{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"NC\" and year = 2022 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/12/tillis-votes-against-1-7-trillion-omnibus-package", "Tillis Votes Against $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Package", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted against the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package.\n\n\u201cI voted against the $1.7 trillion spending bill because it contains too much wasteful spending and misguided, left-wing priorities,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cNorth Carolina families have struggled with inflation and have been forced to cut back on spending and make some tough decisions. Congress needs to start doing the same.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/12/tillis-announces-10-4-million-grant-to-improve-transit-services-for-rural-north-carolina", "Tillis Announces $10.4 Million Grant To Improve Transit Services for Rural North Carolina", "2022-12-19", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced the U.S. Department of Transportation Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant program awarded the N.C. Department of Transportation $10.4 million to expand on-demand transit services for up to 11 rural communities across the state of North Carolina. The grant includes funds for software deployment and vehicle acquisition to support the new services. The funds come from The Rural Surface Transportation Grant, part of the bipartisan infrastructure law that Senator Tillis helped negotiate and pass into law.\n\n\u201cThis grant is a big win for rural North Carolina and will improve and modernize on-demand transportation for more than 800,000 North Carolinians,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cI was proud to advocate for this funding and help negotiate and support the bipartisan infrastructure law to bring this investment to our great state.\u201d\n\nSenator Tillis sent a letter advocating for the award that can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/12/final-ndaa-includes-numerous-tillis-provisions-to-improve-the-lives-of-north-carolina-servicemembers-and-families", "Final NDAA Includes Numerous Tillis Provisions to Improve the Lives of North Carolina Servicemembers and Families", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The Senate recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, which included multiple provisions by U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to improve the lives of servicemembers and military families.\n\nThe bipartisan legislation also includes the authorization of $302.3 million for North Carolina military installations. Since being elected in 2015, Senator Tillis has secured more than $3 billion for North Carolina\u2019s military installations.\n\n\u201cI was proud to lead a bipartisan effort to provide much needed improvements to installations across the country, including Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cNorth Carolina\u2019s military installations continue to play a crucial role in protecting the United States against threats all across the world. Ensuring Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point, New River, and Seymour Johnson have the resources they need to successfully protect our great nation has been a top priority of mine since the first day I took office. This bipartisan legislation is a big win for North Carolina\u2019s servicemembers and our military families, and I am proud it will be signed into law by President Biden. I will continue to work hard for our brave men and women in uniform.\u201d\n\nSenator Tillis\u2019 Priorities Secured in the NDAA:\n\nTakes care of our troops\n\nThe NDAA rescinds DOD\u2019s COVID vaccine mandate amid the nation\u2019s massive recruiting crisis.\n\nThe NDAA authorizes funding to support a 4.6 percent pay raise for both military service members and the Department of Defense civilian workforce.\n\nThis legislation bans Uighur slave labor-made items in military commissaries and exchanges.\n\nThe NDAA increases maximum special and incentive payments and bonuses by over 30 percent.\n\nThe NDAA authorizes DOD to pay relocation and quarantine costs for pets during military moves.\n\nThe NDAA authorizes a Survivor Benefit Plan open season for the first time since 2005.\n\nThe legislation limits frequency of adjustments to overseas cost of living allowances to every 6 months.\n\nThe NDAA permanently authorizes the DOD Skillbridge program.\n\nThe NDAA authorizes a pilot program on hiring special education inclusion coordinators in Child Development Centers to ensure quality services are provided to children with special needs.\n\nThe NDAA extends the reimbursement authority for spouse relicensing costs after a permanent change of station (PCS) for an additional 5 years.\n\nThe NDAA authorizes the reimbursement of spouse business costs arising from a PCS.\n\nThe NDAA authorizes $50 million for Impact Aid and $20 million for Impact Aid for military dependents with severe disabilities.\n\nThe NDAA requires DOD to establish a comprehensive initiative for brain health, the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative, to improve cognitive performance and brain health of servicemembers.\n\nThe NDAA makes improvements to the TRICARE Dental Program, including improving specialty care referrals under TRICARE Prime during permanent changes of station.\n\nThe NDAA makes certain improvements relating to behavioral health care in the military health system.\n\nThe NDAA authorizes transitional health care benefits to National Guard members who are separated from full-time duty in response to a national emergency declaration and supported by federal funds.\n\nFY2023 Military Construction for North Carolina Installations\n\nFort Bragg - $84.5 million\n\nFort Bragg - Automated Infantry Platoon Battle Course (P&D) - $1.35 million\n\nFort Bragg Automated Record Fire Range (P&D) - $2 million\n\nFort Bragg Child Development Center (P&D) - $3.6 million\n\nFort Bragg Multipurpose Machine Gun Range (MPMG 2) (P&D) - $1.6 million\n\nFort Bragg Multipurpose Training Range - $34 million\n\nFort Bragg Albritton Middle School Addition (P&D) - $7.5 million\n\nFort Bragg SOF Operations Building - $18.8 million\n\nFort Bragg SOF Supply Support Activity - $15.6 million\n\nMCAS Cherry Point - $117.4 million\n\nCherry Point Aircraft Maintenance Hangar (INC) \u2013 $21 million\n\nCherry Point CH-53K Gearbox Repair and Test Facility \u2013 $38.4 million\n\nCherry Point - F-35 Flightline Util Modernization Ph 2 (INC) \u2013 $58 million\n\nMCAS New River - $21 million\n\nNew River Three Module Type II Hangar \u2013 $21 million\n\nMCB Camp Lejeune - $54 million\n\nCamp Lejeune Regional Communications Station, Hadnot Point - $47.4 million\n\nCamp Lejeune Lejeune Schools Modernization (P&D) - $6.6 million\n\nSeymour Johnson AFB - $3.8 million\n\nSeymour Johnson Combat Arms and Maintenance Complex (P&D) - $3.3 million\n\nSeymour Johnson KC\u201346 Alert Facility (P&D) - $530,000\n\nArmy National Guard - $19.5 million\n\nMcleansville Camp Burton Road National Guard Vehicle Maintenance Shop - $15 million\n\nMorrisville Army Aviation Flight Facility #1 (P&D) - $4.5 million\n\nArmy Reserve Center: Ashville, NC - $2 million\n\nAsheville Cost to Complete: Army Reserve Center - $2 million\n\nTotal MILCON Funding - $302.3 million\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/12/tillis-announces-4-3-million-dollar-grant-to-expand-asheville-airport", "Tillis Announces $4.3 Million Dollar Grant to Expand Asheville Airport", "2022-12-07", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Aviation Administration awarded the Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority a $4.3 million grant for terminal expansion. Funding for this grant comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act that Senator Tillis helped negotiate and pass into law.\n\n\u201cAir travel continues to grow and North Carolina airports need continued expansion to keep up with demand,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThis grant will go a long way in helping the Asheville Airport expand its terminal for a smoother and more efficient experience and I was proud have helped negotiate and pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill that will make this project happen.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/12/tillis-legislation-to-protect-firefighters-from-hazardous-pfas-chemicals-to-be-signed-into-law", "Tillis Legislation to Protect Firefighters from Hazardous PFAS Chemicals to be Signed into Law", "2022-12-05", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Recently, bipartisan legislation co-introduced by U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Gary Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to help protect the health and safety of firefighters and emergency responders from PFAS exposure passed the House. The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act directs federal agencies to develop best practices, training, and educational programs to reduce, limit and prevent exposure to PFAS, also known as \u201cforever chemicals\u201d because they do not naturally break down. The bill would also require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop educational resources for firefighters on alternative foams and personal protective equipment that do not contain PFAS. The legislation, which passed the Senatelast summer and was led through the House by U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12), now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cFirefighters and first responders put their lives on the line to keep communities safe, and they should not have to worry about being exposed to harmful chemicals like PFAS,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThis legislation will develop guidelines to keep our first responders safe and limit the introduction of these harmful contaminants into the environment. I applaud the House for passing this crucial legislation and look forward to President Biden signing it into law.\u201d\n\nEmergency response teams are frequently exposed to harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams and personal protective equipment as they work to keep communities safe. PFAS substances have been linked to a number of health problems, including certain cancers.\n\nThe Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act would direct DHS \u2013 in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Fire Administration, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health \u2013 to develop educational resources to help protect firefighters, emergency response personnel, and the communities they serve from PFAS exposure. This would include information for federal, state, and local firefighters on training and best practices to prevent and reduce exposure to PFAS from firefighting foams and protective gear, as well as resources that identify alternatives for firefighting tools and equipment that do not contain PFAS.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/12/tillis-bipartisan-group-of-senators-warn-ccp-against-violent-crackdown-on-protesters", "Tillis, Bipartisan Group of Senators Warn CCP Against Violent Crackdown on Protesters", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), this week sent a bipartisan letter with nearly half of his Senate colleagues to the Chinese ambassador to the United States warning the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime of the consequences of a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters. Demonstrations have erupted across China in response to the CCP\u2019s severe measures restricting freedoms to contain rising COVID-19 infections.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party has gone too far with their harsh \u2018zero covid,\u2019 giving the people of China no freedom in their own country,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cWith peaceful protesting erupting all over the country in opposition to these crackdowns, President Xi and the CCP should think twice before taking violent action against their own people, which is why I am proud to join many of my colleagues in sending this crucial letter.\u201d\n\nRead the full text of the letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/12/tillis-bipartisan-group-of-senators-warn-ccp-against-violent-crackdown-on-protesters/f3d01c2f-34d2-474c-81c4-b6c1530f5533", "Tillis, Bipartisan Group of Senators Warn CCP Against Violent Crackdown on Protesters", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), this week sent a bipartisan letter with nearly half of his Senate colleagues to the Chinese ambassador to the United States warning the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime of the consequences of a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters. Demonstrations have erupted across China in response to the CCP\u2019s severe measures restricting freedoms to contain rising COVID-19 infections.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party has gone too far with their harsh \u2018zero covid,\u2019 giving the people of China no freedom in their own country,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cWith peaceful protesting erupting all over the country in opposition to these crackdowns, President Xi and the CCP should think twice before taking violent action against their own people, which is why I am proud to join many of my colleagues in sending this crucial letter.\u201d\n\nRead the full text of the letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/12/senate-passes-respect-for-marriage-act-that-includes-robust-religious-freedom-protections-secured-by-tillis", "Senate Passes Respect for Marriage Act that Includes Robust Religious Freedom Protections Secured by Tillis", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) supported the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, bipartisan legislation he helped negotiate and pass, which ensures robust protections for religious freedom and First Amendment rights.\n\nWatch Senator Tillis\u2019 floor speech here and download here.\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan legislation is a good compromise that provides permanent certainty for same-sex couples while ensuring robust protections for churches and religious organizations, protections that are more robust and expansive than what currently exists in federal law,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThis bill protects all religious liberty and conscience protections available under the Constitution and Federal law, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and cannot be used to diminish or repeal any such protection. I worked hard to include this religious freedom amendment so churches and religious organizations will continue to operate and worship free from government interference, and I want to thank my colleagues for coming together on a bipartisan basis to pass the legislation.\u201d\n\nThe Senators\u2019 bipartisan amendment:\n\nConfirms that non-profit religious organizations will not be required to provide any services, facilities, or goods for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage.\n\nGuarantees that this bill may not be used to deny or alter any benefit, right, or status of an otherwise eligible person or entity \u2013 including tax-exempt status, tax treatment, grants, contracts, agreements, guarantees, educational funding, loans, scholarships, licenses, certifications, accreditations, claims, or defenses \u2013 provided that the benefit, right, or status does not arise from a marriage. For instance, a church, university, or other nonprofit\u2019s eligibility for tax-exempt status is unrelated to marriage, so its status would not be affected by this legislation.\n\nStates that the bill does not require or authorize the Federal government to recognize polygamous marriages.\n\nRecognizes the importance of marriage, acknowledges that diverse beliefs and the people who hold them are due respect, and affirms that couples, including same-sex and interracial couples, deserve the dignity, stability, and ongoing protection of marriage.\n\nA one-pager on the amendment is available here and full text is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/11/senate-passes-tillis-bill-to-reauthorize-task-force-combatting-child-exploitation", "Senate Passes Tillis Bill to Reauthorize Task Force Combatting Child Exploitation", "2022-11-18", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week, the U.S. Senate passed legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) that would reauthorize the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program to combat child exploitation across the country.\n\n\u201cThe PROTECT Our Children Act will ensure that we continue to support survivors and provide law enforcement with resources needed to investigate and prosecute criminals who exploit children online,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cI\u2019m proud the Senate came together to pass our bipartisan legislation.\u201d\n\nSenators John Cornyn (R-TX), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Charles Grassley (R-IA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) also co-introduced the legislation.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe PROTECT Our Children Act, originally passed in 2008, authorized the ICAC Task Force Program, a national network of 61 coordinated task forces that represent 3,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies engaged in reactive and proactive investigations across the country. The ICAC aids local and state law enforcement in the creation and implementation of effective responses to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and internet crimes against children. In order to develop effective response strategies to online child victimization, the ICAC offers guidance on victim support, forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, and prevention and community education.\n\nThe PROTECT Our Children Act of 2022 is supported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).\n\nFor a list of ICAC task forces across the United States, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/11/tillis-colleagues-call-for-termination-of-dod-contracts-failing-to-provide-adequate-housing-rights-for-military-families", "Tillis, Colleagues Call For Termination of DoD Contracts Failing To Provide Adequate Housing Rights for Military Families", "2022-11-15", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, calling on him to use all tools and authorities at his disposal to protect military families from private housing contractors that are not providing protections guaranteed by the military tenant\u2019s bill of rights. Despite requirements in the fiscal year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, five private military housing providers are still failing to implement key rights for military families.\n\n\u201cCongress did not intend for military housing companies\u2019 compliance with the tenant bill of rights and other important provisions of the 2020 NDAA to be optional. Congress put mandates in place to protect military families, and DoD must use all tools at its disposal to enforce these mandates. Allowing military families\u2019 rights to be subject to the whims of private military housing contractors creates an unacceptable level of inequity,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cIf those companies \u2013 Boyer Hill Military Housing, Burlington Capital Real Estate, JL Properties, Miller-Valentine Group, and United Communities \u2013 continue to refuse to provide these rights, we urge DoD to exercise its right to terminate these agreements.\u201d\n\nA recent report from the DoD Inspector General found that these five private military housing providers, which provide over 10,000 military family housing units, are still failing to implement key rights under the DoD tenant bill of rights, including providing service members and their families their homes\u2019 maintenance histories, the right to enter a dispute resolution process, and the right to withhold basic housing allowance payments to the landlord while a dispute resolution process is ongoing.\n\n\u201cThe NDAA \u2013 in order to help address the systemic failures of the private landlords to respond to families\u2019 needs and provide safe and sanitary housing \u2013 required that military families who live in on-base housing be provided with maintenance histories of the homes they rent, alternate dispute resolution processes, and the right to withhold payments to landlords during disputes. And when DoD failed to include these rights in its first draft of the tenant bill of rights Senate Armed Services Committee leaders made clear on a bipartisan basis that they were non-negotiable, noting that their exclusion created \u2018glaring holes\u2019 and went \u2018directly against the promises made by the Department and the housing companies that they would work to regain the trust of our military families,\u201d continued the senators.\n\nAll of the senators who signed the letter sponsored the Military Housing Readiness Council Act, which would create a Council with a mandate to guarantee the full implementation of the tenant bill of rights. The senators are calling on Secretary Austin to fully enforce the DoD tenant bill of rights and are asking him to answer a set of questions about DoD\u2019s implementation and enforcement plans by December 14, 2022.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/11/tillis-helps-secure-robust-religious-freedom-protections-in-the-respect-for-marriage-act", "Tillis Helps Secure Robust Religious Freedom Protections in The Respect for Marriage Act", "2022-11-14", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and his colleagues Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) announced they have reached a compromise on a bipartisan amendment to the Respect for Marriage Act which ensures robust protections for religious freedom. The group of bipartisan senators issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe Respect for Marriage Act is a needed step to provide millions of loving couples in same-sex and interracial marriages the certainty that they will continue to enjoy the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities afforded to all other marriages. Through bipartisan collaboration, we\u2019ve crafted commonsense language to confirm that this legislation fully respects and protects Americans\u2019 religious liberties and diverse beliefs, while leaving intact the core mission of the legislation to protect marriage equality. We look forward to this legislation coming to the floor and are confident that this amendment has helped earn the broad, bipartisan support needed to pass our commonsense legislation into law.\u201d\n\nThe Senators\u2019 bipartisan amendment:\n\nProtects all religious liberty and conscience protections available under the Constitution or Federal law, including but not limited to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and forbids this bill from being used to diminish or repeal any such protection.\n\nConfirms that non-profit religious organizations will not be required to provide any services, facilities, or goods for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage.\n\nGuarantees that this bill may not be used to deny or alter any benefit, right, or status of an otherwise eligible person or entity \u2013 including tax-exempt status, tax treatment, grants, contracts, agreements, guarantees, educational funding, loans, scholarships, licenses, certifications, accreditations, claims, or defenses \u2013 provided that the benefit, right, or status does not arise from a marriage. For instance, a church, university, or other nonprofit\u2019s eligibility for tax-exempt status is unrelated to marriage, so its status would not be affected by this legislation.\n\nStates that the bill does not require or authorize the Federal government to recognize polygamous marriages.\n\nRecognizes the importance of marriage, acknowledges that diverse beliefs and the people who hold them are due respect, and affirms that couples, including same-sex and interracial couples, deserve the dignity, stability, and ongoing protection of marriage.\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act is a narrow but important bill that would do two primary things:\n\nFirst, it would require the federal government to recognize a marriage between two individuals if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed.\n\nSecond, the bill would guarantee that valid marriages between two individuals are given full faith and credit, regardless of the couple\u2019s sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin, but the bill would not require a State to issue a marriage license contrary to state law.\n\nA one-pager on the amendment is available here and full text is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/11/tillis-helps-secure-125-million-grant-to-help-nc-families-combat-higher-heating-costs-this-winter", "Tillis Helps Secure $125 Million Grant to Help NC Families Combat Higher Heating Costs this Winter", "2022-11-02", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced that North Carolina was awarded $125.3 million in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Administered through the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this funding will help low-income individuals and families pay for home heating costs this winter and cover unpaid utility bills.\n\nPart of the funding for this grant comes from the bipartisan infrastructure bill Senator Tillis helped negotiate and pass into law. Specifically, LIHEAP helps low-income households pay home heating and cooling bills, prevent energy shutoffs, restore services, make minor energy-related home repairs, and weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient.\n\n\u201cHigh inflation is hurting North Carolinians in all areas of life, including higher utility bills as winter quickly approaches,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThis significant grant will go a long way to help low-income families pay their utility bills and keep their homes warm, and I am proud to have helped negotiate and pass the legislation that will make it happen.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/11/tillis-announces-2-6-million-grant-to-improve-school-safety", "Tillis Announces $2.6 Million Grant to Improve School Safety", "2022-11-01", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced the Department of Justice\u2019s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) is awarding a $2.6 million grant to improve security at schools and on school grounds in six North Carolina school districts. Funds from the SVPP grant were made available through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, legislation that Senator Tillis helped craft and pass into law.\n\nThe funds will be used for coordination with local law enforcement, training for local law enforcement officers to prevent school violence against others and self, metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures, technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency, and/or any other measure that may provide a significant improvement in security.\n\n\u201cIt is crucial that our children and faculty feel safe and secure at school,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cMany of our schools need updated security measures including metal detectors, locks, and improved technology. This grant is a big win for North Carolina schools and I was proud to help negotiate and support this bipartisan legislation to bring this investment to our great state.\u201d\n\nNorth Carolina School Districts - Total: $2.6 million\n\nBertie County Board of Education - $490,417\n\nJackson County Board of Education - $420,008\n\nPerson County Schools - $461,138\n\nRockingham County Schools - $495,843\n\nStanly County Schools - $333,654\n\nWilson County Schools - $411,261\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-leads-colleagues-raising-concerns-about-operational-integrity-of-the-sec", "Tillis Leads Colleagues Raising Concerns About Operational Integrity of the SEC", "2022-10-28", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Tim Scott (R-SC), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Steve Daines (R-MT) recently sent a letter to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler questioning the operational integrity of the SEC following the recent release of the SEC Inspector General\u2019s Statement on the SEC\u2019s Management and Performance Challenges. Specifically, the report outlined a number of serious and systemic management issues that, if unaddressed, could significantly impact the ability of the SEC to effectively regulate U.S. markets.\n\nThe senators wrote, \u201cAs you are well aware, the report was submitted to your office on October 13, 2022. This statutorily-required and non-biased report is designed to identify the \u2018most serious management and performance challenges facing the SEC.\u2019 Unfortunately, portions of the report detail grave deficiencies within the SEC, especially pertaining to its workforce, level of rulemaking experience, and the length of public comment periods. Cumulatively, these deficiencies make it hard to understand how the SEC is adequately performing the necessary due-diligence and analysis required for its many pending rules.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cSince the beginning of this year through August 29, 2022, the final date the report covers, the SEC introduced twenty-six new rule proposals. At over three rules per month, the twenty-six rules of 2022 are more than double the number introduced in the entirety of 2021 and the highest total in each of the past five years. Despite many outside groups repeatedly requesting the SEC slow its rulemaking tempo to ensure proper time for stakeholder feedback and deliberation, you publicly shrugged-off these concerns by characterizing the rulemaking pace under your leadership as \u2018right in the zone\u2019 of your predecessors.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s public securities markets are the envy of the world, serving as tremendous sources of opportunity for businesses and individual Americans alike. Moreover, given the growing bifurcation of international markets and the rise of peer and near-peer competitors across the globe, it is imperative that the SEC works to ensure all regulatory actions it undertakes are well-conceived and allow U.S. markets to maintain their strategic edge. Any efforts to ram through hurried rulemaking without proper analysis, deliberation or consideration of downstream negative impacts is nothing short of regulatory malpractice. Instead, the SEC should focus on ensuring it meets its mission requirements to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation,\u201dthe senators concluded.\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-announces-17-5-million-rural-broadband-grant-for-warren-and-halifax-counties", "Tillis Announces $17.5 Million Rural Broadband Grant for Warren and Halifax Counties", "2022-10-27", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has awarded Warren County and Halifax County a $17.5 million grant to improve broadband and comes from the bipartisan infrastructure package which Senator Tillis helped negotiate and pass into law.\n\nThis Rural Development investment will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 5,434 people, 100 businesses, 76 farms and 22 educational facilities to high-speed internet in Halifax and Warren Counties in North Carolina. AccessOn Networks Inc. will make high-speed internet service affordable by participating in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity and Lifeline programs.\n\n\u201cReliable broadband is crucial to perform the functions of everyday life, and this $17.5 million grant will go a long way to providing that for North Carolinians in Warren and Halifax Counties,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cI was proud to help negotiate and support the bipartisan infrastructure law to bring this investment to our great state.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-colleagues-seek-answers-on-foreseeable-baby-formula-shortages-call-for-gao-study", "Tillis, Colleagues Seek Answers on Foreseeable Baby Formula Shortages, Call for GAO Study", "2022-10-26", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and his colleagues recently sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) seeking answers on recent baby formula shortages and asking for an investigation into the impact sole-source contracts in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program may have had. The share of formula in the United States that is consumed by WIC infants is estimated to be over 50 percent.\n\n\u201cWe have heard concerns expressed about the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) impact on the infant formula market, in particular in the light of current supply shortages,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cThe shut-down of the Abbott manufacturing plant led to foreseeable shortages of certain infant formula products for WIC participants, but also affects non-WIC formula buyers, retailers and grocers.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo address the high cost of infant formula under WIC, states were required to pursue cost containment systems in 1989 under the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act. As a result, all states pursued sole-source contracts with infant formula manufacturers, who then sends rebates to the WIC state agency. These rebates have saved the WIC program between $1 to $2 billion annually. While these savings have allowed the WIC program to stretch funding farther, some stakeholders have expressed concerns with unintended consequences these contracts have on the market,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nGAO recently shared confirmation that they will conduct the study.\n\nThe senators requested a GAO analysis that answers the following questions:\n\nHow did the price of infant formula change for both WIC and non-WIC customers after the introduction of sole-source rebates?\n\nHow did particular market characteristics such as market concentration, methods of marketing, and barriers to entry impact the size of the rebates offered by manufacturers?\n\nHow have sole-source contracting and minimum infant formula stocking requirements impacted independent and small retailers?\n\nWhat legislative or regulatory changes could improve sole-source contracting? What other measures could address cost containment of infant formula under WIC?\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-colleagues-push-back-on-proposed-noaa-rule", "Tillis, Colleagues Push Back on Proposed NOAA Rule", "2022-10-24", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and his colleagues recently sent a letter to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regarding a recently proposed change to the North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW) Vessel Strike Reduction Rule. In their letter, the senators argue the rule change would slow operations at the port, hurt sport fishers and boat manufacturers, and threaten the lives of harbor pilots.\n\n\u201cAfter briefings from our harbor pilots and ports experts, the proposed changes as we understand them would challenge navigation safety, endanger mariners, and threaten the viability of South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida ports, as well as the boating and fishing industries and communities in our states,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\n\u201cAgain, while we support NOAA\u2019s efforts to protect the NARW, these efforts should not put mariners in danger, or unnecessarily disrupt the maritime supply chain that is so important to our country\u2019s economy and national security. We urge NOAA to work in good faith with key stakeholders, including ports, pilots, shipping, and labor organizations, to modify its proposal so that the NARW is protected, but the unintended consequences discussed above can be eliminated,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nRead the letter in full here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-legislation-to-provide-cost-of-living-adjustment-to-veterans-signed-into-law", "Tillis Legislation To Provide Cost-of-Living Adjustment to Veterans Signed Into Law", "2022-10-24", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Recently, the Veterans\u2019 Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2022, legislation introduced by U.S Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) to provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for veterans\u2019 disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation beneficiaries, was signed into law.\n\n\u201cLike millions of Americans, veterans who served our country are facing rising costs from inflation and their well-earned benefits are not keeping up,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cI am proud to have co-introduced this critical legislation to ensure their benefits keep up with the cost of living.\u201d\n\nThe bill would increase certain VA benefits including disability and dependent compensation, clothing allowances, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children to reflect increases in the cost of living. The cost of living adjustment will be determined by the annual COLA adjustment to social security benefits, as determined by the Social Security Administration, and would go into effect Dec. 1, 2022. The Social Security Administration bases their annual COLA adjustment on the Consumer Price Index, as determined each December by the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-announces-1-4-million-for-north-carolina-law-enforcement", "Tillis Announces $1.4 Million for North Carolina Law Enforcement", "2022-10-20", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced the Department of Justice\u2019s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) awarded more than $1.4 million in grants to the state of North Carolina to advance and support office recruitment and retention, crisis intervention, de-escalation training, and provide technical assistance to law enforcement agencies.\n\n\u201cLaw enforcement officers risk their lives every single day to keep our communities safe, and they deserve training and resources that help them handle the most difficult situations,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThis funding will provide necessary resources and training that will improve safety for law enforcement officers and I applaud the DOJ for their investment in North Carolina\u2019s brave men and women.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, North Carolina will receive:\n\n2022 Community Policing Development (CPD) Program Awards:\n\nCity of Greenville, Microgrants/ Officer Recruitment and Retention: $175,000\n\nCity of Kinston, Law Enforcement Agency De-Escalation Grants: $150,000\n\nCity of New Bern, Implementing Crisis Intervention Teams: $350,000\n\nNorth Carolina Department of Justice Enhancing Existing Law Enforcement Accreditation Entities: $299,051\n\nTown of Wilkesboro, Law Enforcement Agency De-Escalation Grants: $77,112\n\nTotal: $1,051,163\n\n2022 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program Awards:\n\nCity of Asheville, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects: $175,000\n\nCity of Charlotte, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects: $175,000\n\nTotal: $350,000\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-leads-letter-seeking-answers-on-changed-paypal-policy-to-financially-punish-customers-over-misinformation", "Tillis Leads Letter Seeking Answers On Changed PayPal Policy to Financially Punish Customers Over \u2018Misinformation\u2019", "2022-10-19", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) recently led a letter to Paypal, also signed by Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA), Tim Scott (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Steve Daines (R-MT), seeking answers over PayPal\u2019s recent announcement of a policy intended to financially punish its own customers for expressing views which PayPal arbitrarily classifies as \u201cmisinformation.\u201d Though PayPal ultimately rescinded the policy before it could go into effect, the Senators \u201cremain concerned about the processes and values in place at PayPal that allowed a policy such as this to move forward in the first place.\u201d\n\nThe senators wrote, \u201cAs widely reported, PayPal issued an update to the terms and conditions of its AUP, which is scheduled to take effect on November 3, 2022. This update included language that would have allowed PayPal to fine any one of its 429 million users up to $2,500 per offense for spreading \u2018misinformation.\u2019 Disturbingly, the drafting of the policy gave PayPal \u2018sole discretion\u2019 regarding what constitutes \u2018misinformation.\u2019 In effect, PayPal sought the ability to define, then punish its users\u2019 public thoughts.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cAdditionally, PayPal attempted to downplay the dramatic shift in policy this provision envisioned by arguing that its user agreement \u2018has long-stated that PayPal can take funds of up to $2,500 or local equivalent from an account for each violation of the Acceptable Use Policy.\u2019 Yet a review of PayPal\u2019s current Prohibited Activities list shows the vast majority of violations arise from breaches of public law or transactions for specific disfavored items or business practices. The addition of a vague prohibition on spreading \u2018misinformation\u2019 not only would have concerningly expanded the scope of punishable actions, but also would have decreased clarity and increased subjectivity within the Prohibited Activities list. PayPal users deserve clear rules of the road for using the platform, not punishments for open-ended, subjective offenses.\u201d\n\n\u201cGreater encroachment by large technology and financial companies into public speech will only exacerbate Americans\u2019 increasing mistrust of such institutions. Moreover, countless major news events over the past several years have taught us that public information continually evolves, often causing individuals, groups, and organizations to reassess what once appeared to be settled fact. Given this reality, policies that empower companies to punish individuals\u2019 beliefs by acting as arbiters of fact in our ever-changing news and public debate environment represent poor business decisions. Instead, large technology and financial institutions should focus on serving the needs of their customers without bias,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-leahy-legislation-supporting-creative-students-signed-into-law", "Tillis, Leahy Legislation Supporting Creative Students Signed Into Law", "2022-10-19", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week, the ARTS Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to direct the Register of Copyrights to waive the copyright registration fee for winners of the Congressional Art Competition and the Congressional App Competition, was signed into law.\n\nBoth of these competitions, sponsored and led by the House of Representatives, encourage talented students to engage in the arts and coding. These students are recognized by each district and for the winners of the Congressional Art Competition, their work is displayed in the tunnel between the House office buildings.\n\n\u201cEvery year, talented students across the country participate in the Congressional Art Competition and the Congressional App Competition, with the winners displaying their work in the United States Capitol,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cI am proud to have worked with my friend Senator Leahy on a bipartisan, bicameral basis to enact this legislation so each student is introduced to the benefits of copyright protection and I applaud President Biden for signing this legislation into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am so pleased that earlier this week, the President signed into law the Artistic Recognition for Talented Students (ARTS) Act,\u201dsaid Senator Leahy. \u201cSenator Tillis and I first introduced this bill three years ago and it has been a priority for us both ever since. The bill allows the Register of Copyrights to waive the copyright registration fee for winners of the Congressional Art Competition and the Congressional App Competition eliminating any cost barrier that exists for students trying to protect their works. I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Tillis on getting our other intellectual property priorities to the President\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-announces-1-4-billion-for-north-carolina-bridges-and-highways", "Tillis Announces $1.4 Billion for North Carolina Bridges and Highways", "2022-10-13", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is awarding the state of North Carolina $1.4 billion in funding for North Carolina highways and bridges. The funding comes from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, legislation Senator Tillis helped negotiate and pass into law.\n\n\u201cThis grant is a huge win for North Carolina, providing major funding for necessary improvements to our highways and bridges,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cAs a member of the bipartisan infrastructure group, I worked hard to ensure the package improved North Carolina\u2019s roads, highways, and bridges for generations to come, and I applaud the DOT and the FHWA for their continued investment in our great state.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the grant includes:\n\nNational Highway Performance Program:$772.6 million\n\nSurface Transportation Block Grant Program:$375.8 million\n\nHighway Safety Improvement Program:$80.5 million\n\nRailway-Highway Crossings Program:$7 million\n\nCongestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement:$56.9 million\n\nMetropolitan Planning:$7.8 million\n\nNational Highway Freight Program:$36.9 million\n\nCarbon Reduction Program:$33.5 million\n\nPROTECT Formula Program:$38.1 million\n\nTotal: $1.4 billion\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-help-find-the-missing-act", "Tillis, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Help Find the Missing Act", "2022-10-13", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Murphy (D-CT), John Cornyn (R-TX), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and John Hoeven (R-ND) recently introduced the bipartisan Help Find the Missing Act or \u201cBilly\u2019s Law.\u201d This legislation would close loopholes in America\u2019s missing persons systems by streamlining the missing persons reporting process and ensuring that law enforcement and medical examiners have the funding to update the missing persons databases.\n\n\u201cEvery day people go missing in the United States, sometimes without a trace,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThis legislation fixes the missing persons system creating a more efficient reporting process and a more accessible database for law enforcement. We must fix our system to have better chances of finding the missing person or giving the family the answers they deserve.\u201d\n\nBilly's Law was originally introduced in 2009. The bill was inspired by Janice Smolinski of Cheshire, Connecticut, after her 31-year-old son Billy went missing from Waterbury, Connecticut. While working with law enforcement to locate her missing son, Smolinski faced countless systemic challenges. Billy's Law was introduced to address those challenges and help ensure that the tens of thousands of American families whose loved ones go missing each year do not experience the same hurdles faced by the Smolinskis.\n\nSpecifically, theHelp Find the Missing Actwould:\n\nAuthorize and ensure funding for the National Missing Persons and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), created in 2007 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide a missing persons/unidentified database to which the public can contribute and access;\n\nConnect NamUs with the FBI\u2019s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) in order to create more comprehensive missing persons and unidentified remains databases and streamlining the reporting process for local law enforcement;\n\nExpand current law by requiring missing children be reported to NamUs (they already must be reported to NCIC);\n\nCreate an incentive grants program to help states, local law enforcement, medical examiners, and coroners report missing persons and unidentified remains to NCIC and NamUs;\n\nRequire DOJ to issue guidelines and best practices on handling missing persons and unidentified remains cases in order to empower law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners to help find the missing.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, American Society of Crime Lab Directors, National Association of Medical Examiners, International Association of Identification, Society of Forensic Toxicologists, American Board of Forensic Toxicologists, Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Medical Examiners, Doe Network, Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons, and LostNMissing.\n\nFull text of the bill is availablehere.\n\nA section-by-section of the bill is availablehere.\n\nA one-pager of the bill is availablehere.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-shaheen-announce-new-legislation-to-strengthen-u-s-military-readiness-to-respond-to-international-conflicts", "Tillis, Shaheen Announce New Legislation to Strengthen U.S. Military Readiness to Respond to International Conflicts", "2022-10-05", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently introduced the Promoting Readiness for Overseas Contingencies and Unexpected Responses to Exigencies(PROCURE) Act, bipartisan legislation that would ensure the United States maintains sufficient critical munitions stocks to support allies and partners during times of crisis without depleting U.S. military stocks.\n\nThe PROCURE Act would establish a Critical Munitions Acquisition Fund (CMAF) to allow the Secretary of Defense to better manage industry production lines and sustain particular munitions lines that are critical to U.S. national security interests. Additionally, the authorities granted in the CMAF would help the Department of Defense better anticipate industry\u2019s supply chain needs and improve the Department\u2019s purchasing power, driving down costs for the government. ?\n\n\u201cWhile Putin\u2019s illegal invasion resulted in a swift and robust response from the United States and our NATO Allies to arm the Ukrainian military, it exposed the fact that we have major inadequacies with our current munitions stocks,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cOur bipartisan PROCURE Act is essential to improving America\u2019s capacity to quickly arm our allies in potential future conflicts without drawing from our own munitions stocks, which will greatly enhance our national security and military readiness.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-colleagues-introduce-international-children-with-disabilities-protection-act", "Tillis, Colleagues Introduce International Children with Disabilities Protection Act", "2022-10-04", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Recently, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and 11 of his Senate colleagues introduced the International Children with Disabilities Protection Act, new legislation to bolster U.S. support for children with disabilities, helping improve the capacity of local disabilities rights organizations and families of children with disabilities around the world to advocate for necessary reforms.\n\nThe bipartisan effort specifically authorizes $10 million each year for five years for the creation and establishment of an \u2018\u2018International Children with Disabilities Protection Program,\u201d a grant program within the State Department to empower organizations of persons with disabilities. In addition to creating the first U.S. program focused on helping global efforts to combat stigma and discrimination against children with disabilities, the legislation reinforces U.S. policy to protect against the unnecessary institutionalization of children with disabilities and to help promote the development of laws and policies that support the full inclusion of children with disabilities in families.\n\n\u201cChildren with disabilities deserve special services specific to their needs,\u201dsaid Senator Tillis. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation authorizes necessary funds for these programs and requires transparency around these expenditures, and is a step in the right direction for our children around the world.\u201d\n\nClickHERE for a copy of the legislation.\n\nClickHERE for a one-page summary of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/10/tillis-senate-republicans-demand-biden-administration-end-its-war-on-u-s-oil-gas", "Tillis, Senate Republicans Demand Biden Administration End Its War on U.S. Oil & Gas", "2022-10-03", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and a group of Republican senators sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland demanding the Biden Administration end its assault on domestic oil and gas production and continue to sell oil and gas leases on federal land and water. The push comes in response to the U.S. Department of Interior\u2019s draft proposal for the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, in which the department hinted that it might cancel future lease sales for the next five years.\n\n\u201cAmerican families are struggling to keep up with rising costs due to inflation, high energy prices, and persistent supply chain issues,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cIt is our obligation to do everything within our power to help ease these burdens and remove this uncertainty for both Americans and our allies.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne of the most effective ways we can do this is to increase future domestic oil and natural gas production through long-term leasing certainty,\u201dcontinued the senators. \u201cThe Department can help domestic energy production and put American energy consumers first.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 26, "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": "NC", "p2": "2022"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 26, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC&year=2022&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 26, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NC&year=2022", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "NC", "label": "NC", "count": 26, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2022", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "2022", "label": "2022", "count": 26, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": null, "next_url": null, "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 209.28410906344652, "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"}