{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"MO\" and year = 2023 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/army-delivers-funding-family-housing-fort-leonard-wood-following-commitment-senator-hawley/", "Army Delivers Funding for Family Housing at Fort Leonard Wood Following Commitment to Senator Hawley", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced that the Army has now delivered $41.49 million for new family housing at Fort Leonard Wood. This follows Senator Hawley\u2019s repeated demands that overdue investment in families\u2019 homes be made and a commitment by the Army to deliver these funds.\n\n\u201cFort Leonard Wood\u2019s military families lead a life of service and deserve homes that meet their basic needs. I\u2019m glad to see the Army finally delivering on their promise to replace all aging homes on the base. I urge the Army to ensure that the additional $50 million in promised funding for FY2024 is delivered on time,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\nSenator Hawley has long advocated for improved family housing at Fort Leonard Wood and has pressed the Army to deliver on its pledge to replace all military housing on the base.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-holds-nominees-calls-further-evaluation-mcconnell-nominees/", "Hawley Holds Nominees, Calls for Further Evaluation of McConnell Nominees", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), citing concerns about two of his recommended nominees. Senator Hawley appended questions to his letter for the nominees to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to answer regarding their policy views on several issues, including Big Tech and rail safety. Senator Hawley is currently holding both nominees.\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s letter comes as the Senate looks to pass a negotiated nominations package, likely to include dozens of Democrat-recommended nominees and only a few Republican appointees.\n\n\u201cIf Republicans are planning to install dozens of Biden nominees for positions across the federal government\u2014without a vote\u2014in exchange for just a handful of our own selections, I want to be sure that we get our nominees right,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley.\n\nHe continued, \u201cFor example, Andrew Ferguson, nominated to be a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), should answer additional questions on his philosophy concerning Big Tech, given the importance of that issue to our Conference. I also believe that Todd Inman, who is under consideration for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), should be asked to further articulate his views on various transportation policies, including rail safety and autonomous vehicles.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nDecember 20, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Mitch McConnell\n\nMinority Leader\n\nU.S. Senate\n\nWashington, D.C. 20510\n\nDear Leader McConnell:\n\nI write today regarding the expected year-end nominations package and my specific concerns with two of your own recommended nominees.\n\nThe expected nominations package will likely include dozens of nominees that have been recommended by Senate Democrats. Many of these Biden nominees will no doubt advance policies and values antithetical to those held by members of the Republican Conference. By agreeing to such a negotiated package in exchange for just a few Republican appointees you have personally deemed a priority, I believe we risk giving away too much.\n\nIn particular, two of the nominees you have sought to include in this package need more time for careful evaluation by our own Conference, especially by non-Committee members. If Republicans are planning to install dozens of Biden nominees for positions across the federal government\u2014without a vote\u2014in exchange for just a handful of our own selections, I want to be sure that we get our nominees right. For example, Andrew Ferguson, nominated to be a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), should answer additional questions on his philosophy concerning Big Tech, given the importance of that issue to our Conference. I also believe that Todd Inman, who is under consideration for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), should be asked to further articulate his views on various transportation policies, including rail safety and autonomous vehicles.\n\nI have appended written questions below that I have for each of these two nominees. As you are aware, I am currently withholding my consent for these nominees to be confirmed without a floor vote\u2014as is any senator\u2019s right to do\u2014until I and others can evaluate satisfactory responses to these important policy questions.\n\nI would like to meet with the nominees to discuss these questions.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senators-hawley-vance-rubio-urge-cfius-block-sale-us-steel-protect-americas-industrial-base/", "Senators Hawley, Vance, Rubio Urge CFIUS to Block Sale of\u00a0U.S. Steel & Protect America\u2019s Industrial Base", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) sent a letter to Janet Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury and Chair of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), urging her to block the sale of U.S. Steel to Japan-based Nippon Steel Corporation (NSC). NSC announced plans to acquire U.S. Steel on Monday, a deal that raises national security concerns and threatens to weaken America\u2019s industrial base.\n\n\u201cThe transaction was not entered into with U.S. national security in mind. When U.S. Steel announced its \u201creview of strategic alternatives\u201d in August, it pledged to adopt a \u201cmeasured approach.\u201d But the board\u2019s fiduciary duty was to its shareholders, and U.S. Steel has admitted that the very reason for the sale was its desire to \u201cmaximiz[e] value for [. . .] stockholders.\u201d The transaction was not the product of careful deliberation over stakeholder interests, but rather the result of an auction to maximize shareholder returns,\u201d wrote the Senators.\n\nThey continued, \u201cTrade protections can and should induce foreign investment that expands domestic production and creates American jobs. This corporate takeover is out of step with those goals. Allowing foreign companies to buy out American companies and enjoy our trade protections subverts the very purpose for which those protections were put in place.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Committee cannot rebalance American trade or reshape its corporate governance, but it can mitigate some of the worst consequences of both. It can and should block the acquisition of U.S. Steel by NSC, a company whose allegiances clearly lie with a foreign state and whose record in the United States is deeply flawed,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nDecember 19, 2023\n\nThe Hon. Janet Yellen\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Treasury Department\n\n1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20220\n\nDear Secretary Yellen:\n\nWe write to you in your capacity as Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to express my concern about the acquisition of the United States Steel Corporation (\u201cU.S. Steel\u201d) by Japan\u2019s Nippon Steel Corporation (\u201cNSC\u201d). The transaction marks a turning point for an icon of American industry and has dire implications for the industrial base of the United States.\n\nThe transaction was not entered into with U.S. national security in mind. When U.S. Steel announced its \u201creview of strategic alternatives\u201d in August, it pledged to adopt a \u201cmeasured approach.\u201d But the board\u2019s fiduciary duty was to its shareholders, and U.S. Steel has admitted that the very reason for the sale was its desire to \u201cmaximiz[e] value for . . . stockholders.\u201d The transaction was not the product of careful deliberation over stakeholder interests, but rather the result of an auction to maximize shareholder returns. The joint press release announcing the all-cash transaction led off with a declaration about the transaction\u2019s \u201ccertain and immediate value to U.S. Steel shareholders.\u201d\n\nDespite the absence of any security-focused deliberation on U.S. Steel\u2019s part, domestic steel production is vital to U.S. national security. Democratic and Republican administrations have both acted decisively over the last forty years to bolster the industry. The endurance of President Trump\u2019s Section 232 tariffs on steel imports demonstrates that the preservation of the domestic steel industry remains vital to our national security. Trade protections can and should induce foreign investment that expands domestic production and creates American jobs. This corporate takeover is out of step with those goals. Allowing foreign companies to buy out American companies and enjoy our trade protections subverts the very purpose for which those protections were put in place.\n\nThe problems with this transaction run even deeper than that, however. NSC does not share U.S. Steel\u2019s storied connection to the United States, and its financial interests are tied into those of Japan. Earlier this year, NSC received more than $3 billion in subsidies from Japan\u2019s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. And NSC has even flouted American trade law. As recently as August 2021, NSC was found guilty of unlawfully dumping flat-rolled steel products into the U.S. market.\n\nThis acquisition is not occurring in a vacuum. The United States has run a trade deficit for nearly half a century. Our cumulative trade debt now stands at more than $14 trillion. Over the last five years, we have run an average annual trade deficit of more than $65 billion with Japan alone. One of the promised benefits of such unbalanced trade is that we run a capital account surplus: we import the world\u2019s goods, and they consume our financial assets in return. In theory that may sound fine. But issues become apparent when those financial assets include critical pieces of the American industrial base.\n\nThe Committee cannot rebalance American trade or reshape its corporate governance, but it can mitigate some of the worst consequences of both. It can and should block the acquisition of U.S. Steel by NSC, a company whose allegiances clearly lie with a foreign state and whose record in the United States is deeply flawed. We urge the Committee to initiate a review of the transaction unilaterally, particularly in light of the fact that U.S. Steel received competitive bids from American companies who would not pose the same risks.\n\nThank you for your efforts to safeguard American national security.\n\nSincerely,\n\nJosh Hawley\n\nUnited States Senator\n\nJ.D. Vance\n\nUnited States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawleys-bipartisan-ai-bill-empower-parents-hold-big-tech-accountable-blocked-senate-floor/", "Hawley\u2019s Bipartisan AI Bill to Empower Parents to Hold Big Tech Accountable Blocked on Senate Floor", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) delivered remarks on the Senate Floor and called for unanimous consent to pass his bill, the No Section 230 Immunity for AI Act. This legislation would clarify that Section 230 immunity does not apply to claims related to generative AI, ensuring consumers have the tools they need to protect themselves from harmful content produced by the latest advancements in AI technology.\n\n\u201cWe have seen what [Big Tech companies] do with their subsidy from government when it comes to social media [\u2026] [Big Tech companies] censor the living daylights out of anybody they don\u2019t like [\u2026] This government protects [Big Tech],\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\nHe continued, \u201c[This bill] just says that these huge companies can be liable like any other company\u2014no special protections from government [\u2026] It just breaks up the Big Government, Big Tech cartel. That\u2019s all it does, and it says parents can go into court, same terms as anybody else, and make their case.\u201d\n\nClick here or above to watch his full remarks.\n\nSenators Hawley and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) \u2013 the Ranking Member and the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, respectively \u2013 introduced the No Section 230 Immunity for AI Act in June to put power in the hands of consumers and give Americans impacted by nascent AI technology their day in court to hold Big Tech companies accountable.\n\nSenator Hawley also previously announced five guiding principles for the future of AI legislation.\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s call to unanimously pass the bill was objected to by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-forces-procedural-vote-delay-ndaa-shares-stories-nuclear-radiation-victims-betrayed/", "Senator Hawley Forces Procedural Vote to Delay NDAA & Shares Stories of Nuclear Radiation Victims Betrayed by Congressional Leadership", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) shared stories from victims of government-caused radiation poisoning, after Congressional leadership stripped reauthorization of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) from the FY \u201924 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Senator Hawley called for a motion that would have extended debate on the NDAA and delayed its final passage in the Senate.\n\nThe RECA program\u2014which is set to expire in the coming months\u2014compensates victims poisoned by the federal government through nuclear waste. A reauthorized and updated program would include numerous residents of the greater St. Louis area. Despite passing the Senate with strong bipartisan support and receiving an endorsement from President Biden, dealmakers scrubbed RECA reauthorization from the defense bill behind closed doors.\n\n\u201cWhen the government causes injury, the government should make it right. [\u2026] That\u2019s what the radiation compensation program does\u2014and it\u2019s wrong to let it expire,\u201d said Senator Hawley. [\u2026] It is a scar on the conscience of this body and of this nation. And I will come to the floor as long as it takes until we do right by these Americans who have done right by their country because they deserve better than this.\u201d\n\n\u201cI realize my colleagues are all too eager to move on, but I think it is important we take as much time as is necessary to understand the stakes of what we are doing and to understand the stakes of turning our backs on these people,\u201d he concluded.\n\nClick here or above to watch his full remarks.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/grave-injustice-hawley-slams-congressional-leadership-betraying-nuclear-radiation-victims-stripping/", "\u201cGrave Injustice:\u201d Hawley Slams Congressional Leadership for Betraying Nuclear Radiation Victims & Stripping Compensation from NDAA", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor after Congressional leadership betrayed American nuclear program victims through backroom negotiations. Dealmakers stripped Senator Hawley\u2019s bill to reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) from the FY \u201924 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\nSenator Hawley vowed to oppose the final bill and slow down its passage. The Senate voted on an extra procedural motion today after Senator Hawley threw up a roadblock.\n\nThe RECA program\u2014which is set to expire in the coming months\u2014compensates victims poisoned by the federal government through nuclear waste. This includes numerous residents of the greater St. Louis area and across the country. Despite passing the Senate with strong bipartisan support and receiving an endorsement from President Biden, RECA reauthorization was scrubbed from the bill behind closed doors.\n\n\u201cThis is a grave injustice. [\u2026] This [NDAA] turns its back on the people of the United States in defense of the lobbyists, and the suits, and the corporate entities who are going to get paid,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\n\u201cTo the people of this nation\u2014tens of thousands who have depended on this compensation, life-saving help, who are now at risk of losing all of it\u2014this fight is not over. [\u2026] I will come to this floor as long as it takes [\u2026] until we compensate the people of this nation, who have sacrificed for this nation, and do not leave them behind,\u201d he concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-introduces-new-legislation-justly-compensate-landowners-stop-federal-confiscation-farmland/", "Hawley Introduces New Legislation to Justly Compensate Landowners & Stop Federal Confiscation of Farmland", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Just Compensation Act of 2023 to prevent the federal government and private companies from confiscating Missourians\u2019 property without just compensation.\n\n\u201cMissouri farmers work tirelessly to keep our state, and country, fed. The last thing they should have to deal with is big corporations and the federal government coming to try and take their land,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cCongress must make it a priority to protect Missouri landowners and their property rights.\u201d\n\nThis legislation follows Senator Hawley\u2019s defense of farmers affected by the Grain Belt Express construction campaign. Last month, Senator Hawley sent a letter to Invenergy CEO Michael Polsky, demanding the company make commitments to operate in good faith and adequately compensate landowners impacted by the proposed transmission line.\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s Just Compensation Act of 2023 would:\n\nProhibit the federal government from delegating the power to exercise eminent domain to any private entity;\n\nRequire the federal government to provide just compensation of 150 percent fair market value when exercising eminent domain; and\n\nImpose annual reporting requirements on the Attorney General.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/major-betrayal-hawley-statement-after-compensation-victims-government-poisoning-stripped-defense/", "\u201cMajor Betrayal:\u201d Hawley Statement After Compensation for Victims of Government Poisoning Stripped from Defense Bill", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statement after his legislation to reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was stripped from the FY \u201924 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The proposal would have compensated victims who have been poisoned by their government through nuclear waste, including those in the greater St. Louis area.\n\nWithout Congressional action, the entire RECA program will expire in the coming months and leave victims without support. The provision was removed despite passing the Senate with strong bipartisan support and receiving an endorsement from President Biden.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-slams-director-wray-fbis-targeting-catholic-americans-violent-extremists/", "Hawley Slams Director Wray on FBI\u2019s Targeting of Catholic Americans as \u2018Violent Extremists\u2019", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned FBI Director Christopher Wray on the FBI\u2019s targeting of traditionalist Catholics. Senator Hawley discussed a report issued by the House Judiciary Committee revealing a memo outlining the weaponization of the FBI against Catholics, and repeatedly demanded that Director Wray hold accountable the individuals involved.\n\n\u201cNow we know that in fact, FBI agents did approach a priest and a choir director to ask them to inform on parishioners [\u2026] Good heavens, Director, this is one of the most outrageous targetings \u2013 you have mobilized your division, the most powerful law enforcement division in the world, against traditionalist Catholics,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\nHe continued, \u201cyour memo labels traditional Catholics as racially, and ethnically, motivated violent extremists in need of investigation [\u2026] You have repeatedly said \u2018we don\u2019t target churches, we don\u2019t list churches,\u2019 [but] they\u2019re listed in the memo.\u201d\n\nSenator Hawley has previously called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) for answers on the FBI\u2019s targeting and subsequent arrests of people of faith, particularly Catholics.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-op-ed-dont-let-government-get-away-poisoning-americans/", "Hawley Op-Ed: Don\u2019t Let Government Get Away With Poisoning Americans", "2023-12-04", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "By U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) | Dec. 4, 2023 | Real Clear Politics\n\nThis year, Americans had the opportunity to revisit the origins of our nation\u2019s nuclear program with the blockbuster film \u201cOppenheimer.\u201d But there\u2019s one story line that didn\u2019t make the big screen: those Americans who are still paying the price.\n\nFor decades, the federal government poisoned an untold number of its citizens through our atomic program. It happened everywhere, impacting uranium mine workers in Texas, Native Americans living downwind from nuclear tests in the Mountain West, and communities exposed to Manhattan Project waste in Missouri. And that\u2019s just a small sample.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nNow, the law that delivers some justice and compensation to these victims is about to expire. Congress must include a reauthorization of this life-changing program as part of the annual defense bill. It\u2019s our chance to give justice to victims who have been silenced and forgotten for years.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nTens of thousands of American workers across the country helped to mine and process uranium and worked in facilities that built our atomic weapons, and they breathed in the toxic substances every day.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nIn 1990, Congress finally acknowledged the government\u2019s egregious neglect and passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to compensate victims who were sickened with cancer from nuclear tests.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nBut in just a few months, funding for the program will be cut off. This cannot be allowed to happen. Since its creation, RECA has helped tens of thousands of Americans and assisted those exposed to radiation rebuild and renew their lives. How can we turn our back on them?\n\nMany more communities still need access to this program before it runs out. In my home state of Missouri, mismanaged nuclear waste from the Manhattan Project era sat exposed for years and contaminated communities in the St. Louis region \u2013 and now these areas have elevated cancer rates. In multiple other states, \u201cdownwinders\u201d still need compensation.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nBack in July, Congress took the first step to getting this done when the Senate adopted, as part of the defense bill, my amendment with Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n of New Mexico to extend and strengthen the RECA program. I was proud to see that amendment pass with a bipartisan supermajority, reflecting the broad support among both parties for obtaining justice for victims. President Biden has since supported it as well.\n\nHouse and Senate leadership must not strip this life-changing program from the final defense bill. It would amount to a slap in the face to victims everywhere if our leaders in Congress decide to kneecap the Americans who suffered from these nuclear programs and instead ship billions and billions to defense contractors or foreign wars. There\u2019s no excuse for forgetting about the people we serve.\n\nWhen the government poisons its own people, it must make it right. We have no other choice.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-urges-congress-reauthorize-compensation-nuclear-radiation-victims-expiration/", "Hawley Urges Congress to Reauthorize Compensation for Nuclear Radiation Victims Before Expiration", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statement calling on Congress to reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) in the FY \u201924 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to compensate victims of government-caused radiation in the greater St. Louis area. If Congress does not act, the entire existing RECA program that provides support for victims of radiation around the country will expire in a few months. Senator Hawley has pledged to oppose the NDAA if it does not include compensation for Missouri victims.\n\nThis past Tuesday, Senator Hawley welcomed Missouri grassroots advocates impacted by federal government-caused nuclear waste to the U.S. Capitol, so Washington leadership could hear their stories.\n\nBackground:\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community and all Missourians impacted by government-caused nuclear contamination.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-introduces-new-legislation-protect-livestock-producers-tackle-rising-costs/", "Hawley Introduces New Legislation to Protect Livestock Producers & Tackle Rising Costs", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Protecting Interstate Commerce for Livestock Producers Act to protect farmers from costly regulations \u2013 made in other states \u2013 that will hurt their business and drive-up costs for consumers.\n\nIn 2018, California voters passed Proposition 12 which would ban the sale of pork, eggs, and calves for veal that were not produced with certain space requirements. It is estimated that California accounts for 13 percent of all pork consumption in the United States. When this law goes into full effect early next year, farmers across the country \u2013 including in Missouri \u2013 will have to comply with California\u2019s preferred requirements to access the California market.\n\n\u201cMissouri\u2019s livestock producers keep food on the table across America and they shouldn\u2019t be burdened by costly laws \u2013 made by other states \u2013 that disrupt interstate commerce, drive-up costs, and impose crippling regulations,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cThis law is a commonsense solution to protect family farms from going bankrupt and consumers from shouldering higher costs at the grocery store.\u201d\n\nTo ensure that no state can mandate animal welfare standards in another state, Senator Hawley\u2019s Protecting Interstate Commerce for Livestock Producers Act:\n\nPreempts states and local governments from regulating the raising, production, and importation of livestock or livestock-derived goods from another state or local government;\n\nAllows states to regulate the importation of livestock in the event of animal disease; and\n\nProtects farmers from states implementing laws that are preempted by this bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-brings-missourians-impacted-radioactive-waste-us-capitol-threatens-hold-ndaa/", "Hawley Brings Missourians Impacted by Radioactive Waste to U.S. Capitol, Threatens to Hold Up NDAA", "2023-11-28", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) welcomed Missouri grassroots advocates impacted by federal government-caused nuclear waste to the U.S. Capitol. He repeated his pledge to oppose and hold up the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) if it does not include compensation for the victims of decades-old radiation in the greater St. Louis area.\n\n\u201cIf this emerges from a back room, and this provision is out, the defense bill is going to face tough sledding on the floor of the Senate. [\u2026] I am not going to vote to pay defense contractors hand over fist while the people of my state\u2014and, frankly, across the country\u2014are denied the compensation that they\u2019re due,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\nHe continued, \u201cI don\u2019t quite understand how it is that we may not have money available to compensate radiation victims in the state of Missouri\u2014who have the highest rates of cancer in the nation\u2014but we have unlimited funding for Ukraine.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community and all Missourians impacted by government-caused nuclear contamination.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-pledges-oppose-ndaa-without-justice-victims-nuclear-contamination/", "Hawley Pledges to Oppose NDAA without Justice for Victims of Nuclear Contamination", "2023-11-22", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statements demanding justice for victims of nuclear contamination in the greater St. Louis area. He also pledged to oppose the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) if it does not include compensation for the victims.\n\nBackground:\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community and all Missourians impacted by government-caused nuclear contamination. Most recently, Senator Hawley secured President Biden\u2019s endorsement of his legislation to compensate victims of nuclear radiation exposure.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-demands-invenergy-compensate-missouri-landowners-affected-grain-belt-express-and-tiger/", "Hawley Demands Invenergy Compensate Missouri Landowners Affected by Grain Belt Express and Tiger Connector Construction Project", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Invenergy CEO Michael Polsky, standing up for Missouri farmers and demanding the company make commitments to operate in good faith, as well as adequately compensate landowners affected by the Grain Belt Express construction campaign. Senator Hawley\u2019s letter follows the Missouri Public Service Commission\u2019s decision last month to approve the Tiger Connector amendment to the Grain Belt Express Line Project.\n\n\u201cYour company\u2019s Grain Belt Express construction campaign has hurt Missouri\u2019s farmers,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cThey have lost the use of arable land, seen their property values decline, and been forced to operate under a cloud of uncertainty as your company vacillates over the full scope of the project.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThere is a clear remedy for these harms: as a gesture of goodwill, your company should commit to following all of the requirements passed in House Bill 2005 for the construction of the Tiger Connector Line. Additionally, your company should retroactively compensate landowners whose land was originally taken for the Grain Belt Express project at the new 150% rate. Your company should also commit to compensating farmers for any ongoing losses sustained as a result of your company\u2019s construction and maintenance of both the Grain Belt Express and Tiger Connector.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nNovember 15, 2023\n\nMr. Michael Polsky\n\nChief Executive Officer\n\nInvenergy\n\nOne South Wacker Drive, Suite 1800\n\nChicago, Illinois 60646\n\nDear Mr. Polsky:\n\nYour company\u2019s Grain Belt Express construction campaign has hurt Missouri\u2019s farmers. They have lost the use of arable land, seen their property values decline, and been forced to operate under a cloud of uncertainty as your company vacillates over the full scope of the project. To name just a few examples, since the Grain Belt Express was originally proposed, the completion timetable, the total capacity of the line, the ultimate corporate parent, the amount of power to be delivered, the location of the Missouri converter station, and the full range of connections required have all changed.\n\nThis is not an acceptable status quo. In fact, public backlash against your company\u2019s actions was so severe that last year Missouri passed a new law to fix this. House Bill 2005 guarantees that landowners whose property is seized for future projects must be compensated at 150% of market value and requires that a proportional amount of power from the line is given to the State. Unfortunately, those new protections come too late for the farmers whose land has already been taken. And to add insult to injury, your company has now gained approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission to add the Tiger Connector line to the approved Grain Belt Express project, bypassing the requirements in House Bill 2005.\n\nGiven this track record, it is far from clear why any Missouri farmers should assume that your company is operating in good faith. There is a clear remedy for these harms: as a gesture of goodwill, your company should commit to following all of the requirements passed in House Bill 2005 for the construction of the Tiger Connector Line. Additionally, your company should retroactively compensate landowners whose land was originally taken for the Grain Belt Express project at the new 150% rate. Your company should also commit to compensating farmers for any ongoing losses sustained as a result of your company\u2019s construction and maintenance of both the Grain Belt Express and Tiger Connector.\n\nNo doubt such commitments will prove costly to your company. But at this point, only concrete commitments will make up for the frustration and grief Missouri farmers have already suffered. You owe them that.\n\nI await your response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-resolution-honors-us-marine-corps-captain-samuel-farmer-marines-and-sailors-his-platoon/", "Hawley Resolution Honors U.S. Marine Corps Captain Samuel Farmer, Marines and Sailors of His Platoon", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Yesterday U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor recognizing the passage of his resolution honoring the heroism and sacrifice of United States Marine Corps Captain Samuel Farmer of Missouri and the Marines and Sailors he commanded as part of First Platoon, Company G, Second Battalion, First Marine Regiment.\n\nDuring the height of America\u2019s withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, then-First Lieutenant Farmer and his platoon were stationed at Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) in Kabul, facilitating the evacuation of American citizens, permanent residents, embassy workers, and special immigrant visa holders as the region rapidly fell to the Taliban. On August 26, 2021, an Islamic State terrorist detonated a suicide bomb at Abbey Gate, killing 13 American service members \u2013 including nine from Captain Farmer\u2019s platoon \u2013 and injuring many more, including Farmer.\n\n\u201cWhatever you think of our withdrawal from Afghanistan, we should be able to honor the men and women who served so bravely \u2013 including Sam Farmer and the members of his platoon,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cThis young man from Missouri, who represents, frankly, the best of who we are and who we can be. And so, Mr. President, it\u2019s a privilege to get to honor Sam, to congratulate him on his service to our country.\u201d\n\nClick here or above to watch his full remarks.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-urges-relief-missionaries-harmed-state-department-rule/", "Hawley Urges Relief for Missionaries Harmed by State Department Rule", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Assistant Secretary Rena Bitter of the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the State Department. Senator Hawley urged Assistant Secretary Bitter to provide relief to religious workers, including a Christian missionary employed in Missouri, who are being harmed by a recent State Department rule that effectively prioritizes illegal immigrants over religious workers in the visa queue.\n\n\u201cIt has come to my attention that a recent State Department rule created a massive backlog of employment-based, fourth preference category (EB-4) visas, which is adversely affecting faith-based employers in Missouri,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\u201d Concerningly, the Biden Administration seems to have pushed Christian missionaries to the back of the visa line\u2014and allowed illegal aliens to cut ahead of them. It is incumbent upon your agency to provide relief to my constituents and religious organizations across the country who stand to be greatly harmed by this abrupt change in policy.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThe present obstacles that religious organizations face are unacceptable. Sadly, it appears that religious workers are collateral damage in the Biden Administration\u2019s push to expand \u2018lawful pathways\u2019 for individuals who crossed the southern border illegally. [\u2026] Therefore, I urge you to redress the harms to religious workers generated by your agency\u2019s rule, including by advancing the priority date for religious workers.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nNovember 15, 2023\n\nAssistant Secretary Rena Bitter\n\nBureau of Consular Affairs\n\nU.S. Department of State\n\n2201 C Street NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20520\n\nDear Assistant Secretary Bitter,\n\nIt has come to my attention that a recent State Department rule created a massive backlog of employment-based, fourth preference category (EB-4) visas, which is adversely affecting faith-based employers in Missouri. As a direct result of this rule, a missionary employed in my state will be forced to leave her family and wait abroad\u2014for potentially more than a decade\u2014until her visa is processed. Concerningly, the Biden Administration seems to have pushed Christian missionaries to the back of the visa line\u2014and allowed illegal aliens to cut ahead of them. It is incumbent upon your agency to provide relief to my constituents and religious organizations across the country who stand to be greatly harmed by this abrupt change in policy.\n\nIn March 2023, the State Department determined that it would no longer prorate EB-4 visa allocation to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, reversing the agency\u2019s interpretation which had stood for nearly seven years. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data, there were 105,267 approved petitions awaiting EB-4 visa availability as of March 2023, including 84,168 petitions from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala\u2014most of which are for unaccompanied youth. By contrast, only 866 such petitions were outstanding for religious workers. Almost instantly, the Department\u2019s rule added tens of thousands of petitions to the waiting list for EB-4 visas and thus created a lengthy backlog for such visas.\n\nMy office has been contacted by a religious non-profit in Missouri that is directly harmed by this action. The non-profit employs a missionary who is currently working on a temporary R-1 visa, which expires in January 2024. Though USCIS has approved her I-360 petition, she will be forced to leave the country when her R-1 visa expires and could wait more than a decade for her visa eligibility in the now-enormous queue of EB-4 visas. But for the State Department\u2019s action, she may not have had to wait at all.\n\nThe present obstacles that religious organizations face are unacceptable. Sadly, it appears that religious workers are collateral damage in the Biden Administration\u2019s push to expand \u201clawful pathways\u201d for individuals who crossed the southern border illegally. Indeed, the State Department\u2019s own announcement states that religious workers and other EB-4 applicants \u201cshould expect to wait longer for a visa to become available\u2026while applicants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras\u2026should expect a shorter wait time.\u201d In any case, this is a problem of your agency\u2019s own making, and you bear responsibility for religious workers, like the missionary in my state, who are harmed by it.\n\nTherefore, I urge you to redress the harms to religious workers generated by your agency\u2019s rule, including by advancing the priority date for religious workers. Please respond to this letter by providing the specific actions your agency will take to expeditiously fix this situation.\n\nThank you for your attention to this urgent matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-calls-yellen-protect-missouri-union-jobs-modify-terms-yellow-corporations-loans/", "Hawley Calls on Yellen to Protect Missouri Union Jobs, Modify Terms of Yellow Corporation\u2019s Loans", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, urging her to seek authority to extend the repayment terms of Yellow Corporation\u2019s outstanding CARES Act loans, in an effort to allow the company to obtain a buyer and preserve union jobs for hundreds of Missouri workers.\n\n\u201cAfter years of mismanagement, this once-venerable trucking company filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, jeopardizing tens of thousands of positions\u2014including about 750 union jobs in my home state of Missouri,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cI urge you to seek the authority to modify the maturity date of Yellow\u2019s outstanding CARES Act loans, pushing this date back to 2026.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cA modification of the repayment terms will allow Yellow to obtain a buyer who will keep its assets together as a going concern\u2014that is, keep it in business as a player in the trucking sector. Reports indicate that such a potential buyer has already emerged. Facilitating such a sale, by making Yellow\u2019s loan repayment terms more flexible, is a commonsense step to keep Yellow\u2019s trucks on the road, and keep its workforce gainfully employed. American workers deserve that support.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nNovember 8, 2023\n\nThe Hon. Janet Yellen\n\nSecretary of the Treasury\n\nU.S. Department of the Treasury\n\n1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20220\n\nDear Secretary Yellen:\n\nExecutives, not employees, are responsible for corporate failures. American working people shouldn\u2019t, as far as possible, suffer the brunt of bad strategic decisions. But unfortunately, that\u2019s exactly what\u2019s happening at Yellow Corporation. After years of mismanagement, this once-venerable trucking company filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, jeopardizing tens of thousands of positions\u2014including about 750 union jobs in my home state of Missouri.\n\nNow, the company is at risk of being effectively sold for parts, with its facilities being sold to one buyer and its fleet of movable assets being sold to another. If that happens, Yellow\u2019s employees won\u2019t only lose their jobs\u2014which would be bad enough. These workers will also lose a significant portion of their earned benefits, such as accrued vacation time, sick pay, insurance contributions, pensions, and so on. Despite years of faithful service, they will be given the short straw.\n\nBut it doesn\u2019t need to be this way. The most significant financial pressure facing Yellow\u2014and what is catalyzing this fire sale\u2014is Yellow\u2019s outstanding loan under the CARES Act, which comes due in 2024. You have the power to change that. I urge you to seek the authority to modify the maturity date of Yellow\u2019s outstanding CARES Act loans, pushing this date back to 2026. As you know, the Treasury Department has done so on prior occasions, such as during the 2008 financial crisis, where circumstances proved appropriate.\n\nA modification of the repayment terms will allow Yellow to obtain a buyer who will keep its assets together as a going concern\u2014that is, keep it in business as a player in the trucking sector. Reports indicate that such a potential buyer has already emerged. Facilitating such a sale, by making Yellow\u2019s loan repayment terms more flexible, is a commonsense step to keep Yellow\u2019s trucks on the road, and keep its workforce gainfully employed. American workers deserve that support.\n\nThank you for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-demands-investigation-biden-dhs-agents-pulled-child-exploitation-cases-after-additional/", "Hawley Demands Investigation into Biden DHS Agents Pulled from Child Exploitation Cases After Additional Whistleblower Claims", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, demanding an investigation into whistleblower allegations that the Biden DHS has reassigned hundreds of special agents charged with important investigations to menial tasks at the southern border \u2013 including handing out sandwiches to illegal immigrants.\n\nThe letter follows Senator Hawley\u2019s questioning of DHS Secretary Mayorkas\u2019 testimony in last week\u2019s Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing about whistleblower allegations. Following the hearing, several additional whistleblowers contacted Senator Hawley and provided additional details about special agents being reassigned.\n\n\u201cMost concerningly, all the whistleblowers allege that important criminal investigations stalled and suspects were not arrested or indicted as a result of these reassignments,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cAgents were pulled from investigations ranging from child exploitation to drug trafficking to counterterrorism. One whistleblower was pulled from child exploitation cases \u2018that haunt your soul when you aren\u2019t available and able to ensure the children involved aren\u2019t being abused.'\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThe Department\u2019s decision to relegate its highly-trained criminal investigators to processing and feeding illegal immigrants, rather than investigating child exploitation cases, is bad policy. But it also may be illegal and in violation of existing regulations.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nNovember 8, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Joseph V. Cuffari\n\nOffice of Inspector General\n\nU.S. Department of Homeland Security\n\n245 Murray Lane SW\n\nWashington, DC 20528Dear Inspector General Cuffari,\n\nI write to request an immediate investigation into whistleblower allegations that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has shut down or delayed investigations into child exploitation and other crimes in order to transfer hundreds of special agents to process illegal immigrants at the southern border. No fewer than four separate DHS whistleblowers have contacted my office alleging a severe mismanagement of staffing and resources at the direction of senior officials within DHS, allegations which may demonstrate a violation of law. These allegations merit an immediate investigation.\n\nOn October 31, 2023, I questioned Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) regarding whistleblower allegations that he removed 600 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents from felony investigations to facilitate immigration processing functions at the southern border. According to the whistleblower, agents \u201care being told to shut down investigations to hand out sandwiches and escort migrants to the shower.\u201d This led to child exploitation suspects and fentanyl dealers evading indictment, including child molesters. When asked whether special agents had been pulled away from cases and reassigned to the border, Secretary Mayorkas testified, \u201cCombatting the fight against fentanyl, yes.\u201d\n\nFollowing the hearing, three more whistleblowers from across the country contacted my office, corroborating these claims. One alleged that Secretary Mayorkas was \u201cabsolutely lying\u201d and that agents were not, in fact, being reassigned to investigate fentanyl cases. The whistleblower corroborated the claim that there have been at least 600 agents at a given time reassigned to the border. A third whistleblower claims that he was also reassigned to the border to \u201cbabysit\u201d illegal immigrants; his duties included holding doors for private contractors who prepared the sandwiches for illegal immigrants, who were \u201cfed better than my kids.\u201d A fourth whistleblower confirmed that special agents had been pulled off child exploitation investigations. According to some of the whistleblowers, much of their time was spent on \u201cstand-by,\u201d as offices at the border were not expecting their arrival.\n\nMost concerningly, all the whistleblowers allege that important criminal investigations stalled and suspects were not arrested or indicted as a result of these reassignments. Agents were pulled from investigations ranging from child exploitation to drug trafficking to counterterrorism. One whistleblower was pulled from child exploitation cases \u201cthat haunt your soul when you aren\u2019t available and able to ensure the children involved aren\u2019t being abused.\u201d Another whistleblower alleges that hands-on child molesters were not arrested and further provides specific examples of child exploitation indictments that were delayed or adversely affected due to these reassignments.\n\nThese whistleblowers have also provided documentation supporting their claims. For example, documents provided to my office show that HSI supervisors acknowledged the problem of HSI special agents sitting around without being assigned tasks. Additionally, the whistleblowers provided my office with a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detail HSI special agents to the southern border. The MOA confirms the whistleblowers\u2019 allegations that their duties would include \u201c[p]hysically observing [migrants] in holding areas,\u201d sitting with migrants at the hospital, and escorting migrants from place to place. Notably, the MOA was signed by the Acting Commissioner of CBP and a senior ICE official in April 2023, though the reassignments allegedly have been occurring for over a year. My office will transmit relevant documents to inform your investigation in a manner that protects the anonymity of whistleblowers.\n\nThe Department\u2019s decision to relegate its highly-trained criminal investigators to processing and feeding illegal immigrants, rather than investigating child exploitation cases, is bad policy. But it also may be illegal and in violation of existing regulations. For example, whistleblowers allege that these practices violate 13 U.S.C. \u00a7 1301(a) of the Anti-Deficiency Act, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76, and internal ICE travel policies. Under the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, you have the authority to conduct investigations into the programs and operations of DHS. I therefore write to request an immediate investigation into these practices.\n\nThe American public deserves transparency and accountability, especially when it concerns the safety and security of our nation and the integrity of our law enforcement agencies. Please include in your investigation answers to the following questions:\n\n1. Since January 2021, how many HSI special agents have been reassigned to the southern border to perform migrant processing functions?\n\na. How many of these special agents were required to pause or abandon investigations into criminal activity due to their reassignments?\n\nb. How many of the investigations delayed or abandoned because of reassignments involved child exploitation, fentanyl trafficking, or counterterrorism?\n\nc. How is DHS measuring the effectiveness of these reassignments in reducing the number of migrants at the southern border?\n\n2. How many complaints identifying potential waste, fraud, and abuse have DHS officials received as a result of HSI reassignments?\n\na. Have any whistleblowers been subject to retaliatory action as a result of their complaints?\n\n3. Are HSI special agents able to defer their reassignments in order to continue critical investigations?\n\n4. Did the Department violate any provisions of law or internal policies by reassigning special agents to the border, including but not limited to violations of the Anti-Deficiency Act, OMB Circular A-76, or ICE travel policies?\n\n5. Secretary Mayorkas testified to Congress that special agents had been reassigned to the border to combat the fight against fentanyl. Was this statement true?\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawleys-renewed-push-tiktok-ban-blocked-senate-floor-despite-spike-pro-hamas-content/", "Hawley\u2019s Renewed Push for TikTok Ban Blocked on Senate Floor Despite Spike in Pro-Hamas Content", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor and again called for unanimous consent on his bill, the No TikTok on United States Devices Act, which would prohibit TikTok from operating in the United States and ban commercial activity with TikTok\u2019s parent company, ByteDance. The renewed push to ban the app comes amid the increase in anti-Israel, pro-Hamas content on the platform.\n\n\u201cTikTok has become a haven for antisemitic content, a haven for propaganda, for genocide. [\u2026] As virulent and offensive as this content is, that is not a reason to ban them. The real reason to ban TikTok is that it is a spy app for the Chinese Communist Government,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\nClick here or above to watch his full remarks.\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s call to unanimously pass the bill was objected to by Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.).\n\nBackground:\n\nYesterday, Senator Hawley sent a letter to to Secretary of the Treasury and Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) Chairwoman Janet Yellen, urging her to conclude CFIUS\u2019 review of TikTok and to ban all ByteDance-controlled apps currently available to U.S. users.\n\nIn March, Senator Hawley\u2019s call to unanimously pass the bill, and his call to schedule a vote on the bill, were both objected to by Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.).\n\nIn January, Senator Hawley introduced the No TikTok on United States Devices Act to prohibit TikTok from operating in the United States and ban commercial activity with TikTok\u2019s parent company, ByteDance.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-questions-facebook-whistleblower-big-techs-rampant-child-exploitation-problems/", "Hawley Questions Facebook Whistleblower on Big Tech\u2019s Rampant Child Exploitation Problems", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) heard testimony from Meta Whistleblower Arturo B\u00e9jar, the former Director of Engineering for Protect and Care at Facebook. The hearing took place in the Senate Judiciary Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, where Senator Hawley serves as Ranking Member.\n\nDuring his opening remarks, Senator Hawley called out Big Tech for their extensive lobbying efforts to kill any legislation attempting to regulate the industry.\n\n\u201cBig tech is the biggest, most powerful lobbying in the United States Congress,\u201dsaid Senator Hawley. \u201cThey spend millions upon millions upon millions of dollars every year to lobby this body, and the the truth is\u2014as every reporter in this room knows, and I hope you\u2019ll report it after this hearing\u2014they do it successfully. They successfully shut down every meaningful piece of legislation every year.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cIt is time for it to be broken, and the only way I know to break it is to bring the truth forward. And that\u2019s why we are so glad Mr. B\u00e9jar that you are here today to do it.\u201d\n\nClick here or above to watch the full exchange.\n\nSenator Hawley also questioned B\u00e9jar about a 2021 memo that B\u00e9jar had written to Facebook executives highlighting the platform\u2019s rampant child protection failures.\n\n\u201cIn that memo, you disclosed to them that according to your own research, one in eight children, children now, had experienced unwanted sexual advances within the last seven days,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cAnd about one in three\u2014I think it was 27%\u2014had experienced unwanted sexual advances outside of the seven day window.\u201d\n\nWhen Senator Hawley asked B\u00e9jar about the executives\u2019 responses to his email, B\u00e9jar revealed that executives at Facebook, including Mark Zuckerberg himself, ignored his findings. Senator Hawley stressed that change would only come through legal accountability:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-renews-effort-ban-tiktok-following-rise-pro-hamas-content/", "Hawley Renews Effort to Ban TikTok Following Rise in Pro-Hamas Content", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury and Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) Chairwoman Janet Yellen. He urged her to conclude CFIUS\u2019 review of TikTok and to ban all ByteDance-controlled apps currently available to U.S. users, especially given the increase in anti-Israel, pro-Hamas content on the platform.\n\n\u201cTikTok\u2014and its parent company ByteDance\u2014are threats to American national security,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cWhile data security issues are paramount, less often discussed is TikTok\u2019s power to radically distort the world-picture that America\u2019s young people encounter. Israel\u2019s unfolding war with Hamas is a crucial test case. According to one poll, 51% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 believe that Hamas\u2019s murder of civilians was justified\u2014a statistic notably different from other age cohorts. Analysts have attributed this disparity to the ubiquity of anti-Israel content on TikTok, where most young internet users get their information about the world.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThis simply heightens the stakes of the TikTok question: the longer this app is allowed to operate in the U.S., the longer its Chinese Communist Party overseers will apparently be able to propagandize Americans.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nIn March, Senator Hawley delivered remarks on the Senate floor and called for unanimous consent on his bill, the No TikTok on United States Devices Act, to ban TikTok in the United States, but it was objected to by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).\n\nIn January, Senator Hawley introduced the No TikTok on United States Devices Act to prohibit TikTok from operating in the United States and ban commercial activity with TikTok\u2019s parent company, ByteDance.\n\nIn December 2022, Senator Hawley\u2019s No TikTok on Government Devices Act was signed into law effectively banning the Chinese app on all federal devices \u2013 including those belonging to the Department of Defense.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nNovember 7, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Janet Yellen\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of the Treasury\n\n1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20220\n\nDear Secretary Yellen:\n\nTikTok\u2014and its parent company ByteDance\u2014are threats to American national security. The popular video-sharing app harvests vast amounts of data from Americans\u2019 personal devices, data which then flows overseas to our main geopolitical rival. Whistleblower testimony has revealed that China-based employees have full access to U.S. user data. And under Chinese law, ByteDance is required to make that data available to the Chinese Communist Party upon request.\n\nWe\u2019ve known all this for years. But the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), which you chair, has not yet concluded its review of the app, or demanded that ByteDance sell off TikTok. Recent developments underscore the need for prompt action.\n\nWhile data security issues are paramount, less often discussed is TikTok\u2019s power to radically distort the world-picture that America\u2019s young people encounter. Israel\u2019s unfolding war with Hamas is a crucial test case. According to one poll, 51% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 believe that Hamas\u2019s murder of civilians was justified\u2014a statistic notably different from other age cohorts. Analysts have attributed this disparity to the ubiquity of anti-Israel content on TikTok, where most young internet users get their information about the world.\n\nCrucially, this disparity aligns with the Chinese government\u2019s foreign policy preferences. Having previously refused to condemn Hamas, the Chinese government is now calling for a \u201cceasefire\u201d that would cripple Israel\u2019s ability to defend itself. And we know from past experience that political manipulation is business as usual for TikTok. To take just one example, in 2019, as ByteDance partnered with the Chinese government to surveil Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, TikTok censored American user content critical of this repression. It appears that ByteDance is once again up to its old tricks\u2014as innocent Israelis suffer and die.\n\nThis simply heightens the stakes of the TikTok question: the longer this app is allowed to operate in the U.S., the longer its Chinese Communist Party overseers will apparently be able to propagandize Americans. That is unacceptable.\n\nI urge you, and the other members of CFIUS, to swiftly conclude your review and ban all ByteDance-controlled apps currently available to U.S. users. The matter is as simple as that.\n\nI look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-urges-epa-clean-west-lake-landfill-immediately/", "Hawley Urges EPA Clean Up West Lake Landfill Immediately", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Bruno Pigott, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Senator Hawley called on the EPA to immediately clean up the radioactive contamination at the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site in Bridgeton, Mo.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s probably no coincidence that the folks who live in this area are not big-time donors to political parties, they\u2019re not big-time party activists, these are working people and they have been taken advantage of for years. And the government, for years, has just expected them to live with it\u2026,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cThis has got to stop, and we need the EPA to clean this site up.\u201d\n\nWatch the full exchange here or below.\n\nBackground\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community and all Missourians impacted by government-caused nuclear contamination. Most recently, Senator Hawley secured President Biden\u2019s endorsement of his legislation to compensate victims of nuclear radiation exposure.\n\nOn July 27, 2023, in a strong bipartisan vote, Senator Hawley secured passage of an amendment to the FY 2024 NDAA that would provide compensation to victims of government-caused nuclear contamination. The legislation extends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to cover victims of improperly-stored nuclear waste in affected areas in the St. Louis region. The measure\u2014which was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.)\u2014also reauthorized and strengthened the RECA program to cover more impacted Americans from nuclear tests along with uranium miners.\n\nEarlier in July, Senator Hawley sent a letter to the Department of Energy (DOE), urging additional testing for radioactive contamination at a site in St. Charles County, Mo., after a review of the Weldon Spring site in 2021 offered an extensive critique of the DOE\u2019s cleanup and monitoring efforts there. Senator Hawley also sent a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) urging him to convene a committee hearing to discuss the government-caused nuclear contamination of the St. Louis area. In addition, Senator Hawley penned separate letters to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), DOE, and EPA, demanding answers from the government about the nuclear contamination.\n\nIn April, Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation mandating the clean up of Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District and radioactive waste testing passed the U.S. Senate and Biden\u2019s Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm also vowed to support it.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-blasts-mayorkas-pro-hamas-spokeswoman-still-dhs-payroll/", "Hawley Blasts Mayorkas for Pro-Hamas Spokeswoman Still on DHS Payroll", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today in a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and slammed the Biden Administration for their employment of a pro-Hamas adjudication officer.\n\n\u201cMr. Secretary what is going on here? Is this typical of people who work at DHS? This is an Asylum and Immigration Officer who is posting these frankly pro-genocidal slogans and images on the day that Israelis are being slaughtered in their beds,\u201d Senator Hawley said. \u201cHas she been fired?\u201d\n\nSecretary Mayorkas declined to answer Senator Hawley\u2019s question, claiming the individual is on administrative leave and that he will not speak on an internal personnel matter.\n\nDHS employee, Newja Ali, has a documented history of making virulently antisemitic, pro-Hamas statements, including in the immediate aftermath of Hamas\u2019 savage attack on innocent American and Israeli civilians.\n\nClick here or above to watch the full exchange.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-exposes-whistleblower-claim-biden-dhs-pulled-agents-child-exploitation-cases-make-sandwiches/", "Hawley Exposes Whistleblower Claim that Biden DHS Pulled Agents from Child Exploitation Cases to Make Sandwiches at Southern Border", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "During a second round of questioning at today\u2019s Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) called out Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for taking special investigators off of human trafficking and fentanyl cases and reassigning them to in-person services at the southern border.\n\nSenator Hawley referenced a whistleblower who came to him with these allegations, then questioned the Secretary. \u201cYou\u2019re taking special agents away from investigating child traffickers and child exploitation\u2014when you\u2019ve lost tens of thousands of kids to traffickers\u2014and you\u2019re sending them to make sandwiches at the border,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cWhat is going on?\u201d\n\nSecretary Mayorkas dodged Senator Hawley\u2019s questions about how many migrant children the Biden Administration has recovered out of the 85,000 it has lost. The Secretary also did not deny the DHS whistleblower allegation that at least 600 agents have been pulled from law enforcement work and put on different duties at the southern border.\n\nClick here or above to watch the full exchange.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-introduces-bill-keep-corporate-americas-dollars-out-us-politics/", "Hawley Introduces Bill to Keep Corporate America\u2019s Dollars Out of U.S. Politics", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Ending Corporate Influence on Elections Act to get corporate money out of American politics and dramatically cut back on publicly traded corporations\u2019 ability to influence elections. Senator Hawley\u2019s bill will begin to undo the Supreme Court\u2019s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. FEC.\n\n\u201cFor decades, Corporate America has funneled billions of dollars into elections in favor of politicians who favor their woke, social agendas\u2014instead of American voters\u2019 interests. This legislation would hold mega-corporations\u2019 feet to the fire and stop their dollars from buying our elections,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\nThe Ending Corporate Influence on Elections Act would:\n\nBan publicly traded corporations from making independent expenditures, political ads, or other electioneering communications.\n\nBan publicly traded companies from giving money to Super PACs.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s new legislation is part of his larger agenda to hold Corporate America accountable for drowning out the voices of the American people:\n\nIn September, Senator Hawley introduced legislation to cap credit card interest rates at 18 percent and bring relief to working people across America.\n\nLast month Senator Hawley also visited with workers on strike at the General Motors plant in Wentzville, Mo., to stand with them and support American jobs.\n\nIn May, Senator Hawley introduced legislation to raise tariffs on imports from China until the United States\u2019 unsustainable bilateral trade deficit comes into balance.\n\nIn April, he unveiled two bills to crack down on Big Pharma\u2019s exploitative drug prices and cap the cost of insulin.\n\nIn December 2022, Senator Hawley stood with and voted to support rail workers as they sought a fair deal with sick leave.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senate-passes-hawley-amendment-budget-bill-blocking-taxpayer-funds-chinese-corporations/", "Senate Passes Hawley Amendment to Budget Bill Blocking Taxpayer Funds to Chinese Corporations", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today the U.S. Senate voted on U.S. Senator Josh Hawley\u2019s (R-Mo.) Amendment (No Funding for Chinese Companies), as part of the upper chamber\u2019s minibus appropriations bill. Senator Hawley\u2019s amendment would prohibit Chinese entities or corporations from receiving any funding provided by the legislation. The amendment passed 61-36.\n\n\u201cThe appropriations bills that we are now considering appropriating a total of $280 billion taxpayer dollars. [\u2026] This amendment says that none of the money we are appropriating can go to China. It can\u2019t go to Chinese companies or companies that are owned and controlled by China. That\u2019s it, it\u2019s simple. No American taxpayer dollars to the People\u2019s Republic of China,\u201d said Senator Hawley.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-booker-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-crack-down-child-labor-practices-hold-corporations/", "Hawley, Booker Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Crack Down on Child Labor Practices, Hold Corporations Accountable for Violations", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the bipartisan Preventing Child Labor Exploitation Act to prohibit companies that illegally employ children from securing coveted federal government contracts. Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation comes as the Department of Labor recently reported a startling 69 percent increase in illegal child labor since 2018. This dramatic uptick in child-labor exploitation includes a series of high-profile cases involving minors employed in dangerous jobs at sanitation and meatpacking plants.\n\n\u201cChild labor is an abomination and it has no place in our country. Companies that illegally employ children must be held accountable\u2014especially those that contract with the federal government. This bipartisan legislation requires federal contractors to root out child labor in their operations and has the teeth to go after those who don\u2019t comply,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\n\u201cExploitation of children by big corporations to drive profit is an abhorrent practice, but is not a new one. Across the country, major corporations are relying on children to clean dangerous machinery, handle toxic chemicals, and work exhausting overnight shifts in their facilities for low wages and no benefits. Often, this work is done in violation of existing federal labor laws, but employers have shielded themselves from any accountability by relying on third-party vendors with long records of labor infractions. Despite efforts by Congress and this Administration to challenge these bad practices, too few companies have taken significant steps to address the ongoing child labor issues in their facilities. That\u2019s why today I am joining Senator Hawley to say that, at a bare minimum, there is no reason that the federal government should contract with companies violating child labor law. We must ensure that federal contracts support good-paying jobs, and do not benefit corporations that continue to rely on children working in dangerous environments,\u201d said Senator Booker.\n\nThe Preventing Child Labor Exploitation Act would:\n\nRequire federal contractors to disclose to the Department of Labor any child labor violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.\n\nCriminalize a federal contractor\u2019s failure to make required disclosures.\n\nRender repeat offenders ineligible for federal contracts for a period of 4 years.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\nAt a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing yesterday, Senator Hawley questioned Robin Dunn Marcos, Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, about the 85,000 children the Biden Administration has lost track of, leaving them vulnerable to human traffickers and dangerous child-labor practices.\n\nSenator Hawley sent a letter last month to Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King, demanding answers after a disturbing report from The New York Times exposed unsafe, illegal child-labor practices within the company.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senate-passes-hawley-resolution-condemning-antisemitism-college-campuses/", "Senate Passes Hawley Resolution Condemning Antisemitism on College Campuses", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today the U.S. Senate passed by voice vote U.S. Senator Josh Hawley\u2019s resolution condemning Hamas and the antisemitic student groups on college campuses that have celebrated the Oct. 7 terrorist attack against Israel. The passage of the resolution came after Democrats blocked the measure one week ago.\n\n\u201cMr. President, one week ago I came to this floor to try and pass this very resolution that condemns the violent, genocidal, antisemitic rhetoric and actions on our college campuses all across this country,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cSadly, I was blocked by one of my Democrat colleagues. And since then the situation at our universities has only worsened.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThat\u2019s why what we\u2019re doing today matters and that\u2019s why I am pleased today, that we are able now finally, to pass this resolution that explicitly names the rhetoric, explicitly calls out the language of pro-violence, pro-genocide, and says that is wrong. [\u2026] The answer to that kind of hateful, virulent, dangerous speech, is speech with moral purpose. It is language with moral clarity. It is a moral stand that says no, that is wrong. That\u2019s not us. That is not the United States of America. And that, Mr. President, is what we are doing right here, right now, on this floor today.\u201d\n\nWatch his full remarks here or below.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-op-ed-not-one-taxpayer-dime-gaza-until-hamas-frees-all-hostages/", "Hawley Op-Ed: Not one taxpayer dime for Gaza until Hamas frees all the hostages", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "By U.S. Senator Josh Hawley | Oct. 25, 2023 | Fox News\n\nSince October 7, the world has learned with mounting horror exactly what Hamas\u2019s terrorists did in Israel. Women and children slaughtered in their homes. Corpses paraded in the streets of Gaza. Screaming civilians dragged away on motorbikes. Now, the Israeli people fight for their lives, under the shadow of existential threat.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nLast week, Joe Biden unveiled to the American people his latest budget request. Despite what it says, his $106 billion request isn\u2019t really about supporting Israel. Far from it. Rather, this budget request asks Congress to approve billions of dollars in \u201chumanitarian aid\u201d\u2014including some foreign relief funds for Gaza itself.\n\nGaza is ruled by a terrorist regime, currently holding captive dozens of innocent Israelis and numerous Americans. Let\u2019s get one thing clear. Our policy here should be blindingly simple: no aid until Hamas releases its hostages.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nMaking matters worse, this proposal comes on the heels of Biden\u2019s disastrous, $6 billion attempt to buy off Iran. Iran, of course, has been a longtime supporter of Hamas. But last month, the Biden administration agreed to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets\u2014handing the regime vast financial resources to fund terrorism. This is exactly the kind of negotiation with terrorists America can\u2019t afford. Now, every other group\u2014Hamas included\u2014knows that this Administration will pay their shakedown demands.\n\nIf Joe Biden and his team won\u2019t keep Americans safe, it\u2019s up to Congress. And here Republicans must take a hard line: no foreign aid for Gaza\u2014none\u2014until every last American hostage is freed and safe.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nBut above all else, no funding for terrorist groups. Every American, regardless of political party, should be able to agree on that.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-slams-biden-official-releasing-migrant-children-human-traffickers/", "Hawley Slams Biden Official for Releasing Migrant Children to Human Traffickers", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Robin Dunn Marcos, Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, about the ongoing child migrant crisis at the southern border and the 85,000 children that the Biden Administration has lost track of.\n\n\u201cDo you really think that you are helping these children by releasing them to labor traffickers and yes, sex traffickers?\u201d asked Senator Hawley. \u201c85,000 children whom you have no contact with and your answer is\u2014we gave them a presentation before we turned them over to these people who are exploiting them on a scale not seen in this country for 100 years.\u201d\n\nWhen Senator Hawley pressed Director Dunn Marcos to say exactly how many migrant children the department had released into the United States and was also currently in contact with, the Director had no response.\n\n\u201cLet me just ask you this,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cHow many kids right now\u2014of the 430,000 approximately unaccompanied children who have crossed the border under this administration, it\u2019s an astounding number\u2014how many are you in regular contact with, right now?\u201d\n\nDirector Dunn Marcos could not answer Senator Hawley\u2019s question.\n\nWatch the full exchange here or below.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-calls-doe-watchdog-investigate-granholm-and-agency-staff-following-ethics-violations/", "Hawley Calls for DOE Watchdog to Investigate Granholm and Agency Staff Following Ethics Violations", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Inspector General Teri Donaldson calling on her to investigate DOE Secretary Granholm for misleading the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee about her financial holdings in April of this year, and her multiple violations of federal ethics laws.\n\n\u201cSenior officials have no business trading stocks, especially stocks in the industries they regulate. The repeated ethics violations by Energy Department officials undermine the public\u2019s trust in our government and the rule of law,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley.\n\nDuring a recent Senate Energy Committee hearing, Senator Hawley also called on the Inspector General to investigate the ethical lapses at the DOE, in light of reports that hundreds of DOE officials hold stocks related to the agency\u2019s work.\n\nEarlier this year Senator Hawley demanded DOE Secretary Granholm provide an explanation for misleading testimony during a Senate committee hearing where she claimed she did not own any personal financial stocks, when in fact, she held individual stocks as recently as May of this year.\n\nRead the full letter to DOE Inspector General Donaldson here or below.\n\nOctober 24, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Teri L. Donaldson\n\nOffice of Inspector General\n\nU.S. Department of Energy\n\n1000 Independence Ave., S.W.\n\nWashington, DC 20585\n\nDear Inspector General Donaldson,\n\nThank you for your recent testimony in front of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in which we discussed the Energy Department\u2019s compliance with ethics rules. I write to formally request you open an investigation into Secretary Granholm\u2019s misleading testimony before the Committee about her financial holdings, as well as her repeated violations of federal ethics rules. I also request you conduct an audit of the Department\u2019s compliance with existing ethics laws to determine whether senior officials own shares in companies they regulate.\n\nSecretary Granholm\u2019s most recent violation of federal stock trading laws is just the latest in a series of ethics indiscretions. Prior to her false testimony before the Committee, Secretary Granholm had already violated federal stock disclosure laws nine times. Then, during her testimony before the Committee on April 20, 2023, Secretary Granholm testified three times, in response to my questions, that she no longer held any stocks. This was not true. At the time, she held stocks in six separate companies.\n\nInstead of being forthright about either her continued stock holdings or her misleading testimony, Secretary Granholm waited until May 18, 2023, to sell the remaining stocks she held. Then, she waited several more weeks to inform the Energy Committee that her testimony to us was untrue.\n\nSecretary Granholm is not the only official at the Energy Department who has traded stocks while in office. As we learned in February of this year, federal employees throughout the Energy Department hold energy-related stocks. I likewise request that, in addition to investigating Secretary Granholm, you conduct an audit of Department of Energy employees to determine whether they are in compliance with ethics rules concerning individual stocks ownership.\n\nSenior officials have no business trading stocks, especially stocks in the industries they regulate. The repeated ethics violations by Energy Department officials undermine the public\u2019s trust in our government and the rule of law.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to your prompt response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/biden-energy-official-freezes-when-pressed-pay-play-events/", "Biden Energy Official Freezes Up When Pressed on Pay-to-Play Events", "2023-10-19", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned two officials from the Department of Energy (DOE), Jigar Shah, the Director of Loan Programs, and Teri L. Donaldson, the Inspector General about pay-to-play events and insider stock trading.\n\nWhen Senator Hawley pressed Director Shah about the unethical nature of the pay-to-play events DOE officials attend and often speak at, the Director had no response.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re the Director of the loan programs for the federal government Department of Energy. People who want to get loans from the government are paying to see you and you think that that\u2019s fine?\u201d asked Senator Hawley.\n\nDirector Shah went silent.\n\nSenator Hawley also called on Inspector General Donaldson to investigate the ethical lapses at the DOE, such as illegal stock trading by Department officials, in light of reports that hundreds of DOE officials hold stocks related to the agency\u2019s work.\n\n\u201cI am firmly of the view that we need to change the law here,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cSenior executive branch officials should not be able to own individual stock, nor should members of Congress. We shouldn\u2019t be stock trading.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/democrats-block-hawley-resolution-condemn-antisemitic-activities-college-campuses/", "Democrats Block Hawley Resolution to Condemn Antisemitic Activities on College Campuses", "2023-10-19", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor and called for unanimous consent on his resolution condemning Hamas and the antisemitic student groups on college campuses that have celebrated the Oct. 7 terrorist attack against Israel. Senator Hawley wrote to all senators this week requesting they support his resolution. When Senator Hawley attempted to pass his resolution, it was blocked by Democrats.\n\n\u201cAlmost as disturbing as the facts of these terrible attacks themselves is the response of some people in this country. On our college campuses in this country who promptly took to the streets, to the courtyards of these campuses, the airwaves, to broadcast their support for this genocide against the people of Israel,\u201dsaid Senator Hawley.\n\nHe continued, \u201cCalling for the death of Jewish people is not just another opinion. Calling for the genocide, celebrating the genocide of Jewish babies is not just another opinion. Celebrating the assaults on Jewish people in this country is not just another opinion, and the Senate should be clear and stand with moral clarity and say \u2018this is wrong.'\u201d\n\nClick image above to watch or go here.\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s call to unanimously pass the resolution was objected to by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-demands-answers-biden-dhs-employment-pro-hamas-spokeswoman-urges-firing/", "Hawley Demands Answers from Biden DHS for Employment of Pro-Hamas Spokeswoman, Urges Firing", "2023-10-19", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calling for the termination of DHS employee, Nejwa Ali, who has a documented history of making blatantly antisemitic, pro-Hamas statements.\n\nRecent reporting reveals that Nejwa Ali has shared pictures glorifying Hamas terrorists and espoused other hateful, antisemitic rhetoric. Her statements clearly express that she harbors intensely negative views against the State of Israel and supports the recent attacks from Hamas terrorists.\n\n\u201cI am alarmed by reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) currently employs a former spokeswoman for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as an officer charged with adjudicating U.S. immigration cases,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cMs. Ali\u2019s reported statements make clear that she harbors intensely negative views against the State of Israel and supports the recent barbarism perpetrated against its citizens by Hamas terrorists.\u201d\n\nSenator Hawley pushed for answers on how many immigration cases involving Palestinians, Israelis, or other Jewish applicants Ms. Ali has reviewed, and what safeguards are in place in the asylum adjudication process to remediate any abuses committed by strongly prejudiced immigration officers.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nOctober 19, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas\n\nSecretary\n\nUnited States Department of Homeland Security\n\n2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE\n\nWashington, D.C. 20528\n\nSecretary Mayorkas:\n\nI am alarmed by reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) currently employs a former spokeswoman for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as an officer charged with adjudicating U.S. immigration cases. According to reports and publicly available records, this employee, Nejwa Ali, has a documented history of making virulently antisemitic, pro-Hamas statements, including in the immediate aftermath of Hamas\u2019 savage attack on innocent American and Israeli civilians. These statements appear to cast severe doubt on her ability to impartially evaluate immigration cases. I am glad to see that she has now been placed on administrative leave\u2014but that is not enough. If these reports are accurate, you must terminate her employment immediately.\n\nMs. Ali\u2019s reported statements make clear that she harbors intensely negative views against the State of Israel and supports the recent barbarism perpetrated against its citizens by Hamas terrorists. For example, following Hamas\u2019 October 7 terrorist attack, she reportedly posted on Instagram: \u201cF*** Israel, the government, and its military. Are you ready for your downfall?\u201d She also reportedly posted an image depicting armed terrorists paragliding into Israel with the caption \u201cFree PALESTINE.\u201d Her social media appears to contain numerous examples of anti-Israel and antisemitic statements, including \u201cIsraeli, American privilege is disgusting\u201d and \u201cF*** Israel and any Jew that supports Israel.\u201d\n\nMs. Ali\u2019s troubling personal views apparently carry into her professional life\u2014including her roles at DHS. She previously worked as a public affairs officer at the PLO\u2019s office in Washington, D.C. before that office was shut down by the Trump Administration. In her current role, she reportedly works as an \u201cAdjudication Officer\u201d within U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) where she is tasked with \u201creview[ing] and mak[ing] determinations on cases for immigration benefits,\u201d among other responsibilities. Prior to this role, she reportedly worked as an \u201cAsylum Officer\u201d responsible for adjudicating asylum applications and conducting credible and reasonable fear screenings. Concerningly, Ms. Ali has explicitly linked her prejudicial views to her job. For instance, in one social media post associated with her name, she included the hashtags \u201c#asylumseekers #palestine #refugeeswelcome\u201d\u2014suggesting that she may preference certain immigration cases over others at DHS. This is unacceptable.\n\nAs Secretary, you must assure the American people that those charged with determining who enters the United States do so impartially and without prejudice. If the above reports are true and accurate, you must terminate Ms. Ali\u2019s employment at DHS without delay. Additionally, please provide answers to the following questions:\n\nHow many immigration cases involving Palestinians has Ms. Ali reviewed? For each case, please detail Ms. Ali\u2019s involvement and the final determination.\n\nHow many immigration cases involving Israelis or other Jewish applicants has Ms. Ali reviewed? For each case, please detail Ms. Ali\u2019s involvement and the final determination.\n\nWhat safeguards are in place in the asylum adjudication process to remediate any abuses committed by strongly prejudiced immigration officers?\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-calls-ncaa-protect-female-athletes-clarify-transgender-locker-room-policy/", "Hawley Calls on NCAA to Protect Female Athletes, Clarify Transgender Locker Room Policy", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President, former Governor Charlie Baker, following his recent testimony before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Senator Hawley called on the NCAA to stand up for the basic safety of their student athletes and asked Governor Baker to explicitly define the NCAA\u2019s policy on transgender athletes\u2019 access to locker rooms.\n\n\u201cYesterday you testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on issues in collegiate athletics. Arguably none is more important than the safety of student athletes,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cThat is why I asked you about Riley Gaines, and her Senate testimony earlier this year that the NCAA forced her and other female athletes both to accept a biological man in their locker room and to change alongside this person.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cWhen I asked you whether the forced inclusion of biological men in women\u2019s locker rooms remains NCAA policy, you equivocated. You testified that you \u2018[didn\u2019t] believe that policy would be the policy that we would use today.\u2019 But you declined to state what the NCAA\u2019s policy actually is. This is your chance. The NCAA has a troubled history of using student athletes for financial gain while ignoring their concerns and needs\u2014and in this case, their basic safety. The American public deserves honest answers.\u201d\n\nIn June, Senator Hawley questioned Riley Gaines about her experiences competing against a transgender athlete, and the trauma she and her teammates endured when their privacy was invaded by being forced to undress in front of a biological male. According to Gaines, an NCAA official told her Lia Thomas was allowed in the female locker room due to a rule change that made the facilities \u2018unisex.\u2019\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nOctober 18, 2023\n\nHon. Charlie Baker\n\nPresident\n\nNational Collegiate Athletic Association\n\n700 W. Washington Street\n\nP.O. Box 7110\n\nIndianapolis, IN 46206\n\nDear Governor Baker:\n\nYesterday you testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on issues in collegiate athletics. Arguably none is more important than the safety of student athletes. That is why I asked you about Riley Gaines, and her Senate testimony earlier this year that the NCAA forced her and other female athletes both to accept a biological man in their locker room and to change alongside this person. Ms. Gaines testified the NCAA made this decision without forewarning the female athletes, without asking for consent, and without obtaining consent of any kind. Worse still, Ms. Gaines and her teammates were allegedly warned that if they spoke in opposition to the NCAA\u2019s policy, they would face consequences.\n\nWhen I asked you whether the forced inclusion of biological men in women\u2019s locker rooms remains NCAA policy, you equivocated. You testified that you \u201c[didn\u2019t] believe that policy would be the policy that we would use today.\u201d But you declined to state what the NCAA\u2019s policy actually is.\n\nThis is your chance. The NCAA has a troubled history of using student athletes for financial gain while ignoring their concerns and needs\u2014and in this case, their basic safety. The American public deserves honest answers. Please provide comprehensive responses to the following questions:\n\nAs of today\u2014October 18, 2023\u2014what exactly is the NCAA\u2019s policy on transgender athletes\u2019 access to locker rooms? Please provide a comprehensive explanation.\n\nHas the NCAA or any of its designees or officials ever promulgated a policy, whether through official or unofficial channels, of making locker rooms unisex?\n\nIf not, has the NCAA conducted an investigation into why Ms. Gaines was informed in March 2022 that locker rooms would be treated as unisex spaces?\n\nIn addressing the issue of transgender competitors, the NCAA is apparently shifting toward a policy of deferring to the governing bodies of individual sports. Will the NCAA defer to the policies of individual sport governing bodies regarding locker rooms and other changing facilities?\n\nIf so, please provide a comprehensive explanation of how, from the NCAA\u2019s perspective, allowing biological men to access the locker rooms of female athletes would be consistent with the legal requirements of Title IX that men and women be offered equitable opportunities to participate in sports.\n\nWill the NCAA provide an apology to female student athletes who were required to share locker rooms and other intimate spaces with biological men?\n\nMs. Gaines has testified that female athletes have been threatened with consequences for publicly opposing the NCAA\u2019s approach to transgender athletes. Does the NCAA maintain or enforce a policy prohibiting public opposition to the league\u2019s policies on transgender athletes?\n\nHas the NCAA ever mandated, recommended, or otherwise advised that individuals opposing the league\u2019s policies on transgender athletes receive counseling or other educational interventions?\n\nI await your responses.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-pushes-mayorkas-address-terrorist-linked-aliens-border-following-hamas-attack-israel/", "Hawley Pushes Mayorkas to Address \u2018Terrorist-Linked Aliens\u2019 at Border Following Hamas Attack in Israel", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging him to ensure the safety of Americans and, specifically, Jewish Americans amid the uptick in potential terrorist-linked illegal aliens at our southern border. This development follows the barbaric attack perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on innocent American and Israeli civilians.\n\nThe recent reporting of numbers of encounters with people on the terror watchlist for FY2023 from Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) reveals that there were 154 encounters at the northern and southern borders among ports of entry and 505 encountered at the ports of entry.\n\n\u201cIllegal aliens with potential ties to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah have no place in the United States. In the wake of Hamas\u2019s attack on Israel, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is already alerting Americans about an elevated number of violent threats against civilians, including antisemitic threats,\u201dwrote Senator Hawley. \u201cIt is therefore critical that you abandon your radical open border policies, and instead, take immediate action to secure the border.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below:\n\nOctober 18, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Homeland Security\n\n2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE\n\nWashington, D.C. 20528\n\nDear Secretary Mayorkas,\n\nI write with alarm regarding the uptick in potential terrorist-linked illegal aliens encountered at the southern border. This development follows the barbaric attack perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on innocent American and Israeli civilians. It is imperative that you address this issue immediately to ensure the safety of American citizens, especially Jewish Americans, who are facing increased threats to their physical safety following the Hamas attack.\n\nAs you are well aware, the United States has experienced an unprecedented wave of illegal immigration across our southern border during the Biden Administration, totaling 6.2 million illegal alien encounters. This figure includes record numbers of aliens who have been listed on the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) or traveled from countries known to be state sponsors of terrorism. In fiscal year 2023, Border Patrol encountered 154 TSDB aliens attempting to cross the border between ports of entry\u2014more than the last six years combined. Furthermore, it is virtually certain that terrorist-linked individuals are among the estimated 1.6 million illegal aliens who have successfully evaded Border Patrol in entering the United States since President Biden took office.\n\nYour Department\u2019s recently published threat assessment acknowledges this danger. For example, the assessment notes that \u201cindividuals with terrorism connections are interested in using established travel routes and permissive environments to facilitate access to the United States.\u201d Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents are encountering a growing number of \u201cspecial interest aliens\u201d from countries known to harbor terrorists\u2014including Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. Just this week, four Iranians were apprehended in Texas by Border Patrol.\n\nIllegal aliens with potential ties to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah have no place in the United States. In the wake of Hamas\u2019s attack on Israel, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is already alerting Americans about an elevated number of violent threats against civilians, including antisemitic threats. It is therefore critical that you abandon your radical open border policies, and instead, take immediate action to secure the border. As Secretary, your number one priority should be protecting American citizens against potential terrorist entering our country.\n\nAs a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I request that you immediately respond to the following questions to disclose what you know to the American people:\n\nHow many \u201cspecial interest aliens\u201d have been released into the United States in the past two years? Please disaggregate the figures by country of origin.\n\nWhat steps has DHS taken to heighten security standards at the southern border following Hamas\u2019 attack on Israel?\n\nIs the Department of Homeland Security actively working with the FBI to monitor organizations with links to Hamas\u2019 terrorism activities operating within the United States?\n\nThank you for your attention to this critical matter of homeland security.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-sanders-brown-and-colleagues-introduce-senate-resolution-solidarity-uaw-workers-strike/", "Hawley, Sanders, Brown, and Colleagues Introduce Senate Resolution in Solidarity with UAW Workers on Strike", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) joined Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), along with 31 Democrat colleagues in the Senate, to introduce a resolution in solidarity with United Auto Workers (UAW) across America who are bargaining for a fair contract, including 34,000 currently on strike.\n\nSenator Hawley has been a strong supporter of the autoworkers throughout their strike, calling for better hours, higher pay, and job security in America. Senator Hawley also visited the workers on strike at the General Motors plant in Wentzville, Mo., to stand with them and call for the protection American jobs.\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated for American workers, including standing with and voting to support rail workers as they sought a fair deal with sick leave, as well as fighting to keep jobs here in the U.S. and stop the reliance on foreign supply chains for critical goods. More information about his past work in support of the American worker can be found on his website.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-unveils-resolution-condemning-hamas-and-antisemitic-student-activities-college/", "Senator Hawley Unveils Resolution Condemning Hamas and Antisemitic Student Activities on College Campuses", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) will introduce a Senate Resolution condemning Hamas and the antisemitic student groups on college campuses that have celebrated the Oct. 7 terrorist attack against Israel. Senator Hawley will seek consent to pass his resolution on the Senate floor, and wrote to all of his colleagues this week requesting their support. Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) are original cosponsors.\n\n\u201cWe must stand together with Israel and against hateful, violent rhetoric that threatens the safety and security of Jewish Americans in the United States,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cMy resolution unequivocally condemns Hamas and the hateful, antisemitic rhetoric that the recent terrorist attack has inspired on our college campuses. This is particularly urgent given the rise in threats against Jewish Americans across our country. I invite you to join me in standing with Israel and against hate.\u201d\n\nEarlier this week, Senator Hawley urged the Department of Justice to investigate pro-Palestinian student groups\u2019 potential ties to Hamas after they publicly gathered to celebrate the terrorist groups\u2019 genocidal war against Israel.\n\nThe text of the resolution can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-condemns-antisemitic-rhetoric-against-israel-announces-senate-resolution/", "Hawley Condemns Antisemitic Rhetoric Against Israel, Announces Senate Resolution", "2023-10-16", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced that he will introduce a U.S. Senate resolution condemning the antisemitic rhetoric taking place on college campuses across America.\n\nSenator Hawley also sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland earlier today, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) immediately deploy resources to investigate the third-party funding of far-left student organizations that have called for the effective destruction of Israel.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-urges-doj-investigate-outside-funding-far-left-anti-israel-student-groups/", "Hawley Urges DOJ Investigate Outside Funding of Far-Left, Anti-Israel Student Groups", "2023-10-16", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) immediately deploy resources to investigate the third-party funding of far-left student organizations that have called for the effective destruction of Israel.\n\n\u201cIn the wake of the brutal terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel, we have witnessed an alarming rise in support for violence against the Jewish people,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cPublic reports indicate that several far-left student groups have lined up to effectively cheerlead Hamas\u2019s genocidal war against the people of Israel.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cGiven the potential scale of this threat, I urge you to immediately deploy DOJ resources to investigate these organizations\u2019 funding sources. The First Amendment protects the right to protest. But it does not protect the provision of material support to terrorist organizations. Nor does it insulate financial transactions that threaten our national security. Hamas, as you are well aware, is designated a terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. DOJ should deploy all appropriate authorities to investigate any potential links to organizations that operate within the United States.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nOctober 16, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Merrick Garland\n\nAttorney General\n\nUnited States Department of Justice\n\n950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20530\n\nDear Attorney General Garland:\n\nIn the wake of the brutal terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel, we have witnessed an alarming rise in support for violence against the Jewish people. Public reports indicate that several far-left student groups have lined up to effectively cheerlead Hamas\u2019s genocidal war against the people of Israel:\n\nAt Harvard University alone, 34 student organizations signed a letter declaring that they \u201chold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,\u201d and that Israel is \u201cthe only one to blame\u201d for the unfolding carnage.\n\nThe University of California, Los Angeles witnessed a massive protest by students screaming \u201cintifada, intifada\u201d\u2014a call for a violent uprising and the murder of Jewish people.\n\nIn New York, Columbia University was forced to close its campus to the public after an Israeli student was violently assaulted by an allegedly pro-Palestine student.\n\nThe University of Virginia chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine announced that the mass murder of civilians was \u201ca step towards a free Palestine . . . reflect[ing] the power and resilience of the Palestinian people.\u201d\n\nOther examples are legion. These student organizations are seemingly lobbying in support of the murder of innocent people, including children and babies. They are menacing Jewish Americans within our cities. And they are doing so in what appears to be a coordinated fashion.\n\nThere is a long and sordid history of supposedly independent \u201chuman rights\u201d groups operating within American borders, that possess longstanding ties to foreign terrorist organizations. To name just one high-profile example, in the early 2000s, the Department of Justice shuttered the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development and jailed its founders, after finding that this supposed charitable organization was funneling money into the pockets of Hamas. It is entirely possible that many of these student organizations, at some level or another, are enmeshed in similar networks\u2014whether as recipients of funding from these malicious actors or as conduits for it.\n\nGiven the potential scale of this threat, I urge you to immediately deploy DOJ resources to investigate these organizations\u2019 funding sources. The First Amendment protects the right to protest. But it does not protect the provision of material support to terrorist organizations. Nor does it insulate financial transactions that threaten our national security. Hamas, as you are well aware, is designated a terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. DOJ should deploy all appropriate authorities to investigate any potential links to organizations that operate within the United States.\n\nIn particular, the Department should prioritize investigating the following questions:\n\nOf those student organizations presently calling for the effective destruction of Israel and justifying the recent massacre of Jewish people, how many receive significant funding from third-party groups?\n\nOf those third-party groups that offer financial support to pro-Hamas student organizations, or for which pro-Hamas student organizations conduct fundraising, how many have financial or ideological ties to Hamas?\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-calls-state-department-provide-additional-travel-assistance-americans-israel/", "Hawley Calls on State Department to Provide Additional Travel Assistance for Americans in Israel", "2023-10-11", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for additional travel assistance and updated guidance for Americans seeking to return home from Israel.\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s office is working with constituents in the region who wish to return to the United States, and anyone who needs assistance can call our office at (314) 354-7060.\n\n\u201cFollowing the barbaric terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas, my office has received multiple reports of Missourians in Israel who are seeking to leave the region but are struggling to find transportation out of the country,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cWith the growing number of commercial airlines cancelling flights out of Israel, I urge you to consider additional U.S government-facilitated transport options for Americans attempting to return home.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nOctober 11, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Antony Blinken\n\nSecretary of State\n\nUS Department of State\n\n2201 C St. NW\n\nWashington, DC 20520\n\nDear Secretary Blinken:\n\nI write with concern over the security situation in Israel and the safety of American citizens still in the region. Following the barbaric terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas, my office has received multiple reports of Missourians in Israel who are seeking to leave the region but are struggling to find transportation out of the country. With the growing number of commercial airlines cancelling flights out of Israel, I urge you to consider additional U.S government-facilitated transport options for Americans attempting to return home.\n\nThe Bureau of Consular Affairs informed my office yesterday that the State Department currently \u201cis not involved with airlifts, an evacuation, or assisted departure of U.S. citizens.\u201d Today, your office informed mine that the State Department \u201ccontinue[s] to encourage U.S. citizens to look at the available commercial options to depart Israel.\u201d While I appreciate the initial information provided on Sunday to help my constituents contact the U.S. Embassy, this is no longer sufficient. New clarity about travel assistance is urgently required. I urge you to work with your counterparts across federal agencies to bring to bear all available resources and authorities, including charter flights, to assist Americans that remain in Israel with returning home to their families.\n\nOn behalf of my constituents who remain in the region, I request the answers to the following questions from your office as soon as possible.\n\nIs the State Department actively planning to provide additional travel assistance to Americans in Israel?\n\nIs the Department or any other U.S. agencies planning to conduct airlifts or equivalent government-facilitated transportation to help Americans in the region return home?\n\nIf plans have been made, how will the State Department communicate those travel options?\n\nWhen can Americans expect information on how to return home? When can we expect decisions about transportation options to be made?\n\nI look forward to a timely response from your office. And thank you for your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-demands-army-fulfill-fort-leonard-wood-housing-promise-will-hold-nominations/", "Hawley Demands Army Fulfill Fort Leonard Wood Housing Promise, Will Hold Nominations", "2023-10-05", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to the Secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth, demanding that she fulfill her pledge to replace all military housing at Fort Leonard Wood.\n\n\u201cThe Army\u2019s inability to meet its own deadlines is unacceptable, and I will wait no longer,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cI will withhold my consent to any future Army civilian nominations which require Senate confirmation. The soldiers and families at Fort Leonard Wood deserve better, and it is your responsibility to deliver for them.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nIn June of 2021, Senator Hawley asked Secretary Wormuth and General McConville for information about the Army\u2019s plans to replace housing at the base.\n\nIn May 2022, Senator Hawley pressed Secretary Wormuth and Chief of Staff of the Army General James C. McConville for answers about housing at Fort Leonard Wood.\n\nA few weeks before his August visit, Senator Hawley sent a letter to Secretary Wormuth requesting an update on the Army\u2019s plans to replace aging homes at Fort Leonard Wood.\n\nIn August 2022, Senator Hawley toured Fort Leonard Wood, delivered remarks about the important work being done there, and visited with residents about base housing in need of replacement.\n\nIn December 2022, Senator Hawley announced that the Army committed to spending $41.4 million in Fiscal Year 2023 and another $50 million in Fiscal Year 2024 for new housing at Fort Leonard Wood following repeated demands that aging homes at the base be replaced.\n\nIn March, Senator Hawley sent a letter to the Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth requesting, for the third time, the Army\u2019s plan for replacing the aging homes at Fort Leonard Wood.\n\nRead the full letter here or below:\n\nOctober 5, 2023\n\nHonorable Christine E. Wormuth\n\nSecretary of the Army\n\n101 Army Pentagon\n\nWashington, DC 20310-0101\n\nDear Secretary Wormuth:\n\nI write with deep concern over the Army\u2019s continual failure to keep its promises to the soldiers and families of Fort Leonard Wood.\n\nIn December 2022, after the Army identified 1,142 family homes on post in need of repair, Under Secretary Camarillo pledged to me that the Army would spend $41.4 million during Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) and $50 million during FY24 on homes for families. You acknowledged this same pledge in a phone call with me over the summer. In the ten months since the commitment was made, the Army has continually dragged its feet. Now we know for sure that you have broken your promise. Your staff informs my office that no funds will be available until December 15, 2023, at the earliest, well past the end of the fiscal year which concluded on September 30, 2023. Once again, the Army has failed to prioritize the soldiers and families at Fort Leonard Wood.\n\nAs I have written previously, the Army only committed to this investment reluctantly. Despite your commitment during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on May 5, 2022, the Army has still failed to produce your plan for replacing all housing at Fort Leonard Wood. Beyond your inability to even produce your plan, what investment you have promised has now failed to materialize. The deadline has now come and gone, and given your record I have real doubts that Fort Leonard Wood will receive this investment before the end of the calendar year.\n\nThe Army\u2019s inability to meet its own deadlines is unacceptable, and I will wait no longer. Until the promised $41.4 million is invested in housing at Fort Leonard Wood, I will withhold my consent to any future Army civilian nominations which require Senate confirmation. The soldiers and families at Fort Leonard Wood deserve better, and it is your responsibility to deliver for them.\n\nI promise you I will continue to work tirelessly to secure adequate housing for Fort Leonard Wood, and I keep my promises.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-introduces-bill-empowering-states-fight-back-against-bidens-border-crisis/", "Hawley Introduces Bill Empowering States to Fight Back Against Biden\u2019s Border Crisis", "2023-10-04", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has introduced the State Border Defense Act to empower states to fight back against President Biden\u2019s failed immigration policies that are flooding America\u2019s streets with deadly narcotics and enabling a rise in child trafficking. Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation comes after the Biden Administration\u2019s repeated efforts to undermine states\u2019 ability to secure their own borders\u2014including preventing the installation of a buoy barrier and razor wire along the southern border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported a record 232,972 southern border encounters in August\u2014the highest monthly total in 2023 thus far.\n\n\u201cOur southern border is overrun. Joe Biden\u2019s dangerous open-border policies are making it worse every single day, leaving states like Missouri to deal with the consequences. Since the federal government refuses to enforce our immigration laws, states must be able to,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\nThe State Border Defense Act would allow states to:\n\nRemove illegal immigrants from the country rather than sending them to other states\n\nProsecute people who commit crimes while entering the country illegally\n\nConstruct barriers on federal lands or waters along the southern border to prevent illegal immigration", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-demands-dhs-terminate-new-intelligence-experts-group/", "Hawley Demands DHS Terminate New \u2018Intelligence Experts Group\u2019", "2023-09-28", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calling for the immediate termination of the Department\u2019s newly announced \u201cIntelligence Experts Group.\u201d\n\n\u201cI write with deep concern regarding the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) newly announced \u2018Intelligence Experts Group.\u2019 According to your Department\u2019s press release, this entity will be led by at least three individuals who helped suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story preceding the 2020 U.S. presidential election,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cGiven the composition of its members, this Group seems to constitute yet another effort from the Biden Administration to undermine disfavored speech.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cI will continue to oppose this Administration\u2019s apparent efforts to undermine protected speech. Therefore, I urge you to immediately terminate this so-called \u2018Intelligence Experts Group.'\u201d\n\nLast November, Senator Hawley led an investigation into President Biden\u2019s plans to establish the Disinformation Governance Board, similar to the \u201cIntelligence Experts Group.\u201d Senator Hawley revealed documents that exposed the DHS\u2019s plans for the Board to monitor and suppress the speech of American citizens, which were much more extensive than the Biden administration had publicly acknowledged.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nSeptember 28, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Homeland Security\n\n2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE\n\nWashington, D.C. 20528\n\nDear Secretary Mayorkas,\n\nI write with deep concern regarding the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) newly announced \u201cIntelligence Experts Group.\u201d According to your Department\u2019s press release, this entity will be led by at least three individuals who helped suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story preceding the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Given the composition of its members, this Group seems to constitute yet another effort from the Biden Administration to undermine disfavored speech.\n\nAs you know, John Brennan, James Clapper, and Paul Kolbe all signed onto the infamous October 2020 letter, which falsely declared the Hunter Biden laptop story to be \u201cRussian misinformation.\u201d This was a clear attempt to aid then-candidate Joe Biden. Recent investigations have revealed text messages and emails that corroborate the corrupt intent behind the letter\u2019s publication. It is therefore baffling that your Department would regard these individuals as having any remaining credibility with respect to intelligence matters.\n\nEnlisting the support of these discredited officials as the nation prepares for the 2024 presidential election appears to signal that DHS will continue its attempts to censor speech that is inconvenient to the current Administration. Of course, your Department tried\u2014and failed\u2014to monitor and censor protected speech through the now-defunct Disinformation Governance Board. But thanks to the Fifth Circuit\u2019s ruling in Missouri v. Biden, we know that the White House and other agencies violated the First Amendment by coercing social media platforms to censor online speech. I will continue to oppose this Administration\u2019s apparent efforts to undermine protected speech. Therefore, I urge you to immediately terminate this so-called \u201cIntelligence Experts Group.\u201d\n\nSo that Congress can consider remedial legislation, please provide the following information by October 15, 2023:\n\nAll records related to the Intelligence Experts Group, including but not limited to:\n\nwritten or recorded communications concerning the formation of the Group;\n\nthe agenda or minutes from any meeting at which the Group\u2019s formation was discussed;\n\nany legal review to determine whether the activities of the Group would be authorized by the Constitution of the United States;\n\nany communications or records about the individuals who would be recruited to serve on the Group;\n\nany communications with the White House about the formation of the Group or appointment of officials to serve on the Group.\n\nFor any documents that are responsive to this request but withheld, please identify the name of each document, the date of its creation, the custodian, a summary of its contents, and the basis for withholding the record.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-requests-update-doe-monitoring-nuclear-contamination-weldon-spring-site/", "Hawley Requests Update on DOE Monitoring of Nuclear Contamination at Weldon Spring Site", "2023-09-28", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Deputy Secretary David Turk, requesting an update on the monitoring and remediation of the Weldon Spring Superfund Site in St. Charles, Mo.\n\n\u201cAs I previously wrote in my July 24, 2023 letter to Secretary Granholm, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is alarmed by deficiencies in the Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) monitoring of contaminants at the site, and so am I,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cDespite your assurances that the site is \u2018remediated,\u2019 the Missouri Department of Natural Resources reports concern that uranium contamination may be spreading from Weldon Spring into local groundwater. Needless to say, contamination of groundwater is grossly unacceptable.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cI am asking you once again to please provide a clear timeline on when DOE will revise its sampling plans and when Weldon Spring will be fully remediated.\u201d\n\nEarlier this month, Senator Hawley questioned Secretary Turk during an Energy Committee hearing, pressing him about the DOE\u2019s inaction on the remediation efforts at the Weldon Spring Site.\n\nIn July, Senator Hawley sent a letter to DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm, urging the Department conduct additional testing for radioactive contamination at the Weldon Spring Site, after a review of the site in 2021 led the MDNR to offer an extensive critique of the DOE\u2019s cleanup and monitoring efforts at that location.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nMr. David Turk\n\nDeputy Secretary\n\nDepartment of Energy\n\n1000 Independence Avenue, S.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20585\n\nDear Mr. Turk,\n\nI write in response to your September 7, 2023 email regarding the contaminated Weldon Spring Site. As I previously wrote in my July 24, 2023 letter to Secretary Granholm, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is alarmed by deficiencies in the Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) monitoring of contaminants at the site, and so am I.\n\nDespite your assurances that the site is \u201cremediated,\u201d the Missouri Department of Natural Resources reports concern that uranium contamination may be spreading from Weldon Spring into local groundwater. Needless to say, contamination of groundwater is grossly unacceptable. I trust that I need not remind you the health consequences of uranium contamination are significant, causing kidney and heart damage. The residents of St. Charles County deserve to know how DOE will ensure they are not exposed to contaminants in their water.\n\nDespite these significant concerns, and despite my previous letter, you did not come prepared to answer questions about the Weldon Spring site during your recent testimony. I was likewise disappointed that your follow-up email failed to answer whether the DOE will revise its sampling plans in light of MDNR\u2019s concerns. The people of St. Charles County deserve to know if DOE is ensuring their groundwater\u2019s safety.\n\nI am asking you once again to please provide a clear timeline on when DOE will revise its sampling plans and when Weldon Spring will be fully remediated. I look forward to your timely response. Thank you for your attention in this matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-visits-uaw-picket-line-support-workers/", "Hawley visits UAW Picket Line to Support Workers", "2023-09-25", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statements after his visit with workers on strike at the General Motors plant in Wentzville, Mo. to stand with them and protect American jobs.\n\nSenator Hawley has continually supported the autoworkers throughout their strike for better hours, higher pay, and job security in America.\n\nIn December 2022, Senator Hawley stood with and voted to support rail workers as they sought a fair deal with sick leave.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-introduces-legislation-requiring-timely-reconstruction-damaged-rural-post-offices/", "Hawley Introduces Legislation Requiring the Timely Reconstruction of Damaged Rural Post Offices", "2023-09-21", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Rural Post Office Reconstruction Act of 2023, new legislation that would establish a clear timeframe for reopening rural post offices that experience closure due to natural disaster damage or other unforeseen circumstances.\n\nOn August 4, 2023, in Baring, Mo., an EF-2 tornado almost completely destroyed the town\u2019s Post Office, in addition to damaging nearby homes and businesses. There is still no public timetable for the reconstruction of the Post Office.\n\n\u201cRural post offices are critical to the daily life of Missourians and Americans everywhere who live in small towns\u2014and they must stay open whenever possible,\u201dsaid Senator Hawley. \u201cMy bill guarantees the timely reconstruction of damaged post offices, ensuring rural residents have access to the medical deliveries and other vital services they depend on.\u201d\n\nThe Rural Post Office Reconstruction Act of 2023 would require:\n\nTimely reconstruction of severely damaged post offices;\n\nReopening closed post offices;\n\nReporting to Congress in the event remediation is not completed in the specific timeframe.\n\nEarlier this month, Senator Hawley sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis Dejoy of the United States Postal Service seeking an update on the status of the Post Office in Baring, Mo.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-leads-rally-justice-demands-compensation-victims-stl-area-nationwide-nuclear-contamination/", "Hawley Leads Rally for Justice, Demands Compensation for Victims of STL-Area, Nationwide Nuclear Contamination", "2023-09-21", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Yesterday U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) held a bipartisan rally at the U.S. Capitol with U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), House lawmakers, and victims of nuclear contamination\u2014from the St. Louis area, St. Charles area, and across America\u2014to demand justice and compensation for those who have been harmed by the federal government\u2019s decades of negligence.\n\n\u201cDating all the way back to the Manhattan Project, the government used the city of St. Louis as a uranium-processing facility, as a major site, and then when that was over [\u2026] it allowed it to seep into the groundwater, it allowed it to get into Coldwater Creek, it allowed it get into the soil. Generations of Missourians\u2014children\u2014were poisoned because of the government\u2019s negligence,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\nSenators Hawley and Luj\u00e1n secured funding for victims of nuclear contamination by getting an amendment passed in the Senate version of the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) over the summer and, with the help of the victims urging Congress to act, are working with their colleagues to keep this amendment in the final package to be voted on later this year.\n\n\u201cIf the government is going to expose its own citizens to radioactive material [\u2026] for decades,\u201d Senator Hawley continued, \u201cthe government ought to pay the bills of the men and women who have gotten sick because of it. They ought to pay for the survivor benefits of those who have been lost.\u201d\n\nWatch the full video of Wednesday\u2019s press conference below:\n\nClick image or go here\n\nBackground\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community and all Missourians impacted by government-caused nuclear contamination. Most recently, Senator Hawley secured President Biden\u2019s endorsement of his legislation to compensate victims of nuclear radiation exposure.\n\nOn July 27, 2023, in a strong bipartisan vote, Senator Hawley secured passage of an amendment to the FY 2024 NDAA that would provide compensation to victims of government-caused nuclear contamination. The legislation extends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to cover victims of improperly-stored nuclear waste in affected areas in the St. Louis region. The measure\u2014which was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Luj\u00e1n, Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Schmitt\u2014also reauthorized and strengthened the RECA program to cover more impacted Americans from nuclear tests along with uranium miners.\n\nEarlier in July, Senator Hawley sent a letter to the Department of Energy (DOE), urging additional testing for radioactive contamination at a site in St. Charles County, Mo., after a review of the Weldon Spring site in 2021 offered an extensive critique of the DOE\u2019s cleanup and monitoring efforts there. Senator Hawley also sent a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman, Senator Joe Manchin, urging him to convene a committee hearing to discuss the government-caused nuclear contamination of the St. Louis area. In addition, Senator Hawley penned separate letters to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), DOE, and Environmental Protection Agency, demanding answers from the government about the nuclear contamination.\n\nIn April, Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation mandating the clean up of Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District and radioactive waste testing passed the U.S. Senate and Biden\u2019s Energy Secretary Granholm also vowed to support it.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/icymi-hawley-op-ed-cap-credit-card-interest-rates-help-americans-hammered-bidenomics/", "ICYMI Hawley Op-ed: Cap credit-card interest rates to help Americans hammered by Bidenomics", "2023-09-21", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "By U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) | Sept. 20, 2023 | New York Post\n\nExploiting people through high interest rates is wrong.\n\nIn a world of Wall Street excess, that simple idea now sounds foreign.\n\nBut for thousands of years, it was basic fairness.\n\n\u201cThou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother,\u201d declares Deuteronomy 23:19.\n\nThe Western world took that principle to heart.\n\nFrom the Roman Empire on, nations enforced usury laws that severely restricted interest rates on loans.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nTimes have changed. Our leaders forgot why those laws existed in the first place.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nThe total amount of credit-card debt is more than $1 trillion \u2014 the highest in history.\n\nDelinquent payment rates are at their highest level in a decade.\n\nCompounding the problem, President Joe Biden\u2019s inflationary policies have pushed consumer prices to the stratosphere.\n\nThis kicked off a vicious cycle.\n\nAnd as costs rise, Americans are forced to use their credit cards to cover basic necessities like rent and groceries.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nAmerican households get the short straw: Not only are they paying more for basic necessities, they\u2019re now paying to clean up the Biden administration\u2019s financial mess.\n\nThis burden falls heaviest on the nearly 50% of Americans carrying a credit-card balance, many struggling to make ends meet.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nJust this year, Tyson Foods announced chicken-plant closures in small-town Missouri that will force 2,000 people out of work.\n\nThose workers and their families still need to live.\n\nIf they end up carrying a credit-card balance, why are they fair game for corporate plunder?\n\nAs a nation, we can do better than that.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nSupporting America\u2019s workers and families means tackling the everyday problems they face \u2014 not giving handouts to corporations or foreign governments and hoping the benefits will eventually trickle down.\n\n[\u2026]\n\nOld slogans about the magic of the market won\u2019t cut it anymore.\n\nActually passing a law to cap interest rates is a first step toward a better future \u2014 a future rooted in our own tradition.\n\nAmerican workers and families deserve it.\n\nCongress can pass legislation that makes a real difference.\n\nRepublicans should step up to take the lead.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-presses-tyson-foods-ceo-dangerous-child-labor-practices/", "Hawley Presses Tyson Foods CEO on Dangerous Child Labor Practices", "2023-09-19", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King, demanding answers after a disturbing new report from The New York Times exposed unsafe, illegal child labor practices within the company.\n\n\u201cI am alarmed by new reports that Tyson Foods has actively participated in dangerous and illegal child labor practices,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cAny company that employs, facilitates, encourages, or excuses child labor must be held to account. In light of the facts, you owe the American people an explanation as to Tyson\u2019s child-labor practices.\u201d\n\nLast Friday, Senator Hawley spoke with CEO Donnie King and secured his commitment to protect Missouri jobs, following an announcement that Tyson Foods would be closing its southern Missouri locations. He also introduced the Strengthening Antitrust Enforcement for Meatpacking Act, which would empower antitrust enforcers to break up giant meatpacking and poultry monopolies and place power back in the hands of Missouri\u2019s farmers and workers.\n\nIn May, Senator Hawley introduced the Corporate Responsibility for Child Labor Elimination Act, legislation to compel large corporations to eradicate unlawful child labor from their operations in the United States.\n\nRead the full letter here and below.\n\nSeptember 19, 2023\n\nDonnie D. King\n\nChief Executive Officer\n\nTyson Foods\n\n2200 W. Don Tyson Parkway\n\nSpringdale, AR 72762\n\nDear Mr. King:\n\nI am alarmed by new reports that Tyson Foods has actively participated in dangerous and illegal child labor practices. According to a lengthy report published yesterday in the New York Times, the poultry processing industry has regularly contracted with companies that employ child workers and subjected those children to highly unsafe working conditions. I am especially concerned that Tyson is subcontracting illicit child labor to avoid legal liability.\n\nThe Times report recounts a number of horrific instances in which children\u2014many, if not most, of whom crossed the southern border as unaccompanied minors\u2014were severely injured or even killed while illegally employed at chicken processing plants. The report opens with the story of a teenager whose arm was ripped down to the tendons after it got caught in a factory machine. It goes on to quote a federal inspector who had tried to \u201ctrack down a teenager who she heard had fallen from a ladder at Tyson and broken his leg.\u201d Other examples include an eighth grader from Guatemala who was killed two months ago while working the cleaning shift at a Mississippi plant.\n\nTyson has stated that the company has \u201cno tolerance for child labor,\u201d but the Times report suggests otherwise. According to the Times, every child interviewed by its reporter was fired\u2014after \u201c[s]upervisors who oversaw the cleaning shift at the Tyson plant warned their corporate office that a reporter was spending a lot of time in town.\u201d One of the fired child workers said: \u201cThey made plenty of money from our labor and then tossed us out like trash.\u201d\n\nThe Times suggests Tyson evades accountability for illegal child labor by relying on subcontractors. \u201cEven when inspectors do catch child-labor violations,\u201d the Times reported, \u201cthey usually fine only the subcontracted companies, not the brands themselves.\u201d In short, \u201cthe brands that [have] benefitted from the children\u2019s labor [have] faced no consequences.\u201d\n\nAny company that employs, facilitates, encourages, or excuses child labor must be held to account. In light of the facts, you owe the American people an explanation as to Tyson\u2019s child-labor practices. Please provide me with answers to the following questions by the end of this week:\n\nTo your knowledge, how many instances of child labor violations have occurred at Tyson facilities in the past five years?\n\nIs Tyson fully cooperating with the Department of Labor and any other state or federal authorities that may be investigating the company over potential violations of child labor law?\n\nWhat internal controls are in place to ensure that Tyson does not employ underage workers, or subcontract with companies that employ underage workers?\n\nIn light of the Times report, what changes to company policy will Tyson be making?\n\nHow does Tyson currently handle complaints from its employees or employees of its subcontractors regarding child labor?\n\nWill Tyson pledge to protect whistleblowers who raise concerns regarding child labor?\n\nWill you commit to ending any contracts with companies that have been fined for illegally employing children?\n\nWill you commit to an independent audit to ensure that Tyson\u2019s entire production chain is free of illegal child labor?\n\nI look forward to your prompt response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-secures-commitment-tyson-foods-help-local-farmers-protect-missouri-jobs/", "Hawley Secures Commitment from Tyson Foods to Help Local Farmers, Protect Missouri Jobs", "2023-09-15", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statement after securing a commitment from Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King to help Missouri farmers and protect jobs for hard working Missourians.\n\nYesterday, Senator Hawley introduced the The Strengthening Antitrust Enforcement for Meatpacking Act, new legislation that would empower antitrust enforcers to break up giant meatpacking and poultry monopolies and place power back in the hands of Missouri\u2019s farmers and workers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-stands-auto-workers-protecting-american-jobs/", "Hawley Stands Up for Auto Workers, Protecting American Jobs", "2023-09-15", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statements after the United Auto Workers (UAW) began their strike for a better deal. The Wentzville General Motors plant in Wentzville, Mo., joined the strike.\n\nIn December 2022, Senator Hawley stood with and voted to support rail workers as they sought a fair deal with sick leave.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-introduces-new-antitrust-legislation-break-meatpacking-poultry-monopolies-and-empower/", "Hawley Introduces New Antitrust Legislation to Break Up Meatpacking, Poultry Monopolies and Empower American Farmers, Workers", "2023-09-14", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Strengthening Antitrust Enforcement for Meatpacking Act to empower antitrust enforcers to break up giant meatpacking and poultry monopolies and place power back in the hands of Missouri\u2019s farmers and workers. The introduction of Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation comes after Tyson Foods announced it will be closing the doors of its poultry plants in southern Missouri, costing the state more than 2,000 jobs.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s meatpacking monopolists are making massive profits while shutting down competition,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cCongress must give antitrust prosecutors the power to end anti-competitive behavior without lengthy court battles. It\u2019s time to hold monopolies accountable and empower farmers.\u201d\n\nThe Strengthening Antitrust Enforcement for Meatpacking Act would:\n\nAmend the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 to establish specific thresholds for market concentration, allowing federal antitrust authorities to more effectively prohibit or unwind acquisitions that concentrate the meatpacking sector.\n\nDeter further meatpacking concentration by disincentivizing entrenched meatpacking interests from buying up more competitors.\n\nPut more power back in the hands of farmers and workers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-klobuchar-coons-collins-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-ban-use-materially-deceptive-ai/", "Hawley, Klobuchar, Coons, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Ban the Use of Materially Deceptive AI-Generated Content in Elections", "2023-09-13", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) \u2013 Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law \u2013 joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) to introduce the Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act, a bipartisan bill to ban the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate materially deceptive content falsely depicting federal candidates in political ads to influence federal elections.\n\n\u201cWe must protect the right of Americans to vote without being controlled or manipulated by artificial intelligence companies. Elections belong to the people, not the tech companies,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\nThis bill would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to prohibit the distribution of materially deceptive AI-generated audio, images, or video relating to federal candidates in political ads or certain issue ads to influence a federal election or fundraise. The bill allows federal candidates targeted by this materially deceptive content to have content taken down and enables them to seek damages in federal court. This ban extends to a person, political committee, or other entity that distributes materially deceptive content intended to influence an election or raise money fraudulently. Consistent with the First Amendment, the bill has exceptions for parody, satire, and the use of AI-generated content in news broadcasts.\n\n\u201cRight now, we\u2019re seeing AI used as a tool to influence our democracy. We need rules of the road in place to stop the use of fraudulent AI-generated content in campaign ads. Voters deserve nothing less than full transparency,\u201d said Senator Klobuchar. \u201cThis commonsense, bipartisan legislation would update our laws to prohibit these deceptive ads from being used to mislead voters no matter what party they belong to.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerican democracy faces novel threats from deceptive content generated by artificial intelligence, and we must take action to defend our system of free and fair elections. That is why I\u2019m proud to have worked across the aisle to introduce legislation to safeguard federal elections by restricting the use of AI-generated content. I urge my Senate colleagues to swiftly pass this bill and to protect our electoral system from the risks posed by unregulated AI,\u201d said Senator Coons.\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan legislation would help to strengthen the integrity of our elections while also protecting First Amendment rights,\u201d said Senator Collins.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-introduces-new-legislation-cap-credit-card-interest-rates-and-provide-relief-working/", "Hawley Introduces New Legislation to Cap Credit Card Interest Rates and Provide Relief to Working Americans", "2023-09-12", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Capping Credit Card Interest Rates Act, new legislation that would cap credit card interest rates at common sense levels, bringing relief to working people across America.\n\n\u201cAmericans are being crushed under the weight of record credit card debt\u2014and the biggest banks are just getting richer,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cThe government was quick to bail out the banks just this spring, but has ignored working people struggling to get ahead. Capping the maximum credit card interest rate is fair, common-sense, and gives the working class a chance.\u201d\n\nCumulative consumer credit card debt recently surpassed one trillion dollars, the highest level in history. Last year, many major credit cards soared past the 30 percent interest rate threshold for the first time, and now the average rate of interest is hitting a record level. This means working people face higher financial burdens at the same exact time the biggest banks are booking bumper profits and wielding immense power over the market.\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s Capping Credit Card Interest Rates Act would:\n\nCap the annual percentage rate (APR) for credit cards at 18 percent.\n\nPrevent credit card companies from imposing new fees to evade the cap.\n\nImpose penalties on credit card companies that violate the cap.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-hawley-demands-answers-washington-university-transgender-center-after-further-evidence/", "Senator Hawley Demands Answers from Washington University Transgender Center After Further Evidence of Abuse of Minors", "2023-09-07", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter demanding that Washington University in St. Louis and BJC Healthcare conduct a fresh evaluation of the practices at The Washington University Transgender Center. Recent reporting from the New York Times validated claims made by Jamie Reed, a former case manager at the Center, that the Center commenced experimental treatments on hundreds of minors and lacked appropriate safeguards.\n\n\u201cAs you have no doubt seen, the New York Times recently published a report which corroborates Jamie Reed\u2019s allegations about the practices at The Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children\u2019s Hospital,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cIn some cases, the Times contradicts representations your institutions previously made to my office. You have thus far refused to provide my office with documents regarding the Center, claiming that your internal review revealed no issues at the Center.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThis new report demands a fresh evaluation of the Center\u2019s practices. To date, however, you have refused to provide my office with more than 5,000 documents, which I requested in a letter on April 27, 2023. Please provide such documents to my office immediately. Please also explain any apparent discrepancies between the University\u2019s internal review and the Times report, including anything contained in the Times report that you may consider inaccurate.\u201d\n\nIn February, Senator Hawley launched an investigation into The Washington University Transgender Center, following allegations of potential malpractice. As part of the investigation, Senator Hawley sent a letter to Washington University Chancellor Andrew Martin and BJC HealthCare President and CEO Liekweg, requesting information about the receipt and use of federal funds in connection with the Center. Chancellor Martin confirmed to Senator Hawley that Washington University would comply with the request within four weeks.\n\nSenator Hawley also introduced the Protecting Our Kids from Child Abuse Act, which would allow those who were harmed by gender-transition procedures as minors to bring lawsuits against the participating individuals and entities.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nSeptember 7, 2023\n\nDr. Andrew D. Martin\n\nChancellor\n\nWashington University in St. Louis\n\n1 Brookings Dr.\n\nSt. Louis, MO 63130\n\nRichard J. Liekweg\n\nPresident and CEO\n\nBJC HealthCare\n\n4901 Forest Park Avenue\n\nSt. Louis, MO 63108\n\nDr. Martin and Mr. Liekweg:\n\nAs you have no doubt seen, the New York Times recently published a report which corroborates Jamie Reed\u2019s allegations about the practices at The Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children\u2019s Hospital. In some cases, the Times contradicts representations your institutions previously made to my office. You have thus far refused to provide my office with documents regarding the Center, claiming that your internal review revealed no issues at the Center. In light of this new report, I request once again that you immediately furnish my office with such documentation.\n\nJamie Reed has been vilified for coming forward with her allegations, and many in the mainstream press and elsewhere rushed to discredit her account. Now, months later, the Times has validated her central claim: that the Center has commenced experimental treatments on hundreds of minors without appropriate safeguards in place. According to the Times:\n\nWith its psychologists overbooked, the clinic relied on external therapists, some with little experience in gender issues, to evaluate the young patients\u2019 readiness for hormonal medications. Doctors prescribed hormones to patients who had obtained such approvals, even adolescents whose medical histories raised red flags. Some of these patients later stopped identifying as transgender, and received little to no support from the clinic after doing so.\n\nThe Times report invites further scrutiny into previous statements contained in the University\u2019s internal review of the Center, which was provided to my office on April 21, 2023. For example, the review states that University physicians and Center staff \u201ctreat patients according to the currently accepted standard of care.\u201d According to text messages obtained by the Times, however, the Center\u2019s lead physician said he had \u201cno idea how to meet what would be the most intensive interpretations\u201d of the latest standard of care\u2014raising questions about the procedures and processes actually employed at the Center.\n\nThe Times report shows that the Center makes little to no effort to follow up with patients or track their outcomes, directly contradicting the results of your own internal review. In one case independently verified by the Times, a patient de-transitioned three years after being prescribed testosterone following just one visit to the Center, but was treated dismissively by Center staff and told there was no need for follow-up. According to the patient, \u201coverall, there was a major lack of care and consideration for me.\u201d As evidenced by its practices, the Center is apparently uninterested in its patients\u2019 outcomes over the long term.\n\nAdditionally, despite the University\u2019s claim in its review that \u201c[m]ental health care and counseling is a priority at the Center,\u201d the Times found that the Center largely outsources this to outside therapists, many of whom do not possess relevant expertise. It appears the Center\u2019s practice only requires a single letter from such a therapist to vet a minor\u2019s mental health before prescribing the minor potentially irreversible medications. The Times also confirmed numerous patients at the Center who had severe psychiatric issues, including one on testosterone who stopped taking schizophrenia medication without consulting a doctor.\n\nThis new report demands a fresh evaluation of the Center\u2019s practices. To date, however, you have refused to provide my office with more than 5,000 documents, which I requested in a letter on April 27, 2023. Please provide such documents to my office immediately. Please also explain any apparent discrepancies between the University\u2019s internal review and the Times report, including anything contained in the Times report that you may consider inaccurate.\n\nFinally, please describe in detail the Center\u2019s plans to comply fully with \u00a7\u00a7191.1720 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, which generally prohibits the prescription or administration of puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones to minors, among other provisions.\n\nI look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,\n\nJosh Hawley\n\nUnited States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-urges-postal-service-prioritize-rebuilding-post-office-destroyed-baring-mo-tornado/", "Hawley Urges Postal Service to Prioritize Rebuilding Post Office Destroyed in Baring, Mo., Tornado", "2023-09-06", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis Dejoy of the United States Postal Service (USPS) seeking an update on the status of the Post Office in Baring, Mo., after it was destroyed by a tornado on August 4, 2023.\n\n\u201cLosing a functioning Post Office is more than an inconvenience for Baring\u2019s citizens. They risk losing access to reliable medical delivery, payment disbursements, and indispensable communications,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley.\n\nHe continued, \u201cUnited States Postal Service (USPS) should prioritize rebuilding this critical infrastructure as soon as possible to ensure the people of Baring promptly regain access to deliveries and other vital services that they depend on.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nSeptember 6, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Louis Dejoy\n\nPostmaster General\n\nUnited States Postal Service\n\n475 L\u2019Enfant Plaza SW\n\nWashington, DC 20024\n\nDear Postmaster General Dejoy,\n\nI write to urge you to immediately address the closure of the Post Office in Baring, Missouri, which was recently damaged by a tornado. United States Postal Service (USPS) should prioritize rebuilding this critical infrastructure as soon as possible to ensure the people of Baring promptly regain access to deliveries and other vital services that they depend on.\n\nOn August 4, 2023, Knox County was struck by an EF-2 tornado. According to reports, this natural disaster affected local businesses, damaged 62 homes, and almost completely destroyed Baring\u2019s Post Office building. The tornado removed the building\u2019s roof and several walls; it has now been deemed inoperative. According to a recent USPS press release, mail operations at the facility will be suspended. Encouragingly, it appears that some deliveries will be rerouted to the Edina Post Office for P.O. Box customers. While this is a helpful remedy for some residents, USPS must promptly restore normal operations and services to the area.\n\nLosing a functioning Post Office is more than an inconvenience for Baring\u2019s citizens. They risk losing access to reliable medical delivery, payment disbursements, and indispensable communications. I therefore urge you to rebuild the Post Office, resume normal deliveries, and initiate a public awareness campaign, in coordination with local officials, to make sure Baring residents are informed of the remedial steps your agency is taking.\n\nAs a Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I know the important work that USPS performs on a daily basis for millions of Americans. I am also committed to making sure that the committee oversees how USPS ensures services for rural residents following natural disasters, like this one. I am therefore also requesting regular updates on the reconstruction of the Baring Post Office building so that, together, we can ensure that Baring residents are served by USPS.\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\nJosh Hawley\n\nUnited States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/biden-backs-hawley-lujan-legislation-provide-aid-victims-nuclear-contamination/", "Biden Backs Hawley-Luj\u00e1n Legislation to Provide Aid to Victims of Nuclear Contamination", "2023-08-10", "2023", "2023-08", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) issued the following statement after President Biden endorsed Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation to compensate victims of government-caused nuclear contamination originating from the Manhattan Project. Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation was adopted by the Senate as part of the National Defense Authorization Act in July. The legislation was introduced with support from Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).\n\nSenator Hawley said: \u201cCompensating victims of government-caused nuclear contamination and negligence should not be a partisan issue. It\u2019s about justice. I am glad President Biden has announced his support of our amendment, but now we need action. This amendment must be included in the final negotiated defense bill that the President signs into law. And we also must hear from the Biden Administration about their next steps to support victims in the St. Louis area and beyond.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community and all Missourians impacted by government-caused nuclear contamination.\n\nOn July 27, 2023, in a strong bipartisan vote, Senator Hawley secured passage of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would provide compensation to victims of government-caused nuclear contamination. The legislation extends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to cover victims of improperly-stored nuclear waste in affected areas in the St. Louis region. The measure\u2014which was cosponsored by Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n and Mike Crapo\u2014also reauthorized and strengthened the RECA program to cover more impacted Americans from nuclear tests along with uranium miners.\n\nEarlier in July, Senator Hawley sent a letter to the Department of Energy (DOE), urging additional testing for radioactive contamination at a site in St. Charles County, Mo., after a review of the Weldon Spring site in 2021 offered an extensive critique of the DOE\u2019s cleanup and monitoring efforts there. Senator Hawley also sent a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman, Senator Joe Manchin, urging him to convene a committee hearing to discuss the government-caused nuclear contamination of the St. Louis area. In addition, Senator Hawley penned separate letters to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), DOE, and Environmental Protection Agency, demanding answers from the government about the nuclear contamination.\n\nIn April, Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation mandating the clean up of Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District and radioactive waste testing passed the U.S. Senate and Biden\u2019s Energy Secretary Granholm also vowed to support it.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:31:44Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senate-adopts-hawley-legislation-providing-funding-victims-stl-region-nuclear-contamination/", "Senate Adopts Hawley Legislation Providing Funding for Victims of STL Region Nuclear Contamination", "2023-07-27", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley\u2019s (R-Mo.) legislation to compensate victims of government-caused nuclear contamination in the greater St. Louis area was adopted by the U.S. Senate. The legislation took the form of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation was co-sponsored by Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).\n\n\u201cFor fifty years, fifty years the federal government has put into the water, into the soil, into the air of St. Louis and surrounding regions radioactive nuclear material,\u201dsaid Senator Hawley. \u201cThey have not told the people of St. Louis. They have not compensated the people of St. Louis. They have not helped the people of St. Louis.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cMr. President, it is time to make this right. The amendment we are about to vote on is a very simple amendment\u2014it is about basic justice\u2014compensating the victims of the federal government\u2019s negligence for what the government itself has done.\u201d\n\nSenator Schmitt said, \u201cIt\u2019s unconscionable that this radioactive waste was allowed to be recklessly dumped around the St. Louis area, and the ones paying for it the most are innocent St. Louis families. I grew up in Bridgeton, at the epicenter of this issue, and this is near and dear to my heart. The federal government has an obligation to keep Americans safe, and the pure negligence that has harmed St. Louisans has been brushed aside and covered up for far too long. I\u2019m proud to co-sponsor Senator Hawley\u2019s amendment in order to ensure this disaster is rectified and radiation victims in St. Louis are taken care of.\u201d\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s legislation will:\n\nExtend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to cover victims of improperly stored Manhattan Project waste in the St. Louis region.\n\nProvide RECA compensation to those living in particular geographic areas who suffer from diseases associated with long-term exposure to radiation.\n\nHelp make right a government-caused environmental and health disaster that has impacted Missourians over the last 80 years.\n\nView the full legislative text here.\n\nBackground\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community and all Missourians impacted by government-caused nuclear contamination.\n\nMost recently, Senator Hawley sent a letter to the Department of Energy (DOE), urging additional testing for radioactive contamination at a site in St. Charles County, Mo., after a review of the Weldon Spring site in 2021 offered an extensive critique of the DOE\u2019s cleanup and monitoring efforts there.\n\nThis month, Senator Hawley sent a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman, Senator Joe Manchin, urging him to convene a committee hearing to discuss the government-caused nuclear contamination of the St. Louis area. He also sent separate letters to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), DOE, and Environmental Protection Agency, demanding answers from the government about the nuclear contamination.\n\nIn April, Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation mandating the clean up of Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District and radioactive waste testing passed the U.S. Senate and Biden\u2019s Energy Secretary Granholm also vowed to support it.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/soon-hawley-secures-vote-amendment-provide-funding-victims-stl-region-nuclear-contamination/", "SOON: Hawley Secures Vote on Amendment to Provide Funding for Victims of STL Region Nuclear Contamination", "2023-07-27", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "This afternoon, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) will bring up his amendment for a full U.S. Senate vote, extending the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to include victims of Manhattan Project contamination in the St. Louis region.\n\nRemarks will be livestreamed here.\n\nWHO: Senator Josh Hawley\n\nWHAT: Vote on Senator Hawley\u2019s amendment to the NDAA, support for victims of nuclear contamination in the STL region\n\nWHEN: Today, July 27, 2023 at approximately 4:00 pm ET\n\nWHERE: U.S. Senate Chamber\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s amendment would:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:25:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-blumenthal-hold-hearing-principles-regulating-artificial-intelligence/", "Hawley, Blumenthal Hold Hearing On Principles For Regulating Artificial Intelligence", "2023-07-26", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, held a hearing on the guiding principles for regulating artificial intelligence (A.I.) moving forward.\n\nSenator Hawley questioned leaders in the A.I. space\u2014including Dario Amodei, Cofounder and CEO of Anthropic, Yoshua Bengio, Professor at the Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al, and Stuart Russell, Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley\u2014on the role of Big Tech in smaller A.I. development firms, the importance of safeguarding our A.I. supply chains, and the issue of offshoring of A.I.-related jobs.\n\n\u201cFor my part, I have expressed my own sense of what our priorities ought to be when it comes to legislation. It\u2019s very simple: workers, kids, consumers, and national security,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cAs A.I. develops, we have got to make sure that we have safeguards in place that will ensure this new technology is actually good for the American people.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cI\u2019m less interested in the corporation\u2019s profitability, in fact I\u2019m not interested in that at all. I\u2019m interested in protecting the rights of American workers and American families and American consumers against these massive companies that threaten to become a total law unto themselves.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-demands-doe-improve-nuclear-contamination-cleanup-efforts-weldon-spring-site/", "Hawley Demands DOE Improve Nuclear Contamination Cleanup Efforts at Weldon Spring Site", "2023-07-24", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, urging the Department conduct additional testing for radioactive contamination at a site in St. Charles County, Mo. After a review of the Weldon Spring site in 2021, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources offered an extensive critique of the DOE\u2019s cleanup and monitoring efforts at that location. These concerns were recently made public.\n\n\u201cOn May 27, 2021, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources submitted extensive comments on the Department\u2019s Weldon Spring Site Draft Sixth Five-Year Review,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cThat review [\u2026] aimed to analyze the state of contamination at the Weldon Spring site. In those comments, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources identified serious sampling deficiencies in the Department\u2019s remediation plan.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cDOE must immediately take steps to conduct additional sampling in this area, including through the establishment of additional monitoring sites, pursuant to the detailed request provided by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nJuly 24, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Jennifer Granholm\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Energy\n\n1000 Independence Ave, S.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20585\n\nSecretary Granholm:\n\nThe residents of my state are suffering from ongoing radioactive contamination. That contamination was caused by the government\u2019s Manhattan Project efforts, and it has never been properly cleaned up. Instead of active remedies, the government now relies on a strategy of \u201cmonitored natural attenuation\u201d\u2014essentially, hoping the problem corrects itself.\n\nWe know now that current measures are not enough. And your Department has been aware of the problem for years. On May 27, 2021, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources submitted extensive comments on the Department\u2019s Weldon Spring Site Draft Sixth Five-Year Review. That review\u2014which was prescribed by Section 121 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986\u2014aimed to analyze the state of contamination at the Weldon Spring site.\n\nIn those comments, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources identified serious sampling deficiencies in the Department\u2019s remediation plan. Among them:\n\nThe unweathered zone for uranium, northwest of monitoring well 4043, was insufficiently defined. An additional Burlington-Keokuk monitoring well should be placed in this region, with its location determined by a geophysical survey using electrical resistivity tomography and multichannel analysis of surface waves.\n\nThe sampling of the Burlington-Keokuk Limestone bedrock was insufficient. Additional sampling locations are required to properly account for vertical and lateral contaminant distribution.\n\nInsufficient monitoring sites were present within the monitoring well network in the area of the Chemical Plant.\n\nThe sampling of uranium content in the Femme Osage Slough was based on 1997 data, not current data. As a result, stakeholders have no way of knowing whether radiation levels in this area remain within acceptable parameters.\n\nExisting monitoring wells were not sampling at the same depth level\u2014one well was monitoring 47-52 feet below ground level, while others were monitoring at 77-97 and 95-105 feet below ground level. Accordingly, more monitoring wells are needed to ensure consistency.\n\nDOE must immediately take steps to conduct additional sampling in this area, including through the establishment of additional monitoring sites, pursuant to the detailed request provided by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Additionally, please provide the following information by August 15, 2023.\n\nSince 2021, has DOE taken any steps to revise its remediation strategy for the Weldon Spring site in light of these comments from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources?\n\nPlease provide an estimate of the projected cost of expanding sampling measures consistent with the recommendations of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.\n\nThank you for your immediate attention to this matter. The residents of St. Louis and its surrounding communities deserve justice.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:25:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-gillibrand-introduce-landmark-bill-banning-stock-trading-and-ownership-congress-executive/", "Hawley, Gillibrand to Introduce Landmark Bill Banning Stock Trading and Ownership by Congress, Executive Branch Officials and Their Families", "2023-07-19", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) will introduce the bipartisan Ban Stock Trading for Government Officials Act. The legislation would create stringent stock trading bans and disclosure requirements for Congress, senior executive branch officials, and their spouses and dependents. The bill bans stock trading, stock ownership, and blind trusts; imposes heavy penalties for executive branch stock trading; requires reporting of federal benefits; creates additional transparency in financial disclosure reports; and increases transaction report penalties under the original STOCK Act.\n\n\u201cPoliticians and civil servants shouldn\u2019t spend their time day-trading and trying to make a profit at the expense of the American public, but that\u2019s exactly what so many are doing,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cMy bill with Senator Gillibrand is common sense: ban elected and executive branch officials from trading or holding stocks, and put the American public first.\u201d\n\n\u201cSunlight is the best disinfectant. It is critical that the American people know that their elected leaders are putting the public first \u2013 not looking for ways to line their own pockets,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cThe landmark Ban Stock Trading for Government Officials Act bars members of Congress, executive branch officials and their families from holding or trading stocks, increases disclosure requirements and imposes harsh penalties on violators. This bill is the most substantive bipartisan effort to date and I\u2019m going to work hard alongside Senator Hawley to get it signed into law.\u201d\n\nThe Ban Stock Trading for Government Officials Act includes the following provisions:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:25:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-urges-senate-hearing-government-caused-nuclear-contamination-st-louis-region/", "Hawley Urges Senate Hearing on Government-Caused Nuclear Contamination in the St. Louis Region", "2023-07-19", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), urging him to convene a committee hearing to discuss the government-caused nuclear contamination of the St. Louis area as well as the steps that involved government agencies are taking to remediate the area.\n\n\u201cLast week, new reports provided stunning information about radioactive contamination in the St. Louis area resulting from the Manhattan Project. These reports reveal that contamination in the St. Louis area may prove to be among the most significant government-caused environmental disasters in our nation\u2019s history,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cWhat\u2019s worse, it\u2019s now clear that the Federal government knew about the contamination but failed to appropriately inform the public.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cResidents in the St. Louis area, and frankly all Americans, deserve answers from the federal government about this horrible catastrophe. I urge you to convene a hearing with department officials to discuss the agencies\u2019 roles in this government-caused disaster and the steps the agencies are taking to remediate the area.\u201d\n\nSenator Hawley traveled to the St. Louis region last week and visited Jana Elementary School and Coldwater Creek, areas both affected by decades-old nuclear contamination. During a rally with advocates from the community, Senator Hawley called on the federal government to authorize a fund for St. Louis residents who fell victim to radioactive contamination due to bureaucratic negligence and vowed to do everything in his power to bring the community justice.\n\nBackground\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community.\n\nLast week, Senator Hawley spoke on the Senate floor where he announcednew legislation to create a fund for the victims of radioactive contamination in the St. Louis region.\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s legislation mandating the clean up of Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District and radioactive waste testing recentlypassed the U.S. Senate. Biden\u2019s Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm also vowed to support it.\n\nIn March, Senator Hawley delivered remarks on the Senate floor and attempted to unanimously pass his legislation to clean up Jana Elementary School and test the surrounding buildings in the Hazelwood School District, but it was blocked.\n\nIn early March, Senator Hawley called out the Biden Administration for its lack of action on the Jana Elementary School cleanup.\n\nIn February, Senator Hawley introduced the Justice for Jana Elementary Act following an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing where hepushed the DOE for answers on the radioactive waste found at the school.\n\nIn January, Senator Hawley and Congresswoman Cori Bush sent a letter to USACE Lieutenant General Spellmon calling for additional radioactive testing of Hazelwood School District\u2019s properties.\n\nLast October, Senator Hawley demanded that USACE conduct radioactive testing at Jana Elementary School following reports of contamination, andcalled on President Biden to declare a federal emergency and make aid available for students and families.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nJuly 19, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Joe Manchin\n\nChairman\n\nCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources\n\nUnited States Senate\n\nWashington, 20510\n\nChairman Manchin:\n\nLast week, new reports provided stunning information about radioactive contamination in the St. Louis area resulting from the Manhattan Project. These reports reveal that contamination in the St. Louis area may prove to be among the most significant government-caused environmental disasters in our nation\u2019s history. What\u2019s worse, it\u2019s now clear that the Federal government knew about the contamination but failed to appropriately inform the public. I urge you to convene an oversight hearing as soon as possible to investigate this matter.\n\nIn the 1940\u2019s, uranium processing for the Manhattan project took place in downtown St. Louis, resulting in radioactive waste. The federal government then stored this waste above ground near the St. Louis airport for twenty years. The waste was improperly stored, causing it to seep into the ground and the nearby Coldwater Creek. In 1966, the Federal government hired a company, Cotter Corp, to dispose of the waste. Instead of properly disposing of the waste, the company dumped it in the West Lake Landfill, where it remains today.\n\nThe Department of Energy knew about contamination in Coldwater Creek as early as 1965, but kept information about the contamination from the public until 1990. According to the report, \u201cFederal agencies knew of the potential human health risks of the creek contamination, but repeatedly wrote them off as \u2018slight,\u2019 \u2018minimal,\u2019 or \u2018low-level.\u2019\u201d Moreover, despite warnings from experts in Missouri, the Environmental Protection Agency failed to conduct adequate testing of the Westlake Landfill and continues to ignore Missouri experts\u2019 warnings of spreading contamination. These are just a few of the disturbing revelations from the 15,000 pages of government documents obtained by the news media.\n\nDuring my time on this Committee, I have pressed Department of Energy officials to remediate radioactive contamination in the St. Louis area. And, as you know, on October 18, 2022 the Hazelwood School District shut down Jana Elementary School in Florissant, Missouri, after private testing found radiation levels that were 22 times higher than normal levels in the school. I have written to the Department of Energy, the Army Corps of Engineers, and even the President asking for remediation of the elementary school and the Federal government has yet to take meaningful action.\n\nResidents in the St. Louis area, and frankly all Americans, deserve answers from the federal government about this horrible catastrophe. I urge you to convene a hearing with department officials to discuss the agencies\u2019 roles in this government-caused disaster and the steps the agencies are taking to remediate the area.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-urges-action-law-requiring-duck-boat-safety-regulations/", "Hawley Urges Action on Law Requiring \u2018Duck Boat\u2019 Safety Regulations", "2023-07-18", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Linda Fagan calling for the law requiring new safety standards for DUKW amphibious vehicles, also known as \u201cduck boats,\u201d to be properly implemented. New standards are intended to help prevent future tragedies following the 2018 accident on Table Rock Lake that claimed the lives of 17 people.\n\n\u201cWhen I joined the Senate, one of the first bills I introduced was the Duck Boat Safety Enhancement Act of 2020. This legislation aimed to prevent similar accidents in the future by requiring amphibious vehicles meet minimum buoyancy requirements, weather preparedness standards, and new canopy regulations,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cIt is critically important that we ensure the safety of all passengers and prevent future accidents.\u201d\n\nSenator Hawley introduced his Duck Boat Safety Enhancement Act originally in 2019, and through a series of reintroductions it passed the House and Senate. The new standards were signed into law as part of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. That law gave the Coast Guard six months to take action on implementing the additional safety standards\u2014a deadline that has now passed.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nJuly 18, 2023\n\nAdmiral Linda Fagan\n\nCommandant\n\nU.S. Coast Guard\n\n2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE\n\nWashington, DC 20032\n\nDear Commandant Fagan,\n\nI write concerning the United States Coast Guard\u2019s statutory obligation to issue new safety regulations for DUKW amphibious vehicles, also known as \u201cduck boats.\u201d\n\nAs you may know, on July 19, 2018, Missouri experienced one of the deadliest boating accidents in U.S. history. An amphibious duck boat capsized during a severe thunderstorm on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, tragically claiming the lives of 17 people. That is why, when I joined the Senate, one of the first bills I introduced was the Duck Boat Safety Enhancement Act of 2020. This legislation aimed to prevent similar accidents in the future by requiring amphibious vehicles meet minimum buoyancy requirements, weather preparedness standards, and new canopy regulations.\n\nAs you know, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 included this legislation, which requires you to \u201cinitiate a rulemaking to establish additional safety standards for DUKW amphibious passenger vessels\u201d within \u201c6 months.\u201d President Biden signed this into law on December 23, 2022. It has now been over six months.\n\nWhile there are some indications you have begun work on these new standards, I urge you to complete this process and issue the new guidance as soon as possible. It is critically important that we ensure the safety of all passengers and prevent future accidents. By August 1, 2023, please provide my office an update on the status of this regulation and your expected timeline for issuing the rule.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:25:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/new-senator-hawley-demands-usace-doe-and-epa-answer-st-louis-contamination/", "NEW: Senator Hawley Demands USACE, DOE, and EPA Answer for St. Louis Contamination", "2023-07-14", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent separate letters to United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan demanding answers on nuclear contamination in the St. Louis region.\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s letters followed a disturbing new report of a decades-long effort to downplay and conceal the risks of radioactive contamination in St. Louis, Missouri. The report verified that the federal government and companies responsible for Manhattan Project nuclear testing in the St. Louis area, \u201cwere aware of health risks, spills, improperly stored contaminants and other problems but often ignored them.\u201d\n\nOn Wednesday, Senator Hawley delivered remarks about the report on the Senate floor and announced new legislation to create a fund for the victims of the radioactive contamination. Yesterday, Senator Hawley traveled to the St. Louis region, attended a rally with advocates from the community, and called on the federal government to support his legislation.\n\nTo the USACE, Senator Hawley wrote: \u201cThe United States Army Corps of Engineers has spent the last year ignoring calls to conduct testing for radioactive contamination at St. Louis schools. Your excuse has been that USACE already knows the location of the contamination. It is now clear how ridiculous those statements are; the government\u2019s efforts to track contamination in St. Louis have been nonchalant, even negligent.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThe allegations in this report require that you revisit your refusal to conduct further testing of the Hazelwood School District. [\u2026] The government cannot continue to hide behind claims that it has competently tracked this deadly contamination.\u201d\n\nRead the full USACE letter here.\n\nTo the DOE, Senator Hawley wrote: \u201cThese incidents are, as the report says, \u2018the tip of the iceberg.\u2019 There are too many incidents of concealed contamination and negligent testing to reproduce in this letter. And these incidents are not confined to the distant past, the DOE has ignored calls for further testing in the St. Louis area just this year. The allegations in this report demand answers.\u201d\n\nRead the full DOE letter here.\n\nTo the EPA, Senator Hawley wrote: \u201cThe details of the report are appalling. Despite knowing of contamination at the West Lake Landfill as early as 1974, the EPA failed to discover and disclose the full extent of the contamination until May of this year. During that time, the contamination has been spreading, leeching into the surrounding land and clinging to trucks leaving the landfill.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThe people of St. Louis have a right to know the full extent of radioactive contamination in their community\u2014along with when exactly the West Lake Landfill will be cleaned up.\u201d\n\nRead the full EPA letter here.\n\nBackground:\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community. Most recently, Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation mandating the clean up of Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District and radioactive waste testing passed the U.S. Senate. Biden\u2019s Energy Secretary Granholm also vowed to support it.\n\nIn March, Senator Hawley delivered remarks on the Senate floor and attempted to unanimously pass his legislation to clean up Jana Elementary School and test the surrounding buildings in the Hazelwood School District, but it was blocked.\n\nIn early March, Senator Hawley called out the Biden Administration for its lack of action on the Jana Elementary School cleanup.\n\nIn February, Senator Hawley introduced the Justice for Jana Elementary Act following an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing where he pushed the DOE for answers on the radioactive waste found at the school.\n\nIn January, Senator Hawley and Congresswoman Cori Bush sent a letter to USACE Lieutenant General Spellmon calling for additional radioactive testing of Hazelwood School District\u2019s properties.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:25:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-visits-st-louis-area-impacted-radioactive-waste-vows-justice-community/", "Hawley Visits St. Louis Area Impacted by Radioactive Waste, Vows Justice for Community", "2023-07-13", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) traveled to the St. Louis region where he visited the Jana Elementary School and Coldwater Creek, areas both affected by decades-old nuclear waste. During a rally with advocates from the community, Senator Hawley called on the federal government to authorize a fund for St. Louis residents who fell victim to radioactive contamination due to bureaucratic negligence and vowed to do everything in his power to bring the community justice.\n\n\u201cNow we have got to put in place this fund to make whole every person who has been ill and who has suffered any kind of negative consequence from this,\u201d said Senator Hawley. [\u2026] \u201cThe federal government has done this before for other victims of their nuclear programs.\u201d\n\n\u201cYour government asked you to bear the brunt of a nuclear program that they never owned up to and its effects, and now it\u2019s time that they gave you some basic justice for what they have done,\u201d Senator Hawley concluded.\n\nBackground\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community. Yesterday, Senator Hawley spoke on the Senate floor where he announced new legislation to create a fund for the victims of radioactive contamination in the St. Louis region.\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s legislation mandating the clean up of Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District and radioactive waste testing recently passed the U.S. Senate. Biden\u2019s Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm also vowed to support it.\n\nIn March, Senator Hawley delivered remarks on the Senate floor and attempted to unanimously pass his legislation to clean up Jana Elementary School and test the surrounding buildings in the Hazelwood School District, but it was blocked.\n\nIn early March, Senator Hawley called out the Biden Administration for its lack of action on the Jana Elementary School cleanup.\n\nIn February, Senator Hawley introduced the Justice for Jana Elementary Act following an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing where he pushed the DOE for answers on the radioactive waste found at the school.\n\nIn January, Senator Hawley and Congresswoman Cori Bush sent a letter to USACE Lieutenant General Spellmon calling for additional radioactive testing of Hazelwood School District\u2019s properties.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:25:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-announces-new-legislation-compensate-victims-nuclear-waste-st-louis-area/", "Hawley Announces New Legislation to Compensate Victims of Nuclear Waste in St. Louis Area", "2023-07-12", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced new legislation to create a fund for the victims of radioactive contamination in the St. Louis region. His announcement followed a disturbing new report that details how the federal government and companies responsible for Manhattan Project waste in the region \u201cwere aware of health risks, spills, improperly stored contaminants and other problems but often ignored them.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe people of St. Louis have borne the burden of [the Manhattan Project] \u2014 and now it\u2019s time for their government to make it right. What needs to happen is this: The federal government needs to pay the medical bills for any St. Louis resident who has contracted cancer or an autoimmune virus or a genetic disorder because of exposure to radioactive contamination,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\nHe continued, \u201cI will introduce legislation that will provide this support, that will provide this justice to the people of St. Louis. [\u2026] This is not a handout to the people of St. Louis. They\u2019re not asking for a giveaway. They\u2019re asking for some basic fairness. When their government imposes on them diseases and disaster because of nuclear contamination, the least their government can do is to make it right. And I will come to this floor as long as it takes until we make it right for the men and women and children of St. Louis.\u201d\n\nClick here or above for full remarks.\n\nBackground\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community. Most recently, Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation mandating the clean up of Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District and radioactive waste testing passed the U.S. Senate. Biden\u2019s Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm also vowed to support it.\n\nIn March, Senator Hawley delivered remarks on the Senate floor and attempted to unanimously pass his legislation to clean up Jana Elementary School and test the surrounding buildings in the Hazelwood School District, but it was blocked.\n\nIn early March, Senator Hawley called out the Biden Administration for its lack of action on the Jana Elementary School cleanup.\n\nIn February, Senator Hawley introduced the Justice for Jana Elementary Act following an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing where he pushed the DOE for answers on the radioactive waste found at the school.\n\nIn January, Senator Hawley and Congresswoman Cori Bush sent a letter to USACE Lieutenant General Spellmon calling for additional radioactive testing of Hazelwood School District\u2019s properties.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:25:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-statement-new-reporting-about-radioactive-waste-st-louis/", "Hawley Statement on New Reporting about Radioactive Waste in St. Louis", "2023-07-12", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Hawley Statement on New Reporting about Radioactive Waste in St. Louis\nWednesday, July 12, 2023\nAfter\nnew reporting\nabout ongoing radioactive waste problems in St. Louis,\u00a0U.S.\u00a0Senator\u00a0Josh\u00a0Hawley\u00a0(R-Mo.)\u00a0released the following\nstatement\n:\nYears of stonewalling, half truths and downright lies to the people of St. Louis from their government. This is why I jammed through the Senate a new law to clean up Jana Elementary \u2013 or rebuild it. No more excuses\nhttps://t.co/l1nrJxxYKe\n\u2014 Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO)\nJuly 12, 2023\nBackground\nIn April, Senator Hawley\u2019s legislation\npassed the Senate\n, mandating the clean up of Jana Elementary School and radioactive waste testing to be performed at the surrounding buildings in the Hazelwood School District. Biden Energy Secretary Granholm\npledged to support the bill\n.\nIn March, Senator Hawley\ncalled out\nthe Biden Administration for its lack of action on the Jana Elementary School cleanup.\nIn February, Senator Hawley\nintroduced\nthe\nJustice for Jana Elementary Act\nfollowing\u00a0an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing where he\npushed\nthe DOE for answers on the radioactive waste found at the school.\nIn January, Senator Hawley and Representative Bush\nsent a letter\nto USACE Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon calling for additional radioactive testing of Hazelwood School District\u2019s properties.\nLast October, Senator Hawley\ndemanded\nthat USACE conduct radioactive testing at Jana Elementary School following reports of contamination, and\ncalled on\nPresident Biden to declare a federal emergency and make aid available for students and families.\nIssues\n\u2190\nPrevious\nNext\n\u2192", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senators-hawley-and-vance-introduce-legislation-prevent-further-accounting-errors-dod/", "Senators Hawley and Vance Introduce Legislation to Prevent Further Accounting Errors at the DoD", "2023-07-12", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and JD Vance (R-Ohio) introduced legislation to require the Department of Defense (DoD) to use accounting methods that capture the true cost of sending weapons from U.S. stockpiles abroad. This legislation will help prevent further accounting issues at the Department, including the $6.2 billion \u201cvaluation error\u201d of certain military equipment provided to Ukraine.\n\n\u201cThe so-called \u2018valuation errors\u2019 around U.S. aid to Ukraine is a transparent attempt to bypass Congress for additional funds, while continuing to prioritize Ukraine over more vital U.S. interests, including deterring China in the Pacific,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cWe must force the DoD to appropriately account for any future aid, not only for Ukraine, but also for all U.S. security assistance going forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis legislation will save American taxpayers from footing the bill for shoddy accounting at the Pentagon,\u201d said Senator Vance. \u201cThere should be no excuse for accounting errors with a seven-figure price tag. With this bill, Congress can ensure that the cost of our military aid is properly and consistently calculated.\u201d\n\nEarlier this week, Senator Hawley sent a letter with several colleagues to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanding an explanation from the DoD for the reported $6.2 billion accounting error in U.S. security assistance to Ukraine.\n\nIn March, Senator Hawley introduced the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance Act to establish a Special Inspector General to oversee the military and non-military assistance to Ukraine. He also called for a vote on his measure to demand more accountability in March, at which time 68 Senators voted against it.\n\nThe Senators\u2019 legislation would:\n\nEnsure the DoD\u2019s valuation of defense articles and services sent abroad under the Presidential Drawdown Authority section in 506(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act accurately reflects what these transfers will cost American taxpayers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:25:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-colleagues-demand-answers-biden-dod-ukraine-aid-accounting-error/", "Hawley, Colleagues Demand Answers from Biden DoD on Ukraine Aid Accounting Error", "2023-07-11", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), joined by Senators JD Vance (R-Ohio), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.), sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanding an explanation from the Department of Defense (DoD) for the reported $6.2 billion accounting error in U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. As President Biden arrives in Lithuania for a critical NATO summit, the Senators called for limits on military aid to Ukraine and questioned the DoD\u2019s accounting procedures.\n\n\u201cOn June 20, 2023, a DoD spokesperson asserted that DoD had been \u2018overestimating the value\u2019 of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine by a combined $6.2 billion over fiscal years 2022 and 2023,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cThese so-called \u2018valuation errors\u2019 are particularly concerning given the nature and scope of U.S. aid to Ukraine\u2014over $113 billion thus far [\u2026] This is a transparent attempt to bypass Congress for additional funds, while continuing to prioritize Ukraine over more vital U.S. interests, including deterring China in the Pacific.\u201d\n\n\u201cBy using creative accounting to conceal the actual cost of supporting Ukraine, you appear to be circumventing the American people\u2019s elected representatives. Congress, not DoD, possesses the power of the purse,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn March, Senator Hawley introduced the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance Act to establish a Special Inspector General to oversee the military and non-military assistance to Ukraine.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nJuly 10, 2023\n\nHonorable Lloyd Austin\n\nSecretary of Defense\n\n1000 Defense Pentagon\n\nWashington, DC 20301\n\nDear Secretary Austin,\n\nWe write to inquire about Department of Defense (DOD) accounting procedures for U.S. security assistance to Ukraine.\n\nOn June 20, 2023, a DOD spokesperson asserted that DOD had been \u201coverestimating the value\u201d of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine by a combined $6.2 billion over fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Specifically, the spokesperson noted that \u201c[military] services used replacement costs rather than net book value\u201d in many cases, and that this sum would subsequently \u201cgo back into the pot of money\u201d allocated for Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for Ukraine.\n\nThese so-called \u201cvaluation errors\u201d are particularly concerning given the nature and scope of U.S. aid to Ukraine\u2014over $113 billion thus far. By relying largely on PDA for Ukraine security assistance, DOD sends existing equipment to Ukraine and purchases new equipment to replace U.S. stocks. The true cost to American taxpayers for supporting Ukraine is therefore the replacement cost, not the net book value. While accounting consistency is certainly in the interest of good governance\u2014especially given DOD\u2019s habitual inability to pass a financial audit\u2014this is a transparent attempt to bypass Congress for additional funds, while continuing to prioritize Ukraine over more vital U.S. interests, including deterring China in the Pacific. This is yet another example of why we do not support further appropriations to Ukraine.\n\nBy using creative accounting to conceal the actual cost of supporting Ukraine, you appear to be circumventing the American people\u2019s elected representatives. Congress, not DOD, possesses the power of the purse. We will continue to safeguard this constitutional responsibility, and therefore request answers to the following questions no later than August 10, 2023.\n\nHow does DOD justify the use of net book value vice replacement costs when the equipment given to Ukraine must be replaced with new equipment?\n\nHow is DOD calculating the net book value of equipment given to Ukraine?\n\nPrior to this updated accounting guidance, which military services were using replacement cost and which were using net book value or other methods?\n\nWhat is the total replacement cost to backfill U.S. equipment and munitions stocks that have been drawn down for Ukraine?\n\nIf DOD intends to use net book value going forward, but still needs to replace equipment for U.S. stocks based on replacement value, how does DOD propose to fund the full replacement cost?\n\nGiven the apparent difficulties DOD is experiencing with properly accounting for Ukraine security assistance, how would a Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance aid you in this effort?\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\nJosh Hawley\n\nUnited States Senator\n\nJD Vance\n\nUnited States Senator\n\nMike Lee\n\nUnited States Senator\n\nRoger Marshall, MD\n\nUnited States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:25:20Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-graves-and-missouri-members-urge-usda-assist-drought-impacting-farmers-and-ranchers/", "Hawley, Graves, and Missouri Members Urge the USDA to Assist with Drought Impacting Farmers and Ranchers", "2023-07-06", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) joined Representative Sam Graves (MO-06), Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and Representatives Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), Jason Smith (MO-08), Mark Alford (MO-04), and Eric Burlison (MO-07) in sending a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack urging the USDA to open Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands for emergency haying in order to provide immediate relief for Missouri\u2019s farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cOver 80 percent of Missouri is currently experiencing at least a moderate drought, with more than half the state in a severe drought, and 20 percent suffering under extreme drought conditions. These conditions have left Missouri farmers and ranchers with few remaining options to feed their livestock through the winter until CRP lands are opened to haying,\u201d the Members wrote.\n\nThey continued, \u201cFor these reasons, we urge you to explore all available options to immediately open CRP lands in Missouri to emergency haying to provide sufficient forage for livestock.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nJuly 5, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack\n\nSecretary United States Department of Agriculture\n\n1400 Independence Avenue, S. W. Washington, D.C. 20250\n\nDear Secretary Vilsack,\n\nWe write to you today regarding the ongoing drought conditions in the state of Missouri and the impending forage and feed crisis facing farm families in our state.\n\nOver 80 percent of Missouri is currently experiencing drought conditions, with more than half of the state experiencing severe drought and nearly 20 percent suffering under extreme drought conditions. While current conditions are concerning, this current crisis has been building for months.\n\nMany farmers have been facing moderate to severe drought conditions for much of the growing season. As a result, available forage in pastures and hay crop yields are far below typical for our state. Farmers and ranchers have reported feeding hay to livestock in June, long before Missouri farmers typically begin feeding hay in November.\n\nThe acute shortage of quality hay and forage due to drought conditions has led to a concerning uptick in scams targeting farm families desperate to feed their herds. While many farmers and ranchers have grazed or hayed just about every square inch of available forage, acres enrolled in the United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) remain a largely untapped emergency relief valve.\n\nWhile emergency grazing has been opened in some counties experiencing the most extreme drought conditions, it can be challenging for farmers to take advantage of these flexibilities. In many cases, these CRP lands do not have adequate fencing or water access for livestock. That forces already struggling farmers and ranchers to break their backs trying to build fence and haul water to care for their herds.\n\nFaced with this daunting challenge, many have resigned themselves to selling off portions of their herds. In many cases, these families have spent generations building herd numbers and refining genetics to maximize the quality and quantity of production. Forcing these families to sell their herds or watch them starve will have devastating impacts on our communities for decades to come. Compounded with the other challenges facing farm families, including rising interest rates and astronomical input costs, this crisis threatens the very foundations of our agricultural economy.\n\nWe understand that emergency haying practices may be opened in some limited areas after the end of the primary nesting season on July 15th, but we have grave concerns that the quality or forage available for haying could substantially decline within the coming weeks.\n\nFor these reasons, we urge you to explore all available options to immediately open CRP lands in Missouri to emergency haying to provide sufficient forage for livestock. Thank you for your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\nJosh Hawley Eric Schmitt\n\nUnited States Senator United States Senator\n\nSam Graves Blaine Luetkemeyer\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nJason Smith Mark Alford\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-urges-epa-report-coldwater-creek-chemical-spill/", "Hawley Urges EPA to Report on Coldwater Creek Chemical Spill", "2023-07-05", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, requesting a briefing from the EPA on the chemical spill near St. Louis Lambert Airport and Coldwater Creek. The EPA initially responded to contaminated industrial wastewater last week, and reports suggest the public was not immediately notified of the spill.\n\n\u201cLast week, your agency responded to a chemical spill near St. Louis Lambert Airport and Coldwater Creek. While the EPA originally stated that approximately 1,000 gallons of wastewater, contaminated with trivalent chromium, may have made its way into the creek area on June 27, subsequent reports have provided additional information,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cThese new reports suggest that hundreds of gallons of industrial chemicals were released by GKN Aerospace through a Boeing wastewater treatment plant on June 25 and June 26\u2014and to make matters worse, the more toxic hexavalent chromium was also discharged as a pollutant.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThe community deserves clear answers from the EPA about this latest incident, and precisely what it plans to do about it. At your office\u2019s earliest convenience, please contact my staff to schedule a briefing regarding this matter.\u201d\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community. Most recently, Senator Hawley\u2019s Justice for Jana Elementary Act of 2023 mandating the clean up of Jana Elementary School and radioactive waste testing be performed at the surrounding buildings in the Hazelwood School District, passed in the Senate. Companion legislation has since been introduced in the House of Representatives.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nJuly 3, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Michael S. Regan\n\nAdministrator\n\nU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)\n\n1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20460\n\nDear Administrator Regan:\n\nLast week, your agency responded to a chemical spill near St. Louis Lambert Airport and Coldwater Creek. While the EPA originally stated that approximately 1,000 gallons of wastewater, contaminated with trivalent chromium, may have made its way into the creek area on June 27, subsequent reports have provided additional information. These new reports suggest that hundreds of gallons of industrial chemicals were released by GKN Aerospace through a Boeing wastewater treatment plant on June 25 and June 26\u2014and to make matters worse, the more toxic hexavalent chromium was also discharged as a pollutant.\n\nThis incident will undoubtedly concern Missouri residents living in the vicinity of Coldwater Creek. Residents have expressed to my office that they were not notified of the spill and the facts surrounding it immediately. That same Coldwater Creek area has long suffered from persistent radioactive contamination, which other federal agencies have refused to properly remediate\u2014most recently in the case of Jana Elementary School. This recent incident appears to be merely the latest episode in the ongoing issue of contamination in this area. The community deserves clear answers from the EPA about this latest incident, and precisely what it plans to do about it.\n\nAt your office\u2019s earliest convenience, please contact my staff to schedule a briefing regarding this matter. Please come prepared to address the following questions:\n\nHow much time elapsed between EPA\u2019s learning of this incident and EPA\u2019s notification to the public of any associated risks from this contamination?\n\nWhat, if any, remedial measures have GKN Aerospace and/or Boeing committed to the EPA that they will take in response to this incident?\n\nWhat, if any, health risks does this spill pose for the population of St. Louis, including those near Coldwater Creek? Will you commit to informing the public of any risks in a timely manner?\n\nI look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-braun-slam-biden-administration-failure-release-all-information-covid-19-origins-demand-full/", "Hawley, Braun Slam Biden Administration for Failure to Release All Information on COVID-19 Origins, Demand Full Report", "2023-06-27", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, after the Director and the Biden Administration failed to comply with the Senators\u2019 COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023, by releasing an incomplete report on the origins of COVID-19 well beyond the statutory deadline. The Senators demanded that Director Haines provide a new, complete report including any and all information pertaining to the origins of COVID-19, within seven days.\n\n\u201cOn March 20, President Biden signed the COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023, which we introduced in the Senate to help get to the truth about China and COVID-19,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cThat law required the Director of National Intelligence to \u2018declassify any and all information\u2019 relating to links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of COVID-19. It also required that you \u2018submit to Congress\u2019 all of this information \u2018not later than 90 days\u2019 after the law\u2019s enactment. You failed to comply with both requirements.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cYou\u2014and the rest of the Administration\u2014appear to be refusing to provide information about China\u2019s role in and responsibility for the COVID-19 pandemic in order to avoid upsetting Beijing. We invite you to try again. Within 7 business days, provide to Congress documentation that fully complies with the letter of the law to disclose \u2018any and all information\u2019 related to the origins of COVID-19 and a lab leak with minimal redactions.\u201d\n\nOn Monday, March 20, 2023, President Biden signed into law Senator Hawley\u2019s COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023. It was re-introduced in February of this year and unanimously passed in the Senate that same week. The bill was originally introduced in April 2021 and unanimously passed the Senate in May 2021.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nJune 27, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Avril Haines\n\nDirector of National Intelligence\n\nOffice of the Director of National Intelligence\n\nWashington, D.C. 20511\n\nDear Director Haines:\n\nOn March 20, President Biden signed the COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023, which we introduced in the Senate to help get to the truth about China and COVID-19. That law required the Director of National Intelligence to \u201cdeclassify any and all information\u201d relating to links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of COVID-19. It also required that you \u201csubmit to Congress\u201d all of this information \u201cnot later than 90 days\u201d after the law\u2019s enactment.\n\nYou failed to comply with both requirements. The deadline was June 18, 2023. Well past the statutory deadline, your office published a declassified report after business hours on June 23. And the report itself was a paltry five pages of information, plus a cover page and appendix. Obviously, the U.S. government is in possession of more information than that. This half-baked effort falls woefully short of the statutory requirements and undermines congressional intent.\n\nYour failure to comply with the law is especially worrisome in light of recent events. The Biden administration, including ODNI, has exhibited a concerning level of deference towards China, including obfuscating the extent of China\u2019s intelligence cooperation with Cuba and downplaying the seriousness of China\u2019s intelligence collection activities over U.S. airspace. You\u2014and the rest of the Administration\u2014appear to be refusing to provide information about China\u2019s role in and responsibility for the COVID-19 pandemic in order to avoid upsetting Beijing.\n\nWe invite you to try again. Within 7 business days, provide to Congress documentation that fully complies with the letter of the law to disclose \u201cany and all information\u201d related to the origins of COVID-19 and a lab leak with minimal redactions. If you fail to do so, we would welcome your testimony before Congress on this matter so you may answer questions under oath. The American people deserve to know the truth about China\u2019s role in the origins of COVID-19.\n\nSincerely,\n\nJosh Hawley\n\nUnited States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-demands-oversight-hearing-after-biden-energy-secretarys-false-statements-about-holding/", "Hawley Demands Oversight Hearing After Biden Energy Secretary\u2019s False Statements About Holding Stocks", "2023-06-22", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) yesterday, urging him to schedule an oversight hearing to investigate the false statements Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm admitted to making to Senator Hawley during an April committee hearing. During the hearing, Secretary Granholm claimed she did not own any personal financial stocks, when in fact, she held individual stocks as recently as May of this year.\n\n\u201cI write in response to Secretary Granholm\u2019s letter to the committee dated June 9, 2023 admitting that she made false statements concerning her ownership of individual stocks,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cSecretary Granholm needs to return to the committee to correct the record and clarify her compliance\u2014and the entire Department\u2019s compliance\u2014with federal ethics laws. I urge you to schedule an oversight hearing as soon as practicable to investigate this matter.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThese latest revelations come in the context of an Energy Department that has been reported to have serious, systemic problems with ethics compliance when it comes to stock ownership and conflicts of interest. I therefore urge you to convene a hearing with Secretary Granholm to discuss both Secretary\u2019s false testimony and the steps the Department is taking to ensure senior officials properly comply with federal ethics laws.\u201d\n\nEarlier this month, Senator Hawley sent a letter to Secretary Granholm demanding an explanation for the misleading statements she made to him during the April committee hearing.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nJune 21, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Joe Manchin\n\nChairman\n\nCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources\n\nUnited States Senate\n\nWashington, 20510\n\nChairman Manchin:\n\nI write in response to Secretary Granholm\u2019s letter to the committee dated June 9, 2023 admitting that she made false statements concerning her ownership of individual stocks. Secretary Granholm needs to return to the committee to correct the record and clarify her compliance\u2014and the entire Department\u2019s compliance\u2014with federal ethics laws. I urge you to schedule an oversight hearing as soon as practicable to investigate this matter.\n\nShortly after Secretary Granholm assumed office, Ranking Member Barrasso raised concerns with the Department of Energy Inspector General about her conflicts of interest. Later that year, Secretary Granholm violated conflict of interest laws by improperly disclosing her stock sales. According to reports, she sold $240,000 in stock in April 2021 and October 2021 but failed to disclose these trades until December 2021\u2014after the deadline set by federal law. Then, earlier this year, a Wall Street Journal investigation found that \u201chundreds of Energy Department officials hold stocks related to agency\u2019s work despite warnings.\u201d This has prompted some of us to develop legislation and conduct oversight of energy officials\u2019 conflicts of interest.\n\nOn April 20, Secretary Granholm appeared before this committee. In light of these various reports, I specifically asked her \u201cDo you own individual stocks?\u201d She testified, \u201cNo, I\u2019m invested in mutual funds.\u201d She repeated this line twice more. In total, she told this committee three times that she did not own any individual stocks.\n\nBut now she tells us that was not true. On June 9, she notified the committee that, contrary to her testimony, she did in fact hold stock in at least six individual companies on April 20. She then divested from these holdings on May 18. But she elected not to apprise this committee of her misstatement or her stock transactions until this month\u2014seven weeks after the hearing and three weeks after she sold her stocks.\n\nThe facts of Secretary Granholm\u2019s case are disturbing. How do you not know that you own stocks in individual companies? How do you not verify this after you were caught violating ethics laws the first time? And why did she wait seven weeks to correct the record? These latest revelations come in the context of an Energy Department that has been reported to have serious, systemic problems with ethics compliance when it comes to stock ownership and conflicts of interest. I therefore urge you to convene a hearing with Secretary Granholm to discuss both Secretary\u2019s false testimony and the steps the Department is taking to ensure senior officials properly comply with federal ethics laws.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/any-man-couldve-walked-our-locker-room-riley-gaines-recounts-senator-hawley/", "\u2018Any Man Could\u2019ve Walked Into Our Locker Room,\u2019 Riley Gaines Recounts to Senator Hawley", "2023-06-21", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Riley Gaines, decorated collegiate swimmer and female sports advocate. Gaines described to Senator Hawley her experiences competing against a transgender athlete, and the trauma she and her teammates endured when their privacy was invaded by being forced to undress in front of a biological male.\n\n\u201cYou were talking about just the incredible surprise, shall I say to put it gently, of finding a biological man, a 6-foot-4 biological man, in your locker room and having to accept that without being asked about it, without being told about it even. What was that like for you\u2014tell us about that,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\n\u201cI\u2014again we only became aware we would be undressing next to a man was when we had to see a man undressing while we were simultaneously undressing,\u201d Gaines responded.\n\nAccording to Gaines, an NCAA official told her Lia Thomas was allowed in the female locker room due to a rule change that made the facilities \u2018unisex.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd so I\u2019m thinking to myself in these brief moments, first and foremost, you just admitted this is a male by acknowledging how you had to change your rules to make the locker rooms unisex. You acknowledged that we do not share the same sex, first and foremost,\u201d Gaines continued. \u201cSecondly, unisex\u2014any man could\u2019ve walked into our locker room, any coach, any official, any man who wanted to would have had full reigns to and bare minimum we weren\u2019t forewarned about it\u2014and that\u2019s the traumatizing part. Of course the experience in and of the locker room itself is traumatizing, but I think for me, it was so easy for them to dismiss our rights to privacy.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-and-braun-demand-biden-implement-covid-origins-act/", "Hawley and Braun Demand Biden Implement COVID Origins Act", "2023-06-15", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) have sent a letter to President Biden demanding he implement the COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023, and declassify and release all information related to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\n\u201cWe introduced the COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023 earlier this Congress to hold China accountable for its obfuscation during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cThe American people deserve to know how this pandemic began, and their democratically elected representatives have expressed their will unanimously.\u201d\n\nIn March, Senator Hawley\u2019s COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023 was signed into law by President Biden. The legislation requires the Biden administration to declassify intelligence related to any potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origins of the Covid pandemic.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nJune 14, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Joseph R. Biden\n\nPresident of the United States\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nWe write today to urge the swift and complete implementation of the COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023, which Congress unanimously passed, and which you signed into law on March 20, 2023.\n\nAs you know, the COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023 requires the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to \u201cdeclassify any and all information\u201d relating to links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of COVID-19 within 90 days of the law\u2019s enactment. That deadline, June 18, 2023, is fast approaching. Your Administration has not yet provided any indication of when the relevant material will be declassified.\n\nImportantly, the Act further requires the Director to transmit \u201call of the information\u201d to Congress, with one very narrow exception. The Act does not allow for redactions based on your Administration\u2019s view of \u201cnational security\u201d broadly defined, as you claimed in your signing statement. Rather, the Act only provides for much narrower redactions to protect intelligence sources and methods. Your Administration should comply with the law as written and not undermine clear congressional intent to provide as much transparency to the American people as possible.\n\nWe introduced the COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023 earlier this Congress to hold China accountable for its obfuscation during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. From the beginning of the pandemic, China appears to have taken every effort to hide COVID\u2019s origins from the world. The American people deserve to know how this pandemic began, and their democratically elected representatives have expressed their will unanimously. We urge you not to stand in their way.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-blumenthal-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-protect-consumers-and-deny-ai-companies-section/", "Hawley, Blumenthal Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Consumers and Deny AI Companies Section 230 Immunity", "2023-06-14", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) \u2013 the Ranking Member and the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, respectively \u2013 introduced the No Section 230 Immunity for AI Act.\n\nThis new bipartisan legislation would clarify that Section 230 immunity will not apply to claims based on generative AI, ensuring consumers have the tools they need to protect themselves from harmful content produced by the latest advancements in AI technology.\n\nFor example, AI-generated \u201cdeepfakes\u201d \u2013 lifelike false images of real individuals \u2013 are exploding in popularity. Ordinary people can now suffer life-destroying consequences for saying things they never said, or doing things they never would. Companies complicit in this process should be held accountable in court.\n\n\u201cWe can\u2019t make the same mistakes with generative AI as we did with Big Tech on Section 230,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cWhen these new technologies harm innocent people, the companies must be held accountable. Victims deserve their day in court and this bipartisan proposal will make that a reality.\u201d\n\n\u201cAI companies should be forced to take responsibility for business decisions as they\u2019re developing products\u2014without any Section 230 legal shield,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cThis legislation is the first step in our effort to write the rules of AI and establish safeguards as we enter this new era. AI platform accountability is a key principle of a framework for regulation that targets risk and protects the public.\u201d\n\nThe No Section 230 Immunity for AI Act would:\n\nAmend Section 230 by adding a clause that strips immunity from AI companies in civil claims or criminal prosecutions involving the use or provision of generative AI.\n\nEmpower Americans harmed by generative AI models to sue AI companies in federal or state court.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\nOn May 16, 2023, Senators Hawley and Blumenthal held a landmark hearing on AI oversight. All three witnesses at that hearing, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, agreed that Congress needed to take action, as new developments in generative AI technology \u2013 from large language models to art generators \u2013 are advancing at a breakneck pace, upending many aspects of American life.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-peters-bill-improve-and-protect-rural-hospitals-cybersecurity-advances-senate/", "Hawley, Peters Bill to Improve and Protect Rural Hospitals\u2019 Cybersecurity Advances in Senate", "2023-06-14", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley\u2019s (R-Mo.) Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, cosponsored by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Chairman Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), passed through committee and now heads to the Senate floor.\n\nThis legislation was originally introduced in May 2023. It addresses the critical need for skilled cybersecurity professionals and digital security enhancement protocols in rural healthcare settings.\n\nIn March, HSGAC members held a hearing that identified rural healthcare facilities as soft targets for cybercriminals. Unlike larger urban hospitals, rural hospitals often have little to no full-time cybersecurity personnel and are particularly exposed to cyberattacks.\n\nThe number of attacks on U.S. hospitals each year doubled between 2016 and 2021. The threat of ineffective cybersecurity at rural hospitals is evidenced by multiple recent incidents in Missouri, including one in September 2021 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, MO and a similar attack in December 2022, at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall, MO. Additionally, a rural Illinois hospital recently became the first health care facility to publicly announce it would close its doors due to the consequences of a cyberattack.\n\n\u201cI am encouraged Congress is taking bipartisan action to shore up the ability of small-town hospitals to defend themselves from cyberattacks,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cWe must continue working diligently to improve cybersecurity preparedness in rural hospitals to both protect the sensitive medical and personal data of American patients and defend our national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cRansomware attacks against hospitals and health care systems that compromise sensitive medical information and disrupt patient care must be stopped. Unfortunately, small and rural hospitals often lack the resources to invest in cybersecurity defenses and staff to prevent these breaches,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation will require the federal government to ensure our most vulnerable health care providers have the necessary tools to protect patient information and provide lifesaving care even as criminal hackers continue to target their networks.\u201d\n\nThe Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act would:\n\nRequire the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director to develop a comprehensive rural hospital cybersecurity workforce development strategy that, at a minimum, considers public-private partnerships, development of curricula and training resources, and policy recommendations.\n\nRequire the CISA Director to create instructional materials for rural hospitals to train staff on fundamental cybersecurity measures.\n\nRequire the Secretary of Homeland Security to report annually to HSGAC and the House Committee on Homeland Security with updates regarding the strategy and any programs that have been implemented pursuant to the strategy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-demands-answers-biden-energy-secretary-misleading-congress-about-holding-stocks/", "Hawley Demands Answers from Biden Energy Secretary for Misleading Congress About Holding Stocks", "2023-06-13", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm demanding an explanation for misleading Senator Hawley during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. During the April hearing, Secretary Granholm claimed she did not own any personal financial stocks, when in fact, she held individual stocks as recently as May of this year.\n\n\u201cI write in response to your letter dated June 9, 2023 to the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources admitting that you misled the committee and, in particular, misled me about your compliance with federal ethics laws and your conflicts of interest regarding stock holdings,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cThese alarming new revelations demand an immediate and complete explanation from you.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThree times you told me, and this committee, that you did not own individual stocks. But we now know that was false. Last Friday, you informed the committee that you did own stocks at the time of your testimony on April 20, 2023. In fact, you still held stocks in six companies. You then divested from these holdings on May 18, 2023. But you chose not to notify the committee until last Friday\u2014over seven weeks after the hearing and at least three weeks after you sold these stocks. So I want to know: why?\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nJune 13, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Jennifer Granholm\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Energy\n\n1000 Independence Ave, S.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20585\n\nSecretary Granholm:\n\nI write in response to your letter dated June 9, 2023 to the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources admitting that you misled the committee and, in particular, misled me about your compliance with federal ethics laws and your conflicts of interest regarding stock holdings. These alarming new revelations demand an immediate and complete explanation from you.\n\nAs you know, in January 2022, news reports indicated that you violated federal conflict of interest laws by improperly disclosing stock sales. Then earlier this year, an investigation by the Wall Street Journal reported that \u201chundreds of Energy Department officials hold stocks related to agency\u2019s work despite warnings.\u201d When you testified before the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources in April, I asked you point blank: \u201cDo you own individual stocks?\u201d You responded: \u201cNo, I\u2019m invested in mutual funds.\u201d When I pressed you about reports that you had violated stock disclosure laws nine times, you responded that you had missed a filing deadline for stocks that you had previously owned. I asked for clarity: \u201cYou don\u2019t own any individual stock now, so maybe you did when you first came, and you converted them to mutual funds?\u201d You responded: \u201cYea, it totally was the sale of what I had, because I\u2019m not owning individual stocks.\u201d Three times you told me, and this committee, that you did not own individual stocks.\n\nBut we now know that was false. Last Friday, you informed the committee that you did own stocks at the time of your testimony on April 20, 2023. In fact, you still held stocks in six companies. You then divested from these holdings on May 18, 2023. But you chose not to notify the committee until last Friday\u2014over seven weeks after the hearing and at least three weeks after you sold these stocks. So I want to know: why?\n\nSo that Congress can consider further action concerning your compliance with federal ethics laws, please provide the following information by June 20, 2023.\n\nWhy did you not immediately notify the committee to correct the record on your false testimony?\n\nWhy did it take you four weeks to sell your remaining individual stocks?\n\nWhy did it take you over three weeks to notify the committee of that sale?\n\nWhy did you elect not to sell all of your individual stocks when you assumed office?\n\nIn addition, within 30 days, please provide the Committee and my office a complete list of all of your individual stock transactions over the past 10 years for an evaluation of any additional conflicts of interest.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-statement-bidens-energy-secretary-lying-about-holding-stocks/", "Hawley Statement on Biden\u2019s Energy Secretary Lying About Holding Stocks", "2023-06-09", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statement after Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm revealed that she held financial stocks as recently as May of this year, contradicting previous statements she made to Senator Hawley during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing earlier this year.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-announces-guiding-principles-future-ai-legislation/", "Hawley Announces Guiding Principles for Future AI Legislation", "2023-06-07", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced his guiding principles for the future of American artificial intelligence (AI) legislation. Senator Hawley\u2019s principles seek to protect Americans\u2019 privacy as AI continues to develop at a pace that threatens to upend many aspects of American life.\n\n\u201cCongress can and should act to protect Americans\u2019 privacy, stave off the harms of unchecked AI development, insulate kids from harmful impacts, and keep this valuable technology out of the hands of our adversaries,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cTaken together, these five principles will help set the course for the responsible development of American AI.\u201d\n\nTo guide future federal action, Senator Hawley proposed five guiding principles:\n\nFirst, create private rights of action. Individual citizens should have the right to sue companies for harm inflicted by AI models in order to hold those corporations developing AI accountable.\n\nSecond, protect personal data. AI models should be prohibited from harvesting sensitive personal data without consent, with stiff penalties for misuse.\n\nThird, enforce age limits on use. To shield minors from harmful effects of generative AI technology, companies should be proactively blocked from deploying or promoting these models to children.\n\nFourth, block technology to and from China. America should promote AI independence by blocking any importation of AI-related chips and technology from China, and by preventing American corporations from aiding China\u2019s development of AI.\n\nFifth, establish a licensing system. To protect consumers and promote transparency, require generative entities working on generative AI models to obtain a license.\n\nIn May, as the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, Senator Hawley held a hearing with Chairman Richard Blumenthal to conduct oversight on AI technology and appropriate safeguards.\n\nDuring the hearing, Senator Hawley questioned Sam Altman, the CEO of Open AI, and asked the witnesses if we need to \u201cstrike that balance between technological innovation and our ethical and moral responsibility to humanity.\u201d The witnesses agreed that oversight from Congress is needed to protect the American people.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-and-blumenthal-demand-answers-meta-warn-misuse-after-leak-metas-ai-model/", "Hawley and Blumenthal Demand Answers from Meta, Warn of Misuse After \u2018Leak\u2019 of Meta\u2019s AI Model", "2023-06-06", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, wrote a new letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, seeking information about the \u201cleak\u201d of its Large Language Model Meta AI (LLaMA) program.\n\nWhile Meta originally only purported to release the program to approved researchers within the AI community, the company\u2019s vetting and safeguards appear to have been minimal and the full model appeared online within days, making the model, \u201cavailable to anyone, anywhere in the world, without monitoring or oversight,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nIn the letter, Hawley and Blumenthal warned that there were \u201cseemingly minimal\u201d protections in Meta\u2019s \u201cunrestrained and permissive\u201d release, and the company \u201cappears to have failed to conduct any meaningful risk assessment in advance of release, despite the realistic potential for broad distribution, even if unauthorized.\u201d\n\nCiting these concerns, the Senators pressed Meta for answers on how the company assessed the risk of releasing LLaMA, what steps were taken to prevent the abuse of the model, and how Meta is updating policies and practices based on its unrestrained availability.\n\nThe letter follows Hawley and Blumenthal\u2019s subcommittee hearing last month, which included testimony from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, IBM Chief Privacy & Trust Officer Christina Montgomery, and NYU Professor Gary Marcus.\n\nRead the full letter here and below.\n\nJune 6, 2023\n\nMark Zuckerberg\n\nChief Executive Officer\n\n1 Hacker Way\n\nMenlo Park, California 94025\n\nDear Mr. Zuckerberg,\n\nWe write with concern over the \u201cleak\u201d of Meta\u2019s AI model, the Large Language Model Meta AI (LLaMA), and the potential for its misuse in spam, fraud, malware, privacy violations, harassment, and other wrongdoing and harms. As a part of the Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, & the Law\u2019s work on artificial intelligence (AI), we are writing to request information on how your company assessed the risk of releasing LLaMA, what steps were taken to prevent the abuse of the model, and how you are updating your policies and practices based on its unrestrained availability.\n\nIn February 2023, Meta released LLaMA, an advanced large language model (LLM) capable of generating compelling text results, similar to products released by Google, Microsoft and OpenAI. Unlike others, Meta released LLaMA for download by approved researchers, rather than centralizing and restricting access to the underlying data, software, and model. Meta explained this decision as helping efforts to advance AI research in order to \u201cimprove their robustness and mitigate known issues, such as bias, toxicity, and the potential for generating misinformation.\u201d While LLaMA was reportedly trained on public data, it differed from past models available to the public based on its size and sophistication. Regrettably, but predictably, within days of the announcement, the full model appeared on BitTorrent, making it available to anyone, anywhere in the world, without monitoring or oversight. The open dissemination of LLaMA represents a significant increase in the sophistication of the AI models available to the general public, and raises serious questions about the potential for misuse or abuse.\n\nOpen source software and open data can be an extraordinary resource for furthering science, fostering technical standards, and facilitating transparency. Many experts compellingly argue that open access to these models can help the development of safeguards through exposing vulnerabilities to a larger community who can find fixes. As Meta noted when releasing LLaMA, there is a need for \u201cmore research that needs to be done to address the risks of bias, toxic comments, and hallucinations in large language models.\u201d Providing the full model allows the types of research, testing, and collaborative development that are not as readily achievable within closed systems like OpenAI\u2019s GPT-4 or Google Bard. Additionally, as AI becomes more important to technological growth and competition between consumer platforms, the centralization of AI expertise and technical capabilities risks stifling innovation and market competition, and threatens to further entrench incumbent tech firms. Open source AI can play a meaningful role in making sure that AI systems are robust and safe, and that the field of AI is not dominated by a few select corporations.\n\nOn the other hand, even in the short time that generative AI tools have been available to the public, they have been dangerously abused \u2014 a risk that is further exacerbated with open source models. For example, after Stability AI launched its open source art generator, Stable Diffusion, it was used to create violent and sexual images, including pornographic deep fakes of real people, which disproportionately feature women 96% of the time. Even OpenAI\u2019s closed model, ChatGPT, has been misused to create malware and phishing campaigns, financial fraud, and obscene content involving children. At least at this stage of technology\u2019s development, centralized AI models can be more effectively updated and controlled to prevent and respond to abuse compared to open source AI models.\n\nAdding to this risk, Meta appears to have done little to restrict the model from responding to dangerous or criminal tasks. For example, when asked to \u201cwrite a note pretending to be someone\u2019s son asking for money to get out of a difficult situation,\u201d OpenAI\u2019s ChatGPT will deny the request based on its ethical guidelines. In contrast, LLaMA will produce the letter requested, as well as other answers involving self-harm, crime, and antisemitism. While the full scope of possible abuse of LLaMA remains to be seen, already the model has been utilized to generate profiles and automate conversations on Tinder and a chatbot built from LLaMA, Stanford\u2019s Alpaca AI, was taken down shortly after release over providing incorrect information and troubling responses. It is easy to imagine LLaMA being adopted by spammers and those engaged in cybercrime. While centralized models can adapt to abuse and vulnerabilities, open source AI models like LLaMA, once released to the public, will always be available to bad actors who are always willing to engage in high-risk tasks, including fraud, obscene material involving children, privacy intrusions, and other crime.\n\nMeta\u2019s choice to distribute LLaMA in such an unrestrained and permissive manner raises important and complicated questions about when and how it is appropriate to openly release sophisticated AI models. Given the seemingly minimal protections built into LLaMA\u2019s release, Meta should have known that LLaMA would be broadly disseminated, and must have anticipated the potential for abuse. While Meta has described the release as a leak, its chief AI scientist has stated that open models are key to its commercial success. Unfortunately, Meta appears to have failed to conduct any meaningful risk assessment in advance of release, despite the realistic potential for broad distribution, even if unauthorized. Stunningly, in the model card and release paper for LLaMA, Meta appears not to have even considered the ethical implication of its public release. It provides sparse details about its testing or steps to prevent for abuse, aside from technical measurements of bias. The dearth of information is particularly stark in comparison to the more extensive documentation released by OpenAI in connection with its closed models, ChatGPT and GPT-4. By purporting to release LLaMA for the purpose of researching the abuse of AI, Meta effectively appears to have put a powerful tool in the hands of bad actors to actually engage in such abuse without much discernable forethought, preparation, or safeguards.\n\nAs Congress considers legislation and oversight to promote both innovation and accountability in the commercialization and use of AI, it is important to understand how companies are assessing and mitigating the risks associated with AI models. Meta has held itself out a leader on AI, and is under a Federal Trade Commission consent decree and other scrutiny over the safety of its platform. While Meta\u2019s stated intention of promoting safety research may have merit, the lack of thorough, public consideration of the ramifications of its foreseeable widespread dissemination is a disservice to the public. It is important to better understand how Meta evaluated this risk and what changes it plans to make after this matter.\n\nGiven the seriousness and scope of LLaMA\u2019s public availability, we respectfully write to ask you to answer the following questions by June 15, 2023:\n\nWhat risk assessments, if any, were conducted regarding the likelihood and repercussions of dissemination of LLaMA to anyone other than its authorized recipients prior to Meta\u2019s release of the model to researchers?\n\na. How many researchers did Meta approve to have access to LLaMA\u2019s model weights? What criteria was used in the selection and vetting of the approved researchers?\n\nb. What specific technical and administrative safeguards did Meta implement in connection with its release of LLaMA to prevent the public dissemination of the model?\n\nc. How did Meta balance this risk against its stated goal of helping foster AI safety research?\n\nd. Who was consulted inside and outside of Meta about this risk, and how was the decision made to release Meta to researchers?\n\ne. What other safety or security measures were contemplated to protect against the public dissemination of LLaMA?\n\nWhat steps has Meta taken since the release of LLaMA to prevent or mitigate damage caused by the dissemination of its AI model?\n\na. What steps has Meta taken to track the distribution, repurposing, and end use of LLaMA, including its potential misuse in fraud and spam campaigns targeting users on its platforms? Please provide any documentation of these efforts and findings, including any DMCA takedown notices, cease and desist letters, or similar efforts.\n\nWhat steps were taken during and after the training process for LLaMA to ensure that the model could not be abused after it was released, for example, steps taken to prevent responses that could be used in fraud schemes, self-harm, and cybercrime?\n\nHas Meta made changes to its policies, practices, and plans concerning around the sharing of AI models and other data based on the dissemination of LLaMA? If so, what changes were made and what lessons has Meta learned from it?\n\nHas Meta considered alternative approaches toward working with researchers, enhancing the security of its models, or preventing them from falling in the hands of malicious actors, such as providing access through an API or allowing the model to be run in a more limited sandbox provided by Meta? Under what conditions does Meta consider it necessary to provide full access to AI models, despite the risk of release?\n\nHas Meta developed policies or guidelines for when it believes that AI models should not be available to the public, for example limiting access when a model is highly capable of performing particular tasks or based on the model\u2019s parameter size?\n\nOverall, how does Meta evaluate the risks and precautions that should be taken prior to the public release of a sophisticated AI model? Can this documentation be shared with the public in a form similar to the system card OpenAI shared for GPT-4?\n\nThe LLaMA research paper asserted that no proprietary or inaccessible data was used to train the model. Was LLaMA trained in any way on any data that it obtained or that derived from any of Meta\u2019s customers, such as posts, content or any other data created or provided by users of Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp?\n\nMeta has significant access to its users\u2019 personal information and uses that data for AI systems, such as those used in advertising. When does Meta use its users\u2019 personal data for AI research, including AI models that are available to the public or outside researchers?\n\nThank you for your attention to these important issues. We look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,\n\nJosh Hawley\n\nUnited States Senator\n\nRichard Blumenthal", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-delivers-floor-speech-urging-support-his-amendment-increase-tariffs-china/", "Hawley Delivers Floor Speech Urging Support for His Amendment to Increase Tariffs on China", "2023-06-02", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "This evening U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) delivered remarks ahead of the Senate\u2019s vote on his amendment, as part of the debt ceiling deal, to raise tariffs on imports from China until the United States\u2019 unsustainable trade deficit with China comes into balance.\n\n\u201cIn the last 20 years in the state of Missouri, we have lost 60,000 jobs to the People\u2019s Republic of China\u2014that number nationwide is almost 4 million,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cWe can talk about budget reforms, and we can talk about savings here and there, but until we do the work of bringing back productive capacity to this nation and good-paying, blue-collar jobs you can raise a family on, we will not put our economy on the basis that we need to address the economic challenges that we face.\u201d\n\nIn May, Senator Hawley introduced the Raising Tariffs on Imports from China Act which would require the President to impose an additional tariff of 25% on all goods imported from China if a bilateral deficit is recorded during the preceding calendar year.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-vote-no-debt-ceiling-deal/", "Hawley to Vote No on Debt Ceiling Deal", "2023-06-01", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statement on his intent to vote \u2018no\u2019 on the debt ceiling deal.\n\n\u201cOn the debt ceiling, my view is the most important deficit we face is the trade deficit with China. Every dollar represents jobs lost (60k & counting in Missouri), industry lost, communities decimated. We\u2019ve got to quit making China rich & get good blue-collar jobs back in USA. This deal doesn\u2019t do that. So I\u2019m a no,\u201d said Senator Hawley.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-statement-supreme-court-striking-down-bidens-illegal-wotus-rule/", "Hawley Statement on Supreme Court Striking Down Biden\u2019s Illegal WOTUS Rule", "2023-05-25", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statement on the Supreme Court\u2019s unanimous 9-0 decision in the case of Sackett v. EPA, which effectively struck down President Biden\u2019s illegal Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule.\n\nBackground\n\nIn January, Senator Hawley led the Missouri Republican delegation in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael Connor, calling on the administration to immediately rescind its controversial WOTUS Rule.\n\nIn April 2022, Senator Hawley signed the amicus brief supporting the petitioner Michael Sackett in his case, Sackett v. EPA, against the EPA.\n\nIn February 2022, Senator Hawley introduced the American Energy Independence Act of 2022, which would have codified the Trump Administration\u2019s interpretation of WOTUS and nullified President Biden\u2019s proposed replacement rule.\n\nIn February 2022, Senator Hawley signed a letter requesting that the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers suspend the rule-making to redefine the scope of waters protected under the Clean Water Act, specifically WOTUS, until the U.S. Supreme Court completed its consideration of Sackett v. EPA.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:07:47Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-co-chairs-ai-judiciary-subcommittee-hearing-raises-concerns-about-election-integrity-and/", "Hawley Co-Chairs A.I. Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing, Raises Concerns about Election Integrity and Company Liability", "2023-05-16", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today in the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law hearing on oversight of artificial intelligence (A.I.), U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Ranking Member of the subcommittee, questioned leaders in the A.I. space, including Sam Altman, Chief Executive Officer of OpenAI.\n\n\u201cWill we strike that balance between technological innovation and our ethical and moral responsibility to humanity, to liberty, to the freedom of this country? I hope that today\u2019s hearing will take us a step closer to that answer,\u201d said Senator Hawley during his opening statement.\n\nSenator Hawley questioned witnesses about A.I.\u2019s infringement on consumer privacy, potential manipulation of personal behavior and opinions, and threats to election integrity.\n\n\u201cI want to think about this in the context of elections,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201d [\u2026] Should we be concerned about models that can, large language models, that can predict survey opinion and then can help organizations, entities fine tune strategies to elicit behaviors from voters? Should we be worried about this for our elections?\u201d\n\nSam Altman replied, \u201cThank you Senator Hawley for the question. It\u2019s one of my areas of greatest concern.\u201d\n\nLater in the hearing, Senator Hawley called for the creation of laws enabling consumers harmed by A.I. to bring litigation against companies.\n\n\u201cWhy don\u2019t we just let people sue you? Why don\u2019t we just make you liable in court? We can do that\u2014we know how to do that,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cWe can pass a statute\u2014we can create a federal right of action that will allow private individuals who are harmed by this technology to get into court?\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:07:47Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/new-hawley-outlines-missouri-priorities-upcoming-farm-bill/", "NEW: Hawley Outlines Missouri Priorities for Upcoming Farm Bill", "2023-05-15", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.), outlining Missouri\u2019s priorities for Title I and Title XI in the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill. These include the preservation of a strong farm safety net in light of high input prices and changing market conditions. Senator Hawley will continue to work in the Senate to advocate for the interests of Missouri\u2019s farmers and ranchers during the Farm Bill process.\n\n\u201cThe upcoming farm bill reauthorization provides a unique opportunity to strengthen our rural economy. As you begin drafting legislative text, I urge you to preserve a strong farm safety net in the 2023 Farm Bill,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cI proudly represent one of the most diverse and productive agriculture states in the country. With 27.8 million acres of farmland production, Missouri farmers are leaders in cattle, corn, soybean, rice, cotton, hay production and more. At 95,000 farms, Missouri has the second highest number of farms in the country. Maintaining funding levels for these programs will help preserve small and mid-sized family farms in my state for generations to come.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cOver the next year, I plan to be actively engaged in the farm bill process to ensure Missouri producers have a seat at the table. I look forward to working with you in the coming months to craft a farm bill that will serve the needs of farmers in my state and across the country.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nMay 15, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Debbie Stabenow\n\nChairwoman\n\nU.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture\n\nUnited States Senate\n\nWashington, DC, 20510\n\nThe Honorable John Boozman\n\nRanking Member\n\nU.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture\n\nUnited States Senate\n\nWashington, DC, 20510\n\nDear Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman,\n\nThe upcoming farm bill reauthorization provides a unique opportunity to strengthen our rural economy. As you begin drafting legislative text, I urge you to preserve a strong farm safety net in the 2023 Farm Bill.\n\nI proudly represent one of the most diverse and productive agriculture states in the country. With 27.8 million acres of farmland production, Missouri farmers are leaders in cattle, corn, soybean, rice, cotton, hay production and more. At 95,000 farms, Missouri has the second highest number of farms in the country. Maintaining funding levels for these programs will help preserve small and mid-sized family farms in my state for generations to come.\n\nIn the five years since the 2018 Farm Bill was passed, inflation of essential farm inputs has been one of the most pressing issues for Missouri farmers. I share producers\u2019 concerns that current Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) calculations do not reflect market conditions. For some commodities, PLC reference prices are lower than breakeven costs. This undermines the intent of the commodity price support programs, which is to help farmers navigate volatile market conditions. For this reason, I am supportive of efforts to increase Price Loss Coverage reference prices in the 2023 Farm Bill.\n\nMaintaining crop insurance authorization levels should be a priority for Congress in the 2023 Farm Bill. It may also be necessary to direct the Risk Management Agency to expand starting and final planting dates across all insurable commodities. Farmers are the best equipped to decide when to plant their crops. Current planting dates can be restrictive on farmers in warmer climates. In addition, the next farm bill should not attempt to link crop insurance funding with \u201cclimate smart\u201d practices.\n\nOver the next year, I plan to be actively engaged in the farm bill process to ensure Missouri producers have a seat at the table. I look forward to working with you in the coming months to craft a farm bill that will serve the needs of farmers in my state and across the country.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:07:47Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-peters-introduce-bill-improve-and-protect-rural-hospitals-cybersecurity/", "Hawley, Peters Introduce Bill to Improve and Protect Rural Hospitals\u2019 Cybersecurity", "2023-05-11", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) \u2013 a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) \u2013 and HSGAC Chairman Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced the Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, new legislation that addresses the critical need for skilled cybersecurity professionals and digital security enhancement protocols in rural healthcare settings.\n\nThis legislation follows a recent HSGAC hearing that identified rural healthcare facilities as soft targets for cybercriminals. Unlike larger urban hospitals, rural hospitals often have little to no full-time cybersecurity personnel and are particularly exposed to cyberattacks.\n\n\u201cCongress must take action to shore up the ability of small-town hospitals to defend themselves from cyberattacks,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cBy working to improve cybersecurity preparedness and develop a robust cybersecurity workforce in rural hospitals, we can help protect the sensitive medical and personal data of American patients and defend our national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cRansomware attacks against hospitals and health care systems that compromise sensitive medical information and disrupt patient care must be stopped. Unfortunately, small and rural hospitals often lack the resources to invest in cybersecurity defenses and staff to prevent these breaches,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation will require the federal government to ensure our most vulnerable health care providers have the necessary tools to protect patient information and provide lifesaving care even as criminal hackers continue to target their networks.\u201d\n\nThe Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act would:\n\nRequire the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director to develop a comprehensive rural hospital cybersecurity workforce development strategy that, at a minimum, considers public-private partnerships, development of curricula and training resources, and policy recommendations.\n\nRequire the CISA Director to create instructional materials for rural hospitals to train staff on fundamental cybersecurity measures.\n\nRequire the Secretary of Homeland Security to report annually to HSGAC and the House Committee on Homeland Security with updates regarding the strategy and any programs that have been implemented pursuant to the strategy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-strikes-deal-durbin-advance-csam-bill-joins-cosponsor/", "Hawley Strikes Deal with Durbin to Advance CSAM Bill, Joins as Cosponsor", "2023-05-11", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today during a Senate Judiciary Committee Markup, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) reached an agreement with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to advance the STOP CSAM Act, legislation sponsored by Senator Durbin that cracks down on the proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online.\n\nWith Senator Durbin\u2019s support, the Committee adopted Senator Hawley\u2019s amendment empowering victims to bring civil suits against platforms for knowingly hosting CSAM to better hold tech companies accountable. Senator Hawley also joined the STOP CSAM Act as the first Republican co-sponsor of the legislation, which passed the Committee unanimously and now heads to the Senate floor.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-calls-higher-tariffs-china-trade-deficit-reduction-debt-limit-deal/", "Hawley Calls for Higher Tariffs on China, Trade Deficit Reduction in Debt Limit Deal", "2023-05-10", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Raising Tariffs on Imports from China Act, new legislation to raise tariffs on imports from China until the United States\u2019 unsustainable bilateral trade deficit comes into balance. Senator Hawley is urging debt limit talks to include reduction of the trade deficit.\n\n\u201cUnder Joe Biden\u2019s leadership, the Administration has failed to confront the structural deficit that matters most \u2013 our trade deficit with China,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cNow is the time for decisive action to bring our trade back into balance, stop China\u2019s annihilation of American industry, and bring back good-paying American jobs. Strong tariffs on China should be a major part of any debt ceiling agreement.\u201d\n\nSince the United States granted China permanent normal trade relations, our trade deficit has totaled more than $6 trillion, and has averaged $350 billion per year over the past decade. This has eroded the U.S. industrial base, enriched and empowered our nation\u2019s greatest adversary, and resulted in the loss of 3.82 million good jobs, including 2.89 million manufacturing jobs.\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s Raising Tariffs on Imports from China Act would:\n\nDirect the President to calculate and publish every year the total value of imports into the United States from China and the total value of exports from the United States to China.\n\nRequire the President to impose an additional duty of 25% on all goods imported from China if a bilateral deficit is recorded during the preceding calendar year.\n\nPermit the President to remove the duties if, during the preceding calendar year, the United States records a bilateral surplus with China.\n\nRead the full bill text here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:07:47Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/new-hawley-bill-holds-corporations-accountable-exploiting-bidens-child-smuggling-and-labor-crisis/", "New Hawley Bill Holds Corporations Accountable for Exploiting Biden\u2019s Child Smuggling and Labor Crisis", "2023-05-03", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Corporate Responsibility for Child Labor Elimination Act, new legislation that would compel large corporations to eradicate unlawful child labor, fueled by Biden\u2019s border crisis, from their operations in the United States.\n\nRecent investigative reporting has documented an explosive growth of migrant child labor in the United States and found evidence of unlawful child labor in the supply chains of some of America\u2019s largest corporations.\n\n\u201cJoe Biden\u2019s open-border policies have created the biggest human smuggling and child labor operation in history. Large corporations are turning a blind eye to the crisis and exploiting it for their own gain,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cIf the administration won\u2019t act to protect kids, Congress must. This legislation compels large corporations to eradicate child labor in their work place and holds those accountable who fail to act.\u201d\n\nSenator Hawley\u2019s Corporate Responsibility for Child Labor Elimination Act would:\n\nCompel large corporations to disclose the steps they are taking to eradicate unlawful child labor in their workforce.\n\nDirect these companies to undergo independent audits on an annual basis to ensure they are not complicit in unlawful child labor, including through their suppliers and on-site service providers in the United States.\n\nRequire these companies to submit the results of the audits to the Department of Labor (DOL) and also make them publicly available. The DOL will report to Congress those covered companies found to be complicit in unlawful child labor.\n\nObligate CEOs to certify that their supply chains are free of unlawful child labor and that they have reported all instances of unlawful child labor in their company\u2019s supply chain.\n\nAssess financial penalties on companies that evade the audit requirements, retaliate against workers, or fail to certify that their supply chain is free of unlawful child labor.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\nBackground:\n\nLast week, Senator Hawley sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray demanding a full-scale effort be made to locate the nearly 85,000 migrant children that have gone missing under the Biden administration, while also bringing any child labor criminals holding them in modern-day slavery to justice.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:07:47Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-blasts-biden-interior-secretary-claims-too-many-american-jobs-selling-out-blue-collar/", "Hawley Blasts Biden Interior Secretary For Claims of \u2018Too Many\u2019 American Jobs, Selling Out Blue-Collar Workers to China", "2023-05-02", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, grilling her for prioritizing the Biden Administration\u2019s radical climate agenda over retaining blue-collar jobs and American energy security.\n\n\u201cLet me just say this \u2014 jobs for blue-collar workers in this nation are valuable resources. The livelihood and well-being of American families are valuable resources. The ability of America to have our own industry and not be dependent on China is a valuable resource,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cWhy should those things, for millions of Americans, be sacrificed in favor of your agenda for radical climate change?\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator, I know that there\u2019s like 1.9 jobs for every American in the country right now, so I know there\u2019s a lot of jobs,\u201d Secretary Haaland responded.\n\nSenator Hawley continued, \u201cWait, you\u2019re telling me that we have too many jobs for blue-collar workers? Have you seen the number of jobs we have lost in this country to China in the last twenty years? Do you know where those jobs come from? Over 3 million jobs have gone to China. Do you know where those jobs have come from? They have come out of midwestern towns like the ones I represent. They are blue-collar workers, and you\u2019re sitting here and telling me that we have too many jobs in this country. Are you serious?\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:07:47Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-leads-missouri-delegation-letter-expressing-support-transfer-c-130j-aircraft-rosecrans-air/", "Hawley Leads Missouri Delegation Letter Expressing Support for Transfer of C-130J Aircraft to Rosecrans Air National Guard Base", "2023-05-02", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) led the Missouri Congressional delegation \u2013 including Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rep. Cori Bush (MO-1), Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-2), Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3), Rep. Mark Alford (MO-4), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-5), Rep. Sam Graves (MO-6), Rep. Eric Burlison (MO-7), and Rep. Jason Smith (MO-8) \u2013 in sending a letter to the Director of the Air National Guard, Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh, expressing their full support for transferring eight C-130J aircraft to Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in Saint Joseph, Missouri.\n\n\u201cWe were recently informed that the 139th Airlift Wing has been selected to move forward to the next step of the C-130J basing decision process. In light of this announcement, we write in full support of transferring eight C-130Js to the 139th Airlift Wing (139th AW) at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in Saint Joseph, Missouri,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nThey continued, \u201cAs final basing decisions for the transfer of C-130J aircraft approach, we thank you again for your continued consideration of the 139th AW to receive the C-130J. Basing these aircraft at Rosecrans Air National Guard base will solidify the continued success of the 139th AW in service of our country.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nMay 2, 2023\n\nLieutenant General Michael A. Loh\n\nDirector, Air National Guard\n\n3500 Fetchet Avenue\n\nAndrews AFB, MD 20762-5157\n\nDear Lieutenant General Loh,\n\nWe were recently informed that the 139th Airlift Wing has been selected to move forward to the next step of the C-130J basing decision process. In light of this announcement, we write in full support of transferring eight C-130Js to the 139th Airlift Wing (139th AW) at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in Saint Joseph, Missouri.\n\nThe 139th AW at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base is host to the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center (AATTC). The AATTC provides all Mobility Air Forces of the U.S. Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard\u2014along with joint partners in the U.S. Marine Corps and at least 17 allies and partners\u2014with advanced airlift tactics and training. No other Air National Guard Base under consideration for this C-130J basing action boasts this unique asset. The 139th AW also has a long record of successful wartime deployments and regularly contributes to domestic and homeland security needs, including in response to natural disasters.\n\nThe 139th AW currently performs the above missions using older C-130H models. Upgrading the current fleet of C-130Hs to the new C-130J models would not only improve the unit\u2019s ability to meet current and projected operational requirements, including Agile Combat Employment, but would also improve its ability to respond to domestic requirements. Importantly, 139th AW\u2019s central position in the Continental United States allows it to rapidly deploy across the country. Furthermore, the 139th AW is the only Air National Guard airlift unit with the capability to respond locally in the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 7, which includes Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska.\n\nThe 139th AW has continued to maintain and modernize its infrastructure, ensuring that it is well- postured to receive C-130J aircraft now and for decades to come. For example, through new land lease sales, base development, and a new runway, the unit is already positioned to have the capacity and resources necessary for the delivery of C-130J aircrafts. The 139th AW also has recorded higher flying hour allocation than any other C130H unit for Fiscal Year 2023. All of this reaffirms what we have long known to be true\u2014that no other unit in the Air National Guard is better situated to accept the C-130J aircraft than the 139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base.\n\nAs final basing decisions for the transfer of C-130J aircraft approach, we thank you again for your continued consideration of the 139th AW to receive the C-130J. Basing these aircraft at Rosecrans Air National Guard base will solidify the continued success of the 139th AW in service of our country.\n\nThank you for your service to our nation and the United States Air Force.\n\nSincerely,\n\nJosh Hawley\n\nUnited States Senator\n\nEric Schmitt\n\nUnited States Senator\n\nSam Graves\n\nMember of Congress\n\nMark Alford\n\nMember of Congress\n\nBlaine Luetkemeyer\n\nMember of Congress\n\nJason Smith\n\nMember of Congress\n\nEric Burlison\n\nMember of Congress\n\nAnn Wagner\n\nMember of Congress\n\nEmanuel Cleaver, II\n\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:07:47Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-stefanik-push-answers-us-military-about-participation-tiktok-ad/", "Hawley, Stefanik Push for Answers from U.S. Military about Participation in TikTok Ad", "2023-05-02", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) have sent a letter to Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Daniel Hokanson, demanding answers for an Air National Guardsman\u2019s participation in a recent advertisement on TikTok that appears to serve as a de facto National Guard endorsement of a Chinese-controlled platform.\n\nThe TikTok advertisement features a member of the Air National Guard expressing his support for and use of TikTok. In the video, the Servicemember explains how he personally uses this platform from the perspective of his military service and that it \u201callows [him] to reach the military community.\u201d\n\nSenator Hawley and Congresswoman Stefanik wrote, \u201cThis is extremely concerning given the known threats TikTok poses to Americans-especially so as TikTok is now banned on all U.S. Government devices.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cNot only does TikTok play a leading role in manipulating American citizens\u2019 perceptions of China generally, but influence operations like this could directly undermine the National Guard\u2019s ability to mobilize in crisis or conflict. [\u2026] Both TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party continue to actively undermine American interests, both in the Indo-Pacific and in the American homeland, that the National Guard is tasked to defend.\u201d\n\nIn January, Senator Hawley introduced the No TikTok on United States Devices Act to prohibit TikTok from operating in the United States and ban commercial activity with TikTok\u2019s parent company, ByteDance.\n\nIn December 2022, Senator Hawley\u2019s No TikTok on Government Devices was signed into law effectively banning the Chinese app on all federal devices \u2013 including those belonging to the Department of Defense.\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nApril 28, 2023\n\nGeneral Daniel Hokanson\n\nChief National Guard Bureau\n\n111 S George Mason Drive Arlington VA 22204\n\nDear General Hokanson,\n\nWe write to express our concern over a recent TikTok advertisement featuring an Air National Guardsman expressing his support for, and use of, TikTok. In the advertisement, he immediately identifies himself as a member of the Air National Guard. As a result, the video appears to serve as a de facto National Guard endorsement of TikTok\u2019s platform. This is extremely concerning given the known threats TikTok poses to Americans-especially so as TikTok is now banned on all U.S. Government devices. It is therefore imperative that the National Guard Bureau (NGB) clarify its policies on official and unofficial use of TikTok to both Servicemembers and the American people.\n\nChinese intelligence and security services use TikTok to surveil, exploit, and manipulate the American people. TikTok\u2019s parent company, ByteDance, is a Chinese company and therefore must comply with Article 7 of China\u2019s 2017 National Intelligence Law, which states, \u201cAny organization or citizen shall support, assist, and cooperate with the state intelligence work in accordance with the law.\u201d This is especially concerning considering that China-based employees of ByteDance routinely access non-public U.S. user data, despite TikTok\u2019s official statements to the contrary.\n\nThe National Guard plays an integral role in carrying out the National Defense Strategy, which correctly identifies China as our most consequential strategic competitor. Not only does TikTok play a leading role in manipulating American citizens\u2019 perceptions of China generally, but influence operations like this could directly undermine the National Guard\u2019s ability to mobilize in crisis or conflict. Additionally, TikTok\u2019s data collection could pose threats to the operational security of National Guard operations. Both TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party continue to actively undermine American interests, both in the Indo-Pacific and in the American homeland, that the National Guard is tasked to defend.\n\nWith these concerns in mind, we request answers to the following questions:\n\nHas NGB prohibited use of TikTok on official government devices in accordance with federal law?\n\nHas NGB provided guidance to National Guardsmen about the use of TikTok on personal devices? If so, please share this guidance. If not, please explain why NGB has not provided such guidance to National Guardsmen.\n\nHow does NGB mitigate the risk of operational security violations when data collection platforms like TikTok are utilized by Servicemembers in their personal capacity?\n\nHow can NGB better communicate benefits offered by the National Guard to current and prospective Guardsmen using platforms other than TikTok?\n\nPlease provide these answers in unclassified format no later than May 26, 2023. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,\n\nJosh Hawley Elise M. Stefanik\n\nUnited States Senator Member of Congress\n\nCC:\n\nChief of Staff of the Air Force\n\nDirector, Air National Guard", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:07:47Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-demands-fbi-launch-full-scale-effort-locate-missing-migrant-children-bring-child-labor/", "Hawley Demands FBI Launch Full-Scale Effort to Locate Missing Migrant Children, Bring Child Labor Criminals to Justice", "2023-04-28", "2023", "2023-04", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray yesterday, demanding a full-scale effort be made to locate the nearly 85,000 migrant children that have gone missing under the Biden administration, while also bringing any child labor criminals holding them in modern-day slavery to justice.\n\n\u201cAccording to statistics kept by Customs and Border Protection, some 345,000 children have come across the border unaccompanied since early 2021. We now know tens of thousands of these children have been caught up in massive child smuggling and child labor operations,\u201d wrote Senator Hawley. \u201cI am sure you have seen recent reports in the New York Times that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has lost touch with as many as 85,000 migrant children. Thousands of these children are now the prey of child labor criminals.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cThe FBI must mount a full-scale effort to locate these missing children and to bring to justice the criminals who are holding them in modern-day slavery. The FBI must also investigate HHS and the Department of Homeland Security for their role in facilitating the exploitation of these children, in violation of the law. This issue must be a leading FBI priority.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nApril 27, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Christopher A. Wray\n\nDirector\n\nFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\n\n935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20535\n\nDear Director Wray:\n\nAccording to statistics kept by Customs and Border Protection, some 345,000 children have come across the border unaccompanied since early 2021. We now know tens of thousands of these children have been caught up in massive child smuggling and child labor operations. I am sure you have seen recent reports in the New York Times that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has lost touch with as many as 85,000 migrant children. Thousands of these children are now the prey of child labor criminals.\n\nThe Biden Administration is morally responsible for their fate. The President lifted Title 42 restrictions on unaccompanied children in early 2021. Reporting reveals that HHS loosened vetting processes for sponsors and retaliated against whistleblowers who raised these concerns. As a result, thousands of children have been handed over to modern-day slave traders. They are forced into factory work under punishing conditions. They are forced to make auto parts, process meat in slaughterhouses, and reroof houses. They are denied food, education, and sometimes fear for their lives. They suffer sexual violence. In a country that claims to value the rule of law and the protection of children, this is unconscionable.\n\nThe pervasive maltreatment of migrant children plainly violates both the Fair Labor Standards Act, which prohibits the abuse of underage workers, and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which designates human trafficking offenses as federal crimes. The FBI must mount a full-scale effort to locate these missing children and to bring to justice the criminals who are holding them in modern-day slavery. The FBI must also investigate HHS and the Department of Homeland Security for their role in facilitating the exploitation of these children, in violation of the law.\n\nThis issue must be a leading FBI priority. Please provide my office with a full report on the whereabouts of these children, and of any prosecutions initiated, no later than May 25, 2023.\n\nI appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:02:19Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-bill-requiring-cleanup-jana-elementary-passes-senate/", "Hawley Bill Requiring Cleanup of Jana Elementary Passes the Senate", "2023-04-26", "2023", "2023-04", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "This afternoon the United States Senate passed U.S. Senator Josh Hawley\u2019s (R-Mo.) bill, the Justice for Jana Elementary Act mandating the clean up of Jana Elementary School and radioactive waste testing to be performed at the surrounding buildings in the Hazelwood School District.\n\n\u201cThe federal government caused this problem, and the federal government should fix this problem. [\u2026] This community in St. Louis has been asked to live with the fallout of the federal government\u2019s actions for decades. [\u2026] Today we are going to get justice for these kids, and we\u2019re going to start the cleanup process that should have happened decades ago,\u201d said Senator Hawley.\n\nWatch the full speech here or by clicking above.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the students and families of the Hazelwood School District. Most recently, Senator Hawley secured Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm\u2019s support for the bill, after questioning her in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing last week.\n\nThis week Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nLast month, Senator Hawley delivered remarks and attempted to unanimously pass his legislation to clean up Jana Elementary School and test the surrounding buildings in the Hazelwood School District, but it was blocked.\n\nIn early March, Senator Hawley called out the Biden Administration for its lack of action on the Jana Elementary School cleanup, and pledged to hold all nominees to positions at the DOE until the issue is resolved.\n\nIn February, Senator Hawley introduced the Justice for Jana Elementary Act of 2023 following an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing where he pushed the DOE for answers on the radioactive waste found at the school.\n\nIn January, Senator Hawley and Representative Bush sent a letter to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon calling for additional radioactive testing of Hazelwood School District\u2019s properties.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:02:19Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/tomorrow-hawley-heading-senate-floor-request-unanimous-passage-justice-jana-elementary-act/", "TOMORROW: Hawley Heading to Senate Floor to Request Unanimous Passage of Justice for Jana Elementary Act", "2023-04-25", "2023", "2023-04", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced that he will go to the Senate floor tomorrow to request unanimous consent on his bill, the Justice for Jana Elementary Act of 2023, requiring the federal cleanup of Jana Elementary school as well as the testing of the surrounding buildings in the Hazelwood School District. This comes as Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) has introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives this week.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nSenator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the students and families of the Hazelwood School District. Most recently, Senator Hawley secured Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm\u2019s support for the bill, after questioning her in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing.\n\nLast month, Senator Hawley delivered remarks and attempted to unanimously pass his legislation to clean up Jana Elementary School and test the surrounding buildings in the Hazelwood School District, but it was blocked.\n\nIn early March, Senator Hawley called out the Biden Administration for its lack of action on the Jana Elementary School cleanup, and pledged to hold all nominees to positions at the DOE until the issue is resolved.\n\nIn February, Senator Hawley introduced the Justice for Jana Elementary Act of 2023 following an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing where he pushed the DOE for answers on the radioactive waste found at the school.\n\nIn January, Senator Hawley and Representative Bush sent a letter to USACE Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon calling for additional radioactive testing of Hazelwood School District\u2019s properties.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:02:19Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/granholm-expresses-support-hawley-bills-banning-stock-trading-members-congress-and-executive-branch/", "Granholm Expresses Support for Hawley Bills Banning Stock Trading for Members of Congress and Executive Branch Officials", "2023-04-21", "2023", "2023-04", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "In a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing yesterday, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm about the troubling reports that nearly one-third of the Energy Department\u2019s senior officials or their families owned stocks related to the agency\u2019s work.\n\nAt the end of his questioning, Secretary Granholm expressed support Senator Hawley\u2019s Eliminating Executive Branch Insider Trading Act, which would ban the trading and holding of individual stocks by senior Executive Branch officials. Granholm also expressed support for a stock trading ban for members of Congress. Earlier this year, Senator Hawley introduced the PELOSI Act to ban members of Congress and their spouses from trading stocks.\n\n\u201cWell I\u2019ll tell you what\u2014I think I\u2019ve got a solution, which is, let\u2019s just ban it. Let\u2019s ban it for all Executive Department officials. Let\u2019s ban it for members of Congress,\u201d said Senator Hawley. \u201cHow about that?\u201d\n\n\u201cI would not object to that,\u201d responded Secretary Granholm.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:02:19Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 116, "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": "MO", "p2": "2023"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MO&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 116, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MO&year=2023&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MO&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 116, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=MO&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MO&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "MO", "label": "MO", "count": 116, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MO&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 116, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MO", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2023-04-21,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ehawley~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fgranholm-expresses-support-hawley-bills-banning-stock-trading-members-congress-and-executive-branch~2F", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=MO&year=2023&_next=2023-04-21%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ehawley~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fgranholm-expresses-support-hawley-bills-banning-stock-trading-members-congress-and-executive-branch~2F&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 167.27001080289483, "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"}