the export of these items. CFIUS may also be constrained in its ability to screen predatory Chinese investment in emerging and foundational technologies. This leaves the United States unacceptably vulnerable to China\u2019s economic predation.\n\nWe therefore urge the Department of Commerce to release these lists as soon as possible and abide by its duty to faithfully execute the laws passed by Congress. The Department of Commerce\u2019s unwillingness to implement these clear, essential mandates after nearly three years calls into question the department\u2019s central role in the U.S. export control system. If Commerce continues to delay its implementation of key national security priorities like the emerging and foundational technologies lists, Congress may be forced to consider entrusting these tasks and other export control authorities to a department that can approach trade and investment controls with the urgency required to safeguard our national security.\n\nThank you for considering this important matter of national security. We look forward to hearing from you.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-warns-of-risks-to-american-athletes-if-us-participates-in-beijing-olympic-games", "Cotton Warns of Risks to American Athletes if U.S. Participates in Beijing Olympic Games", "2021-06-15", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 15, 2021\n\nCotton Warns of Risks to American Athletes if U.S. Participates in Beijing Olympic Games\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling for the government to take all the necessary steps to protect American athletes if the 2022 Winter Olympic Games are held in Beijing.\n\nIn part, Cotton wrote, \u201cI continue to advocate for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to rebid the 2022 Games to a free country. But if the IOC refuses and the United States chooses to compete in the Games, our government must take all necessary steps to protect American athletes who travel to China.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnder ordinary conditions, the U.S. government must prepare for years in advance of each Olympics to protect American athletes and guarantee U.S. media access. But these Games won\u2019t occur under ordinary conditions. Unlike Olympics held in friendly, free nations, the 2022 Beijing Games will pose unique challenges for the safety, security, and privacy of Americans who attend,\u201d Cotton continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here or below.\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nI write seeking more information about the U.S. government\u2019s preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. I continue to advocate for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to rebid the 2022 Games to a free country. But if the IOC refuses and the United States chooses to compete in the Games, our government must take all necessary steps to protect American athletes who travel to China.\n\nUnder ordinary conditions, the U.S. government must prepare for years in advance of each Olympics to protect American athletes and guarantee U.S. media access.[1] But these Games won\u2019t occur under ordinary conditions. Unlike Olympics held in friendly, free nations, the 2022 Beijing Games will pose unique challenges for the safety, security, and privacy of Americans who attend.\n\nFirst, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) operates the world\u2019s most invasive domestic surveillance system. Chinese authorities closely monitor internet traffic within the country and block or censor online information that the Party views as adverse to its grip on power. The CCP also continuously tracks persons in Chinese cities through a network of facial-recognition cameras and other advanced sensors. Further, members of the American delegation should expect their rooms in the Chinese Olympic Village to be bugged with audio or visual surveillance equipment and all their onshore electronic devices to be hacked by Chinese authorities.\n\nSecond, the CCP also considers DNA collection a vital intelligence-gathering objective. As the U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center recently noted, \u201cThe PRC views bulk personal data, including health-care and genomic data, as a strategic commodity to be collected and used for its economic and national-security priorities.\u201d[2] The CCP has reportedly conducted tests to develop biologically-enhanced soldiers and intends to use DNA data to catapult Chinese biotechnology companies to global market dominance.[3]\n\nIn 2022, thousands of world-class athletes will gather to compete in China. Their DNA will present an irresistible target for the CCP. Thus, we should expect that the Chinese government will attempt to collect genetic samples of Olympians at the Games, perhaps disguised as testing for illegal drugs or COVID-19.\n\nThird, the CCP arbitrarily detains Americans and other Western visitors to China.[4] It also has placed exit bans on foreign nationals, prohibiting them from leaving the country in order to extort them for economic or political gains. In 2018, for instance, the CCP took an American family hostage and seized two Canadians.[5] In 2020, Beijing threatened to take further hostages unless the U.S. government halted its prosecutions of Chinese spies on American college campuses.[6] The State Department has now issued a Level 3 Travel Advisory for China (\u201cReconsider Travel\u201d) because of the Chinese government\u2019s use of arbitrary detention and exit bans. Yet thousands of Americans will soon travel to China if the Beijing Games proceed and the U.S. participates.\n\nMembers of the U.S. Olympic delegation could be subject to arbitrary detention in China, particularly those who have spoken out against the Communist Party\u2019s genocide of the Uyghurs, repression in Tibet, and takeover of Hong Kong. Former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell apparently shares my concerns, stating that \u201c[s]pectators have good reason to beware Xi Jinping\u2019s Beijing Winter Olympics. \u2026 Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey would be wise not to attend the Beijing Olympics, along with anyone else who Tweeted \u2018Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong.\u2019\u201d[7]\n\nGiven these risks to the American delegation, the U.S. government and U.S. Olympic Committee must thoroughly prepare to ensure the safety and security of all Americans traveling to the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games. With these grave concerns in mind, please provide answers to the following questions:\n\nHow is the U.S. government preparing to support the U.S. delegation at the 2022 Olympic Games? Please describe any security assessments or logistical support being provided by the U.S. government.\n\nIs the Chinese government fully cooperating with U.S. government efforts to mitigate security risks and provide logistical support in advance of the U.S. delegation\u2019s arrival? How does their level of cooperation contrast with South Korea\u2019s before the 2018 Games? If the Chinese government isn\u2019t cooperating fully, please describe any Chinese government efforts to delay or obstruct this important advance work by the U.S. government.\n\nIs the Chinese government fully cooperating with requests from American media outlets for access to the 2022 Olympic Games? If not, please describe any Chinese government efforts to delay or obstruct U.S. media access.\n\nThank you for your consideration of this important matter. I look forward to hearing from you.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-mcconnell-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-defund-1619-project-curriculum", "Cotton, McConnell, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Defund 1619 Project Curriculum", "2021-06-14", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 14, 2021\n\nCotton, McConnell, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Defund 1619 Project Curriculum\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) reintroduced the Saving American History Act, legislation to prohibit the use of federal funds to teach the 1619 Project by K-12 schools or school districts. Schools that teach the 1619 Project would also be ineligible for federal professional-development grants. Bill text may be found here.\n\nRepresentatives Ken Buck (R-Colorado) and Rick Allen (R-Georgia) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cActivists in schools want to teach our kids to hate America and hate each other using discredited, Critical Race Theory curricula like the 1619 Project. Federal funds should not pay for activists to masquerade as teachers and indoctrinate our youth,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cHigh-quality civics education is vital to the health of our democracy,\u201d said McConnell. \u201cDebunked activist propaganda that seeks to divide has no place in American classrooms and no right to taxpayer funding. I\u2019m proud to join in sponsoring this legislation on behalf of our youngest citizens and generations yet to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe heart of the 1619 Project\u2019s central claim and key parts of its framework have been disputed by respected scholars and historians, and rightfully so. It has no business in our classrooms in Arkansas and across the country. This misguided and academically suspect curriculum represents the exact opposite of what we should be encouraging educators to instruct and promote \u2013 accurate and contextual understanding of our past along with the importance of civic engagement, cooperation and the significance of the shared values that set our country apart and above,\u201d said Boozman.\n\n\u201cAmerican schools should be a place for education\u2014not indoctrination,\u201d said Blackburn. \u201cThe 1619 Project is based on false narrative and stack of lies about our country. This state sponsored anti-American propaganda must be kept out of the classroom. The Saving American History Act ensures that taxpayer funding will not subsidize the brainwashing of our nation\u2019s future.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory are efforts to rewrite the history of our country, ignoring the many things that have made America great. I\u2019m proud to work with my colleague Tom Cotton to keep taxpayer dollars from funding this,\u201d said Lummis.\n\n\u201cI have significant concerns with the Department of Education\u2019s recent effort to reorient the bipartisan American History and Civics Education programs away from their intended purposes towards a politicized and divisive agenda,\u201d said Tillis. \u201cAmericans do not want their tax dollars going towards promoting radical ideologies meant to divide us instead of being used to promote the principles that unite our nation. Our students deserve a rigorous understanding of civics and American history, to understand both our successes and failures as a nation. I do not support diverting tax-payer resources towards promoting ideological and misleading depictions of our Nation\u2019s history and I am proud to work on this important legislation with my colleagues to address this issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen done right, education is the key to freedom. By expediting the use of the 1619 Project, our schools are coming perilously close to cementing existing inequality, rather than giving kids the chance to escape it. The U.S. government should not spend a single taxpayer dollar to teach children to dislike their country. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor this legislation so that our schools can encourage the open debate of ideas and teach important morals to our students,\u201d said Tuberville.\n\n\u201cCritical Race Theory is dangerous, anti-American, and has no place in our nation\u2019s schools. School curriculum plays a critical role in a child\u2019s development and greatly influences the type of adult they will become. Children shouldn\u2019t be taught that they will be treated differently or will be racist because of their skin color,\u201d said Buck.\n\n\u201cThe 1619 Project aims to indoctrinate our students into believing that America is an evil country, and there is no room for that in our classrooms. We must teach our young folks to learn from our nation\u2019s past in order to form a more perfect union. Teaching revisionist history and promoting divisive ideology will not move our nation forward. This legislation will ensure federal dollars are used to provide our children with historically accurate curriculum,\u201d said Allen.\n\n\u201cTeaching the 1619 Project in public schools is state-funded racism, plain and simple,\u201d said Texas Public Policy Foundation Distinguished Senior Fellow Thomas Lindsay. \u201cIt is a fiction-based attempt at revisionist history intended to indoctrinate future generations with radical left-wing propaganda. We strongly support Sen. Cotton\u2019s effort to protect students from this thoroughly debunked narrative, as well as ensuring taxpayers aren\u2019t paying the bill for it. Schools should be teaching a complete and honest history of America\u2019s founding \u2014 failures, triumphs, and all \u2014 based on the true principles that made our country a beacon of freedom throughout the world.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nSenator Cotton first introduced the Saving American History Act in July of 2020.\n\nThe 1619 Project is a revisionist history project of the New York Times widely criticized by historians.\n\nDespite major criticism of the project, schools around the country have begun incorporating the 1619 Project into their curricula. So far, schools or school districts in Chicago; Newark, N.J.; Buffalo, N.Y., and Washington, D.C. have all reportedly announced 1619 Project-related programs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-introduce-li-wenliang-global-public-health-accountability-act", "Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Li Wenliang Global Public Health Accountability Act", "2021-06-10", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 10, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Introduce Li Wenliang Global Public Health Accountability Act\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), and James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) reintroduced the Li Wenliang Global Public Health Accountability Act, legislation to authorize the president to sanction foreign officials who suppress or distort information about international public health crises, including Covid-19. Bill text may be found here.\n\n\u201cDr. Li tried to warn his country and the world about the coronavirus, but was silenced by the Chinese Communist Party. By hiding the truth about the virus, the CCP turned a regional health problem into a global catastrophe that has killed millions. To honor Dr. Li, our bill seeks to punish foreign officials responsible for suppressing information about international health crises, including the Wuhan virus,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cDoctors and scientists across the world deserve robust protections that allow them to sound the alarm on international public health concerns without fear of government suppression,\u201d said Tillis. \u201cDr. Li Wenliang heroically tried to warn Chinese citizens about COVID-19, only to be silenced by the authoritarian Chinese Communist Party until his tragic death. The Chinese government must be held accountable so no other nation feels emboldened to cover-up a public health crisis that can turn into a global pandemic. I am proud to work with my colleagues on this commonsense legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThroughout the past year, we saw Communist China lie and spread propaganda in an attempt to cover up a global pandemic, silencing any and all who dared speak the truth. This legislation will give the United States the authority to sanction any foreign official who suppresses or distorts information about global health, like the Chinese Communist Government did. When lives are at risk, we can\u2019t take any chances,\u201d said Scott.\n\n\u201cThe American people and the entire world deserve to know the origins of this pandemic, which China continues to cover up. We need to ensure there are real consequences for foreign officials who try to cover up their country\u2019s role in an international crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic going forward,\u201d said Daines.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party silenced Dr. Li and many others for attempting to speak the truth about the coronavirus outbreak and China\u2019s involvement. Meanwhile, they stood by as the virus spread around the world \u2013 resulting in loss of life and loss of livelihood for millions. These actions by foreign governments to suppress those who provide pertinent information about public health crises are unacceptable, and they must be held accountable to the fullest extent,\u201d said Blackburn.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese government\u2019s efforts to suppress information about the coronavirus ultimately led to this pandemic,\u201d said Lankford. \u201cThe Chinese Communist Party detained and arrested doctors who raised concerns instead of sharing information with the world and working collaboratively to contain the disease. We must hold foreign governments accountable, including China, for attempting to suppress information about public health emergencies, especially if that information can help prevent the loss of American lives.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nSenator Cotton first introduced the Li Wenliang Global Public Health Accountability Act in May of 2020.\n\nThe Li Wenliang Global Public Health Accountability Act is sanctions legislation modeled after the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.\n\nIt would authorize the president to sanction foreign officials who suppress or distort information about international public health crises, including the coronavirus.\n\nThese sanctions include inadmissibility to the United States, revocation of existing U.S. visas, and the blocking of all property within the United States.\n\nThis legislation would provide Congress with the authority to request that the president review specific foreign officials for sanctions eligibility. Within 120 days of receiving such a request, the president must report to Congress on whether he/she intends to impose sanctions.\n\nLast year, Senator Cotton introduced a resolution honoring Dr. Li\u2019s bravery and sacrifice. The resolution passed on March 3, 2020.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-epa-decision-to-abandon-navigable-water-protection-rule", "Cotton Statement on EPA Decision to Abandon Navigable Water Protection Rule", "2021-06-09", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:James ArnoldorMary Collins Atkinson(202) 224-2353\n\nJune 9, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on EPA Decision to Abandon Navigable Water Protection Rule\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the statement below following the Biden administration\u2019s announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency would abandon the Navigable Water Protection rule and seek additional regulations.\n\n\u201cThe Navigable Water Protection rule secured our nation\u2019s clean water supply without punishing homeowners, small businesses, and ag producers. The Biden EPA\u2019s decision to abandon the rule is a political move designed to pacify radical environmentalists and to expand federal control, at the expense of Arkansans. We\u2019ve fought this battle before and won\u2014we can do it again.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-the-anniversary-of-the-tiananmen-square-massacre", "Cotton Statement on the Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre", "2021-06-04", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 4, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on the Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre\n\nWashington, D.C \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre:\n\n\u201c32 years ago today, the world saw the true face of the Chinese Communist Party. Communism has only ever been maintained through murder, terror, and brutality\u2014all three were on full display in Tiananmen Square. But through the darkness of repression and smoke of gunfire, there was also the courage and nobility of a people that dream of freedom. We remember those brave souls today and honor their memory and sacrifice.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-crawford-urge-passage-of-aim-act-following-russian-cyberattack", "Cotton, Crawford Urge Passage of AIM Act Following Russian Cyberattack", "2021-06-03", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 3, 2021\n\nCotton, Crawford Urge Passage of AIM Act Following Russian Cyberattack\n\nWashington, D.C \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Representative Rick Crawford (R-Arkansas) released the following statement urging passage of their Agriculture Intelligence Measures (AIM) Act after JBS, the world\u2019s largest meat processing company, suffered a cyberattack from a Russian gang:\n\n\u201cWithout a safe and secure agriculture supply chain, the United States can\u2019t reliably feed its people. This attack proves that our enemies will target that supply chain given the chance. The Department of Agriculture needs to better leverage the assets of the Intelligence Community to protect U.S. agriculture against similar attacks. Our AIM Act will help protect American food and technology from sabotage and espionage, and we urge our colleagues to pass it immediately.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-hutchinson-boozman-womack-applaud-selection-of-fort-smith-for-f-35-fighter-planes-singapore-air-force-squadron", "Cotton, Hutchinson, Boozman, Womack Applaud Selection of Fort Smith for F-35 Fighter Planes, Singapore Air Force Squadron", "2021-06-03", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 3, 2021\n\nCotton, Hutchinson, Boozman, Womack Applaud Selection of Fort Smith for F-35 Fighter Planes, Singapore Air Force Squadron\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Governor Asa Hutchinson (R-Arkansas), Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas), and Congressman Steve Womack (R-Arkansas) applauded the U.S. Air Force announcement that Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith was selected as the home of future F-35 fighter planes and a Republic of Singapore F-16 squadron.\n\n\u201cThe selection committee recognized that Arkansas is one of the most military-friendly states in the nation. Our tax exemption for military retirement income and our licensing reciprocity initiatives are valuable tools for recruiting qualified employees and their families to Fort Smith. We have made significant progress toward building the most expansive fifth-generation airspace directly over Ebbing and an aerial range just four miles off the end of the runway. In my meeting with the Singaporean delegation and the U.S. Department of Defense, it was clear that they understood that Arkansas is a military friendly state and that the River Valley would wholeheartedly welcome the fighter-jet training. The support of our senators and representatives in Congress, and the members of the military affairs committee of AEDC were extremely helpful in winning this mission. We already are prepared to provide a first-rate quality of life for the families who will move here. Congratulations to Major General Kendall Penn, Colonel Leon Dodroe, 188th commander, other USAF leaders, the Air Force and the community leaders whose thoughtful efforts and hard work to sell Fort Smith landed a project that will pay dividends for years,\u201d said Hutchinson.\n\n\u201cFighter jets will return to the Arkansas River Valley, thanks to years of hard work by the Fort Smith community, our federal delegation, and the governor. Singapore\u2019s F-16s and future F-35s will make good use of Arkansas\u2019s strong workforce and excellent facilities. We\u2019re all grateful that the Air Force and our friends from Singapore have chosen Fort Smith for this vital new national security mission,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cThis decision strengthens Arkansas\u2019s role in our nation\u2019s defense. I\u2019m proud the U.S. Air Force and the Republic of Singapore recognized what we\u2019ve known all along \u2013 Fort Smith is the ideal location for this mission. This is a win for the community and the entire state that was made possible in part thanks to the dedicated citizens who have tirelessly advocated the opportunities that exist here,\u201d said Boozman.\n\n\u201cThis decision reiterates what I have said from the start\u2014Fort Smith is best positioned to take on this critical defense mission. Our strategic location, coupled with the River Valley\u2019s airspace, strong infrastructure, and capable workforce, will allow us to seamlessly support our valued allies and the next generation of air combat capabilities. I\u2019m proud the Air Force and Singapore recognized this confluence of attributes. Fort Smith has a long history of community support of our defenders, and we look forward to welcoming this cutting-edge fighter fleet to Arkansas,\u201d said Womack.\n\nFor the past year, the elected officials have collaborated with state and community leaders to promote the unique capabilities and assets the Fort Smith region offers for military training and readiness. They\u2019ve also urged the Federal Aviation Administration to expand military airspace which will provide more opportunities for specialized training.\n\nOn July 6, 2020, then-Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett signed a memorandum to establish a permanent Foreign Military Sales training center at a single location in the continental United States for up to 36 F-35 aircraft and a Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16 squadron. The same month it was announced that Fort Smith was one of five finalists to host this mission.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-regarding-lockheed-martin-diversity-training", "Cotton Demands Answers Regarding Lockheed Martin Diversity Training", "2021-06-02", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 2, 2021\n\nCotton Demands Answers Regarding Lockheed Martin Diversity Training\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) wrote a letter to James Taiclet, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation, demanding information regarding a three-day diversity training reportedly held for white male executives in June 2020.\n\nIn part, Cotton wrote, \u201cFacilitators allegedly encouraged Lockheed executives to \u2018free associate\u2019 stereotypes about various groups. The stereotypes allegedly generated by your executives include that white men are \u2018racist,\u2019 \u2018privileged,\u2019 \u2018set in their ways,\u2019 and \u2018KKK.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cThis training, if it occurred, appears to violate the principle of equal treatment that is the bedrock of American law, including civil-rights law,\u201dCotton continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here or below.\n\nJune 2, 2021\n\nMr. James Taiclet\n\nPresident and Chief Executive Officer\n\nLockheed Martin Corporation\n\n6801 Rockledge Drive\n\nBethesda, MD 20817\n\nDear Mr. Taiclet,\n\nIn June 2020, Lockheed Martin reportedly held a three-day diversity training for white male executives, who were referred to during the program as the \u201cWhite Men\u2019s Caucus.\u201d The alleged training was led by a group called White Men as Full Diversity Partners. Materials distributed by this organization include lists of stereotypes about the supposed \u201cprivilege\u201d enjoyed by various groups, including white people, males, and heterosexuals. For example, the section on \u201cwhite privilege\u201d lists the stereotypes that whites are taught to \u201cminimize the perspectives and powers of people of other races\u201d and are less likely to die in interactions with police. The section on \u201cmale privilege\u201d lists the stereotypes that men are \u201cnot expected to be overly attentive or to wait on people.\u201d Facilitators allegedly encouraged Lockheed executives to \u201cfree associate\u201d stereotypes about various groups. The stereotypes allegedly generated by your executives include that white men are \u201cracist,\u201d \u201cprivileged,\u201d \u201cset in their ways,\u201d and \u201cKKK.\u201d\n\nThis training, if it occurred, appears to violate the principle of equal treatment that is the bedrock of American law, including civil-rights law. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act in particular forbids employers from discriminating on the basis of race and engaging in any activities that \u201climit, segregate, or classify [their] employees.\u201d The previous administration observed that the kind of stereotyping and scapegoating commonly found in these trainings \u201cmay contribute to a hostile work environment and give rise to potential liability under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.\u201d\n\nWith these concerns in mind, please provide answers to the following questions by June 11, 2021:\n\n1. Did this diversity training for Lockheed Martin executives take place as described?\n\n2. How many Lockheed Martin employees have been subjected to this kind of training?\n\n3. Did Lockheed Martin select employees to participate in this training? If yes, on what basis were they selected? Was this training given to employees who are not white men?\n\n4.Was the training mandatory or voluntary? Were employees told they were allowed to opt out of the training?\n\n5. Please list the vendors that Lockheed Martin employs to administer Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainings to its employees and the materials distributed to participants in those trainings.\n\n6. If it occurred, please explain how this training, which relies on stereotypes and appears to segregate employees on the basis of race and sex, complies with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-chinese-communist-partys-three-child-policy", "Cotton Statement on Chinese Communist Party\u2019s Three-Child Policy", "2021-06-02", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 2, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Chinese Communist Party\u2019s Three-Child Policy\n\nWashington, D.C \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding news that the Chinese Communist Party will now allow married families to have up to three children:\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party can rebrand and modify the One-Child Policy all it wants. The cruel reality is that it still controls how many children its subjects may welcome into the world. We must never forget the Chinese government\u2019s violent campaign to control its population using abortion, sterilization, and infanticide.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-call-on-department-of-defense-to-release-delayed-list-of-chinese-military-companies", "Cotton, Colleagues Call on Department of Defense to Release Delayed List of Chinese Military Companies", "2021-06-01", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 1, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Call on Department of Defense to Release Delayed List of Chinese Military Companies\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Gary Peters (D-Michigan), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and Representatives Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin), Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona), and Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) sent a bipartisan letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urging the Department of Defense to release a delayed report that publicly identifies Chinese military companies operating in the United States. The Department of Defense was required by law to have released this list over a month ago. To view the letter, click here.\n\nIn part, the members wrote, \u201cThe U.S. government must continue to act boldly in blocking the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s economic predation against our industrial base. We must not allow China to erode America\u2019s military primacy. We urge you to submit this report on Section 1260H companies to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and publish it in the Federal Register as soon as possible.\u201d\n\nText of the letter may be found below.\n\nJune 1, 2021\n\nThe Honorable Lloyd J. Austin\n\nSecretary\n\nDepartment of Defense\n\n1000 Defense Pentagon\n\nWashington, D.C. 20301-1000\n\nDear Secretary Austin,\n\nWe write to urge you to send Congress the delayed Department of Defense report on Chinese military companies mandated under the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\nLast year, the U.S. government took necessary and long overdue action to combat the threat of Chinese military companies operating in the United States. The Department of Defense began using statutory authority in Section 1237 of the FY1999 NDAA (Public Law 105-261) to publicly identify Chinese military companies operating directly or indirectly inside the United States. Executive Order 13959 bolstered the Section 1237 listing of Chinese military companies by prohibiting Americans from investing in publicly traded securities of certain Chinese military companies and requiring eventual divestment from existing holdings. Congress then formalized the Section 1237 listing process by mandating in Section 1260H of the FY21 NDAA (Public Law 116-283) that the Secretary of Defense submit to Congress and publish a list of Chinese military companies by April 15, 2021, and annually thereafter.\n\nThe U.S. government must continue to act boldly in blocking the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s economic predation against our industrial base. We must not allow China to erode America\u2019s military primacy. We urge you to submit this report on Section 1260H companies to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and publish it in the Federal Register as soon as possible.\n\nThank you for your consideration of this urgent national security issue. We look forward to your response.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/05/31/2021/cotton-statement-on-memorial-day", "Cotton Statement on Memorial Day", "2021-05-31", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 31, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Memorial Day\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on Memorial Day:\n\n\u201cOn this sacred day of remembrance, we pay tribute to the fallen warriors who gave their dying breath in service to this exceptional nation. In the soil of a thousand battlefields and hometown cemeteries lie the greatest heroes of our shared history. Their final acts of devotion fill every patriot\u2019s heart with awe, respect, and pride. Today, more than any other day, our country gives them the recognition that they deserve.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-collins-gillibrand-shaheen-introduce-bill-to-improve-officers-access-to-care-at-walter-reed", "Cotton, Collins, Gillibrand, Shaheen Introduce Bill to Improve Officers\u2019 Access to Care at Walter Reed", "2021-05-28", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 28, 2021\n\nCotton, Collins, Gillibrand, Shaheen Introduce Bill to Improve Officers\u2019 Access to Care at Walter Reed\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) today introduced legislation to ensure wounded officers and their families have immediate access to specialized facilities at Walter Reed.\n\n\u201cBrave Americans wounded in the service of our country deserve every measure of our support. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues on this important part of a long campaign to care for our men and women in uniform and hold their attackers responsible,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cIt is unacceptable that some victims of probable directed energy attacks did not receive the medical support they should have expected from our government when they were injured,\u201d said Collins. \u201cAmerican personnel who have undergone these attacks while serving our country should be treated the same way we would treat a soldier who suffered a traumatic injury on the battlefield. Walter Reed Medical Center has a world-renowned treatment center for TBIs, and our bipartisan legislation would ensure non-DOD personnel have prompt access to this top-notch care.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the past several years, U.S. government employees and their families have experienced attacks that have left them suffering from symptoms of \u2018Havana Syndrome,\u2019 which include headaches, memory problems and brain damage. Congress not only has a duty to protect these men, women and families, but we must provide them with high-quality health care. The bipartisan Walter Reed Injury Recovery (WIRE) Act will ensure that individuals suffering from Havana Syndrome can receive care at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed, the nation\u2019s top facility for treating such injuries. I am proud to work with my colleagues on this important legislation, which upholds our commitment to the men and women who bravely serve our nation,\u201d said Gillibrand.\n\n\u201cFor American public servants suffering from brain injuries due to reported directed-energy attacks, living with the symptoms of their ailments and having to fight for medical treatment has been an absolute nightmare. That is completely unacceptable \u2013 our personnel deserve better,\u201d said Shaheen. \u201cThis has been a top priority of mine for years, and I\u2019m glad to continue bipartisan efforts in the Senate with Senator Cotton and this group of lawmakers on new legislation that would require timely access to Walter Reed facilities for medical treatment. I\u2019ll continue working across the aisle to care for public servants who\u2019ve been targeted by these attacks and will keep up efforts to uncover the source of these incidents to protect American personnel.\u201d\n\nWalter Reed Army National Military Medical Center and its National Intrepid Center of Excellence has been the nation\u2019s premier institution for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries for more than a decade. The WIRe Act will ensure that all U.S. Government personnel who may have suffered a brain injury as the result of an attack during the course of their duties receives immediate treatment at this facility. It also directs elements of the departments and agencies of the federal government to remove any bureaucratic impediments to the immediate delivery of needed services.\n\nBackground:\n\nIn February, Senator Cotton questioned Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director nominee Ambassador William Burns about medical care for paramilitary officers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-airplane-hijacking-in-belarus", "Cotton Statement on Airplane Hijacking in Belarus", "2021-05-24", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 24, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Airplane Hijacking in Belarus\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the recent Ryanair plane grounding in Belarus:\n\n\u201cBelarus\u2019s aerial piracy and possible Russian involvement demand a swift and strong response from NATO and the EU. That response should start with ending the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, Russia\u2019s attempt to gain further coercive leverage over Europe.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/new-c-130j-super-hercules-coming-to-little-rock-airforce-base", "New C-130J Super Hercules Coming to Little Rock Airforce Base", "2021-05-22", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 22, 2021\n\nNew C-130J Super Hercules Coming to Little Rock Airforce Base\n\nLittle Rock, AR \u2013 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas), along with Representatives French Hill (R-Arkansas) and Steve Womack (R-Arkansas), announced that the 189th Airlift Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard at Little Rock Airforce Base has been selected as the new home of the Air National Guard\u2019s C-130J Super Hercules training program.\n\nThe 189th will soon see up to four C-130Js come to Little Rock Air Force Base to seed a new Air National Guard C-130J flight training unit. The 189th currently flies the older H-model of the C-130 Hercules. The 189th will teach National Guard pilots to fly both the C-130J Super Hercules and C-130H Hercules, until they transition to all C-130Js in the coming years.\n\n\u201cThis decision cements the 189th\u2019s role as a manned flying squadron for decades to come. I want to both extend my thanks to the United States Air Force and my colleagues in Congress for their help in securing this mission. These new aircraft will ensure that the next generation of Air National Guard pilots have the training and experience needed to serve our great nation in war and peace. I\u2019m pleased to say that Little Rock Air Force base will safely be known as \u2018Home of the Herc\u2019 for many bright years ahead,\u201d said Cotton, Ranking Member of the Air-Land Subcommittee on the Senate Armed Services Committee.\n\n\u201cThis is great news for Arkansas, the Arkansas Air National Guard and the community. The 189th Airlift Wing is an outstanding unit that has demonstrated its excellence and indispensability in maintaining our nation\u2019s air superiority. The Air Force\u2019s decision to station this new aircraft in the 189th ensures the squadron will continue to play a critical role in our nation\u2019s defense well into the future,\u201d said Boozman, co-chairman of the Senate Air Force Caucus.\n\n\u201cThe Little Rock Air Force Base continues to remain one of the most technologically advanced and well-run military installations in the world. The selection of the base as the new home of the Air National Guard\u2019s C-130J Super Hercules training program reflects this well-known fact. I\u2019m thankful to my colleagues and the United States Air Force for their work to make Central Arkansas the continued home of C-130 training, and I\u2019m confident in the program\u2019s contribution to supporting the most well-trained, efficient, and effective military force in the world,\u201d said Hill.\n\n\u201cArkansas proudly boasts a long history of supporting initiatives critical to our nation\u2019s common defense. This decision builds on that and ensures we are equipped to train our next generation of pilots. I\u2019m proud that the Natural State will be hosting C-130Js now and into the future. I will continue working with the delegation to secure missions that serve America\u2019s security needs,\u201d said Womack.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-gallagher-introduce-bill-to-close-lobbying-loopholes-for-chinese-companies", "Cotton, Gallagher Introduce Bill to Close Lobbying Loopholes for Chinese Companies", "2021-05-21", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 21, 2021\n\nCotton, Gallagher Introduce Bill to Close Lobbying Loopholes for Chinese Companies\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin) introduced the Chinese Communist Party Influence Transparency Act, legislation to close loopholes that allow lobbyists for Chinese companies to avoid registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). For bill text, click here.\n\n\u201cChinese companies\u2014particularly powerful ones\u2014are all arms of the Chinese Communist Party and remain ultimately under state control. It\u2019s time our laws recognize that reality. Our bill will close legal loopholes and force lobbyists for Chinese companies to register as foreign agents,\"said Cotton.\n\n\u201cAny Chinese company important enough to register lobbyists in Washington, D.C. is significant enough to be co-opted at will by the Chinese Communist Party,\u201d said Gallagher. \u201cThis bill helps close existing loopholes that allow lobbyists to avoid the enhanced scrutiny that comes with the Foreign Agents Registration Act and will reduce the ability of the Chinese Communist Party to use the swamp against us.\u201d\n\nLast year, Cotton and Gallagher wrote to the Department of Justice expressing concerns about these loopholes and whether individuals lobbying on behalf of certain Chinese companies should be required to register under FARA.\n\nFollowing calls from Gallagher and Cotton, the U.S. Department of Defense published a list of Chinese companies affiliated with the People\u2019s Liberation Army. Despite the list\u2019s publication, individuals lobbying on the behalf of these Chinese military companies can still receive exemptions that allow them to register under the less transparent Lobbying Disclosure Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-mcconnell-announce-bill-to-combat-anti-semitic-hate-crimes", "Cotton, McConnell Announce Bill to Combat Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes", "2021-05-21", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 21, 2021\n\nCotton, McConnell Announce Bill to Combat Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) today announced they are introducing the Preventing Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes Act, legislation to combat the dramatic rise of anti-Semitic hate crimes in the United States.\n\n\u201cAnti-Semitism has no place in the United States. The Department of Justice must take immediate, decisive action to stop the shocking rise of hate crimes targeting the American Jewish community. Our bill will ensure the racist criminals committing these crimes are prosecuted and held accountable,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cThe uptick in hateful anti-Semitic attacks is disgusting and totally unacceptable. From anti-Israel efforts like the BDS movement to violent crimes on American streets, we must confront anti-Semitism every single place it rears its ugly head. Our legislation will support state and local law enforcement and ensure the bigoted thugs and criminals who are attacking Jewish Americans face the full force of American justice,\u201dsaid McConnell.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe FBI reports that more than 60 percent of all hate crimes against any religious group in the United States are directed against Jewish Americans. In recent weeks, media coverage has also indicated that there is a surge in these antisemitic hate crimes in the United States, fueled by activists and sympathizers of the terrorist group, Hamas. The bill, which will be formally introduced next week, will ensure that the Department of Justice appropriately prioritizes this growing hate crime threat, and that it works to augment state and local law enforcement efforts to prevent and respond to antisemitic hate crimes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-tillis-colleagues-urge-biden-admin-to-reverse-course-on-giving-away-medical-technology-to-china", "Cotton, Tillis, Colleagues Urge Biden Admin to Reverse Course on Giving Away Medical Technology to China", "2021-05-20", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 20, 2021\n\nCotton, Tillis, Colleagues Urge Biden Admin to Reverse Course on Giving Away Medical Technology to China\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai asking them to reverse the Biden administration\u2019s decision to give U.S. COVID intellectual property to China.\n\nChuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), and Steve Daines (R-Montana) also signed. To view the letter, click here.\n\n\u201cIt is not surprising that China, India, and South Africa want to steal our intellectual property and medical technology,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cWhat is surprising is that an American president, especially one who claims to be a \u2018jobs\u2019 president, would force American companies to give their medical technology and manufacturing processes to foreign adversaries like China. Simply put, the Biden Administration\u2019s support for a TRIPS waiver puts America\u2019s interests last and China\u2019s interests first.\u201d\n\nText of the letter may be found below.\n\nMay 19, 2021\n\nThe Honorable Gina M. Raimondo\n\nSecretary\n\nUnited States Department of Commerce\n\n1401 Constitution Ave. N.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20230\n\nThe Honorable Katherine C. Tai\n\nUnited States Trade Representative\n\n600 17th St. N.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20508\n\nDear Secretary Raimondo and Ambassador Tai:\n\nWe write you today regarding President Biden\u2019s disastrous decision to support the waiver of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights or TRIPS agreement in relation to the prevention, containment, or treatment of COVID-19. The waiver, which is not limited to vaccines, will do nothing to end this global pandemic. Instead, it would undermine the extraordinary global response that has achieved historically remarkable results in record time and our nation\u2019s global leadership in the technologies, medicines, and treatments of the future.\n\nIntellectual property rights provide the legal basis for our innovation and creative economy. Simply put, strong intellectual property rights are why the United States leads the world in IP intensive industries like the life sciences, biopharmaceuticals, precision medicine, and diagnostics. As we work to meet the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, this leadership has benefited our country and the world. As you both know, last year America\u2019s innovative biopharmaceutical companies developed life-saving vaccines. These companies spent substantial sums to develop these treatments and, as of this writing, have produced billions of vaccine doses for the world. Their innovation, ingenuity, and commitment to global health is responsible for the dramatic decline in the pandemic we are seeing both in America and across the globe.\n\nUnfortunately, almost immediately after these vaccines were proven to work, China and other countries which regularly steal American intellectual property\u2014like India and South Africa\u2014began urging the World Trade Organization to grant a TRIPS waiver. These nations are falsely claiming that granting such a waiver would speed the development of new vaccine capacity. Nothing could be further from the truth.\n\nThe reason why there are not enough vaccine doses at this time is simple: the supply chain lacks the technological capacity. Vaccine production is a complex technical and logistical process, with limited technical resources (e.g., skilled scientists and technicians at companies). At best, all President Biden\u2019s giveaway to China and India and others will do is foster uncoordinated vaccine nationalism, as countries jump in to try to coerce technology transfer and manufacturing locally. At worst, this action will provide a boost to the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s \u201cvaccine diplomacy\u201d and enable Beijing to undercut American leadership on vaccine distribution throughout the developing world.\n\nIt is not surprising that China, India, and South Africa want to steal our intellectual property and medical technology. What is surprising is that an American president, especially one who claims to be a \u201cjobs\u201d president, would force American companies to give their medical technology and manufacturing processes to foreign adversaries like China. Simply put, the Biden Administration\u2019s support for a TRIPS waiver puts America\u2019s interests last and China\u2019s interests first.\n\nOur concerns with the Administration\u2019s decision are serious, and the American people deserve to understand exactly how President Biden reached this conclusion.\n\nAccordingly, and in order to help us better understand this decision to support intellectual property theft and forced technological transfer, we ask that you answer the following questions by no later than June 19, 2021:\n\nWill you provide and describe a list of all meetings with foreign officials where the TRIPS waiver was discussed? Specifically, did anyone in the Administration speak with any Chinese, Indian, or South African officials regarding the TRIPS waiver and, if so, what were the contents of those discussions?\n\nDid President Xi ask that the Administration grant a waiver when he spoke with President Biden in March?\n\nDid the Administration coordinate its decision to negotiate a waiver with key allies including the United Kingdom, Germany and the European Union?\n\nAs you both know, the proposed TRIPS waiver merely allows member nations to waive domestic IP protections and enforcement. Does the Biden Administration plan on waiving American intellectual property laws? Does the Biden Administration plan on waiving domestic intellectual property enforcement, including enforcement against intellectual property and trade secret theft?\n\nUnder this scenario, what would happen if a Chinese national is found to have stolen trade secrets? Under the waiver, if adopted, would they not be prosecuted? And, what of the Chinese nationals currently being prosecuted? Would those cases now be dropped?\n\nHow would this be implemented -- would private citizens be denied their ability to protect or enforce intellectual property rights in U.S. courts?\n\nDoes this Administration plan to merely ignore its obligations at the World Intellectual Property Organization?\n\nPlease quantify how many countries have ever used the TRIPS flexibilities since 2001, including the TRIPS amendment on compulsory licensing for export.\n\nWas the Biden Administration\u2019s support for a TRIPS waiver premised on China, Russia, South Africa, India, or any other nation state supporting other foreign policy priorities of the Administration? Specifically, was support for a TRIPS waiver predicated on foreign countries supporting any of the Administration\u2019s international climate priorities?\n\nDoes the Administration plan on making any additional intellectual property concessions to foreign nations?\n\nWhat evidence did the Administration rely on to conclude that IP was a barrier to vaccine manufacturing and that the benefits of waiving IP protections outweighed the potential costs, which include, but are not limited to: diminished incentives for investment, increased supply chain competition, and the ability for manufacturers to negotiate voluntary licenses?\n\nWhat impact will the TRIPS waiver have on America\u2019s domestic intellectual property industries, specifically biopharmaceutical manufacturing? Biopharmaceutical manufacturing provides good-paying jobs for hundreds of thousands of American workers, workers whose livelihood will be impacted by this decision. What will you do to support these workers and how do you reconcile this decision with the Administration\u2019s desire to be a \u201cjobs\u201d presidency?\n\nWhat impact will this decision have on the long-term health of our nation\u2019s innovation economy? Do you believe this decision will detrimentally impact America\u2019s continued leadership in biopharmaceutical innovation?\n\nDoes the Administration intend to replicate this action with other vaccines or biotechnologies in the future, such as treatments for malaria, Alzheimer\u2019s, or Parkinson\u2019s that are currently in development? Have you considered how this decision will adversely affect the financing of future vaccines due to the lack of confidence in this Administration to defend American intellectual property protections?\n\nDoes the Administration plan to submit the text of any waiver to TRIPS that it negotiates at the WTO to Congress for approval? Will the Administration commit to respecting the role of legislative branch and refrain from unilaterally overriding or amending the terms of a Congressionally-approved agreement without approval from Congress?\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We look forward to your responses and we hope you will advocate a reversal of this disastrous policy to President Biden. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-codify-successes-of-operation-warp-speed-prepare-for-future-pandemics", "Cotton Introduces Bill to Codify Successes of Operation Warp Speed, Prepare for Future Pandemics", "2021-05-19", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 19, 2021\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Codify Successes of Operation Warp Speed, Prepare for Future Pandemics\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) introduced the Operation Warp Speed Act, legislation to codify the successes of Operation Warp Speed for use in the event of another pandemic. The bill addresses shortages in the Strategic National Stockpile, increases the speed of safe approval for life-saving medicine, and improves domestic manufacturing. For bill text, click here.\n\n\u201cOperation Warp Speed\u2019s success shouldn\u2019t be ignored\u2014it should be standardized so that the United States is more prepared next time. My bill builds upon the success of Operation Warp Speed and strengthens our ability to fight any future pandemic.\u201d\n\nThe Operation Warp Speed Act would:\n\nRequire HHS to assess what supplies are missing from the Strategic National Stockpile, and submit an annual report to Congress on potential production shortfalls in an emergency\n\nGive priority to domestic manufacturers for vaccine production and supplies needed for the National Strategic Stockpile\n\nRemove emergency use authorization (EUA) approval from the bureaucrats at the FDA and instead allow leaders from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), CDC, FDA, NIH to grant EUA approval when three of the four agency leaders agree it is in the country\u2019s best interest, and require these agencies to review EUA data on a rolling basis\n\nAssess geographic gaps in clinical trial sites across the United States\n\nGrant ASPR flexibility for funds used to secure contracts with the private sector during a public health emergency, and create a new operations role within ASPR to ensure the timely development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics in the event of another public health emergency.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-boozman-introduce-bill-to-reduce-estate-tax", "Cotton, Boozman Introduce Bill to Reduce Estate Tax", "2021-05-13", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 13, 2021\n\nCotton, Boozman Introduce Bill to Reduce Estate Tax\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) today introduced the Estate Tax Reduction Act, legislation to reduce the estate tax to 20 percent\u2014half of the current top rate of 40 percent.\n\nThis bipartisan, bicameral legislation was also introduced by Representatives Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) in the House of Representatives.\n\n\"Families shouldn't have to sell major portions of their businesses or farms after the death of a parent just to afford the 40 percent estate tax. Breaking apart a family's livelihood is neither fair or good for the economy, especially since families are often forced to sell to large corporations. My legislation would cut that rate in half, bringing the rate in line with the current capital gains rate and making it much easier to preserve a family's legacy and way of life,\" said Cotton.\n\n\u201cArkansas\u2019s family farmers and small business owners shouldn\u2019t be punished for passing what they\u2019ve established, grown and maintained onto the next generation. Our bill reduces this burden and gives these entrepreneurs and job creators more assurance that their years of hard work and investment can be carried on by their children and grandchildren instead of being forfeited to the federal government,\u201d said Boozman.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe United States currently has the 4th highest estate and inheritance tax among developed countries, just behind France.\n\nMuch of the value in family-owned businesses are in hard assets and must be sold when the owner passes away, thus endangering the ability of a family business to survive between generations.\n\nOnly 30% of family-owned businesses survive the transition from first to second-generation ownership, while only 12% survive from second to third-generation ownership.\n\nJust 13% of family businesses remain in the family for more than 60 years.\n\nFamily-owned businesses employ 60% of the U.S. workforce and create 78% of all new jobs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-hinson-file-amicus-brief-to-protect-babies-with-down-syndrome", "Cotton, Hinson File Amicus Brief to Protect Babies With Down Syndrome", "2021-05-13", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 13, 2021\n\nCotton, Hinson File Amicus Brief to Protect Babies With Down Syndrome\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA) filed an amicus brief in Little Rock Planning Services v. Rutledge urging the court to uphold Arkansas\u2019s law to protect unborn babies with Down syndrome. For text of the brief, click here.\n\nOther supporters of the brief include 65 members from the House of Representatives and Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and John Thune (R-South Dakota).\n\n\"Our society has an obligation to protect the most vulnerable, including unborn babies with disabilities. Arkansas' law seeks to protect babies with Down syndrome from modern-day eugenicists who want to end their lives, simply because of their disability. We stand with Arkansas and the unborn, and we will fight to uphold this law at the Supreme Court,\" said Cotton.\n\n\u201cEvery life is valuable and has dignity and our laws should reflect that. I am proud to lead this brief with Senator Cotton to ensure that abortions are never performed based on a Down syndrome diagnosis. I will always defend the most vulnerable and stand up for the unborn,\u201d said Hinson.\n\nBackground:\n\nRutledge v. Little Rock Family Planning Services involves a 2019 Arkansas law that prohibits medical providers from performing abortions if the sole reason for the abortion is a prenatal test indicating that the unborn baby has Down syndrome.\n\nA district court blocked the law from taking effect, and a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit \u2013 relying on Roberts\u2019 concurrence in June Medical\u2013 affirmed that ruling in January.\n\nTwo judges on the panel wrote separately to say they regret the outcome even though they believe binding precedent requires it.\n\nArkansas has filed a petition for review with the Supreme Court.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-reintroduce-the-restoring-armed-career-criminal-act", "Cotton, Colleagues Reintroduce the Restoring Armed Career Criminal Act", "2021-05-12", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 12, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Reintroduce the Restoring Armed Career Criminal Act\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) introduced the Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act, legislation that will protect Americans from violent crime. The legislation reinstates an important tool for prosecutors to seek enhanced penalties against violent, repeat offenders. For bill text, click here.\n\nRepresentative David Kustoff (R-Tennessee) also introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\n\"Violent, repeat criminals should be behind bars, not roaming the streets threatening law-abiding citizens. The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act will give back federal prosecutors the tool they need to lock up hardened, repeat offenders.\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\"The practice of releasing violent serial criminals has to end,\" said Blackburn. \"Repeat offenders should not be rewarded with the freedom to needlessly victimize more law-abiding Americans.\"\n\n\u201cAt a time when crime rates are increasing across the country, we need to do all we can to ensure prosecutors and judges have the tools they need to keep the most violent, serial offenders off the streets,\u201d said Hyde-Smith. \u201cThis legislation would do just that by fixing shortcomings in an older law that attempted to address how to protect the public from those who repeatedly commit serious felonies.\u201d\n\n\"Our local law enforcement officers work around the clock to keep our citizens and communities safe. The least we can do to support them is ensure that fewer violent criminals are released back on the streets. As we recognize this week as National Police Week, I am honored to re-introduce this commonsense measure,\u201d said Kustoff. \u201cI look forward to passing this bill to not only protect the American people, but to help our brave men and women in law enforcement.\u201d\n\nOrganization Support\n\n\u201cWhen the Supreme Court effectively voided the ACCA in its decision in Johnson v. United States in 2015 due to part of the definition of \u201cviolent felony\u201d being unconstitutionally vague, it took away an important tool that law enforcement used to get the worst career criminals off our streets. The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act will fix the ACCA by using a specific definition for \u2018serious felony\u2019 and restore the Act, thus giving prosecutors and law enforcement back a significant resource in the fight against violent crime,\u201d said William J. Johnson, Executive Director, National Association of Police Organizations.\n\nFor full text of the National Association of Police Organization\u2019s letter of support, click here.\n\nThe National Sheriffs\u2019 Association has also endorsed the legislation.\n\nBackground\n\nOriginally passed by a unanimous vote in the House and Senate in 1984, the Armed Career Criminal Act requires a minimum 15-year prison sentence for felons convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm who have three prior state or federal convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses, which must have been committed on three different occasions. These are the worst-of-the worst, career criminals.\n\nThe ACCA defines serious drug offenses as those punishable by imprisonment for 10 years or more. It defines violent felonies as those:\n\n1. that have an element of threat, attempt, or use of physical force against another;\n\n2. that involve burglary, arson, or extortion; or\n\n3. that constitute crimes similar to burglary, arson, or extortion under what is known as the ACCA's \"residual clause\" (any crime that \"otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another\").\n\nIn 2015, the Supreme Court in Johnson v. United States declared the residual clause unconstitutionally vague and thus effectively void.\n\nThe Johnson Fallout\n\nMany criminals were sentenced under the ACCA and their premature release after the Johnson decision resulted in tragic consequences. In 2016, Cornelius Spencer, a gang member guilty of nine felonies including drug trafficking, aggravated assault, and robbery, was released a full five years before his sentence was up. In 2018, he was charged with raping two Arkansans, including a 62-year-old woman and a 21-year-old autistic, homeless man. These crimes would've never happened if Spencer hadn't been prematurely released.\n\nThe Legislative Solution\n\nThe Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act would do away with the concepts of \"violent felony\" and \"serious drug offense\" and replace them with a single category of \"serious felony.\" A serious felony would be any crime punishable by 10 years or more. By defining \"serious felony\" solely based on the potential term of imprisonment, the bill would address the vagueness issue and remove any discretion or doubt about which offenses qualify.\n\nThe bill would give federal prosecutors an additional tool to go after the most dangerous, career criminals and would not apply to low-level offenders. Specifically, the ACCA would still apply only in a case where a felon who possesses a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 922(g) has previously been convicted three times of serious felonies, which must have been committed on different occasions.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-leads-letter-warning-international-business-community-about-resuming-business-with-iran", "Cotton Leads Letter Warning International Business Community About Resuming Business with Iran", "2021-05-12", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 12, 2021\n\nCotton Leads Letter Warning International Business Community About Resuming Business with Iran\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today led a group of 15 Republican senators in a letter to the international business community warning them about resuming business with Iran if U.S. sanctions are lifted.\n\nIn part, the senators wrote, \u201cYour member companies may see this potential removal of U.S. sanctions on Iran as a lucrative opportunity. Trust us, they should not. If U.S. sanctions on Iran were temporarily lifted and these firms decided to reenter the Iranian market, not only would they be engaging with a corrupt and capricious regime, they would be investing in ventures doomed to fail. These firms would also risk exposure to individuals and companies that are intertwined with the malign activities of the world\u2019s leading state sponsor of terrorism. So long as the Islamic Republic of Iran continues its outlaw behavior, we will support robust sanctions against the regime.\u201d\n\n\u201cAny attempt by the Biden administration to broker a JCPOA-like deal or offer sanctions relief to the Iranian regime will be fleeting. The original Iran deal was never submitted to the United States Senate and ratified as a legally binding treaty. Any agreement that does not receive the broad and bipartisan support of Congress will not survive if a Republican is elected president in 2024. Any sanctions relief will also be severely limited if Republicans win back majorities in Congress in 2022. The U.S. Congress has passed several laws sanctioning the Iranian regime over the past decade, at times rolling over executive-branch opposition with huge bipartisan majorities. Put simply, any new Iran deal that does not address Iran\u2019s nuclear program, ballistic and cruise missile development, support for terrorism, hostage-taking, gross human rights violations, and other malign behaviors will not receive durable, bipartisan support in the United States,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nSenator Cotton was joined on the letter by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee).\n\nThe letter was sent to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Financial Services Forum, the Business Roundtable, the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES), the British Chambers of Commerce, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Australian Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Switzerland, the SWIFT Board of Directors, the European Bankers Association, and the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU.\n\nThe full text of the letter is here and below.\n\nDear Ms. Clark, Mr. Fromer, and Mr. Bolten,\n\nWe write to alert your member companies of the risks that they may face if the United States temporarily removes sanctions on Iran\u2019s outlaw regime and they seek to reenter the Iranian market or establish business relations with sanctioned individuals, entities, and sectors.\n\nThe Iranian regime remains the world\u2019s foremost state sponsor of terrorism. Through its terrorist forces and proxies, Iran is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. servicemembers and continues to threaten the lives of Americans and the citizens of our allies and partners in the Middle East. The Iranian regime is directly responsible for recent attacks on international civilian air and maritime traffic in the region. The Iranian regime and its proxies are responsible for terror plots across five continents and more than 35 countries, including against the United States, Israel, India, Denmark, France, Germany, and Turkey. Given Iran\u2019s track record of violence and malign behavior, you can understand the U.S. government\u2019s strong desire to ensure that this fanatical regime ceases its statecraft of terrorism and never achieves a nuclear weapons capability.\n\nIn 2015, President Obama negotiated the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran and other P5+1 partners, even though it was far from a comprehensive effort addressing Iran\u2019s malignancy around the world. This deeply flawed agreement handed Iran significant economic concessions in exchange for modest and temporary restrictions on Iran\u2019s nuclear enrichment activities. The JCPOA undermined previous UN Security Council resolutions requiring Iran to stop enriching uranium, instead only temporarily capping Iran\u2019s still-substantial enrichment capability. The agreement ignored indications of Iran\u2019s past nuclear weapons activities and failed to include inspections of military organizations involved in those efforts. Iran continues to block IAEA inspections of suspected nuclear sites and refuses to provide a credible explanation for undeclared nuclear material that the Agency recovered.\n\nThe agreement also failed to address the threat of Iran\u2019s missile programs and other malign activities. Instead, negotiators in Vienna opted for a short-term ban on conventional arms transfers and merely condemned Iran\u2019s nuclear-capable ballistic missile activities. The deal gratuitously lifted sanctions on Iranian institutions that had been sanctioned for illicit conduct unrelated to the Iranian nuclear program. As a result of these egregious faults, bipartisan majorities in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives opposed the JCPOA and the sanctions relief contained in the deal.\n\nRecognizing that the agreement paved Iran\u2019s path to nuclear weapons, President Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement and pursued a strategy of \u201cmaximum pressure\u201d to force a change in Iranian behavior. Since the JCPOA was not a legally binding instrument under U.S. or international law, the sanctions waived in the JCPOA were re-imposed by the United States in 2018, resulting in more than 100 international companies and organizations terminating or curtailing business with the Iranian regime to avoid U.S. sanctions.\n\nIn addition, the Trump administration sanctioned numerous economic sectors and hundreds of entities and individuals for their involvement in terrorism, ballistic-missile development, human-rights abuses, and other rogue activities. These sanctions were based on detailed evidence of malign conduct that continues today. The Trump administration also designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)\u2014which controls large swathes of Iran\u2019s fledgling economy\u2014as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This designation dramatically increases the risk of criminal prosecution and civil litigation for the provision of material support to IRGC entities.\n\nSeveral foreign business entities and individuals who continued to do business with Iran were sanctioned, leading to massive financial losses that forced some businesses to permanently shut down. The U.S. Department of Justice has also filed charges against individuals who seek to circumvent U.S. sanctions, confiscating their assets and seeking significant criminal sentences against offenders.\n\nAs a result of this maximum pressure approach, Iran\u2019s GDP shrank by six percent in 2018 and nearly seven percent in 2019. The Iranian Rial, which traded at roughly 40,000-to-one against the U.S. dollar in early 2018, traded at over 300,000-to-one late last year. Iranian oil production decreased more than half, with Iran\u2019s oil exports decreasing by over 90% through late last year. This pressure forced the regime to decrease military spending by 28% in 2019 and a further 24% in 2021, preventing the regime from funding its terror proxies at historic levels. This reduction forced Lebanese Hizballah to solicit donations from the general public to continue their terrorist activities.\n\nUnfortunately, the Biden administration has ambitions to toss aside the progress of the maximum pressure campaign and return to a JCPOA-like framework. In fact, U.S. negotiators may begin offering sanctions relief even before Iran returns to compliance with the feeble nuclear agreement and regardless of whether the administration has addressed the full scope of Iran\u2019s malign activities or obtained the release of U.S. hostages in Iran.\n\nYour member companies may see this potential removal of U.S. sanctions on Iran as a lucrative opportunity. Trust us, they should not. If U.S. sanctions on Iran were temporarily lifted and these firms decided to reenter the Iranian market, not only would they be engaging with a corrupt and capricious regime, they would be investing in ventures doomed to fail. These firms would also risk exposure to individuals and companies that are intertwined with the malign activities of the world\u2019s leading state sponsor of terrorism. So long as the Islamic Republic of Iran continues its outlaw behavior, we will support robust sanctions against the regime.\n\nAny attempt by the Biden administration to broker a JCPOA-like deal or offer sanctions relief to the Iranian regime will be fleeting. The original Iran deal was never submitted to the United States Senate and ratified as a legally binding treaty. Any agreement that does not receive the broad and bipartisan support of Congress will not survive if a Republican is elected president in 2024. Any sanctions relief will also be severely limited if Republicans win back majorities in Congress in 2022. The U.S. Congress has passed several laws sanctioning the Iranian regime over the past decade, at times rolling over executive-branch opposition with huge bipartisan majorities. Put simply, any new Iran deal that does not address Iran\u2019s nuclear program, ballistic and cruise missile development, support for terrorism, hostage-taking, gross human rights violations, and other malign behaviors will not receive durable, bipartisan support in the United States.\n\nWe kindly ask that you distribute this correspondence to your member companies. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-tax-private-university-mega-endowments-support-workforce-training-programs", "Cotton Introduces Bill to Tax Private University Mega-Endowments, Support Workforce Training Programs", "2021-05-11", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 11, 2021\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Tax Private University Mega-Endowments, Support Workforce Training Programs\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Ivory Tower Tax Act, legislation to impose a one-percent tax on the value of the endowments of the wealthiest private colleges and use the funds to support vocational education and training. This bill also requires these institutions to draw down five percent of the value of their endowments each year. Bill text may be found here.\n\n\u201cOur wealthiest colleges and universities have amassed billions of dollars, virtually tax-free, all while indoctrinating our youth with un-American ideas. This bill will impose a tax on university mega-endowments and support vocational and apprenticeship training programs in order to create high paying, working-class jobs,\u201d said Cotton.\n\nThe Ivory Tower Tax Act would:\n\nLevy a one-percent tax on the fair market value of endowments held by the richest private colleges. The tax would apply to private colleges that 1) have more than 500 full-time enrolled students, 2) have endowments worth more than $2.5 billion and $500,000 per full-time enrolled student, 3) do not have a religious mission.\n\nGenerate an estimated $2 billion in revenue per year, which would be redirected to support vocational and apprenticeship training programs.\n\nRequire the richest private colleges to distribute at least five percent of their endowment to support their educational mission per year, or else face a penalty. This requirement mirrors the tax treatment of private foundations.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-tillis-statement-on-president-bidens-decision-to-support-the-trips-waiver", "Cotton, Tillis Statement on President Biden\u2019s Decision to Support the TRIPS Waiver", "2021-05-05", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nMay 5, 2021\n\nCotton, Tillis Statement on President Biden\u2019s Decision to Support the TRIPS Waiver\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) issued the following joint statement after the Biden administration announced its support for the TRIPS waiver, which will authorize the sharing of United States COVID-19 intellectual property with other countries:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s disastrous decision by President Biden will do little to end the COVID-19 pandemic and help developing nations, but it will hand over America\u2019s medical technology to adversarial states like China and Russia. We support distributing vaccines to countries that need them, but not in a way that jeopardizes America's successful vaccine development. It\u2019s astonishing that President Biden is now providing the Chinese Communist Party with access to America\u2019s intellectual property, medical research, and innovation.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nIn March, Senator Cotton sent a letter to President Biden urging his administration to oppose a proposal at the World Trade Organization that would strip American companies of their intellectual property rights for any innovation related to COVID-19.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-boozman-introduce-legislation-to-permanently-expand-access-to-telehealth", "Cotton, Boozman Introduce Legislation to Permanently Expand Access to Telehealth", "2021-04-29", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 29, 2021\n\nCotton, Boozman Introduce Legislation to Permanently Expand Access to Telehealth\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technology (CONNECT) for Health Act, legislation to improve and expand access to telehealth services.\n\n\u201cEliminating certain restrictions for telehealth services allows Arkansans greater access to healthcare without traveling long distances. Our bill will keep these services in place even after the public health emergency expires,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cTelehealth was already a promising health care delivery option, but it quickly became essential amid the pandemic. Now, we must ensure it is widely accessible in the long term in order to more readily meet patients\u2019 needs and give providers the ability to offer care to more Americans. Making these changes permanent and better understanding how to utilize this revolutionary tool is both common sense and profoundly important,\u201d said Boozman.\n\nThe CONNECT for Health Act was first introduced in 2016 and has the support of more than 150 organizations including AARP, America\u2019s Essential Hospitals, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Hospital Association, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, American Medical Group Association, American Nurses Association, American Telemedicine Association, Children\u2019s National Hospital, eHealth Initiative, Federation of American Hospitals, Health Innovation Alliance, HIMSS, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, National Rural Health Association, Personal Connected Health Alliance, and Teladoc Health.\n\nThe CONNECT for Health Act will:\n\nPermanently remove all geographic restrictions on telehealth services and expand originating sites to include the home and other sites;\n\nAllow health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services, a provision currently in place due to the pandemic but on a temporary basis;\n\nProvide the Secretary of Health and Human Services with the permanent authority to waive telehealth restrictions, a provision currently in place due to the pandemic but on a temporary basis;\n\nAllow for the waiver of telehealth restrictions during public health emergencies; and\n\nRequire a study to learn more about how telehealth has been used during the current COVID-19 pandemic.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-condemn-amazon-for-removing-justice-clarence-thomas-documentary", "Cotton, Colleagues Condemn Amazon for Removing Justice Clarence Thomas Documentary", "2021-04-29", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 29, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Condemn Amazon for Removing Justice Clarence Thomas Documentary\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), along with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), today led a group of 19 senators in a letter to Jeffrey Bezos questioning why Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words, a documentary about the life of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, was removed from Amazon\u2019s streaming service. The film\u2019s removal came during Black History Month.\n\nIn part, the senators wrote, \u201cThe film's popularity aside, Amazon's decision to pull this documentary came during Black History Month-a time when Amazon was celebrating its own effort to \u2018Amplify Black Voices\u2019 with a \u2018collection of titles to honor Black History Month across four weekly themes (Black Love, Black Joy, Black History Makers, and Black Girl Magic).\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cAmazon's decision to cancel from its streaming service a documentary that celebrates the longest-serving and highest-ranking African American public servant in America suggests that what Amazon actually seeks to do is \u2018Amplify Liberal Black Voices,\u2019 while silencing any who disagree-including and especially the great Justice Clarence Thomas, a genuine \u2018Black History Maker,\u2019\u201d the senators continued.\n\nSenator Cotton was joined on the letter by Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Rick Scott (R-Florida), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi).\n\nThe full text of the letter is here and below.\n\nMr. Jeffrey Bezos\n\nChief Executive Officer\n\nAmazon.com, Inc.\n\n410 Terry Avenue North\n\nSeattle, WA 98109\n\nDear Mr. Bezos:\n\nWe write concerning Amazon's latest effort to target conservative Americans. On February 8, 2021, in the middle of Black History Month, Amazon removed from its streaming service the critically acclaimed film, Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words-a documentary about the inspirational life of Justice Clarence Thomas, one of our greatest living Americans and the longest-serving African American in the history of the United States Supreme Court.\n\nCreated Equal tells the uniquely American story of Clarence Thomas's rise from poverty in rural Georgia to serving on the highest Court in the land, where he has spent three decades as the Constitution's staunchest defender. PBS broadcast the documentary nationally, and more than 92% of its 1600 Amazon reviews gave the documentary five stars. The documentary was significantly outperforming other comparable documentaries, including documentaries on liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Thurgood Marshall. The popular demand for Created Equal was so strong that, even after Amazon made the film unavailable to rent or buy through the streaming service, the film's DVD sales hit #1 in the \"Documentary\" category and #16 in the \"Movies & TV\" category.\n\nThe film's popularity aside, Amazon's decision to pull this documentary came during Black History Month-a time when Amazon was celebrating its own effort to \"Amplify Black Voices\" with a \"collection of titles to honor Black History Month across four weekly themes (Black Love, Black Joy, Black History Makers, and Black Girl Magic).\" Amazon's decision to cancel from its streaming service a documentary that celebrates the longest-serving and highest-ranking African American public servant in America suggests that what Amazon actually seeks to do is \"Amplify Liberal Black Voices,\" while silencing any who disagree-including and especially the great Justice Clarence Thomas, a genuine \"Black History Maker.\"\n\nElsewhere in Amazon Prime's movie descriptions, Amazon celebrates the FBI's most wanted terrorist Joanne Chesimard, who murdered a state trooper in cold blood, as a \"fantastic feminine freedom fighter\" and hails the Weather Underground-a literal terrorist group-as \"radical politics at its best[.]\" Both films remain available for streaming today.\n\nThese decisions suggest that Amazon removes documentaries that feature conservatives while keeping documentaries that celebrate criminals and terrorists. And despite repeated inquiries by media outlets, the filmmakers, and would-be viewers, Amazon appears to have made no effort to explain otherwise.\n\nAs members of the U.S. Senate, we have jurisdiction over issues relating to antitrust, technology, the First Amendment, and censorship. We therefore request answers to the following questions:\n\nWhy did Amazon remove Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words from its video streaming service?\n\nWhen was the decision made to remove Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words from the video streaming service?\n\nWho made the decision to remove Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words from the Amazon video streaming service?\n\nPlease provide your written response as soon as possible, but no later than 5:00 PM on May 13, 2021. Please also arrange for a staff briefing on this matter by contacting Matt Downer at (202) 224-2353. Thank you for your attention to this concerning matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/-cotton-statement-on-president-bidens-joint-session-address", "Cotton Statement on President Biden\u2019s Joint Session Address", "2021-04-28", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 28, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on President Biden\u2019s Joint Session Address\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after President Biden\u2019s address to a joint session of Congress:\n\n\u201cTonight, President Biden promised the nation higher taxes, crushing debt, and open borders. His radical agenda is dead on arrival.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-restrict-chinese-stem-graduate-student-visas", "Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Restrict Chinese Stem Graduate Student Visas", "2021-04-22", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 22, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Restrict Chinese Stem Graduate Student Visas\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) introduced the SECURE CAMPUS Act, legislation that would secure American research from Chinese Communist Party espionage and influence. Bill text may be found here.\n\nThe bill would prohibit Chinese nationals from receiving visas to the United States for graduate or post-graduate studies in STEM fields and would ban participants in China\u2019s foreign talent recruitment programs and Chinese nationals from taking part in federally-funded STEM research, along with other much-needed reforms.\n\nCongressman David Kustoff (R-Tennessee) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cAllowing China unfettered access to American research institutions is akin to granting Soviet scientists access to our critical laboratories during the Cold War. We shouldn\u2019t allow the Chinese Communist Party to exploit the openness of American research institutions any longer. The SECURE CAMPUS Act will help stop Chinese nationals from stealing U.S. technology, which the CCP uses against our own troops and businesses,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cBeijing is engaged in a complex influence operation against the United States. The Chinese Communist Party often sends its members to elite American universities where they gain highly sensitive skillsets, then return to China and use this knowledge to help the Chinese government. Our legislation will help secure American innovation by curtailing Beijing\u2019s influence operations and preventing the CCP from utilizing the U.S. education system against us,\u201d said Blackburn.\n\n\u201cChina steals our intellectual property, seeks to destabilize our economy, and threatens our national security. The Chinese Communist Party is no friend of the American people. It makes sense to protect our tax-payer funded STEM research grants and secure our research enterprise. If the Biden Administration is serious about countering threats of Chinese aggression, this legislation is absolutely necessary,\u201d said Tuberville.\n\n\u201cThe SECURE CAMPUS Act will protect our national security from the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s attempts to exploit and steal our cutting-edge research and technology from inside our American universities. It is time we put an end to China\u2019s abuse and ensure our intellectual property remains secured. I am proud to re-introduce this legislation with Senator Cotton,\" said Kustoff.\n\nBackground:\n\nBars Chinese nationals from receiving student or research visas to the United States for graduate or post-graduate studies in STEM fields.\n\nU.S. institutions of higher education must annually certify their compliance with these STEM study restrictions in order to be approved for participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).\n\nProhibits Chinese nationals and participants in China\u2019s foreign talent recruitment programs from receiving federal R&D grants in STEM fields or from being employed to carry out activities funded by those grants.\n\nMandates that participants in China\u2019s foreign talent recruitment programs register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).\n\nExpands the definition of \u201ceconomic espionage\u201d under U.S. Code (18 USC 1839) to more accurately reflect the range of institutions that the CCP uses to conduct economic espionage against the United States.\n\nMandates that the Secretary of State, in consultation with others, develop and publish a list of China\u2019s foreign talent recruitment programs within 180 days.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-report-illegal-alien-attempts-to-purchase-firearms", "Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Report Illegal Alien Attempts to Purchase Firearms", "2021-04-21", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 21, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Report Illegal Alien Attempts to Purchase Firearms\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), and Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) introduced the Illegal Alien NICS Alert Act. The bill would require the National Instant Criminal Background Check system (NICS) to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and relevant local law enforcement when a firearm transferee is illegally present in the United States.\n\nBill text may be found here.\n\n\u201cIf someone in the country illegally tries to get a gun, immigration officials and the local authorities need to know. Our bill ensures that illegal aliens who attempt to purchase firearms are reported to the proper authorities,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cThe National Instant Criminal Background Check system is an important tool to ensure firearms stay out of the wrong hands, which is why I co-introduced the Fix NICS Act last Congress,\u201d said Tillis. \u201cIt is already against the law for an illegal immigrant to purchase a firearm, and this legislation would notify the appropriate authorities when an illegal immigrant tries to break the law.\u201d\n\n\u201cIllegal aliens have no right to be in this country let alone purchase a firearm here. Of course law enforcement should be notified when an illegal alien attempts to obtain a gun,\u201d said Blackburn.\n\n\u201cOur local law enforcement and immigration officials should have the tools to know if folks that are in our country illegally attempt to purchase firearms unlawfully. This bill will help officials do their job and keep our communities safe,\u201d said Ernst.\n\n\u201cEnforcing our border laws is a crucial priority of any government. Equally important is protecting law-abiding Americans from those who break the law to enter the country, and then illegally seek firearms to commit crimes,\u201d said Hawley.\n\nBackground:\n\nFederal law already prohibits any persons from possessing or receiving a firearm if they are unlawfully in the United States.\n\nNICS is not, however, currently required to notify immigration authorities if an applicant is in the country illegally.\n\nSince November 30, 1998, NICS has issued denials for 36,189 attempted firearm purchases by illegal aliens.\n\nOver the 15-month period from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 NICS issued denials for 7,373 attempted purchases by illegal aliens.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-ernst-introduce-bill-to-protect-american-agriculture-from-chinese-espionage", "Cotton, Ernst Introduce Bill to Protect American Agriculture from Chinese Espionage", "2021-04-21", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 21, 2021\n\nCotton, Ernst Introduce Bill to Protect American Agriculture from Chinese Espionage\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced the Agriculture Intelligence Measures (AIM) Act, legislation to establish an Office of Intelligence within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This office would leverage the assets of the intelligence community to better protect U.S. agriculture from foreign threats posed by countries like China. The bill text may be found here.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party wants to undermine vital American industries through sabotage and intellectual property theft\u2014U.S. agriculture is no exception. Our bill will help safeguard the food and technology that our country depends on for its prosperity and freedom,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cFor too long, countries like China have taken advantage of Iowa farmers\u2014stealing intellectual property and engaging in other nefarious activities. This bill will help protect our agriculture community in Iowa, and across the country, so they can continue their hard work of feeding and fueling the world,\u201d said Ernst.\n\nBackground:\n\nIn 2014, Chinese researchers were accused of stealing patented corn and later sentenced to prison.\n\nIn 2018, a Chinese national was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for attempting to steal rice research for China.\n\nIn 2019, a Chinese national who worked at Monsanto was indicted on economic espionage charges.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-russian-threats-to-ukraine", "Cotton Statement on Russian Threats to Ukraine", "2021-04-21", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 21, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Russian Threats to Ukraine\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding Vladimir Putin\u2019s recent comments warning the West not to \u201ccross a red line\u201d with Russia:\n\n\u201cAs Russia encircles Ukraine on land and at sea, Vladimir Putin must understand that military aggression will be met with severe consequences. And it\u2019s Joe Biden\u2019s job to make Putin understand that\u2014immediately.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-opposing-earmarks", "Cotton Statement Opposing Earmarks", "2021-04-21", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 21, 2021\n\nCotton Statement Opposing Earmarks\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the potential repeal of the ban on earmarks:\n\n\u201cThe Senate Republican Conference may consider today a proposal to repeal the current ban on earmarks. If so, I will vote against the proposal and to retain the ban.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-boozman-support-legislation-to-protect-arkansas-hospitals-participating-in-drug-discount-program", "Cotton, Boozman Support Legislation to Protect Arkansas Hospitals Participating in Drug Discount Program", "2021-04-20", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 20, 2021\n\nCotton, Boozman Support Legislation to Protect Arkansas Hospitals Participating in Drug Discount Program\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas) are supporting legislation to help Arkansas hospitals participate in the 340B drug discount program.\n\nThe 340B drug pricing program gives more than 40 Arkansas medical facilities access to lower prescription drug prices. But the coronavirus has caused many facilities to fall below the inpatient threshold required to remain in the program. Many hospitals were forced to reduce inpatient hospital admissions of low-income Medicare and Medicaid patients, a critical metric in determining eligibility for the 340B program.\n\nThe legislation the senators are supporting, S.773, would ensure that any previously eligible hospital will be deemed eligible for any cost reporting period during which the public health emergency occurred.\n\n\u201cThe 340B program allows Arkansas hospitals to stretch resources to provide care for those in underserved areas. This bill will ensure rural hospitals can continue offering essential services and treatments to those most vulnerable, even though the pandemic has affected admission rates,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cOne of the top concerns I\u2019ve heard from the Arkansas medical community is the need to protect the 340B drug pricing program. Extending eligibility to this lifeline is a commonsense step to ensure our hospitals and health care providers have the resources they need to care for low-income patients,\u201d said Boozman.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-rioting-before-chauvin-verdict", "Cotton Statement on Rioting Before Chauvin Verdict", "2021-04-19", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 19, 2021\n\nCotton Statement on Rioting Before Chauvin Verdict\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the pending verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin:\n\n\u201cNo matter the verdict, there is no justification for mob violence. Any mob violence should be put down immediately.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-cruz-young-and-scott-introduce-bill-sanctioning-foreign-government-officials-who-hold-americans-hostage", "Cotton, Cruz, Young, and Scott Introduce Bill Sanctioning Foreign Government Officials Who Hold Americans Hostage", "2021-04-16", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 16, 2021\n\nCotton, Cruz, Young, and Scott Introduce Bill Sanctioning Foreign Government Officials Who Hold Americans Hostage\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Todd Young (R-Indiana), and Rick Scott (R-Florida) re-introduced The Global Hostage Act, a bill that would require the president to impose sanctions on foreign government officials responsible for taking Americans hostage. It would also bar those officials and their families from receiving U.S. visas. The bill text is available here.\n\n\u201cIf you take an American hostage \u2013 it won\u2019t only be the hostage who will suffer. America must never accept extortion by hostage-taking as the cost of doing business. It warrants severe consequences, and that\u2019s what this bill delivers,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\"I am proud to once again join this effort to ensure brutal regimes and terrorists are sanctioned if they seize Americans as hostages. This is a battle I have been waging throughout my service in the Senate, including against Iranian regime officials who seized our diplomats in 1979. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to swiftly take up and pass this bill to defend our national security interests abroad and hold these corrupt actors accountable for their malign actions,\" said Cruz.\n\n\u201cThe Global Hostage Act will send a message to the world that anyone who takes an American hostage will pay a severe price for their actions. As President Reagan famously proclaimed to hostage takers in 1985, \u2018America does not make concessions to terrorists, to do so would only invite more terrorism.\u2019 This bill is about making sure that promise remains true today and in the future,\u201d said Young.\n\n\u201cUnder no circumstance should terrorists or our adversaries be allowed to hold Americans hostage and still reap benefits from the United States. This legislation sends a clear message: if you kidnap Americans, you can expect severe consequences,\u201d said Scott.\n\nSpecifically, the bill:\n\nRequires that the executive branch impose mandatory sanctions on foreign government officials and other foreign persons responsible for taking U.S. hostages.\n\nDenies U.S. visas to sanctioned hostage-takers and their family members.\n\nCreates a mechanism for Congress to require that the executive branch review specific foreign government officials for hostage-taking sanctions eligibility.\n\nStates that it is U.S. policy to not pay ransoms to secure the release of U.S. citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence who are taken hostage abroad.\n\nExpresses a Sense of Congress that the United States must take all measures to prevent foreign governments or non-state actors from engaging in hostage-taking, including prosecuting and extraditing those responsible and encouraging allies and partners to do the same.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-mccaul-ask-administration-to-restrict-sale-of-chip-making-software-to-china", "Cotton, McCaul Ask Administration to Restrict Sale of Chip-Making Software to China", "2021-04-15", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 15, 2021\n\nCotton, McCaul Ask Administration to Restrict Sale of Chip-Making Software to China\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo urging tighter restrictions on the sale of chip-making tools to China.\n\nThe members argue that electronic design automation (EDA) tools, which are used to design semiconductor chips, should require a license for all end-users under the ownership, influence, or control of the People\u2019s Republic of China.\n\nIn part, Cotton and McCaul wrote:\n\n\u201cAccording to a recent report by The Washington Post, sophisticated U.S. EDA software was sold to an ostensibly civilian PRC company, Phytium Technology. Phytium then used this software to design advanced semiconductor chips for supercomputers at a hypersonic weapons research and testing facility run by the People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA). This facility, the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center (CARDC), has been on the Commerce Department\u2019s Entity List for more than two decades. Despite Phytium\u2019s deep ties to PRC military research and its sales to the CARDC, Phytium was only added to the Entity List after The Washington Post report. We find it deeply troubling that the Department of Commerce allowed such a critical U.S. technology to be harnessed to design weapons targeting American servicemembers operating in the Indo-Pacific.\u201d\n\nThe letter may be found here. Full text is below.\n\nThe Honorable Gina Raimondo\n\nSecretary\n\nDepartment of Commerce\n\n1401 Constitution Ave NW\n\nWashington, DC 20230\n\nDear Secretary Raimondo,\n\nWe write to urge you to designate electronic design automation (EDA) tools as a foundational technology and require a license for all end-users under the ownership, influence, or control of the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC). There is clear evidence that companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) military are using this software technology to develop advanced weaponry.\n\nAccording to a recent report by The Washington Post, sophisticated U.S. EDA software was sold to an ostensibly civilian PRC company, Phytium Technology, to design advanced semiconductor chips that would be used in supercomputers at a PRC military-run hypersonic weapons research and testing facility. This facility, the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center (CARDC), has been on the Commerce Department\u2019s Entity List for more than two decades. Despite Phytium\u2019s deep ties to PRC military research and its sales to the CARDC, Phytium was only added to the Entity List after The Washington Post report. We find it deeply troubling that the Department of Commerce allowed such a critical U.S. technology to be harnessed to design weapons targeting American servicemembers in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nAs you know, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is executing a strategy called \u201cMilitary-Civil Fusion\u201d (MCF) which seeks to eliminate the distinction between its defense and civilian sectors. The goal of this strategy to ensure that the People\u2019s Liberation Army can rapidly develop and field cutting-edge military platforms. Because the MCF is turning the PRC economy into a military-driven ecosystem that is centrally coordinated by the CCP, many American and other non-PRC businesses are knowingly or unknowingly exporting sensitive technologies that are promptly handed over to the CCP military or intelligence services.\n\nThis recent Phytium example is not the first time a CCP military company has been documented relying on U.S. EDA tools to design advanced semiconductors. In 2019, Commerce took the decisive step of effectively banning the export of EDA tools to HiSilicon, a Huawei subsidiary that designs their advanced semiconductors. This ban on exports of EDA tools to Huawei was intended to impede HiSilicon\u2019s ability to design semiconductors that are used to further the CCP\u2019s ambitions of dominating global 5G telecommunications networks.\n\nThe Huawei Entity Listing and ban on EDA software has done nothing to restrict other PRC companies from buying EDA software licenses from the two dominant suppliers, Cadence and Synopsys. According to reports, hundreds of companies run by PRC regional governmentspoured investments into fabless semiconductor producers and mass purchased EDA software licenses from these two U.S. companies. This has contributed to significant sales growth of EDA tools in the PRC by Cadence and Synopsys. Synopsys even hosted a design training session at the PLA National University of Defense and Technology on integrated circuit and field programmable gate array, semiconductors with clear military applications.\n\nThe U.S. government\u2019s recent strategy against Huawei and Phytium\u2019s sale to CARDC demonstrates the distinct drawbacks of a end-user based approach to export controls when dealing with the CCP. It must be presumed that any PRC company that accepts state-directed investments to purchase semiconductor technologies, including EDA software licenses, could easily be coerced or induced to perform the functions for Huawei or the CCP military that HiSilicon had, before it was targeted by U.S. export bans. The export of advanced dual-use U.S. technology to any PRC entity is effectively a direct delivery to the People\u2019s Liberation Army. Our export control system should reflect this reality.\n\nAccordingly, we urge you to take the following actions to ensure U.S. companies as well as those from parter and allied countries are not permitted to sell the communists the rope they will use to hang us all.\n\nWhile we support reports that the Department of Commerce is placing Phytium on the Entity List\u2014we hope with a licensing policy of a presumption of denial\u2014the Commerce Department must supplement this action with a Foreign-Direct Product Rule (FDPR) Footnote number 1. An entity listing would restrict sales of EDA tools to Phytium, but a FDPR Footnote number 1 would require any fab globally that uses American tools to obtain a Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) license to fabricate a Phytium-designed semiconductor chip. Anything short of using the FDPR would be a half measure masquerading as a forceful action.\n\nThe Department of Commerce should immediately designate EDA software as a Foundational Technology, which would require all U.S. EDA companies to get a BIS license before exporting any product to the PRC. The Department of State and Commerce should also propose similar controls at the Wassenaar Arrangement.\n\nBIS should also develop a FDPR footnote number 1 that applies to any PRC company designing semiconductor chips at or below 14nm. This would ensure that no fab with American tools could make a 14nm or below chip for any PRC company without first obtaining a BIS license.\n\nThe Department of State and Commerce must engage the Taiwanese government to develop a more effective end-user screening system to mitigate the risk of Taiwanese companies providing services and technologies to entities of concern. It is not in the security interests of Taiwan or the United States for companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation to make advanced semiconductor chips for the PRC\u2019s military.\n\nThank you for considering this important matter of national security. We look forward to hearing from you.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-call-on-president-to-shun-green-tech-produced-by-slave-labor", "Cotton, Colleagues Call on President to Shun \u201cGreen\u201d Tech Produced by Slave Labor", "2021-04-14", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 14, 2021\n\nCotton, Colleagues Call on President to Shun \u201cGreen\u201d Tech Produced by Slave Labor\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) released the following statement on \u201cgreen\u201d products purchased as a part of President Biden\u2019s infrastructure plan:\n\n\u201cProducts stained with the blood of slave labor will never be clean or green. Any infrastructure proposal from President Biden must bar U.S. taxpayer support of products like solar panels that are made in camps by Uyghurs and other groups held hostage by the Chinese Communist Party. The United States government should play no role in subsidizing or partaking in this barbaric treatment of ethnic groups in Xinjiang.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nChina\u2019s Xinjiang region produces 71 percent of the world\u2019s photovoltaic solar modules \u2013 and Xinjiang silicon is contained in at least 95 percent of silicon-based solar modules.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-grassley-call-for-hearing-on-hate-crimes-against-asian-americans", "Cotton, Grassley Call for Hearing on Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans", "2021-04-13", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nApril 13, 2021\n\nCotton, Grassley Call for Hearing on Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today called for the committee to convene a hearing on hate crimes against Asian Americans.\n\n\u201cWe are concerned to see that such an important issue has not already received Committee or Subcommittee attention. Instead, S. 937, the \u2018COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act,\u2019 has been moved to the Senate floor with little commentary, factfinding, or Committee consideration. We believe the Senate should have the benefit of hearing from the Department of Justice before blindly acting on this issue,\u201d the senators wrote in a letter to committee chairman Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and subcommittee chairman Cory Booker (D-New Jersey).\n\nLast month, Attorney General Merrick Garland ordered a 30-day review of how hate crimes are tracked and prosecuted amid an uptick in crimes targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Senators called on the committee Democrats to convene a hearing as soon as the Justice Department\u2019s review is completed to examine its findings.\n\nText of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Chairman Durbin and Chairman Booker:\n\nWe write today to request a hearing of the full Committee or the Crime Subcommittee related to the rise in violent crime across the country, in particular the surge in violent crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).\n\nEvery one of us is horrified to see incidents in which our fellow Americans are attacked because of their race or ethnicity. We understand that Attorney General Garland is conducting a 30-day review of violence against AAPI Americans, which we hope will improve the federal government\u2019s capacity to track and identify hate crimes, review civil enforcement authorities, and assess whether additional resources are needed to support law enforcement\u2019s response to this violence. This review is scheduled to be completed in the coming weeks.\n\nCongress\u2019s attention to the findings of this review, including whether there is a need for additional resources or to adjust relevant legal authorities, will be necessary. We request a hearing on this issue at the earliest possible opportunity after that review is completed.\n\nWe are concerned to see that such an important issue has not already received Committee or Subcommittee attention. Instead, S. 937, the \u201cCOVID-19 Hate Crimes Act,\u201d has been moved to the Senate floor with little commentary, factfinding, or Committee consideration. We believe the Senate should have the benefit of hearing from the Department of Justice before blindly acting on this issue. As we know that each of you believes very strongly in the importance of Committee process, we hope you will support this request.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 157, "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 \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "AR", "p2": "2021"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AR&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 157, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AR&year=2021&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AR&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 157, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=AR&year=2021", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AR&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "AR", "label": "AR", "count": 157, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2021", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AR&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "2021", "label": "2021", "count": 157, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AR", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2021-04-13,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ecotton~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fcotton-grassley-call-for-hearing-on-hate-crimes-against-asian-americans", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AR&year=2021&_next=2021-04-13%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ecotton~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fcotton-grassley-call-for-hearing-on-hate-crimes-against-asian-americans&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 127.1420712582767, "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"}