{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"NC\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/29/senator-budd-issues-statement-after-cms-announces-213m-in-funding-for-north-carolinas-rural-hospitals/", "Senator Budd Issues Statement After CMS Announces $213M+ in Funding for North Carolina\u2019s Rural Hospitals", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Earlier this month, U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined members of the North Carolina congressional delegation in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Dr. Mehmet Oz, expressing strong support for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service\u2019s (DHHS) Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) application. Today, CMS allocated $213,008,356 in funding for North Carolina\u2019s rural hospitals, which was previously approved in the Working Families Tax Cut Act signed into law earlier this year.\n\nIn a statement following the announcement, Senator Budd said:\n\n\u201cNorth Carolina has the second-largest rural population in America, home to 7.6% of our nation\u2019s rural residents. Today\u2019s announcement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of $213 million from the Rural Health Transformation Program will greatly benefit patients across our state. While I was proud to support the inclusion of this funding in the Working Families Tax Cut Act, it is unfortunate that the State\u2019s application was not appropriately coordinated with federal officials and did not request funding levels that more accurately correlate with our significant rural population.\u201d\n\nRead the full text of the letter HERE and below.\n\nDear Administrator Oz:\n\nAs members of the North Carolina congressional delegation, we express our strong support for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (DHHS) Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) application. We respectfully request that you approve the application in full before the December 31 deadline. Approval will allow our state, which has three million rural residents across 85 counties\u2014the second-largest rural population in the nation\u2014to expand proven innovative models, foster sustainable innovation, and strengthen our rural workforce.\n\nWhile our state\u2019s application requested a funding amount equal to 2 percent of total RHTP dollars available, North Carolina accounts for 7.6 percent of the rural population nationwide, so we are requesting that CMS allocate additional dollars so that the total funding amount is proportional to the disproportionately large rural population in our state. Per existing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance, North Carolina applied the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) definition of rural, which excludes counties like Burke, Moore and Pitt, with respective populations of 88,000, 108,000 and 180,000, yet includes counties like Wake, which is a primarily urban county home to over 1.2 million residents. Moore, Pitt, and similar jurisdictions serve some of the most isolated patients living in the most rural and even remote areas, and we look forward to ensuring all our rural providers and patients receive funding commensurate with their level of need.\n\nAfter applying on November 3, DHHS plans to allocate awarded funds through its Office of Rural Health (NCRHTP). A statewide steering committee, including Medicaid, Public Health, and Behavioral Health divisions, would guide implementation. The program allows sufficient flexibility for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to assign recipients. As population declines continue and rural hospitals increasingly rely on Medicaid, rural communities face ongoing healthcare and economic challenges, with gaps in access to care and quality. At least 24 counties lack adequate primary care, and 90 counties are designated mental health shortage areas. Since 2006, 12 rural hospitals have closed, with seven closures in eastern North Carolina.\n\nAn RHTP investment will improve health outcomes and access for nearly three million rural North Carolinians, advancing innovative care models, transforming the rural care experience, and creating a sustainable rural delivery system. By FY2031, NCRHTP aims to increase rural provider-to-population ratios, reduce preventable hospital readmissions and emergency visits, lower chronic disease risk factors, and expand access to integrated behavioral, mental health, and substance use services. Locally governed, community-tailored networks will connect medical, behavioral, and social services, making it easier for rural residents to access comprehensive care in one place.\n\nEach hub is tailored to its region, offering in-person services, care coordination, and direct family support, while also leveraging virtual care and advanced AI to improve access and data sharing. These efforts will provide an opportunity to accelerate technological innovation, access, and interoperability through expanded health information exchange participation, digital literacy programs to ensure rural residents can access modern, connected care, and the broad implementation of state-of-the-art AI-based technology to support documentation and real-time expert clinical decision support to drive down business costs for rural providers and improve sustainability.\n\nApproving North Carolina\u2019s application for the RHTP will improve health outcomes and our economy, which relies on healthy communities to thrive. We are grateful for your full and fair consideration of this crucial award ahead of the December 31 deadline.\n\nSincerely,\n\n/X/\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/18/senator-budd-releases-statement-opposing-marijuana-rescheduling/", "Senator Budd\u00a0Releases\u00a0Statement Opposing Marijuana Rescheduling", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "\u201cWe should not be handing tax breaks to bad actors and foreign drug cartels to advertise a drug that will harm Americans.\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order that would reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a lower classification, easing federal restrictions on the substance:\n\n\u201cRescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III substance and putting more money in the pockets of marijuana companies is a shortsighted policy decision that will have detrimental effects on the health and safety of Americans, especially our nation\u2019s youth. The negative health impacts of marijuana are numerous and well-documented\u2014increased risk of heart attack, stroke, psychotic disorders, addiction, and hospitalization. Marijuana use contributes significantly to deadly traffic and workplace accidents, and with this action, our Department of Transportation will be unable to conduct testing for marijuana\u2014even for America\u2019s pilots and truck drivers. We should not be handing tax breaks to bad actors and foreign drug cartels to advertise a drug that will harm Americans.\u201d\n\nBUDD LEADS SENATE LETTER OPPOSING MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING\n\nYesterday, Senator Budd led 21 of his Senate Republican colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to reconsider rescheduling marijuana. The full text of that letter is available HERE and below:\n\n\u201cWe write to ask you to uphold marijuana\u2019s status as a Schedule I drug. Rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III drug will undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again and to usher in America\u2019s next economic Golden Age. The only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors such as Communist China, while Americans will be left paying the bill.\n\n\u201cMarijuana continues to fit the definition of a Schedule I drug due to its high potential for abuse and its lack of an FDA-approved use. The evidence shows that marijuana is harmful to its users, especially to young people and women who are pregnant and nursing. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, studies show that marijuana is linked to \u201cdepression, anxiety, suicide planning, and psychotic episodes.\u201d Tragically, mass shootings have a link to marijuana use, including school shootings; in fact, the shooter who attacked a Catholic school in Minneapolis blamed his actions on \u201cgender and weed\u201d and wrote, \u201cI wish I never tried experimenting with either.\u201d Additionally, marijuana has long-term effects on brain health, including \u201cpermanent IQ loss\u201d when a person starts using marijuana at a young age. Lastly, babies are also at risk from marijuana, as marijuana use during pregnancy may result in \u201cfetal growth restriction, premature birth, stillbirth, and problems with brain development, resulting in hyperactivity and poor cognitive function.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe cannot reindustrialize America if we encourage marijuana use. America\u2019s workplace and America\u2019s roads are endangered by marijuana use. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified studies linking marijuana use to \u201cimpaired judgment\u201d and \u201clack of concentration,\u201d as well as research finding increases in industrial accidents, injuries, and absenteeism among employees who tested positive for marijuana versus those who tested negative. Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that marijuana users are more likely to be involved with car crashes and studies show that marijuana impacts motor skills, cognitive functions, and user\u2019s ability to multitask, which is a \u201ccritical skill\u201d for drivers.\n\n\u201cRescheduling would also give a massive tax break to marijuana companies. These companies are currently prohibited from taking business tax deductions under Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code due to their involvement with marijuana, given its status as a Schedule I drug. According to the marijuana industry\u2019s own researchers, marijuana companies would obtain a $2.3 billion tax break if marijuana were to be rescheduled. Marijuana business leaders have said they will use this infusion of funds to increase their marketing and to expand their businesses into additional states. While supporters of rescheduling argue that extending tax benefits to marijuana businesses will create economic growth, the costs of workplace and vehicular accidents caused by increased marijuana usage far exceeds any perceived benefits\u2014not to mention the moral costs of marijuana advertising that could reach kids.\n\n\u201cIn light of the documented dangers of marijuana, facilitating the growth of the marijuana industry is at odds with growing our economy and encouraging healthy lifestyles for Americans. We urge you to continue your strong leadership of our country and our economy, and to turn away from marijuana rescheduling.\u201d\n\nJoining Senator Budd in sending this letter were Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Shelley Moore Capito (R- W.Va.), James Lankford (R- Okla.), Roger Marshall (R- Kan.), Pete Ricketts (R- Neb.), Tommy Tuberville (R- Ala.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marsha Blackburn (R- Tenn.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Crapo (R-S.D.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/12/lumbee-recognition-legislation-signed-into-law", "Lumbee Recognition Legislation Signed into Law", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC), along with Representatives David Rouzer (R-NC), Mark Harris (R-NC), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Tim Moore (R-NC), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Addison McDowell (R-NC), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Greg Murphy (R-NC), Don Davis (D-NC), and Alma Adams (D-NC), applauded the signing of the Lumbee Fairness Act into law.\n\n\u201cFor 137 years, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina fought for the full federal recognition they were promised, and today that promise has finally been fulfilled,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cPresident Donald Trump pledged to get this done, and he kept that promise. By signing the Lumbee Fairness Act into law, a historic injustice has been corrected, and the Lumbee people can finally access the full federal benefits they have long earned and deserve. This achievement was a true team effort, and I am grateful to Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery, Senator Ted Budd, Michael Whatley, and members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation, including Representatives Rouzer, Hudson, Harris, McDowell, and Moore, for working together to deliver this long overdue recognition for the Lumbee people.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor nearly fifty years, the Lumbee Tribe has fought for the same rights and benefits that every other federally recognized tribe receives,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cToday, this long fight is over, and the more than 60,000 members of the Lumbee Tribe will begin the process of receiving the benefits they deserve. I want to thank Senator Tillis for his strong leadership of the North Carolina delegation as we fought for this provision, and his unyielding dedication to the recognition of the Lumbee people throughout his time in the U.S. Senate. Under the leadership of Chairman John Lowery, the Lumbee Tribe has had strong advocates in President Trump and his administration and in Representatives Rouzer and Harris who introduced the Lumbee Fairness Act in the House. I am grateful to have played a role in securing this major victory for such an important group of North Carolinians.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is truly a great and monumental day for the Lumbee Tribe \u2014 the effects of which will transcend generations for the Lumbee people and all of North Carolina,\u201d said Representative Rouzer, who offered the House amendment to the NDAA to provide federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe. \u201cPassage of my legislation, the Lumbee Fairness Act, will finally grant the Tribe full federal recognition and long-deserved benefits. This historic moment reflects the perseverance of Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery, the tenacity of the Lumbee people, strong support from President Trump, and years of advocacy by Senators Tillis, Budd, Dole, Burr, and many other North Carolina colleagues. Thank you all for your dedication to make this victory possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the first bill I co-introduced in Congress, the Lumbee Fairness Act brings to fruition the decades-long fight on Capitol Hill for full federal recognition,\u201d said Representative Mark Harris. \u201cFederal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe is about much more than just words on paper; it signifies they are seen. The Lumbee Tribe is now officially the 575th federally recognized tribe. What a historic moment this is for the Lumbee Tribe and an honor as their representative\u2014God is so good!\u201d\n\n\u201cFor generations, the Lumbee people have fought for fairness and full recognition,\u201d said Representative Hudson. \u201cWe delivered. This long-overdue win finally honors the Lumbee Tribe\u2019s heritage and ensures they receive the federal support and opportunities they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a historic moment generations of Lumbee families have hoped for, and I\u2019m honored to have played a part in helping make it happen,\u201d said Representative Moore. \u201cI\u2019m especially grateful to President Trump, Chairman Lowery, Senator Tillis, and our North Carolina delegation for their leadership in delivering long-overdue recognition to the Lumbee Tribe.\u201d\n\n\u201cFinally, the Lumbee Tribe will get the recognition they deserve and worked towards for 137 years,\u201d said Representative Ross. \u201cGenerations of Lumbee strived and advocated for this hard-fought milestone. I appreciate the work of my colleagues across North Carolina who came together on a bipartisan basis to make recognition possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Lumbee Fairness Act corrects a clear historical mistake and brings long-overdue clarity to the Lumbee Tribe\u2019s federal status,\u201d said Representative McDowell. \u201cFor more than a century, the People of the Dark Water have sought the fair and equal recognition they deserve. Through this legislation, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina will have the same rights as every other federally recognized tribe. And with the signature of President Donald Trump, we are closing a chapter of federal inconsistency and delivering an outcome that should have been resolved generations ago.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am overjoyed to see the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina at long last receive federal tribal recognition,\u201d said Representative Foushee. \u201cThis is an effort that I have been working on closely with colleagues across the political spectrum for over a decade, but it pales in comparison to the over 100 years the Lumbee have spent seeking reprieve. The federal government owes a great debt to Native Americans and tribal communities across the country. This isn't a political issue\u2014this recognition is important for the state of North Carolina and efforts to work with, support, and uplift tribal communities cannot stop here.\u201d\n\n\u201cSince 1885, the Lumbee Tribe was recognized in North Carolina and began its long quest to seek full federal recognition thereafter,\u201d said Representative Murphy, M.D. \u201cThe community faced egregious oppression and violence, and while Congress acknowledged the Lumbee people in 1956, they did not receive the same benefits and recognition as other tribes. After many decades, justice has been achieved and with great bipartisan backing. I\u2019m very proud to have supported this effort from the beginning. Congratulations to the Lumbee Tribe!\u201d\n\n\u201cToday, our nation fulfills a generations-long promise we made to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, correcting a historic injustice and allowing the Lumbee people to finally get the federal recognition and support they deserve,\u201d said Representative Adams. \u201cAfter 137 years, I\u2019m proud to see that the Lumbee Tribe has finally won their fight and that justice has finally prevailed.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Lumbee Fairness Act grants long-overdue federal benefits to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina that every other federally recognized tribe receives. The Lumbee Tribe is the largest American-Indian tribe in the Eastern United States. In 1885, North Carolina formally recognized the Lumbee Tribe. Three years later, the Tribe began to seek federal recognition. On June 7, 1956, Congress enacted the Lumbee Act at the height of the Indian termination policy era, which provided the Lumbee with federal recognition but included an unfair caveat that terminated their recognition.\n\nThe Lumbee Tribe received support from over 230 federally recognized tribes, President Trump, Vice President Vance, President Biden, Vice President Harris, the North Carolina General Assembly, and various Native American scholars and organizations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/12/tillis-statement-on-the-passing-of-governor-jim-hunt", "Tillis Statement on the Passing of Governor Jim Hunt", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) released the following statement on the passing of former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt:\n\n\u201cSusan and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Governor Jim Hunt, who was one of the most consequential public servants in North Carolina's history. His commitment to public education and economic development made a profound impact on our state that continues to this day. We send our deepest condolences to his loving family.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/17/budd-issues-statement-after-senate-grants-lumbee-tribe-full-federal-benefits/", "Budd Issues Statement After Senate Grants Lumbee Tribe Full Federal Benefits", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "\u201cMore than 60,000 members of the Lumbee Tribe will begin the process of receiving the benefits they deserve.\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed legislation that puts the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina on the path to receive the full federal benefits they have long been unfairly denied. In January, Senator Budd joined Senator Tillis and other members of the North Carolina congressional delegation in reintroducing the Lumbee Fairness Act. The bill was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, which the Senate passed today. The legislative package is now headed to the president\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cFor nearly fifty years, the Lumbee Tribe has fought for the same rights and benefits that every other federally recognized tribe receives,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cToday, with the passage of this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act, this long fight is over, and the more than 60,000 members of the Lumbee Tribe will begin the process of receiving the benefits they deserve. I want to thank Senator Tillis for his strong leadership of the North Carolina delegation as we fought for this provision, and his unyielding dedication to the recognition of the Lumbee people throughout his time in the U.S. Senate. Under the leadership of Chairman John Lowery, the Lumbee Tribe has had strong advocates in President Trump and his administration and in Representatives Rouzer and Harris who introduced the Lumbee Fairness Act in the House. I am grateful to have played a role in securing this major victory for such an important group of North Carolinians.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Lumbee Tribe is the largest American Indian tribe in the Eastern United States. In 1885, North Carolina formally recognized the Lumbee Tribe. Three years later, the Tribe began to seek federal recognition. In 1956, Congress finally passed legislation recognizing the tribe, but the bill included an unfair caveat that denied the Lumbee benefits that every other federally recognized tribe receives.\n\nUpon the signing of the FY26 NDAA, the Lumbee tribe will be on the path to eligibility for all federal benefits provided to federally recognized tribes.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/17/senator-budd-releases-statement-following-senate-passage-of-historic-ndaa-investing-in-u-s-national-defense/", "Senator Budd Releases Statement Following Senate Passage of Historic NDAA Investing in U.S. National Defense", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "\u201cAmerica\u2019s security rests on the readiness and unmatched lethality of our military.\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), voted in favor of passage of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today. The bill includes numerous provisions to improve readiness and quality of life for our troops, increase funding for North Carolina military installations, deter China, and strengthen alliances abroad. The defense package is now headed to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\nSenator Budd issued the following statement upon final passage:\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s security rests on the readiness and unmatched lethality of our military. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues to deliver a historic investment in our national defense that prioritizes peace through strength. This year\u2019s NDAA puts our warfighters first by prioritizing new weapons and platforms, eliminates regulations and DEI initiatives that detract from combat training, and enacts new policies that remove enemy capabilities off the battlefield. The United States will continue to aid Taiwan in deterring the threat of Communist China and stand shoulder to shoulder with our ally Israel in bringing about a safer and more stable Middle East. Above all, this landmark legislation authorizes a generational investment in servicemember quality of life, ensuring our troops and their families in North Carolina have the necessary resources to accomplish their mission\u2014at home and abroad.\u201d\n\nBelow is a summary of provisions Senator Budd championed that were included as amendments to the FY26 NDAA and passed by Congress:\n\nSeized Iranian Arms Transfer Authorization (SEIZE) Act streamlines the process for taking ownership over confiscated Iranian weapons seized in transit to terror proxies like the Houthis in Yemen. Senator Budd\u2019s amendment bypasses a potential year-long legal process for the distribution of captured Iranian weapons and equipment held by U.S. Central Command, allowing them to be sent to U.S. military partners around the globe.\n\nStreamlining Advanced Manufacturing Strategy Act brings greater alignment and increases efficiency to advanced manufacturing initiatives. Senator Budd\u2019s amendment keeps American manufacturers ahead in the technological race and driving our economy forward.\n\nLumbee Fairness Act puts the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina on the path to receiving full federal benefits they have long been unfairly denied.\n\nComprehensive Operations for Unmanned-System Neutralization and Threat Elimination Response (COUNTER) Act enhances airspace security at military installations. Senator Budd is an original co-sponsor of the standalone legislation that was included as an amendment to neutralize unauthorized drones.\n\nBoosting America\u2019s Military Readiness & Supporting Military Families\n\nThis year\u2019s NDAA represents an investment in America\u2019s military personnel, a refocusing of the Pentagon\u2019s priorities to boost troop readiness, and a needed reduction of bureaucratic red tape. Senator Budd championed several key priorities to improve the quality of life and the effectiveness of our troops by:\n\nProviding a 3.8% raise for all service members.\n\nCodifying President Trump\u2019s efforts to end left-wing ideology, wokeism, and DEI in the military and restore focus on lethality, meritocracy, and accountability.\n\nReducing barriers for fighter aircraft to use the Link-16 data network in training, which will increase readiness for potential high-end conflict.\n\nDelivering for North Carolina Military Installations & Manufacturers\n\nThe FY 2026 NDAA authorizes more than $765 million for military construction projects and planning and design funding at facilities across North Carolina. Senator Budd successfully worked to include provisions to support the following facilities, programs, and units:\n\nMarine Corps Air Station Cherry Point\n\nAuthorizing $40M in funding to boost the F-35 Aircraft Sustainment Center\n\nAuthorizing $15M in funding to design the next phase of the Flightline Utilities Modernization project\n\nMarine Corps Base Camp Lejeune\n\nAuthorizing $51.4M in funding for the expansion of the Special Operations Forces Combat Service Support/Motor Transport\n\nAuthorizing $90M in funding to boost the Special Operations Forces Marine Raider Battalion Operations Facility\n\nAuthorizing $48.28M in funding to improve Amphibious Combat Vehicle Shelters\n\nFort Bragg\n\nAuthorizing $19M in funding to boost the Automated Infantry Platoon Battle Course\n\nAuthorizing $24M in funding to complete the construction of the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar\n\nAuthorizing $80M in funding to improve the Fort\u2019s power generation and microgrid\n\nAuthorizing $80M in funding for the Special Operations Forces Mission Command Center\n\nAuthorizing $145M in funding for the Special Operations Forces Operational Ammunition Supply Point\n\nAuthorizing $8M in funding for Special Operations Forces Joint Intelligence Center\n\nAuthorizing $5M in funding for the Pathfinder Airborne Program to improve soldier readiness\n\nSeymour Johnson Air Force Base\n\nAuthorizing $54M in funding to improve the Child Development Center\n\nAuthorizing $41M in funding to expand the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Complex\n\nNorth Carolina National Guard\n\nAuthorizing $69M in funding for the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar Addition/Alteration project at Salisbury Training Center\n\nNorth Carolina Manufacturers & Projects\n\nAuthorizing $308M in funding to procure Infantry Squad Vehicles manufactured in Concord, which will support the Army Transformation Initiative\n\nAuthorizing $4M in funding to procure rare earth magnets manufactured in Durham\n\nAuthorizing $8M in funding to procure Army Load-Carrying Technology Advancements built in Concord\n\nAuthorizing $5M in funding to expand the Defense Innovation Unit OnRamp Hub, which Senator Budd has advocated for bringing to North Carolina\n\nDeterring China & Standing with Our Allies\n\nThe core mission of America\u2019s Armed Forces is to protect the United States and its citizens from threats and to defend our interests both at home and abroad. Senator Budd led the inclusion of several key priorities that will help our troops and our allies carry out this vital mission by:\n\nDeterring Threats from China:\n\nCutting bureaucratic red tape to permit fighter aircraft to use tactical datalinks needed for advanced air combat training, enhancing the preparation and readiness of 45 combat-coded fighter squadrons for high-end conflict\n\nCountering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025 provides the U.S. Government with additional tools to deter state and non-state actors from wrongfully detaining U.S. nationals for political leverage.\n\nSupporting the U.S.-Israel Bilateral Relationship:\n\nAuthorizing $80M in funding for U.S.-Israel Anti-Tunnel Cooperation and extending the program through December 2028\n\nAuthorizing $70M in funding for U.S.-Israel Counter-UAS Cooperation and extending the program through December 2028\n\nAuthorizing $100M in funding for the Arrow 3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program Co-Production\n\nAuthorizing $40M in funding for Israel\u2019s David\u2019s Sling Short Range Rocket Defense System\n\nAuthorizing $60M in funding for Iron Dome Short Range Rocket Defense System\n\nDirecting a semi-annual assessment of Israel\u2019s defense capabilities and the impact of current arms embargoes, sanctions, and restrictions by foreign countries and international organizations on Israel\n\nDirecting a U.S.-Israel Defense Industrial Base Working Group to increase integration and interoperability of between the two national technology bases\n\nStabilizing the Middle East:\n\nExtending the authorization to provide assistance to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)\n\nRepealing the 1991 & 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Relating to Iraq\n\nStanding with Taiwan:\n\nEnhancing the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative\n\nDirecting a joint program with Taiwan to enable fielding of uncrewed systems and counter-uncrewed system capabilities\n\nTaiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2025 requires the Department of the Treasury to support Taiwan\u2019s admission to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or participation in activities of the Fund before it becomes a member.\n\nStreamlining Foreign Military Sales (FMS):\n\nAUKUS Improvement Act of 2025 increases flexibility in defense transfers between U.S., Australia, and the U.K.\n\nRequiring the Pentagon to establish a framework to improve processes and procedures for technology transfer and foreign disclosure policies\n\nRequiring the Pentagon to establish an office to facilitate foreign partners\u2019 acquisition of equipment that is not a program of record for U.S. forces\n\nExpediting and improving transparency of international arms transfers by streamlining bureaucracy\n\nRequiring a bi-annual review of the FMS-only list with the intent to expand defense articles available for Direct Commercial Sales\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/17/senators-budd-hassan-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-lower-prescription-drug-prices-for-american-families/", "Senators Budd, Hassan Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Prices for American Families", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced the bipartisan Biosimilar Inspection Modernization Act, legislation that would make prescription drugs more accessible and affordable by updating and improving the Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) inspection processes for facilities manufacturing biosimilar medicines. Addressing these regulatory barriers would ultimately speed up the number of biosimilars brought to market, in turn increasing competition and lowering costs for patients.\n\n\u201cAs prescription drug prices continue to climb, Americans with chronic illnesses are being forced to choose between the medications they need and paying their bills. By reducing regulatory bottlenecks on the inspections of facilities manufacturing low-cost biosimilars, we can help reduce the amount of time it takes for patients to gain access to these more affordable, safe, proven therapies. I am grateful to Senator Hassan for working with me on a solution that will make prescriptions more affordable for American families by removing regulatory barriers and increasing competition to brand name biologic drugs,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cA key part of reducing prescription drug costs for families is helping more biosimilar and generic medications enter the market. The FDA should use every available resource to get biosimilar medications to patients more quickly. This bipartisan bill will cut red tape at the FDA, increase competition, and, in turn, lower prescription drug costs for Granite Staters and all Americans.\u201d said Senator Hassan.\n\n\u201cThe Biosimilars Forum strongly supports the Biosimilar Inspector Modernization Act, a critical piece of legislation that will ensure equity and uniformity to biosimilar reviews, creating consistency with other drug classes under FDA review and eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy. This legislation would not be possible without the leadership of Senator Budd and Senator Hassan. The Forum and our members thank the Senators and their staffs for spearheading this effort,\u201d said Julie Reed, Executive Director, Biosimilars Forum.\n\nThe Biosimilar Inspection Modernization Act is endorsed by the Biosimilars Forum.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nBiosimilars, the alternatives to brand-name biologics, offer a unique opportunity for reducing prescription drug costs for patients by bringing competition to brand name biologic drugs. Biosimilars are FDA approved and lower cost than their brand name competitors, but their market share remains below 20% in the United States.\n\nBiosimilar Inspection Modernization Act of 2025:\n\nRequires the FDA to develop a strategic plan for American biosimilars manufacturing, addressing FDA staffing challenges and improving internal and external communication.\n\nDirects the improved use of Mutual Recognition Agreements, ensuring that unnecessary red tape is removed to bring these drugs to patients faster.\n\nUpdates the FDA\u2019s inspection authorities to better utilize new tools and technologies in the oversight of biosimilar manufacturing facilities, so that the FDA more efficiently oversees these facilities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/12/tillis-lumbee-recognition-legislation-set-to-become-law", "Tillis\u2019 Lumbee Recognition Legislation Set to Become Law", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) released the following statement on the passage of the Lumbee Fairness Act in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):\n\n\u201cFor 137 years, the Lumbee Tribe have been fighting for federal recognition, and today the federal government has finally honored that promise. President Trump traveled to Robeson County and pledged to get federal recognition done. He kept that promise and showed extraordinary leadership. With the Senate passage of the NDAA, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina will now achieve full federal recognition and access to every federal benefit they have earned and deserve.\n\n\u201cThis was a team effort on the part of North Carolina leaders. I am grateful to Chairman John Lowery, Senator Ted Budd, Michael Whatley, and Members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation \u2013 including Representatives Rouzer, Hudson, Harris, McDowell, and Moore \u2013 for working together to achieve this historic success.\n\n\u201cI want to thank my staff, especially Cirilo Perez, whose tireless and dedicated work behind the scenes played an instrumental role in breaking a decades-old legislative stalemate and making this historic moment a reality.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/16/senators-budd-fetterman-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-create-first-national-network-of-ai-enabled-automated-labs/", "Senators Budd, Fetterman Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create First National Network of AI-Enabled, Automated Labs", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) introduced the National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act to create a national network of six remotely accessible programmable cloud laboratories (PCLs) for academic research, led by the National Science Foundation (NSF). By joining existing laboratory data processing power together, this bill would help researchers use their time and financial resources more effectively through automation and integration of large data sets.\n\n\u201cIntegrating our nation\u2019s world class laboratories will increase the rate of breakthroughs, streamline and better automate the research process, and reduce the barriers and costs that throttle experimentation. North Carolina is at the cutting edge of innovation, and I am glad to work with Senator Fetterman to help our great institutions push the boundaries of discovery even further,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cPennsylvania is home to thousands of academic and industry researchers that are expanding the boundaries of human knowledge and developing the products of the future. We can help cut barriers researchers face and supercharge America\u2019s innovation engine with a national network of PCLs. This has never been built before, and I\u2019m proud to partner with Senator Budd to make this a reality,\u201d said Senator Fetterman.\n\nThe National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act is endorsed by SeedAI, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, and Carnegie Mellon University.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe high cost of building and maintaining laboratory infrastructure creates barriers for smaller, less endowed academic institutions and small businesses to conduct cutting-edge scientific research or develop innovative products. A national PCL network would allow fee-paying users to remotely access laboratory space to conduct experiments, instead of building and operating their own lab equipment or traveling to another institution to conduct experiments in-person.\n\nThis legislation would codify existing NSF proposals to create a network of up to six PCL nodes through a competitive selection process open to academic, private sector, non-profit research institutions, or partnerships between any of the three prior types of institutions. Applicants for PCL node designation would be evaluated on:\n\nThe level of existing laboratory infrastructure with automated capabilities and data integration;\n\nCapacity to support cloud-enabled workflows for multiple users;\n\nAbility to sustain long-term operations without continuous federal funding;\n\nAbility to collaborate with partners in academia, industry, or federal research entities;\n\nProtocols for research security, cybersecurity, and responsible access;\n\nDemonstration of user interest and research needs.\n\nFollowing the designation of the nodes, standards for interoperability, data sharing, cybersecurity, and technical requirements would be developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), NSF, and selected PCL node participants. Reports to Congress on non-designated laboratories would also be required to map out developing PCL research infrastructure, assess the capabilities of non-designated laboratories, and identify opportunities for collaboration with the selected nodes.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/12/tillis-blumenthal-luttrell-mcgarvey-usaa-and-vsos-urge-congress-to-pass-bipartisan-legislation-to-provide-service-dogs-to-eligible-veterans", "Tillis, Blumenthal, Luttrell, McGarvey, USAA, and VSOs Urge Congress to Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Provide Service Dogs to Eligible Veterans", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Representative Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), and Representative Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), continued their push to pass theService Dogs Assisting Veterans (SAVES)Act, bipartisan legislation that would establish a program to award grants to nonprofit organizations to assist them in carrying out programs to provide service dogs to eligible veterans.\n\nAdditionally, USAA and a coalition of 22 Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, urging them to bring up theSAVES Act for a vote in Congress.\n\n\u201cLong after the fighting on the battlefield ends, too many of the courageous servicemembers come home and continue to battle against enemies that many consider just as insidious as those with guns, grenades, and rockets. That is why in 2021, I introduced thePAWS Act that created a pilot program to provide canine training to eligible veterans, but it is clear we must continue to build on that effort to ensure this program is expanded to veterans in need,\u201dsaid Senator Tillis. \u201cTheSAVES Actwill allow more veterans who are struggling with the invisible wounds of war to receive service dogs that could ultimately save their lives. We must repay the debt to the men and women who served our country, I hope Congress quickly passes this legislation to provide them with his important resource.\u201d\n\n\u201cOurSAVES Act to improve access to service dogs for nation\u2019s veterans is long overdue,\u201dsaid Senator Blumenthal. \u201cWhen military men and women return home from service, they are often fighting invisible battles. These canine companions can offer our veterans comfort, ease their transition back into civilian life, and support their mental and physical health. I\u2019ll keep fighting for Congress to pass our bipartisan measure to ensure our veterans can access the essential and even life-saving assistance of service dogs.\u201d\n\n\u201cTheSAVES Act establishes a pathway allowing VA to provide service dogs to veterans in need,\u201dsaid Representative Luttrell. \u201cThese animals help ease the suffering and give lifesaving and lifechanging support during the transition from the battlefield to the homefront \u2014 and beyond.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur veterans are willing to put on the uniform and sacrifice everything to keep us safe and free, but that service comes at a cost,\u201d said Representative McGarvey. \u201cThat brave service oftentimes takes a toll on veterans' physical and mental health, and we've got to do everything we can to support them with tangible, proven solutions like the availability of life-saving service animals. I'm grateful to my colleagues for this bipartisan effort to prioritize the resources our veterans deserve and urge swift passage of this commonsense legislation.\u201d\n\nThe VSOs who signed the letter include the American Legion, K9s for Warriors, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Student Veterans of America, Operation Freedom Paws, Paws Assisting Veterans (PAVE), The Independence Fund, Canines for Service, Warrior Canine Connection, Hero Dogs, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), paws4people, Hawaii Fi-Do, VFW,DAV, PVA, Soldier's Best Friend, Paws for Purple Hearts, Air Force Sergeant Association, Fleet Reserve Association, Non Commissioned Officers Association, and Paws and Stripes.\n\n\u201cService Dogs have a proven track record of providing life-saving assistance to Veterans in critical need,\u201dsaid Daniel Bean, CEO at K9s For Warriors. \u201cAs the nation's leading provider of Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma, K9s For Warriors has seen firsthand how these service animals restore hope, stability, and purpose. The SAVES Act will ultimately put more Service Dogs in the hands of Veterans with visible and invisible wounds, allowing them to regain their independence and reintegrate into civilian life. We applaud Senator Tillis, Senator Blumenthal, Congressman Luttrell, and Congressman McGarvey for their unwavering support and urge Congress to pass this important legislation without delay \u2014 so even more Veterans can join the 1,200+ Warriors whose lives have already been saved and transformed through our program.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe VFW supports theService Dogs Assisting Veterans Act of 2025 (S. 1441/H.R. 2605), which allows veterans to receive support companions without having to endure long waitlists,\u201dsaid Meggan Coleman, National Legislative Associate Director at VFW. \u201cService dogs can assist veterans with various physical, auditory, and trauma-related disabilities, which can empower veterans to regain their independence, pride, and hope. The VFW commends Senator Tillis and Representative Luttrell for introducing this important legislation and looks forward to its swift passage.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American Legion strongly supports theSAVES Act, and we are proud to stand with our fellow Veterans Service Organizations in leading a joint letter urging congressional leadership to bring this bipartisan bill to the floor,\u201dsaid Dan K. Wiley, National Commander at American Legion. \u201cFor veterans living with PTSD or traumatic brain injury, service dogs provide proven, life-changing support that restores independence, stability, and hope. Expanding access to these programs is a meaningful step toward ensuring every veteran has the tools they need to heal. Congress should act without delay.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nIt is estimated that upwards of20% of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans have PTSD andmore than 485,000 service members have been diagnosed with at least one traumatic brain injury over the past two decades. As a result, these veterans suffer from alarmingly high rates of depression, anxiety, joblessness, homelessness, substance use disorder and other negative behaviors. Far too often, they resort to taking their own lives \u2013 roughly 20 veterans die by suicide each day, nearly one an hour.\n\nUnder theSAVES Act, nonprofit organizations would be required to submit an application to the Secretary that includes a description of the training that will be provided by the organization to eligible veterans; the training of dogs that will serve as service dogs; the aftercare services that the organization will provide for the service dogs and eligible Veteran; the plan for publicizing the availability of service dogs through a marketing campaign; the committee of the organization to have humane standards or animals.\n\nFull text of the letter is availableHERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/12/tillis-statement-on-the-european-union-s-loan-to-ukraine", "Tillis Statement on the European Union\u2019s Loan to Ukraine", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis released the following statement praising the European Union\u2019s decisive support for Ukraine:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s decision by European leaders to provide a \u20ac90 billion interest-free loan to Ukraine, backed by the strategic use of revenues from immobilized Russian state assets, sends an unmistakable message and demonstrate the kind of strategic clarity and resolve necessary to confront ongoing Russian aggression.\n\n\u201cVladimir Putin is a thug and a war criminal. It is only fitting that Russia be held financially responsible for the death and destruction he unleashed. This decision to keep Russian assets frozen until Ukraine is fully compensated is not just about economics; it is about accountability. This is a policy reflects the kind of transatlantic leadership we need at a time when some are still looking for \u2018off-ramps\u2019 instead of results.\n\n\u201cPredictably, Putin has reacted to this news with his usual brand of propaganda, calling these actions \u2018robbery.\u2019 Coming from a man who invades sovereign neighbors, targets innocent civilians, and steals children, these claims are hollow. More importantly, his rhetoric serves as a reminder that he views any hint of Western hesitation as an invitation to go further.\n\n\u201cThe lesson here is simple: appeasement never works. Putin only understands strength. Europe understands that, and America must, too. The world is watching\u2014our allies are looking for resolve, and our adversaries are looking for weakness. We must continue to lead with the strength and clarity that this challenge demands.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/11/senators-budd-and-cruz-introduce-common-sense-legislation-to-increase-affordable-healthcare-coverage-options-for-americans/", "Senators Budd and Cruz Introduce Common-Sense Legislation to Increase Affordable Healthcare Coverage Options for Americans", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced the Competition and Openness in Markets to Promote Efficiency, Transparency, and Enhanced Affordability (COMPETE) Act today. The bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to extend the maximum duration of short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI), and includes a renewal guarantee provision that allows consumers to purchase STLDI plans for an extended period of time.\n\n\u201cAmericans overwhelmingly agree that we need access to high-quality healthcare at a reasonable price. Healthcare costs have climbed to unsustainable rates because of bad policies, like Obamacare, that have propped up insurance companies at the cost of eliminating consumer choice. I am proud to be working with Senator Cruz to provide a common-sense solution for short-term health plans by enhancing access to lower premiums and transparently making healthcare more affordable and flexible for individuals and their families,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cObamacare reduced health insurance options and caused premiums to skyrocket. This legislation will promote more competition, provide consumers with more choices, and allow Americans to choose the healthcare coverage that fits their needs and budgets. I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation expeditiously,\u201d said Senator Cruz.\n\nThe COMPETE Act is endorsed by Americans for Prosperity, Foundation for Government Accountability, and Heritage Action.\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration stripped away affordable short-term plans that gave families real health coverage at a fraction of the cost. Senator Cruz\u2019s bill restores the freedom President Trump gave Americans to choose plans that actually work for them, not force them into ObamaCare\u2019s one-size-fits-all mess. Instead of continuing to prop up a failing government system with heavy subsidies, this bill unleashes free markets and real competition to give families better, cheaper coverage options,\u201d said Tarren Bragdon, President and CEO, Foundation for Government Accountability.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nSince the law took effect in 2014, premiums for Affordable Care Act (ACA) benchmark plans increased 129 percent for a typical 50-year-old enrollee\u2014nearly double the rate of employer-sponsored insurance (68 percent) and more than three times the increase in the consumer price index (39 percent).\n\nAs a result, in 2018, President Trump issued a rule to allow STLDI to cover longer time periods to shield consumers in the individual market from soaring premiums and restricted care options.\n\nIn 2024, the Biden administration imposed limits on the use of STLDI plans, effectively rolling back the 2018 regulation that expanded the duration of such plans during the first Trump administration.\n\nSTLDI is a type of health insurance coverage that was primarily designed to fill gaps in coverage that may occur when an individual is transitioning from one plan or coverage to another plan or coverage.\n\nShort Term Limited Duration Insurance\n\nPromotes Greater Freedom:\n\nIndividuals are free to select the optimal amount of health coverage for their needs without being coerced into paying for additional coverage they\u2019d never use.\n\nMakes Healthcare More Affordable:\n\nAccording to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), following the Trump administration\u2019s expansion of short-term plans in 2018, these policies were priced at approximately 54% less than comparable ACA-compliant plans.\n\nHelps Uninsured:\n\nSTLDI plans can provide affordable, flexible coverage that expands access to insurance. STLDI gives individuals a realistic path to coverage at a smaller cost\u2014helping ensure that more people are protected from soaring healthcare costs.\n\nFaster Coverage:\n\nUnlike most individual market plans, which limit enrollment to specific periods or qualifying life events, short-term plans can be purchased at any time. Coverage typically begins within just a few days, compared to the several weeks it may take for other health plans to start.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/10/senators-budd-and-wyden-lead-bipartisan-push-to-streamline-federal-resources-and-grow-agritourism-nationwide/", "Senators Budd and Wyden Lead Bipartisan Push to Streamline Federal Resources and Grow Agritourism Nationwide", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) this week introduced the bipartisan Accelerating the Growth of Rural Innovation and Tourism Opportunities to Uphold Rural Industries and Sustainable Marketplaces (AGRITOURISM) Act to support economic development and the growth of agritourism nationwide by increasing access to federal resources such as loans, grants, broadband, and educational programs to small family farmers.\n\n\u201cAgritourism is essential to keeping working farms afloat, especially in the aftermath of natural disasters. Without it, many of North Carolina\u2019s farms would have been forced to cease operations following Hurricane Helene. I\u2019m proud to lead this legislation alongside Senator Wyden to streamline federal resources for North Carolina\u2019s booming agritourism industry,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cSmall family farmers are the backbone of our country\u2019s agricultural sector. There\u2019s no question that the federal government needs to step up and support family farmers at a time when most are operating on a shoestring budget and barely making ends meet. Our bipartisan legislation would give family farmers much-needed resources to not only survive, but grow and thrive,\u201d said Senator Wyden.\n\nSenators Budd and Wyden were joined by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in introducing the legislation.\n\nU.S. Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-Wash-04) and Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.-10) introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nThe AGRITOURISM Act is endorsed by the Brewers Association, American Craft Spirits Association, and WineAmerica.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe AGRITOURISM Act would support local, family-owned businesses by designating a senior official at the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the federal agritourism advisor. This role would coordinate with stakeholders and other federal agencies to promote the growth of family-owned farms and advise the Secretary of Agriculture on this essential industry.\n\nAgritourism is one of the fastest growing industries that serves as a critical lifeline for rural economies nationwide by allowing family farms to offer outdoor recreational services like beer tasting, berry picking, seasonal festivities, bed-and-breakfast accommodations, and event venues.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/09/budd-joins-cotton-colleagues-in-urging-rubio-to-review-failed-biden-administration-vetting-process-of-afghan-nationals/", "Budd Joins Cotton, Colleagues in Urging Rubio to Review Failed Biden Administration Vetting Process of Afghan Nationals", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, joined Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and several other Committee Members in sending a letter to National Security Advisor Marco Rubio last week, urging him to review the Biden administration\u2019s vetting process of Afghan nationals. The failed vetting process of Afghan nationals following the disastrous August 2021 withdrawal resulted in egregious security threats toward American servicemen and citizens.\n\nIn the letter, the Senators wrote, \u201cThe horrific terror attack in Washington, D.C. the past week that resulted in the shooting of two brave National Guard members demonstrates that it is past time for the United States to revisit the deficiencies of the Biden administration\u2019s vetting process for Afghan nationals and remedy the resulting egregious security threats such a process created in the United States after the disastrous August 2021 withdrawal. We urge you to take immediate action to prevent future attacks on American servicemen and citizens.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter text HERE or below:\n\nDear Secretary Rubio:\n\nThe horrific terror attack in Washington, D.C. the past week that resulted in the shooting of two brave National Guard members demonstrates that it is past time for the United States to revisit the deficiencies of the Biden administration\u2019s vetting process for Afghan nationals and remedy the resulting egregious security threats such a process created in the United States after the disastrous August 2021 withdrawal. We urge you to take immediate action to prevent future attacks on American servicemen and citizens.\n\nContrary to the previous administration\u2019s assertion that all Afghan nationals were subject to \u201cenhanced vetting,\u201d repeated reports by various Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs) presented to Congress reveal a different story. A February 2022 Department of War (DoW) OIG report found that Operation Allies Refuge and Operation Allies Welcome did not use all available DoW data to vet Afghan evacuees, including the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS). This database, compiled over the past 20 years, contains tactical data collected on the battlefield in Afghanistan. After an initial review of Afghan Evacuee data with the ABIS database, the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) found that at least 50 individuals had \u201cpotentially significant security concerns.\u201d These range from the benign, such as a petty theft from a military base, to the serious, such as fingerprints found on improvised explosive devices. A September 2022 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) OIG report agreed with the DoW report and further found that approximately 31,000 Afghan evacuees were allowed into the country before DHS could form a task force to vet and support their resettlement. Congress is further aware of potentially hundreds of evacuees that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has found to have potential links to terrorism after their arrival in the United States.\n\nRepeated requests from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to multiple agencies during the previous administration, including DoW, the National Counterterrorism Center, NGIC, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and FBI for more information about these individuals and what risks \u2013 if any \u2013 their presence inside this country poses to public security have gone largely unanswered. Four years after the United States\u2019 withdrawal from Afghanistan, it is still unclear to what extent the Intelligence Community (IC) or law enforcement authorities are monitoring or tracking these individuals. Therefore, we respectfully request that you instruct DHS, DoW, and the IC to:\n\n\u2022 Implement the vetting procedures recommended by the 2022 DoW OIG report in their entirety for all Afghan evacuees currently in the United States;\n\n\u2022 Identify and locate those evacuees discovered to have significant security concerns; and\n\n\u2022 Seek immediate removal of such evacuees from the United States back to Afghanistan or other third countries, as appropriate.\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this request, and we look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,\n\n/X/\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/12/tillis-budd-applaud-senate-confirmation-of-two-nc-judges/eb600cea-d197-4430-9970-4d89428f3779", "Tillis, Budd Applaud Senate Confirmation of Two NC Judges", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "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. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC) applauded the Senate\u2019s recent confirmation of Susan Rodriguez and Matthew Orso to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. Both nominees were recommended by Senators Tillis and Budd.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad to see Susan Rodriguez and Matthew Orso confirmed by the Senate to serve the Western District of North Carolina,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThroughout this process, my focus has been on advancing judges who demonstrate sound judgment, a strong respect for the Constitution, and an unwavering commitment to fairness. I appreciate the White House\u2019s partnership in identifying strong candidates, and I look forward to seeing both Judge Rodriguez and Judge Orso bring their experience and dedication to the federal bench.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am glad that the federal bench in North Carolina now includes highly qualified & exemplary jurists Susan Rodriguez and Matthew Orso,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cI have no doubt that they will serve the Western District with distinction, and I appreciate their commitment to public service and the rule of law. I am grateful for President Trump\u2019s leadership and partnership in appointing them to these critical roles.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nSusan C. Rodriguez currently serves as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Rodriguez was previously a partner at the law firm, McGuireWoods LLP, where she was the co-leader of the firm\u2019s financial institutions industry team.\n\nMatthew Orso currently serves as a partner at the law firm, Troutman Pepper Locke LLP. Mr. Orso previously clerked for Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/12/tillis-slotkin-issue-joint-statement-in-support-of-taiwan-s-special-defense-budget", "Tillis, Slotkin Issue Joint Statement in Support of Taiwan\u2019s Special Defense Budget", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Senate Taiwan Caucus, released the following joint statement applauding progress on Taiwan\u2019s special defense budget now under consideration in the Legislative Yuan:\n\n\u201cAs Co-Chairs of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, we strongly support Taiwan\u2019s historic $40 billion special defense budget and the legislative steps underway to advance it. This package represents a vital investment in Taiwan\u2019s self-defense and a clear demonstration of Taipei\u2019s commitment to deterrence, resilience, and responsibility-sharing at a moment of growing threat from the PRC. It also offers opportunities to work with Taiwan to advance American defense technology.\n\n\u201cMembers of both parties in the U.S. Senate\u2014including leaders on the Armed Services, Foreign Relations, and Appropriations Committees\u2014have spoken with one voice in support of Taiwan\u2019s efforts to accelerate critical defense capabilities. The message is clear: strengthening Taiwan\u2019s defenses strengthens stability across the Indo-Pacific and reduces the risk of conflict.\n\n\u201cWe commend Taiwan\u2019s leaders for continuing to take difficult but necessary steps to modernize its military, harden critical infrastructure, and build the stockpiles and systems required to deter aggression. As the Legislative Yuan considers this special budget, the United States will continue to stand with Taiwan as a trusted partner, a vibrant democracy, and a key contributor to regional security.\n\n\u201cWe encourage all parties in Taiwan to move forward with this package in a timely, unified, and forward-looking manner. Taiwan\u2019s continued investment in its own security is central to ensuring stability in the Taiwan Strait.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/05/budd-joins-cornyn-and-gop-senators-to-introduce-back-the-blue-act/", "Budd Joins Cornyn and GOP Senators to Introduce Back the Blue Act", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and several of their Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the Back the Blue Act, which would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers and provide new tools for officers to protect themselves.\n\n\u201cEvery day, the brave men and women of law enforcement work around the clock to keep our communities safe. Any criminal that puts a target on the backs of our police officers must be held firmly accountable for their actions to the fullest extent of the law,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cOur law enforcement officers bravely risk their lives daily to protect our communities, and anyone who targets them should be met with the full force of the law, including the death penalty. America was built on the principles of law and order, and this legislation sends a clear message that targeted attacks on law enforcement will not be tolerated, dangerous criminals will be held accountable, and our men and women in blue have our full and unwavering support,\u201d said Senator Cornyn.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nStrengthens Laws to Protect Police Officers\n\n\u2022 Creates a new federal crime for killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a federal judge, federal law enforcement officer, or federally funded public safety officer. The offender would be subject to the death penalty and a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years if death results; the offender would otherwise face a minimum sentence of 10 years.\n\n\u2022 Creates a new federal crime for assaulting a federally funded law enforcement officer with escalating penalties, including mandatory minimums, based on the extent of any injury and the use of a dangerous weapon. However, no prosecution can be commenced absent certification by the Attorney General that prosecution is appropriate.\n\n\u2022 Creates a new federal crime for interstate flight from justice to avoid prosecution for killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a federal judge, federal law enforcement officer, or federally funded public safety officer. The offender would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for this offense.\n\nCreates a Specific Aggravating Factor for Federal Death Penalty Prosecutions\n\n\u2022 Clarifies that the murder or attempted murder of a law enforcement officer or first responder is a statutory aggravating factor for purposes of the federal death penalty.\n\nLimits Federal Habeas Relief for Murders of Law Enforcement Officers\n\n\u2022 Imposes time limits and substantive limits on federal courts\u2019 review of challenges to state-court convictions for crimes involving the murder of a public safety officer, when the public safety officer was engaged in the performance of official duties or on account of the performance of official duties. These changes are consistent with the fast-track procedures created in 1996, which are applied to federal death penalty cases.\n\nLimits Recovery of Certain Damages and Fees for Individuals Engaged in Felonies\n\n\u2022 Limits the type of civil damages and attorney\u2019s fees recoverable by a criminal as a result of purported injuries incurred during the commission of a felony or crime of violence.\n\nExpands Self-Defense and Second Amendment Rights for Law Enforcement Officers\n\n\u2022 Allows law enforcement officers, subject to limited regulation, to carry firearms into federal facilities and other jurisdictions where such possession is otherwise prohibited.\n\nThe Back the Blue Act is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), National Narcotic Officers\u2019 Associations\u2019 Coalition (NNOAC), Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), and the Sergeants Benevolent Association NYPD.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/05/senator-ted-budd-applauds-fema-announcement-of-29-million-in-public-assistance-grants-for-helene-recovery/", "Senator Ted Budd Applauds FEMA Announcement of $29 Million in Public Assistance Grants for Helene Recovery", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Senator Budd Lifts Existing Holds on DHS Nominees After Funds Approved\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem today announced more than $29 million in public assistance reimbursements for Hurricane Helene recovery projects in Western North Carolina.\n\n\u201cI am grateful for Secretary Noem working with me to more regularly approve reimbursements for Helene and past disaster recovery projects. While I have released my holds on DHS nominees, I will continue to engage all relevant federal agencies to make sure Western North Carolina receives the focus and attention it deserves, particularly the final distribution of funds to the municipalities and state agencies in desperate need of financial relief. There is still more work to be done to make the people of Western North Carolina whole in the wake of Hurricane Helene\u2019s devastation, and the federal government must continue to do its part,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\nToday\u2019s announcement of the $29+ million in public assistance reimbursements follows an announcement last month when the agency released $155 million in funding for Western North Carolina projects.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nBelow is a chart detailing the funds that will be disbursed in the coming days.\n\n*PA denotes public assistance program\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/03/senator-budd-announces-senior-staff-changes/", "Senator Budd Announces Senior Staff Changes", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement announcing the upcoming departure of his Chief of Staff Tucker Knott.\n\n\u201cTucker Knott is a true son of North Carolina, and I am grateful for his many years of faithful service in my office, to our State, and to the Congress. For more than a decade, Tucker has provided invaluable advice to Representatives and Senators, particularly within the North Carolina Congressional Delegation. His strong moral compass, political instincts, and personal relationships on and off the hill were critical to the success of our office over the last three years. Tucker has grown to be a close friend, and I know his positive impact will continue to be felt as he enters the private sector. I look forward to continuing to call on his counsel long into the future,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cI am thankful that Ryan Alban will continue to serve my office and step into the role of Chief of Staff. Over the last several years, Ryan has held key leadership positions as a member of the team, proving himself as a dedicated public servant, strong legislative mind, and thoughtful leader,\u201d Senator Budd added.\n\nRyan Alban promoted to Chief of Staff. Ryan previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, and National Security Advisor for Senator Budd. Before joining Sen. Budd\u2019s staff, he served as an Infantry Officer in the Army, including a combat tour to Afghanistan, and has held roles as an Army Legislative Liaison to the Senate, Defense Fellow for Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Legislative Liaison for the National Guard to both the House and Senate.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/12/tillis-budd-applaud-senate-confirmation-of-two-nc-judges", "Tillis, Budd Applaud Senate Confirmation of Two NC Judges", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "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. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC) applauded the Senate\u2019s confirmation of David Bragdon and Lindsey Freeman to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Both nominees were recommended by Senators Tillis and Budd.\n\n\u201cDavid Bragdon and Lindsey Freeman are exceptionally qualified, and I\u2019m grateful my colleagues joined me in confirming them to serve the people of North Carolina,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThroughout this process, I\u2019ve remained committed to advancing judges who uphold the Constitution, apply the law fairly, and serve with integrity. I appreciate the White House\u2019s partnership in identifying strong candidates, and I look forward to seeing both Judge Bragdon and Judge Freeman bring their experience and dedication to the federal bench.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday, the great state of North Carolina gained two accomplished and highly competent jurists on the federal bench,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cI look forward to seeing the great work Judge David Bragdon and Judge Lindsey Freeman will do as they uphold the rule of law and defend the Constitution in the Middle District. I am proud to have worked alongside President Trump to secure their confirmations.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nDavid Bragdon currently serves as the Appellate Chief for a U.S. Attorneys\u2019 Office. Mr. Bragdon previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and served as the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s Resident Legal Advisor for the Philippines.\n\nLindsey Freeman currently serves as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Ms. Freeman previously clerked for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, was Of Counsel at the law firm O\u2019Melveny & Myers LLP, and served in senior roles at the U.S. Department of Justice.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/11/24/new-budd-bill-would-hold-mamdani-municipalities-accountable-following-threats-to-enforce-international-criminal-court-arrest-warrants/", "New Budd Bill Would Hold Mamdani, Municipalities Accountable Following Threats To Enforce International Criminal Court Arrest Warrants", "2025-11-24", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) recently introduced the American Allies Protection Act, legislation which would disqualify a state or local government from receiving Department of Justice grant money for a four-year period if it enforces an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against an official of a NATO ally or major non-NATO ally.\n\nOn November 21, 2024, the ICC issued baseless arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant. As recently as last week, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has repeatedly stated he would order the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if the Prime Minister visited New York City.\n\nUpon introducing this legislation, Sen. Budd said:\n\n\u201cMayor-Elect Mamdani\u2019s pledge to facilitate the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu is not just ridiculous; it represents a grave threat that could seriously damage America\u2019s relationship with our closest allies and partners. The United States is not bound by the morally bankrupt ICC or the Rome Statute, displaying that Mamdani\u2019s comments aren\u2019t based in respect for any law, but rather to virtue signal to his radical, anti-Israel base. Seeking to prevent Prime Minister Netanyahu from setting foot in New York, home to the United Nations, would put Israel at a unique disadvantage at a critical time for the nation ahead of the next meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. It is unconscionable that the man elected to lead the city home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel would seek to target Israel\u2019s leader, and Congress must take action to hold any leader accountable should they pursue this blatant overreach. My American Allies Protection Act would disqualify any state or municipality from receiving Justice Department funds should they take action that would harm America\u2019s standing with our allies by throwing their governments into complete chaos.\u201d\n\nREAD:GOP senator calls Mamdani\u2019s Netanyahu arrest vow a \u2018grave threat\u2019 as he introduces defund bill\n\nBackground:\n\nProtecting and welcoming American allies on U.S. soil is critical to strengthening bilateral relationships critical to our national security, particularly with NATO and non-NATO allies. Mayor-Elect Mamdani\u2019s stated goal would harm our bilateral relationship with Israel and align NYC with a morally bankrupt international organization, the ICC. This demands forceful consequences.\n\nNotably, the ICC has failed to issue an arrest warrant for Iranian Ayatollah Khamenei, who has directly bolstered and facilitated the terrorist activities of Iran\u2019s proxies, that have targeted U.S. allies and are responsible for the death of American service members.\n\nSen. Budd\u2019s American Allies Protection Act may only be waived if the President certifies to Congress that enforcing a particular ICC warrant is essential to the national security of the U.S. and provides a detailed justification for this waiver.\n\nFor full text of the American Allies Protection Act, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/11/20/senator-budd-leads-colleagues-in-effort-to-ban-terrorist-sympathizers-from-the-united-states/", "Senator Budd Leads Colleagues in Effort to Ban Terrorist Sympathizers from the United States", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) introduced the Terrorist Inadmissibility Codification Act today to close loopholes in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The bill expands the existing INA provision that bans officers, officials, representatives, or spokesmen of the Palestine Liberation Organization to additionally include any member or anyone who publicly endorses the terrorist activities of Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Palestine Islamic Jihad, or any successor or affiliate group, from receiving a visa or admission into the United States.\n\n\u201cEver since the horrific terrorist attacks of October 7, we have seen a dramatic rise in pro-Hamas rhetoric across our country, including from international students here on visas. This needs to stop. Those seeking to come to the U.S., whether for school, work, or otherwise, and who publicly endorse Foreign Terrorist Organizations, must face consequences for their actions. The Terrorist Inadmissibility Codification Act will close ambiguous loopholes in our immigration law by prohibiting them from entering our borders,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cFreedom of speech does not protect terrorism and calls to terror. We\u2019re strengthening the law so terrorists and their supporters can go hate us somewhere else,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy.\n\n\u201cWe have a fundamental responsibility to protect American citizens and our allies from those who would spread hatred and violence on our soil. This legislation simply codifies what should be common sense: if you\u2019re a member of or spokesperson for Hamas, Hezbollah, or other terrorist organizations\u2014or if you publicly endorse their barbaric acts\u2014you have no right to enter or remain in the United States. We saw the disgusting displays on college campuses after October 7th, and this bill ensures we have the statutory tools to prevent terrorist sympathizers from exploiting our visa system,\u201d said Senator Lummis.\n\n\u201cThe October 7 terrorist attacks were a dark day for the world. Since those attacks, we have witnessed a disturbing rise in pro-Hamas support among foreign visa holders inside the United States. The Terrorist Inadmissibility Codification Act would ensure that an alien who backs Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, or any other group supporting the Palestine Liberation Organization is deemed inadmissible to the United States,\u201d said Senator Blackburn.\n\n\u201cOur nation has learned the hard lesson that when terrorists come into our country, they harm Americans. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Budd and our colleagues in this commonsense effort to further prevent terrorist sympathizers and associates from coming to the U.S., threatening our national security, and spreading their anti-American propaganda and hatred,\u201d said Senator McCormick.\n\n\u201cIsrael is our strongest ally in the Middle East and those who sympathize with terrorists like Hamas and Hezbollah have absolutely no place in our country. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Budd and our colleagues in introducing this bill to keep our nation safe and send a strong signal across the globe that America will not tolerate any form of violent antisemitism,\u201d said Senator Daines.\n\n\u201cIn the aftermath of Hamas\u2019 unprovoked attack on Israel two years ago, we\u2019ve seen an alarming wave of antisemitic, pro-terrorist advocacy by foreign visa holders present in the U.S. who seek to do Americans harm. By broadening the Immigration and Nationality Act, this commonsense legislation would ensure those who support or sympathize with terrorist groups and their affiliates are inadmissible to the United States, and I\u2019m proud to support it,\u201d said Senator Cornyn.\n\n\u201cTerrorist organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda seek to murder Americans. Their terrorist members, spokesmen, and supporters should not be allowed into our country. This bill will keep Americans safe,\u201d said Senator Ricketts.\n\n\u201cAmerica must never be a safe haven for anyone who supports terrorist organizations or celebrates violence against our ally, Israel. After the horrific terrorist attacks on October 7, we saw individuals in this country openly praising Hamas and other foreign terrorist groups. That is unacceptable. This bill makes crystal clear in federal law that any individual in the U.S. on a visa who openly support Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, or any other terrorist organization, is not welcome in the United States. We are closing dangerous loopholes and standing firmly with Israel, with the Jewish community, and with America\u2019s commitment to fight terrorism at every turn,\u201d said Senator Scott.\n\n\u201cThere is no place in America for foreign adversaries or terrorist sympathizers. As our nation faces a disturbing rise in antisemitic and illegal alien terror attacks, along with increasing pro-Hamas sentiment on our college campuses, we must take action to ensure our borders are secure from those wishing harm against Americans. The Terrorist Inadmissibility Codification Act would take a critical step in that effort,\u201d said Representative Pfluger.\n\nU.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) joined Senator Budd in introducing this legislation.\n\nU.S. Representative August Pfluger (R-Texas-11) previously introduced the legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nFollowing the terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, there has been a wave of anti-Israel, antisemitic, and pro-Hamas advocacy by foreign visa holders present in the United States, as well as visa applicants seeking to enter the country.\n\nThe Trump administration has revoked the visas of individuals who engaged in pro-Hamas advocacy and tightened the vetting process to detect such advocacy conducted by visa applicants.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/11/20/senators-budd-coons-lead-bicameral-bipartisan-push-to-reinvest-in-domestic-biopharmaceutical-manufacturing/", "Senators Budd, Coons Lead Bicameral, Bipartisan Push to Reinvest in Domestic Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Biomanufacturing Excellence Act this week, which would promote U.S. leadership in biotechnology and strengthen domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The bill reinvests in domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing by reducing dependence on unreliable foreign supply chains, expanding access to cutting-edge medicines, and supporting high-quality American jobs.\n\n\u201cNot only is biomanufacturing a key pillar of America\u2019s and North Carolina\u2019s innovation economy, it has the potential to transform major aspects of everyday life. We must foster this critical technology and continue to lead the world in enabling life-saving medical breakthroughs, fortifying our critical supply chains, and creating good-paying, high-skilled jobs. I am proud to partner with Senator Coons to help build on the public-private partnerships that have unlocked significant economic potential and unleashed next-generation technology,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cDelaware and innovation have always gone hand in hand. The extraordinary biomedical research that happens in the First State has grown our economy, turned start-ups into industry leaders, and saved lives around the world. China is surging ahead in biotechnology, putting our national security, economy, and health at risk. This bipartisan bill will ensure the United States continues to lead the world in biotech manufacturing, protecting Americans\u2019 security and our health,\u201d said Senator Coons.\n\n\u201cI am grateful to our congressional partners for their strong commitment to the future of U.S. biotechnology leadership and their introduction of this important legislation. In our report, we found that advancing innovation in the biopharmaceutical sector is essential to catalyzing full-scale production for new medicines in the United States, and this center would bring together industry, academia, and government to do just that. Through our Biotech Across America roadshow, I\u2019ve had the opportunity to personally visit biotech hubs around the country to see the impact this type of cutting-edge biomanufacturing innovation can have on U.S. national, health, and economic security,\u201d said National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, Vice Chair, Michelle Rozo.\n\n\u201cThe creation of a National Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Center of Excellence is pivotal to advancing US leadership in bioprocess innovation, supply chain resiliency, and workforce competitiveness. We greatly appreciate Congressional leadership in recognizing the importance of biomanufacturing to national and economic security. For over four decades, North Carolina has created an integrated ecosystem focused on a steadfast commitment to life sciences manufacturing, establishing the state as a global leader with over $17 Billion of investment and 7,500 jobs announced since 2021. This success is built on a community of partners that work to seamlessly integrate world-class institutions of innovation with over 150 life sciences manufacturing companies, forming a uniquely dense hub for accelerating the translation of cutting-edge biomanufacturing innovations to scaled commercial outputs,\u201d a joint statement from NCLifeSci and NCBiotech reads.\n\n\u201cITIF supports the bipartisan Biomanufacturing Excellence Act, which would create a National Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Center of Excellence that would convene industry, academic, and government stakeholders to ensure that America leads in the biomanufacturing revolution of the future. With experts estimating that 60 percent of the world\u2019s physical inputs could be made using biological processes going forward, biomanufacturing won\u2019t just transform the future of medicines, but also everything from energy, to food, to industrial manufacturing. The Biomanufacturing Excellence Act will help equip the United States with the technology, workforce, and know how to achieve leadership in this critical emerging field,\u201d a statement from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation reads.\n\n\u201cThe Biomanufacturing Excellence Act is a decisive investment in America\u2019s health, security, and economic strength. The American Alliance for Biomanufacturing is proud to support this effort to bring cutting-edge biomanufacturing back home,\u201d said American Alliance for Biomanufacturing, Executive Director, Brooke Coleman.\n\nU.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.-06), Jim Baird (R-Ind.-04), David Rouzer (R-N.C.-07), and Deborah Ross (D-N.C.-02) led the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), NCLifeSci and NCBiotech, the Delaware BioScience Association, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), Life Sciences Pennsylvania, and the American Alliance for Biomanufacturing.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nBiotechnology will shape how the U.S. defends itself, secures its food supply, and cures life-threatening diseases. NSCEB warned that without rapid and significant investment, the U.S. will fall behind its global competitors, specifically China.\n\nThe Biomanufacturing Excellence Act would additionally establish a public-private center dedicated to advancing biopharmaceutical manufacturing \u2013 a key recommendation from the NSCEB report.\n\nSpecifically, the National Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Center of Excellence would:\n\nUnite industry professionals with academic researchers to conduct collaborative research on new technology for scaling biopharmaceutical manufacturing\n\nHost a facility that replicates industrial manufacturing conditions and complies with Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations, where innovators would develop and test new manufacturing processes\n\nIdentify challenges and opportunities for scaling biopharmaceutical manufacturing, especially for products important to U.S. national security, public health, and economic security\n\nTrain tomorrow\u2019s biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce by partnering with educational, industry, and community leaders to bolster biotechnology talent\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/11/18/budd-delivers-remarks-celebrating-vulcan-elements-1b-investment-in-n-c-to-reshore-rare-earth-magnet-industry/", "Budd Delivers Remarks Celebrating Vulcan Elements $1B Investment in N.C. to Reshore Rare Earth Magnet Industry", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined state and local leaders in delivering remarks after Vulcan Elements announced that they will be building a new $1 billion \u2018Polaris facility\u2019 in Benson, North Carolina. Senator Budd has championed the U.S. Government\u2019s partnership with Vulcan Elements in their efforts to reshore the rare earth magnet manufacturing industry. The Polaris facility will create 1,000 new manufacturing jobs in North Carolina and bolster America\u2019s national security by breaking our reliance on China for these vital components.\n\nAs Senator Budd said in his remarks:\n\n\u201cThis is a great day to celebrate a more than a billion-dollar investment and one thousand new jobs. It\u2019s a boost to the local economy, but I want you all to know how important this is for our national security.\n\n\u201cVulcan, uniquely, and this is what got my attention in Washington, is that Vulcan is fully decoupled from China. We had some earlier conversations, and it was interesting that China tipped their hand to what they intended to do to constrain the American supply chain, or supplies to the United States. So, this is well timed. This is well-timed for the security of our nation. You know, after meeting the Vulcan team in Washington, I immediately realized the need to prioritize Vulcan\u2019s efforts.\n\n\u201cI want to give you a few specifics, including the lead to push the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment, or the IBAS program funding, also working to reduce barriers to magnet production, and then talking to all of the presidential nominees who come through our Senate offices that are related to Armed Services and the Department of War supply chain. So, if they didn\u2019t know about Vulcan, and most of them did know about Vulcan, when I asked them\u2014if they didn\u2019t when they came in, they sure did when they left.\n\n\u201cAlmost every weapon in our supply chain uses magnets, including jets, submarines, and the missiles that they fire, but they\u2019re also in things that we mentioned earlier, data centers, drones, robotics, and chips; all of which depend on rare earth magnets.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. should have done this decades ago, but now we are, and we\u2019re moving the critical supply chain for rare earths and so many other things away from China. Vulcan, you\u2019re in the lead for that. So, thank you.\n\n\u201cBut also, North Carolina is key in this. This is a great state for so many reasons, whether it\u2019s semiconductors or batteries, and now rare earths. So, congratulations. We appreciate all that you do. We\u2019re glad that you\u2019re here, and we look forward to the future together.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nSenator Budd has led the charge in the U.S. Senate to support Vulcan\u2019s efforts to reshore the rare earth magnet industry:\n\nLed a North Carolina delegation letter to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Michael Duffy, highlighting the impressive work of Vulcan Elements and supporting the company\u2019s application for funding through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program.\n\nPushed for a provision in the FY26 NDAA directing the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the Senate Armed Services Committee, no later than March 2026, on an analysis of domestic Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) manufacturing in the United States or allied nations and identify barriers to domestic rare earth magnet production.\n\nChampioned a $4 million increase in IBAS funding in the Senate\u2019s Defense Appropriations bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/11/tillis-murphy-hudson-op-ed-honor-camp-lejeune-marine-veterans-and-their-families-now", "Tillis, Murphy, Hudson Op-Ed: Honor Camp Lejeune Marine Veterans and Their Families Now", "2025-11-17", "2025", "2025-11", "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), alongside Representatives Greg Murphy (R-NC) and Richard Hudson (R-NC), recently penned an op-ed in the Jacksonville Daily News calling on Congress to honor Camp Lejeune Marine veterans and their families by passing theEnsuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act.\n\nRead the full op-ed HERE or below.\n\nThis week as we reflect on Veterans Day and the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps, we are called to honor the Corps\u2019 legacy of service and sacrifice. There is perhaps no higher form of honor than action, and when it comes to the veterans who served at Marine Base Camp Lejeune, our country has tragically failed in its most fundamental duty: to protect those who served.\n\nFor decades, service members and their families stationed at Camp Lejeune in our home state of North Carolina drank, bathed, and cooked with water contaminated by toxic chemicals \u2014 a danger now known to government but left unaddressed for years. The human toll is heartbreaking. Veterans, their families, and civilians have faced devastating illnesses, and for too many, untimely deaths linked directly to that poisoned water.\n\nIn 2022, Congress took an important step toward addressing this historical injustice by passing the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA). The law was intended to hold the U.S. government accountable and give affected veterans and their families a path to compensation and closure. Yet, three years later, countless victims are still waiting for relief.\n\nThe CLJA was a crucial milestone, but its implementation has been mired in red tape, legal bottlenecks, and procedural hurdles that have slowed justice to a crawl. The result is an overwhelmed system and protracted legal battles, leaving veterans and other victims in limbo. That is why we introduced the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act \u2014 to restore the spirit of the original law and finally deliver the fairness these families deserve. Our bill increases the number of courts where Camp Lejeune cases can be heard, breaking the logjam and allowing claims to move forward more efficiently.\n\nIt also reaffirms a foundational American principle: the right to a jury trial. Despite the original legislation\u2019s intent, opposition has left that right uncertain. Our legislation makes clear that veterans are entitled to have their case heard by a jury of their peers. Finally, this bill addresses an issue that has quietly burdened too many families \u2014 the lack of clear guidance on attorney\u2019s fees. Our new bill sets reasonable caps to ensure that financial relief Congress intended for veterans and victims benefits them, not the lawyers representing them.\n\nThe men and women who served at Camp Lejeune are American patriots who showed up every day prepared to defend this nation. Instead, many were poised by the water they trusted their government to provide. Ensuring justice for them is not partisan, it\u2019s a moral obligation. We are proud to have the backing nearly two dozen Veteran Service Organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and many others who stand shoulder to shoulder in this fight.\n\nAs we honor our veterans this week, let us remember that true gratitude demands action. We cannot call ourselves champions of our military if we turn away when they need us most. The time for delay is over. Congress must come together and pass the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/11/10/budd-hagerty-colleagues-reintroduce-legislation-to-prohibit-foreign-nationals-from-funding-american-elections/", "Budd, Hagerty, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Prohibit Foreign Nationals from Funding American Elections", "2025-11-10", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and several of his Senate Republican colleagues in reintroducing the Preventing Foreign Interference in American Elections Act to prevent foreign nationals from improperly influencing American elections.\n\n\u201cForeign nationals should not meddle in American elections. I am proud to stand with Senator Hagerty in introducing commonsense legislation to ensure free and fair elections by eliminating foreign influences that seek to undermine our electoral process,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cAfter years of hysteria over Russiagate and alleged foreign influence in American elections, it turns out Democrats have recently benefited from hundreds of millions of dollars in election-related contributions from a shadowy foreign billionaire, sidestepping the federal ban on foreign-national contributions in U.S. elections. This type of influence undermines democracy and self-government here in America, and its staggering scope should be alarming. I\u2019m pleased to reintroduce this commonsense and critical legislation that will put an end to covert foreign influence on our elections and protect Americans\u2019 voice in electing their leaders,\u201d said Senator Hagerty.\n\nSenators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Kennedy (R-La.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) also co-sponsored the legislation.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Preventing Foreign Interference in American Elections Act would:\n\nPrevents circumvention of the ban on \u201cindirect\u201d election-related contributions by foreign nationals by expressly covering any donation with an express or implied instruction (including involving intermediaries or conduits) that results in the donation being used for prohibited U.S. election-related activity;\n\nProhibits foreign-national contributions for ballot harvesting, get-out-the-vote activity, and public communications that promote a political party;\n\nBars foreign nationals from donating in connection with state ballot initiatives; and\n\nProhibits overbroad investigations or pretextual government collection or disclosure of Americans\u2019 nonprofit donor information for the purpose of intimidation or chilling Americans\u2019 free-speech rights.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/11/10/budd-releases-statement-after-senate-advances-measure-to-end-government-shutdown/", "Budd Releases Statement After Senate Advances Measure to End Government Shutdown", "2025-11-10", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Funding bill now heads to the House of Representatives\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after the Senate voted 60-40 to advance a funding measure through January 30, 2026, that will end the government shutdown as well as pass three appropriations bills including, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations, Agriculture appropriations, and Legislative Branch appropriations. Now, the spending package is headed back to the House of Representatives before going to the President\u2019s desk for his signature.\n\n\u201cAfter more than forty days, eight Senate Democrats agreed to come to the table and work in a bipartisan manner to end the longest shutdown in American history. I want to thank the thousands of air traffic controllers, border patrol agents, federal law enforcement, and other federal employees who showed up to work and kept our country running, even after missing multiple paychecks. As we finally take this long-awaited step toward re-opening the government, I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to put the best interests of the American people first and quickly get this bill on the President\u2019s desk so we can finally end the Schumer Shutdown,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe final Senate funding package includes several Budd-led and supported measures, including provisions that:\n\nProvide $680 million in Military Construction projects across North Carolina\u2019s military installations, including:\n\nF-35 Aircraft Sustainment Center at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point\n\nCombat Arms Training and Maintenance Complex at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base\n\nSpecial Operations Forces Mission Command Center at Fort Bragg\n\nClarify intent for $709 million provided for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 Opioid Prevention and Treatment Programs to ensure certainty and accountability. This provision was an amendment that Senator Budd and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) led.\n\nProvide the Food and Drug Administration with the resources and new authorities to crack down on the illegal importation, distribution, and sale of e-cigarettes from China and other countries.\n\nSuccessfully close the hemp loophole, preventing the sale of dangerous intoxicants like Delta-8 from being sold in unregulated retail stores and abused, while protecting the use of non-intoxicating CBD and hemp derivatives.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/11/tillis-delivers-opening-remarks-in-support-of-the-lumbee-fairness-act", "Tillis Delivers Opening Remarks in Support of the Lumbee Fairness Act", "2025-11-05", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) delivered opening remarks at a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing on the Lumbee Fairness Act, legislation that would grant the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina full federal recognition and the same benefits afforded to other federally recognized tribes.\n\nSenator Tillis\u2019 opening statement followed a press conference on the Lumbee Fairness Act with Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC), Tim Moore (R-NC), and Mark Harris (R-NC), and Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery. Photos of the press conference are available HERE.\n\nWatch Senator Tillis\u2019 full remarks HERE.\n\nSenator Tillis on the Bipartisan Support for TheLumbee Fairness Act:\n\n\u201cThis issue has come before Congress many times over the decades, but never with this level of unity and support. These days, it's rare to see Republicans and Democrats come together on anything. But when it comes to Lumbee recognition, the support is overwhelming and it's bipartisan. We're talking about support from President Donald J. Trump, President Biden, Vice President J.D. Vance, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Josh Stein, the North Carolina General Assembly and nearly every member of our state's congressional delegation. Here in the Senate, nearly two dozen members from both parties have co-sponsored the Lumbee Fairness Act, including Senator Schatz and Senator Mullin, who sit together on this very committee, and maybe most remarkable, more than 235 federally recognized tribes have stood with the Lumbee people, including the Alaska Federation of Natives, representing 186 tribes and corporations.\u201d\n\nSenator Tillis on the History of the Lumbee Tribe and their Fight for Federal Recognition:\n\n\u201cThe Lumbee\u2019s history is long and well documented. They were recognized by the state of North Carolina in 1885 and began seeking federal recognition just three years later. That was 137 years ago, during the 20th century. The Lumbee were among the dozens of victims of the termination era, one of the darkest periods in federal Indian policy. In 1956, Congress passed the Lumbee Act. It acknowledged the tribe, but cruelly denied them the benefits and the recognition that every other tribe receives. The federal government has since worked to correct the grave injustices of the determination error for nearly every single tribe except for the Lumbee. Time and again, the Lumbee have proven their case.\u201d\n\nSenator Tillis on the Lumbee Community and President Trump\u2019s Support for Federal Recognition:\n\n\u201cI invite anyone with doubts to visit Robeson County, Hope County, or Scotland County, go to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, founded by and for the Lumbee people. You'll see the rich Lumbee culture their deep roots in North Carolina and their extraordinary contributions to our state and our nation. You'll find a community defined by pride and resilience and service, educators, first responders, health care professionals, small business owners, and farmers, and situated just miles from Fort Bragg, the largest military installation in the world. You'll meet countless Lumbee and veterans who have served our country honorably, and for generations, they've done everything this nation has ever asked of them, and all they ask in return is fairness. I do know one leader who has visited Robinson County and has stood with the Lumbee people, and that's President Trump. Just three days into a second term, President Trump made it the official policy of the United States government to support full federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe, that includes access to every federal benefit that they've earned, and now is the time for Congress to act.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/11/04/budd-lee-introduce-bill-to-deregulate-life-saving-transplants-for-americans-with-diabetes/", "Budd, Lee Introduce Bill to Deregulate Life-Saving Transplants for Americans with Diabetes", "2025-11-04", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced legislation to cut bureaucratic red tape preventing islet transplants for diabetic Americans. The Increase Support for Life-saving Endocrine Transplantation (ISLET) Act corrects a miscategorization of islets as drugs rather than organs\u2014cutting through unnecessary regulations keeping critical surgeries out of reach.\n\n\u201cAs the U.S. continues to lead the world in modern medicine, we should expand patient access to effective therapies rather than overregulating treatments. I am proud to introduce this important legislation alongside Senator Lee to place islets under a less strict regulatory framework to expand access to proven treatment methods for Type 1 Diabetes,\u201dsaid Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cAmericans living with diabetes have been kept from life-saving research by nonsensical red tape from the federal government. Other countries treat islet transplantation as standard care, but a miscategorization in our law regulates islet as drugs rather than organs. My ISLET ACT fixes this bureaucratic mess to bring America up to speed and make critical care available to those with Type 1 diabetes,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee.\n\n\u201cThis long-awaited legislation brings hope to patients with Type 1 diabetes across the United States. It will make a life-saving procedure accessible for those in desperate need, while also enabling further progress in the field and advancing the pursuit of a cure for diabetes. I wholeheartedly support the Islet Act of behalf of the Islets for US Collaborative representing scientific and medical leaders in the field from the leading US academic institutions,\u201d said Piotr Witkowski, M.D. Ph.D, Director, Pancreatic Islet and Pancreas Transplantation Program, Islets for US Collaborative.\n\n\u201cIt is with the highest level of enthusiasm that I endorse the ISLET Act. Finally, Americans with diabetes will be able to benefit from islet transplantation, a treatment that has already been approved, available and reimbursable around the world. We now have a chance to join the rest of the developed world, where islet transplants are regulated similarly to organ transplants, making the treatment available also in the U.S. while further contributing to advancing the field worldwide,\u201d said Camillo Ricordi, MD, FNAI, The Cure Alliance.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe ISLET Act:\n\nUpdates the current definition of organ in the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to include \u201chuman cadaveric islets.\u201d This would authorize HRSA and OPTN to regulate islets as organs.\n\nProhibits HHS from regulating pancreatic islets as drugs under the Food Drug & Cosmetic Act (FDCA).\n\nProhibits HHS from regulating pancreatic islets as biological products or Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular/Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps) under the Public Health Service Act (PHSA).\n\nRequires the Secretary of HHS to update all regulations within a year of enactment to reflect the previously mentioned changes.\n\nThe bill has been endorsed by Islets for US Collaborative, The Cure Alliance, and the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/11/04/senator-budd-releases-statement-after-dhs-announces-155m-in-disaster-aid-for-western-north-carolina/", "Senator Budd Releases Statement After DHS Announces $155M in Disaster Aid for Western North Carolina", "2025-11-04", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem today, announced $155 million in public assistance reimbursements for Western North Carolina.\n\n\u201cI am grateful to Secretary Noem for approving $155 million in public assistance funding to reimburse Western North Carolina communities following Hurricane Helene. These funds are vital to ensure cleanup and rebuilding efforts do not continue to strain local government budgets more than a year later.\n\n\u201cAfter numerous conversations with Secretary Noem about ensuring that new Helene recovery projects receive swift approval and reimbursement, I have agreed to lift my hold on the DHS General Counsel nominee, James Percival, as soon as the approved funds are received by Western North Carolina communities.\n\n\u201cIn light of the unprecedented threats against the brave men and women of ICE and CBP, as well as the near constant legal challenges to President Trump\u2019s efforts to enforce America\u2019s immigration laws, I agree that ensuring DHS has strong legal representation is critical.\n\n\u201cI remain very willing to use every lever of power I have as a U.S. Senator to ensure Western North Carolina is made whole and that federal funds are approved and disbursed on a rolling basis into the future,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/10/tillis-democrats-must-end-the-shutdown", "Tillis: Democrats Must End the Shutdown", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) released the following statement on the status of the ongoing government shutdown:\n\n\u201cIt is impossible to negotiate in good faith when one side holds the entire federal government hostage, and political extortion cannot be the new precedent. Senator Schumer has boxed himself in, and Democrats are finally realizing their decisions have real consequences on real Americans. Their attempts to push for show votes that alleviate the pain for only some groups of Americans are a complete abdication of responsibility. Thirty days of shutting down the entire government is long enough. We only need five Democratic Senators to stop talking about being bipartisan and start acting bipartisan by voting to end this ridiculous shutdown.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/10/tillis-introduces-discussion-draft-on-legislation-to-ban-politically-motivated-de-banking", "Tillis Introduces Discussion Draft on Legislation to Ban Politically Motivated De-banking", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced a discussion draft of the Ensuring Fair Access to Banking Act, legislation that seeks to prevent the denial of banking services for politically motivated reasons. Specifically, the legislation guards against both regulator and financial institution-initiated de-banking by establishing a strong federal fair access standard, a robust enforcement mechanism, and additional targeted reforms to the examination and supervision process.\n\n\u201cToo often, certain financial institutions or politically motivated regulators have pursued policies that cut off lawful industries they simply don\u2019t like,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThat kind of back-door policymaking undermines transparency, accountability, and Americans\u2019 access to the financial system. This commonsense bill reins in those abuses, strengthens oversight of federal regulators, and restores fair access for legally operating businesses.\u201d\n\n\u201cProtecting the American people from debanking is essential to preserving our ability to meaningfully exercise our God-given and constitutionally protected rights,\u201d said Brian Knight, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom. \u201cTo achieve this, politicized debanking must be clearly prohibited, and that prohibition must be backed by adequate enforcement mechanisms. By the same token, banks should not be forced to become public utilities or face needless uncertainty. ADF appreciates Sen. Tillis\u2019s thoughtful balancing of these concerns in his fair access proposal and would encourage support as the bill is prepared for introduction.\u201d\n\n\u201cFinancial discrimination continues to be a challenge for the firearm industry. We appreciate Senator Tillis\u2019s leadership to ensure our industry\u2019s access to financial services in the marketplace is unencumbered by political discrimination,\u201d said Lawrence G. Keane, Vice President and General Counsel, National Shooting Sports Foundation. \u201cWhile considerable gains have been made by the Trump administration to end this devious practice, Congress has an equally important role to ensure free and fair access to financial services for lawful industries that cannot be reversed with the stroke of a pen by future administrations.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to banking products and services should not be influenced by politics,\u201d said Erik Rust, Head of Government Affairs, Bank Policy Institute. \u201cUnfortunately, regulatory overreach, supervisory discretion and a maze of overlapping rules have forced banks to choose between legal compliance and reaching more customers. We appreciate Senator Tillis\u2019s hard work on The Ensuring Fair Access to Banking Act of 2025, which admirably seeks to remedy these concerns while still allowing banks to make risk-based business decisions. We are pleased that many of our Fair Access Principles were incorporated into the legislation, including a strong federal preemption provision, which would prevent banks from being forced to comply with multiple state laws that often conflict with each other and federal BSA/AML rules. BPI will continue to work with leaders in Congress and the Administration to ensure all Americans have fair access to the banking services they depend on.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans should never be denied access to financial services for exercising their First Amendment rights,\u201d said Summer Mersinger, CEO, Blockchain Association. \u201cYet, we\u2019ve seen this troubling \u201cdebanking\u201d trend impact individuals and organizations across the political spectrum \u2014 including those in the digital asset industry. Blockchain Association has long championed efforts to end this discriminatory practice and ensure that the financial system treats lawful businesses and individuals fairly. While recent regulatory efforts to end this pernicious practice are a good start, we look forward to working with Senator Tillis and other lawmakers to codify equal banking access protections for all Americans into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Digital Chamber is proud to support Senator Tillis\u2019 Ensuring Fair Access to Banking Act, which would codify a national standard to ensure lawful blockchain and digital asset innovators cannot be debanked based on arbitrary or ideological risk classifications,\u201d said Cody Carbone, CEO, The Digital Chamber. \u201cEvery legal business deserves access to banking \u2013 full stop. The bill strengthens transparency, eliminates reputational risk as a supervisory tool, and establishes a clear standard for fair access. These reforms are not just about digital assets, but about preserving America\u2019s commitment to due process, financial inclusion, and innovation. Thank you to Senator Tillis for his leadership and we look forward to the bill\u2019s eventual passage.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the last decade, many different groups have been subject to waves of politically-motivated debanking,\u201d said Nic Carter, Founding Partner, Castle Island Ventures. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that for this to end, a permanent legislative solution must be sought. Chiefly responsible are the inappropriate usage of reputational risk in supervision as well as a lack of transparency from financial regulatory agencies. This legislation tackles those issues while carefully retaining banks\u2019 freedom to serve clients as they see fit. It\u2019s the best solution I\u2019ve seen to the problem and I\u2019m very excited to see Senator Tillis introduce it.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nEveryday Americans and businesses alike rely on basic banking services for nearly every aspect of their lives and work. During the Obama Administration, government officials and financial regulators initiated Operation Choke Point, which sought to cut off politically disfavored industries like firearms, ammunition, and tobacco retailers, among others, from basic banking services, in an intentional effort to cripple their ability to operate. More recently, the Biden Administration ran a similar playbook that led to widespread de-banking of digital asset companies and service providers.\n\nJust like businesses, Americans rely on access to their bank accounts every day in our increasingly digital economy. Unfortunately, individuals have also been victims of discriminatory banking from volunteers at pro-life organizations, prominent conservative activists, and even President Trump himself.\n\nThe Ensuring Fair Access to Banking Act addresses these longstanding issues by creating a strong federal fair access standard to ensures that no American or lawful business is denied banking services for political or ideological reasons. It replaces the current patchwork of state laws with a uniform national framework, while preserving necessary safeguards for financial institutions to manage risk and maintain safety and soundness. The bill also reforms the supervisory process to eliminate \u201creputational risk\u201d as a regulatory factor and prevent politicized actions by federal financial regulators. It increases transparency and accountability into the examination process by allowing select Members of Congress to request confidential supervisory information, placing the Federal Reserve\u2019s Inspector General under Senate confirmation, and creating an independent Inspector General within the Treasury Department. Finally, the legislation modernizes outdated anti\u2013money laundering reporting thresholds to reduce unnecessary burdens on banks and small businesses while maintaining critical protections against illicit activity.\n\nFull text of the discussion draft is available HERE.\n\nA section-by-section summary is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/10/29/budd-leads-bipartisan-bicameral-letter-advocating-for-u-s-tobacco-farmers-ahead-of-president-trumps-trade-meeting-with-china/", "Budd Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Advocating for U.S. Tobacco Farmers Ahead of President Trump\u2019s Trade Meeting with China", "2025-10-29", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Representative David Rouzer (R-N.C.-07) led their colleagues in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter urging President Trump to prioritize flue-cured tobacco in his trade negotiations with China ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi. In the letter, the legislators outline several challenges facing U.S. tobacco farmers, including the need to ensure growers qualify for any future tariff relief programs, to prevent cheap, foreign-grown tobacco from undermining domestic markets.\n\nIn the letter, the legislators said, \u201cAmerican flue-cured tobacco is world-renowned for its high quality, traceability, and compliant production. Foreign countries are willing to pay a premium for tobacco grown in the U.S. due to its superior quality, which is why growers have relied heavily on access to export markets since before the Revolutionary War. China serves as the single largest buyer\u2014purchasing 60\u201365 million pounds of green tobacco annually.\n\n\u201cFarmers were recently informed that China will not purchase flue-cured tobacco from the 2025 crop, a decision made by the Chinese Communist Party to gain leverage in ongoing trade negotiations with the United States.\n\n\u201c\u2026However, these farmers cannot survive without fair access to global markets and equal support from the U.S. government as other major crops receive. As you prepare to meet with President Xi Jinping, we urge you to elevate the priorities of American tobacco farmers and ensure our tobacco farm families receive fair treatment in trade negotiations, just as you did during your first term and have promised to continue to do for all of American agriculture.\u201d\n\nIn the Senate, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined the letter.\n\nAdditionally, in the House, Representatives Don Davis (D-N.C.-01), Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.-11), Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.-05), Pat Harrigan (R-10-N.C.), Mark Harris (R-N.C.-08), Richard Hudson (R-N.C.-09), Brad Knott (R-N.C.-13), Addison McDowell (R-N.C.-06), Tim Moore (R-N.C.-14), Greg Murphy (R-N.C.-03), Morgan Griffith (R-Va.-09), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.-02), John McGuire (R-Va.-05), Ben Cline (R-Va.-06), and Russell Fry (R-S.C.-07) joined Senator Budd and Representative Rouzer.\n\nRead the full letter text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nChina is the leading international buyer of American flue-cured tobacco. U.S. farmers were recently informed that China will not purchase flue-cured tobacco from the 2025 crop, a decision made to gain leverage in ongoing trade negotiations with the U.S. This leaves approximately 65 million pounds of tobacco without a buyer, erasing $220 million in export value.\n\nAs a leading state in U.S. tobacco exports, North Carolina farmers produce 260.1 million pounds of tobacco annually\u2014nearly 60% of all U.S. production. In 2024, North Carolina exported $5.9 billion worth of tobacco into China.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/10/27/senator-budd-demands-full-force-american-sanctions-in-response-to-ccp-crackdown-on-religious-freedom-in-china/", "Senator Budd Demands Full Force American Sanctions in response to CCP Crackdown on Religious Freedom in China", "2025-10-27", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) introduced the Combatting the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act to strengthen America\u2019s response to combat the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s (CCP) ongoing persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. The legislation, filed on the 27th anniversary of International Religious Freedom Day, would implement strict sanctions on any CCP official who is responsible for or directly carries out violations of religious freedom. Senator Budd was joined by Congressman Mark Alford (R-Mo.-04) who introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cChina\u2019s disdain for religious freedom is not new. It is an ongoing and brutal pattern of abuse that must be met with steadfast American strength. As the leader of the free world, the United States must promote religious freedom around the world and hold China\u2019s authoritarian regime responsible for decades of persecution targeting Christians and other religious minorities. The CCP\u2019s restrictions on freedom of religion and cruelty toward religious minorities in China must come to an end,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party has perpetrated heinous abuses against religious groups for decades. It\u2019s time the United States to stand up for religious freedom in China as we have in other parts of the world. I\u2019m proud to co-lead the Combatting the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act with Senator Budd and our colleagues to take a stand, stop these abuses, and promote global religious freedom,\u201d said Congressman Alford.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese government has an abysmal human rights record and has persecuted its citizens for practicing their faith for far too long. As co-chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus and a participant in the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission\u2019s Defending Freedom Project, I remain deeply committed to highlighting China\u2019s ongoing persecution of religious leaders like Pastor Wang Yi, who has been unjustly detained for the past seven years. The United States must continue to hold China accountable and ensure that its blatant disregard for religious freedom is considered in all future diplomatic and trade negotiations,\u201d said Senator Tillis.\n\n\u201cChina\u2019s systematic persecution of religious leaders who peacefully practice their faith is horrific and shameful. We must continue to strongly condemn this action by the Chinese Communist Party and hold accountable those who perpetuate this reprehensible behavior,\u201d said Senator Young.\n\n\u201cCommunist China\u2019s persecution of Christians and religious minorities is a gross violation of human rights. The Combating the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act would hold Chinese Communist Party officials accountable by imposing sanctions on those responsible for these abuses of religious freedom,\u201d said Senator Blackburn.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party\u2019s brutal persecution of people of faith cannot be ignored. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor this bill to send a clear message that the United States will continue to promote religious freedom around the globe and fight to hold the CCP accountable for its human rights abuses,\u201d said Senator Moody.\n\nSenators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) co-sponsored the legislation.\n\nRepresentatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.-17), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas-02), and Michael McCaul (R-Texas-10) co-sponsored the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nRead Senator Budd\u2019s Op-Ed in The Hill: China\u2019s Crackdown on Religious Freedom Demands American Sanctions\n\nThe Combatting the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act would:\n\nImpose sanctions on CCP officials who are responsible for or directly carrying out religious freedom abuse such as arbitrary imprisonment, forced labor, and broader restrictions on freedom of religion or belief.\n\nStrengthens efforts to combat the ongoing persecution of Protestant Christians, Catholics, Muslims, Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, and other religious minorities in the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) within the Department of State\u2019s programs, including its Bureau of East and Pacific Affairs.\n\nExpresses the sense of Congress that China should continue to be designated as a Country of Particular Concern.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/10/21/budd-welch-bipartisan-bill-to-eliminate-foreign-robocalls-passes-commerce-committee-and-heads-to-senate-floor/", "Budd, Welch Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate Foreign Robocalls Passes Commerce Committee and Heads to Senate Floor", "2025-10-21", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), issued the following statements after the passage of their bipartisan legislation, the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act, which passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee today. The bill brings together government and private sector experts to eliminate unlawful robocalls originating abroad and prevent them from entering the U.S. to target Americans. The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act is now headed to the Senate floor for full consideration and passage into law.\n\n\u201cEvery single month, millions of Americans are targeted by billions of scam calls attempting to rob them of their security, privacy, and hard-earned dollars, including many from foreign criminals. This needs to stop. Today, my colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee voted to advance the common-sense legislation I co-authored with Senator Welch to put an end to nefarious foreign scams deceiving the American people. I hope my Senate colleagues will join us and quickly act to pass the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act into law to help put a stop to this exploitation,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cVermonters receive nearly 3.5 million robocalls every month. And it\u2019s not only our state\u2014folks in red and blue states alike are sick and tired of picking up the phone and wondering if they\u2019re talking to a friend or being scammed. As foreign robocallers step up their efforts to exploit and prey on vulnerable people, we need to do more to combat this unlawful practice and protect Americans from scams,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cI\u2019m thankful for the support of the Commerce Committee on this bipartisan legislation and look forward to bringing this bill to the Senate floor.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Foreign Robocall Elimination Act would establish an interagency task force comprising key representatives from the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and Department of Justice, as well as experts in voice service and analytics, telecommunications technology, marketing organizations, and consumer advocacy.\n\nThis task force will evaluate foreign robocalls and determine the most effective strategies to combat them, with the goal of enhancing international cooperation to reduce illegal robocalls. The task force will also help ensure that the Department of Justice is adequately equipped to address and prosecute criminals behind the influx of foreign robocalls.\n\nRead the full text of this bill HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/10/10/budd-graham-colleagues-urge-fda-to-defend-life-by-reevaluating-dangerous-leading-chemical-abortion-drug-approved-for-market/", "Budd, Graham, Colleagues Urge\u00a0FDA to\u00a0Defend\u00a0Life\u00a0by Reevaluating\u00a0Dangerous Leading Chemical\u00a0Abortion Drug\u00a0Approved for Market", "2025-10-10", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)and 50 Senate Republicans in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, Dr. Martin Makary, urging them to review a recent decision to approve a generic version of mifepristone\u2014currently the leading drug used to perform chemical abortions.\n\nMifepristone is not only a lethal drug for preborn babies but also poses a serious health risk for expectant mothers. Given recent statements from HHS and FDA acknowledging data discrepancies surrounding abortion pill safety and a commitment to review the science, the lawmakers argue that the Biden-era decision to remove safeguards not only undermines women\u2019s reproductive health but also disregards pro-life laws in states across the country.\n\nIn the letter, the Senators wrote, \u201cWe commend your recent statements acknowledging the data discrepancies surrounding abortion pill safety and your commitment to reviewing the science. We are also encouraged by HHS\u2019s recent announcement that it will review prior Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) approvals given the recent studies raising concerns about the drug\u2019s safety. Given this commitment, however, we are deeply concerned about the FDA\u2019s approval of a new generic version of mifepristone. While we recognize the FDA\u2019s statutory responsibility in evaluating drug applications, the timing of this approval appears inconsistent with the comprehensive safety reassessment your agencies have prioritized. Out of respect for this important review, and with full confidence in your dedication to protecting women\u2019s health, states\u2019 rights, and unborn life, we urge you to take decisive action to reevaluate whether this generic version of mifepristone is suitable to enter the market.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cUnrestricted access to abortion pills is systematically undermining states\u2019 rights and violating pro-life state laws. Every month, thousands of abortion drugs are shipped into states that have otherwise limited access to abortion after Dobbs, degrading pro-life laws at the state level across the country.\u201d\n\nAdditional letter co-signers include U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Curtis (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), David McCormick (R-Pa.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).\n\nRead the full letter text HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/10/10/senate-passes-fiscal-year-2026-defense-bill-including-budd-secured-wins-for-north-carolina/", "Senate Passes Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Bill Including Budd-Secured Wins for North Carolina", "2025-10-10", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), voted to pass the Senate version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last night. The bill includes numerous provisions to improve readiness and quality of life for our troops, increase funding for North Carolina military installations, protect the homeland, and strengthen alliances abroad.\n\nSenator Budd said in a statement upon final passage:\n\n\u201cNorth Carolina has long stood at the forefront of America\u2019s military strength, and I was proud to deliver key victories for our state and our nation in the FY 2026 NDAA that will further empower our servicemembers and strengthen our forces both at home and abroad. Last night, the Senate passed this historic defense package that enhances military facilities, reinforces air superiority, cuts burdensome regulations, combats terrorism, and ends discriminatory affirmative action policies at our service academies. America\u2019s strength rests on the unmatched lethality of its armed forces, and this year\u2019s NDAA reaffirms that commitment by advancing our military\u2019s readiness to confront any threat and its resolve to defend the cause of freedom against any adversary.\u201d\n\nProvisions within the Senate\u2019s FY26 NDAA must be reconciled with the House of Representatives\u2019 version of the bill, and be passed by both chambers, before receiving the President\u2019s signature to become law. Senator Budd will continue to fight for these provisions throughout the legislative and appropriations process.\n\nBelow is a summary of provisions Senator Budd championed that were passed by the Senate:\n\nOn the Senate floor last night, 55 amendments were included and passed in the final package of the FY26 NDAA, including Senator Budd\u2019s bipartisan Seized Iranian Arms Transfer Authorization (SEIZE) Act. The amendment streamlines the process for taking ownership over confiscated Iranian weapons seized in transit to terror proxies like the Houthi\u2019s in Yemen. Senator Budd\u2019s amendment bypasses a potential year-long legal process for the distribution of captured Iranian weapons and equipment held by U.S. Central Command, allowing it to be sent to U.S. military partners around the globe.\n\nAdditionally, the bipartisan Comprehensive Operations for Unmanned-System Neutralization and Threat Elimination Response (COUNTER) Act, of which Senator Budd is an original co-sponsor, also passed the Senate as an amendment to the FY26 NDAA. The amendment enhances airspace security at military installations.\n\nBoosting America\u2019s Military Readiness & Supporting Military Families\n\nThis year\u2019s NDAA represents an investment in America\u2019s military personnel, a refocusing of the Pentagon\u2019s priorities to boost troop readiness, and a needed reduction of bureaucratic red tape. Senator Budd championed a number of key priorities that will improve the quality of life and the effectiveness of our troops by:\n\nProviding a 3.8% raise across the board for service members.\n\nCreating a pilot program to improve Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for North Carolina service members and their families.\n\nProhibiting affirmative action in U.S. Service Academies admissions.\n\nCutting burdensome environmental regulations that prohibit the Defense Department from procuring basic items.\n\nAccelerating the development, prototyping, and deployment of mobile nuclear microreactor systems to enhance energy resilience and forward-deployed power capability for U.S. military operations.\n\nDelivering for North Carolina Military Installations & Manufacturers\n\nThe FY 2026 NDAA authorizes more than $700 million for military construction projects and planning and design funding at facilities across North Carolina. Senator Budd successfully worked to include authorizing provisions to support the following facilities, programs, and units:\n\nMarine Corps Air Station Cherry Point\n\nAuthorizing $40M in funding to boost the F-35 Aircraft Sustainment Center\n\nAuthorizing $15M in funding to design the next phase of the Flightline Utilities Modernization project\n\nMarine Corps Base Camp Lejeune\n\nAuthorizing $34M in funding for the expansion of the Special Operations Forces Combat Service Support/Motor Transport\n\nAuthorizing $90M in funding to boost the Special Operations Forces Marine Raider Battalion Operations Facility\n\nAuthorizing $48.28M in funding to boost Amphibious Combat Vehicle Shelters\n\nFort Bragg\n\nAuthorizing $19M in funding to boost the Automated Infantry Platoon Battle Course\n\nAuthorizing $24M in funding to complete the construction of the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar\n\nAuthorizing $80M in funding to improve the Fort\u2019s power generation and microgrid\n\nAuthorizing $32M in funding for the Special Operations Forces Mission Command Center\n\nAuthorizing $80M in funding to boost the Special Operations Forces Operational Ammunition Supply Point\n\nAuthorizing $5M in funding for the Pathfinder Airborne Program to improve soldier readiness\n\nSeymour Johnson Air Force Base\n\nAuthorizing $54M in funding to improve the Child Development Center\n\nAuthorizing $41M in funding to boost the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Complex\n\nNorth Carolina National Guard\n\nAuthorizing $69M in funding for the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar Addition/Alteration project at Salisbury Training Center\n\nNorth Carolina Manufacturers & Projects\n\nAuthorizing $34M in funding to procure Infantry Squad Vehicles manufactured in Concord, which will support the Army Transformation Initiative\n\nAuthorizing $4M in funding to procure rare earth magnets manufactured in Durham\n\nAuthorizing $8M in funding to procure Army Load-Carrying Technology Advancements built in Concord\n\nAuthorizing $5M in funding to expand the Defense Innovation Unit OnRamp Hub, which Senator Budd has advocated for bringing to North Carolina\n\nProtecting Our Homeland & Standing with Our Allies\n\nThe core mission of America\u2019s Armed Forces is to protect the United States and its citizens from threats and to defend our interests both at home and abroad. Sen. Budd led the inclusion of several key priorities that will help our troops and our allies carry out this vital mission by:\n\nProtecting Our Homeland:\n\nRequiring a plan to ensure installation commanders have adequate guidance and authority to interdict hostile or suspicious drone activity with force immediately.\n\nDirecting the Secretary of the Army to diversify and expand the Army\u2019s counter-drone capabilities to protect bases and installations at home and abroad.\n\nDeterring Threats from China:\n\nCutting bureaucratic red tape to permit fighter aircraft to use tactical datalinks needed for advanced air combat training, enhancing the preparation and readiness of 45 combat-coded fighter squadrons for high-end conflict.\n\nDirecting a report on the People\u2019s Republic of China\u2019s (PRC) operation, ownership, or control of strategic foreign ports and Department of Defense efforts to counter or mitigate the national security threats posed by PRC control of such foreign ports.\n\nSupporting the U.S.-Israel Bilateral Relationship & Countering Terrorism in the Middle East:\n\nAuthorizing $80M in funding for U.S.-Israel Anti-Tunnel Cooperation and extending the program through December 2028.\n\nAuthorizing $75M in funding for U.S.-Israel counter-UAS Cooperation and extending the program through December 2028.\n\nAuthorizing $15M in funding for US-Israel Joint Research & Development on Emerging Technologies.\n\nExtending the authorization to provide assistance to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).\n\nDirecting DoD to provide a briefing on the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund, status of equipment delivery to Kurdish Peshmerga Forces, and plans to improve the Kurdish Peshmerga Forces\u2019 ability to conduct counter terrorism operations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/10/tillis-urges-senate-to-replenish-disaster-relief-fund-to-help-western-nc-recover", "Tillis Urges Senate to Replenish Disaster Relief Fund to Help Western NC Recover", "2025-10-01", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis delivered remarks on the Senate floor marking the one-year anniversary of Helene, highlighting how the government shutdown is hurting North Carolinians recovering from Helene and urging his Democratic colleagues to end the government shutdown so the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) can be replenished.\n\nSenator Tillis has been warning about the dwindling funding levels of the DRF for months, introducing legislation in June that would replenish the fund with $25 billion to ensure adequate resources to respond to the hurricane season.\n\nSenator Tillis on the Damage Left Behind By Helene:\n\n\u201c74,000 homes damaged or destroyed, 5000 miles of roads damaged or destroyed, including major portions of I-40, which are still only one lane in each direction for about a 20-mile stretch between North Carolina and Tennessee. I-26 was damaged. Blue Ridge Parkways just opened up. 848 bridges damaged and destroyed. 20,000 farms and 800,000 acres of timber damaged. 163 water systems were damaged, with Asheville not having drinkable water for almost two months after the storm. Mr. President, when I was in Western North Carolina, I heard someone say that the community I was in was back on its feet. But for every community back on its feet, there are still several communities that are on their knees or flat on their backs. In fact, there are some communities that we wonder whether or not they ever will come back.\u201d\n\nSenator Tillis on the Importance of Replenishing the Disaster Relief Fund:\n\n\u201cAccording to the latest FEMA Disaster Relief Fund monthly report, the major disasters account balance right now is at $1.4 billion, that is dangerously low. Last month, FEMA approved $7.5 billion from the major disasters account. In 2024, there were 90 FEMA-declared major disasters, nearly double the 30-year average of 55 declarations per year. Already this year, and we're really ramping up in the hurricane season right now, we've had 40 major disaster declarations in 22 states. FEMA simply doesn't have the funding needed to respond to a major disaster. Ladies and gentlemen, we're at a shutdown posture right now. We have storms in the Atlantic and more storms forming off the coast of Africa, and we are not prepared for another major disaster, should it hit this weekend.\u201d\n\nSenator Tillis on Ending the Government Shutdown and Helping Western NC Recover:\n\n\u201cThe House passed a continuing resolution that we tried to vote on this week. It had $22.5 billion for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund. But that money is not here today, because we're in a shutdown posture. We're not funding any area of government, but we're especially hurting the Disaster Relief Fund and FEMA, and the only thing standing in our way is a simple vote to continue funding at levels that my Democratic colleagues have agreed to before. So, ladies and gentlemen, we don't have a C.R. that the President or that the majority leader has decorated with ornaments. We call it decorating some of these spending bills like a Christmas tree. This is a simple continuing resolution to spend at the level we were spending yesterday. There's nothing more to it. There's money in here to help with disaster relief, but there's nothing more. This shutdown is hurting people in North Carolina.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/09/29/senator-budd-disaster-recovery-hinges-on-our-federal-government-agencies-working-in-coordination/", "Senator Budd: Disaster Recovery Hinges on Our Federal Government & Agencies Working in Coordination", "2025-09-29", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) chaired a Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship field hearing entitled, \u201cSmall Business Association\u2019s (SBA) Hurricane Helene Response: One Year Later.\u201d In his opening statement, he discussed the Biden administration\u2019s mismanagement of the SBA\u2019s disaster loan program, which implemented irresponsible regulations and substantially increased the cost of issuing and administering disaster loans, leading to the federal government\u2019s slow walking of critical aid. Senator Budd emphasized the importance of not repeating past mistakes to ensure regions struck by disaster have a clear path toward recovery. He also encouraged the federal government to be responsive to the needs of Western North Carolina as it continues to be rebuilt almost one year after Hurricane Helene.\n\nHere are Sen. Budd\u2019s remarks as prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s hearing comes at a somber moment. Almost one year ago today, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida before continuing northward and devastating Western North Carolina.\n\n\u201cMany of us here today personally experienced the devastation that the storm brought; many areas were hit with high winds and received 20 \u2013 30 inches of rain, leading to catastrophic flooding and mudslides that tragically claimed the lives of 108 North Carolinians.\n\n\u201cAltogether, a total of 11 states were impacted, and Helene caused almost $80 billion in damage, making it one of the worst hurricanes to hit the United States, ranking alongside Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina.\n\n\u201cHere in North Carolina, 39 counties were eligible for federal assistance following the storm. These counties comprise 40 percent of the state\u2019s population and 45 percent of the state\u2019s GDP.\n\n\u201cIn the immediate aftermath, our state\u2019s disaster survivors started down the challenging road of rebuilding. I want to say how proud I am of our state for coming together in this time of need and the sheer tenacity of everyone out here in Western North Carolina who lent a hand and helped folks in dire straits.\n\n\u201cFrankly, I wish the same could have been said for our federal government, but unfortunately, under President Biden, they were unprepared and asleep at the wheel. The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides disaster loans that have been crucial to many Americans recovering from natural disasters, and North Carolinians in the wake of Helene were no different. The SBA gives eligible individuals access to disaster recovery loans up to $500,000 and eligible businesses loans up to $2,000,000 for physical damage and economic injury. These loans help restore homes to their pre-disaster condition and help businesses replace equipment and maintain payroll.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, due to the blunders of Biden\u2019s SBA, too many North Carolinians were unable to find the help they needed to simply rebuild and regain their livelihoods.\n\n\u201cThe prior Administration mismanaged the SBA\u2019s disaster loan program by issuing irresponsible rules and dramatically increasing the costs of making and administering disaster loans. Moreover, as SBA drew closer to exhausting the funds it had on hand for these loans, the staff at the wheel of the Biden Administration failed in one of their most basic duties: notifying Congress that funding was running low.\n\n\u201cThis led to an unacceptable 66-day shortfall, lasting from October 12th through December 20th of last year. Here in North Carolina, 97 percent of business loan applicants were impacted by this shortfall. For more than two months, the federal government left survivors in North Carolina on their own with nothing but their bootstraps and their community to assist in rebuilding.\n\n\u201cWe must ensure a crisis like this will never happen again. This SBA program is instrumental in the rebuilding process, and once it was back to working, it has served over 3,500 North Carolinians following Hurricane Helene.\n\n\u201cThat is why, earlier this year, I introduced the Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act to create more safeguards against a future shortfall. This bill would require annual appropriations to SBA\u2019s disaster loan program, inform Congress when funds are low, and increase reporting to Congress. I want to thank my colleagues on the Small Business Committee for working in a bipartisan manner to get this bill through Committee.\n\n\u201cI am grateful for the many changes the Trump Administration has made to address the problems in this program since January, including improvements to reporting, local coordination, and constituent services.\n\n\u201cHowever, we are still recovering from the aftermath of Helene. It is critical to understand the impacts of the shortfall last year and what steps can be taken to further safeguard disaster survivors from being left without aid again.\n\n\u201cReturning Western North Carolina to normal, following Helene, hinges on our federal government and its agencies working in coordination with one another.\n\n\u201cI will continue to engage with each of our cabinet agencies to ensure that our federal government is responsive to the needs of Western North Carolina.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/09/24/senator-budd-applauds-dot-release-of-1-1-billion-in-disaster-aid-for-infrastructure-repairs-across-north-carolina/", "Senator Budd Applauds DOT Release of $1.1+ Billion in Disaster Aid for Infrastructure Repairs Across North Carolina", "2025-09-24", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) today applauded Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster\u2019s announcement of over $1.1 billion in federal relief grants to fund natural disaster recovery projects in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene and other storms dating back to 2020. These funds will support projects to repair roads, bridges, and drainage structures that have suffered significant damage due to flash flooding, landslides, heavy rainfall, tornadoes, rockfall, washouts, pipe blowouts, bridge collapses, and downed trees.\n\n\u201cI am grateful to Secretary Duffy and Administrator McMaster for their leadership in getting needed federal aid out the door and back to the state of North Carolina as we work to repair our damaged infrastructure as a result of Hurricane Helene and other severe storms from the past several years. President Trump\u2019s Department of Transportation is following through on its promises and unlocking vital emergency relief to the Old North State, including aid that has been tied up dating back to the Biden administration,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nApproved federal grant applications issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation include:\n\nHURRICANE HELENE\n\n$1,150,000,000 \u2013 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief Program Grant\n\nRestore damaged areas of the Federal-Aid highway system to its pre-disaster condition.\n\n$12,278,841 \u2013 FHWA Emergency Relief Program Grant\n\nRepair public forest roads within national forests in North Carolina damaged by heavy rainfall.\n\n$1,749,785 \u2013 FHWA Emergency Relief Program Grant\n\nRepair drainage facilities at the W. Kerr Scott Dam impacted by severe flooding.\n\n$90,000 \u2013 FHWA Emergency Relief Program Grant\n\nRestore damages to bridges, bridge approaches, and multiple roads and trails on Tribal lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by heavy rain and flash floods.\n\nHURRICANE DEBBY\n\n$346,426 \u2013 FHWA Emergency Relief Program Grant\n\nRestore roads and drainage structures that were damaged by flooding, erosion, and debris within national forests in North Carolina.\n\nJanuary 9, 2024 \u2013 Rain Storm\n\n$150,000 \u2013 FHWA Emergency Relief Program Grant\n\nRepairs for roadway templates and drainage structures within national forests in North Carolina.\n\nTROPICAL STORM FRED\n\n$1,679,918 \u2013 FHWA Emergency Relief Program Grant\n\nRepairs for transportation systems within national forests in North Carolina.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/09/19/sens-budd-cortez-masto-lead-bipartisan-fight-to-strengthen-dod-report-on-communist-chinas-military-developments/", "Sens. Budd, Cortez Masto Lead Bipartisan Fight to Strengthen DoD Report on Communist China\u2019s Military Developments", "2025-09-19", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the bipartisan China Military Powers Transparency Act to extend and update the Department of Defense\u2019s (DoD) Annual Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People\u2019s Republic of China (\u201cChina Military Power Report\u201d) to monitor China\u2019s military strength and strategic influence. Under this legislation, the requirement to submit the report to Congress would be extended from 2027 to 2030 and expand the required analysis.\n\n\u201cThe People\u2019s Republic of China has proven time and time again that its communist government cannot be trusted. As China continues to expand its influence abroad, the national security of the homeland must remain a top priority to counter its strategic influence. I am glad to join Senator Cortez Masto to introduce legislation that will ensure the U.S. monitors potential threats by closely tracking and assessing China\u2019s military posture,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cIn this critical moment, the United States must stay informed on Communist China\u2019s potential future capabilities \u2013 military and otherwise,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cBy expanding this report to include the CCP\u2019s potential expansion into new and emerging technologies like cyber and biotech, we are making sure that we are ready for whatever comes next.\u201d\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nIn addition to extending the report, the China Military Power Transparency Act would require DOD to include the following security assessments as China accelerates investments across various industries:\n\nAn analysis of China\u2019s nuclear and drone development cooperation with other foreign adversaries.\n\nInformation on Chinese foreign farmland acquisitions.\n\nAn analysis of the likely role of Chinese cyber capabilities in a potential conflict with the U.S.\n\nAn analysis of China\u2019s development of advanced and emerging technologies, including biotechnologies.\n\nA detailed assessment of the People\u2019s Liberation Army\u2019s strategic intent regarding Taiwan, including potential scenarios such as a cyber-enabled economic warfare campaign, a cross-strait invasion, or a blockade.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/09/18/budd-joins-senate-gop-colleagues-in-introducing-bill-to-eliminate-d-c-soft-on-crime-laws/", "Budd Joins Senate\u00a0GOP Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Eliminate D.C. Soft-On-Crime Laws", "2025-09-18", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) in introducing the Just Incarceration of Criminal Elements (JUSTICE) in D.C. Act this week. The bill would eliminate two Washington, D.C. laws, the Incarceration Reduction Act (IRAA) and the Second Look Amendment Act(SLAA), which allows criminals to be improperly and prematurely released solely because they were under the age of 25 when they committed a crime. The D.C. laws disregard the severity of the crime or the length of their initial sentence, allowing even violent offenders convicted of murder to gain access to shortened sentences.\n\n\u201cOur country has endured far too many horrific acts of violence because of weak sentencing and the premature release of dangerous criminals in Democrat-run cities like Washington, D.C.,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cMy home state of North Carolina has suffered as well\u2014just last month, a young Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte was brutally murdered by a repeat offender with fourteen prior arrests. These \u2018criminal reform\u2019 experiments have delivered neither safety, justice, nor rehabilitation. It is long past time to put a stop to them. I am proud to stand with Senator Cornyn in creating strict standards to prevent judges from releasing violent offenders onto the streets of D.C.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Incarceration Reduction Act and Second Look Amendment Act exemplify the mindless policies of D.C.\u2019s progressive city council that have incentivized crime in our nation\u2019s capital for far too long,\u201d said Senator Cornyn. \u201cThe JUSTICE in D.C. Act puts common sense back at the forefront of D.C.\u2019s justice system by ensuring no offender receives a shortened sentence just because they committed a crime \u2013 including murder \u2013 before the age of 25. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro has called for these ridiculous laws to be eliminated, and I couldn\u2019t agree more.\u201d\n\n\u201cRepealing these foolish, soft-on-crime laws is an important step in Making DC Safe Again,\u201d said Senator Graham. \u201cOur work on this legislation would ensure that violent criminals are not set free early solely based on age. This reckless practice needs to end now.\u201d\n\n\u201cWashington, D.C.\u2019s soft-on-crime policies have empowered violent criminals to become repeat offenders\u2014allowing them prematurely back onto the street simply because they are under the age of 25,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cOur JUSTICE in D.C. Act would help restore law and order by getting rid of two reckless D.C. laws so that criminals are not improperly and prematurely released.\u201d\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe IRAA of 2016, which was expanded by the D.C. SLAA in 2021, permits a defendant who has been convicted of committing any crime before the age of 25 to move for a sentence reduction after serving only 15 years in prison, regardless of how long their original sentence of incarceration is. It also expressly provides the factors that a judge must rely on in determining whether to release an inmate, and these factors purposely do not include the \u201cnature of the offense.\u201d This is not only contrary to federal sentencing law but also prevents a judge entertaining a release motion from a violent felon from being able to properly weigh the seriousness of the crime, tilting the scales toward release.\n\nThe Just Incarceration of Criminal Elements (JUSTICE) in D.C. Act would:\n\n\u2022 Eliminates the Incarceration Reduction Act and Second Look Amendment Act, to ensure that criminals are not improperly and prematurely released solely because they happened to be under the age of 25 when they committed a crime, including robbery or murder.\n\n\u2022 Avoids amending the standard parole and probation processes for criminals in D.C., leaving open avenues for truly rehabilitated individuals to be released from prison in the normal course.\n\n\u2022 Changes the existing grant scheme provided in the IRAA and SLAA, which presently awards funds to released criminals, and would instead direct these funds to victims of violent crimes.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/09/18/senators-budd-cortez-masto-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-combat-foreign-cyberattacks-targeting-american-agriculture/", "Senators Budd, Cortez Masto Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Combat Foreign Cyberattacks Targeting American Agriculture", "2025-09-18", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the bipartisan Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act today to enhance the cyberattack readiness, response, and recovery of American agricultural infrastructure. The legislation would prioritize cybersecurity preparedness by establishing a network of five Regional Agriculture Cybersecurity Centers to strengthen national security measures and protect the United States\u2019 food supply.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s adversaries are seeking to exploit agricultural technologies and jeopardize our national security. As North Carolina\u2019s top industry, I have seen the benefits that precision technology has on increasing agricultural output and boosting exports, but it takes just one bad actor to stop our producers from feeding America. I teamed up with Senator Cortez Masto to mitigate cyber vulnerabilities by developing defense technologies and training our workforce to eliminate threats targeting American agriculture,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cInnovative farmers and ranchers in Nevada and across the country should be able to use new technology without fear of being targeted by a bad actor,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation will defend our agricultural sector from cyberattacks, promoting American national security and food security.\u201d\n\n\u201cAgriculture and food systems are critical to the well-being of families, communities, and the nation,\u201d said North Carolina A&T Chancellor James R. Martin II. \u201cHaving centers of excellence that focus on cybersecurity and agriculture would be a tremendous addition to the research, development, and collaborative efforts in which our land-grant university is already involved to protect the U.S. agricultural industry and advance American interests.\u201d\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act creates a national network of five Regional Agriculture Cybersecurity Centers, which will:\n\nBuild a Regional Research Collaboration Network: Allow for more efficient and consistent communication between each Cybersecurity Center and local agricultural industries.\n\nDevelop Technologies for the Agriculture Sector: Create testbeds to refine technologies and conduct attack and defense exercises to evaluate cybersecurity solutions for field deployment.\n\nCreate Education and Training Programs: Provide training for the workforce necessary to develop and install cyber defense mechanisms.\n\nPrioritize Eliminating Threats from Foreign Adversaries: Ensure mitigation efforts are focused on eliminating threats from foreign countries of concern, like the People\u2019s Republic of China, the Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/9/tillis-durbin-lead-resolution-calling-for-the-release-of-azerbaijani-anti-corruption-activist-dr-gubad-ibadoghlu", "Tillis, Durbin Lead Resolution Calling for the Release of Azerbaijani Anti-Corruption Activist Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu", "2025-09-17", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Co-Chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced a resolution commending recent diplomatic progress in peace accords between Armenia and Azerbaijan while condemning Azerbaijan\u2019s continued wrongful detention of political prisoners, including economist and academic Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu.\n\nThe resolution urges the Department of State to prioritize Dr. Ibadoghlu\u2019s well-being and release, denounces the suppression of academic freedom and peaceful expression, and stresses that genuine peace requires Azerbaijan to demonstrate good faith by upholding international norms and ending the practice of political imprisonment.\n\n\u201cAs Co-Chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, I welcome the recent diplomatic progress in the South Caucasus, but true peace requires respect for human rights,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cWith the eyes of the world on Baku during the Formula 1 Grand Prix, now is the time for Azerbaijan to show progress and responsibility on the world stage by releasing Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu and ending the practice of political imprisonment. This resolution underscores our commitment to ensuring that those who speak out for freedom and democracy are protected, not silenced.\u201d\n\n\u201cDespite America\u2019s dangerous and troubling retreat from the global stage at the behest of the Trump Administration, the United States remains a beacon of hope by those trapped under brutal regimes and for all who seek to enjoy the freedoms of democracy,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cAs a U.S. Senator, I have used my voice to urge the release of political prisoners languishing in jails of repressive regimes around the world, including Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, who was wrongfully detained in Azerbaijan due to his anti-corruption work. I\u2019m glad to partner with Senator Tillis on this important resolution calling for Dr. Ibadoghlu\u2019s immediate release.\u201d\n\nFull text of the resolution is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/09/15/budd-applauds-release-of-64-million-in-public-assistance-grants-for-helene-recovery/", "Budd Applauds Release of $64+ Million in Public Assistance Grants for Helene Recovery", "2025-09-15", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "After Budd pressure, funding approved for WNC clean-up and recovery will significantly reduce backlog\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) today released the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that they have disbursed $64 million in funding to reimburse communities across Western North Carolina for more than two-dozen projects following Hurricane Helene. This announcement follows Sen. Budd\u2019s vote against cloture for DHS Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans nominee Robert Law, and his procedural holds on other pending DHS nominees.\n\n\u201cAfter Hurricane Helene hit, our local communities stepped up to deliver urgent clean-up and rebuilding efforts so that the people of Western North Carolina could return to some semblance of normalcy,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cThese projects incurred significant debts that the federal government pledged to reimburse them for, but for too many communities, funding has lagged. I am thankful for President Trump\u2019s strong support for Western North Carolina and personal interest in reducing the backlog of projects requiring reimbursement. As new projects are completed and processed for approval, our work must continue. I will do everything I can to ensure communities in Western North Carolina expeditiously receive the funding they were promised.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nSince August 15, 2025, the federal government has reimbursed North Carolina entities for more than $227 million toward Hurricane Helene response and recovery. The $64+ million in funds, announced today, will reimburse the State of North Carolina, local governments, and other entities for projects repairing and rebuilding vital infrastructure including: the NC Department of Transportation, NC Emergency Management, the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, the Town of Beech Mountain, the Town of Lake Lure, the Town of Marshall, Asheville Christian Academy, Haywood Electric Membership Corp., and Skyline Telephone Membership Corp.\n\nClick HERE to access a full table with details on these projects.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/09/12/senator-budd-leads-colleagues-condemning-violence-against-christians-in-nigeria-calling-for-redesignation-of-cpc-status/", "Senator Budd Leads Colleagues Condemning Violence Against Christians in Nigeria, Calling for Redesignation of CPC Status", "2025-09-12", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) led his Senate Republican colleagues Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling on the Trump administration to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). Nigeria is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians, with thousands persecuted and killed for their faith. In the letter, the senators condemn the Biden administration\u2019s decision to remove Nigeria as a CPC, as the country has failed to confront violence and terrorism toward Christians and other religious minorities.\n\nIn the letter, the senator wrote, \u201cMost recently, in late June 2025, reports suggest that at least 200 Christians in Nigeria were brutally killed by terrorists in Benue state. This same report suggests that Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be Christian, citing 3,100 of the 4,476 Christians killed during their reporting period lived in Nigeria.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter text HERE or below:\n\nDear Secretary Rubio,\n\nWe write to urge you to consider designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) to give the President additional authority to take specific actions to address the continued unchecked acts of violence and terrorism against religious minorities perpetrated by nonstate actors in Nigeria.\n\nAs you know, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated Nigeria as a CPC in December 2020, for the ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom perpetrated within its borders, particularly by nonstate actors such as Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.\n\nWhile Secretary of State Antony Blinken removed Nigeria from the CPC list in 2021, on March 25, 2025, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended that Nigeria be placed once again on the CPC list, citing several incidents of violence and terrorism against religious minorities:\n\nIn May 2024, al-Qaeda-affiliated Ansaru gunmen reportedly kidnapped 160 mainly Christian children and killed eight people in Niger State but later released the abducted children\u2026.in Niger State, suspected bandits killed 10 farmers, including Christians, and in August, bandits reportedly killed 70 Christians and kidnapped 20 students in separate attacks in Benue State.\n\nMost recently, in late June 2025, reports suggest that at least 200 Christians in Nigeria were brutally killed by terrorists in Benue state. This same report suggests that Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be Christian, citing 3,100 of the 4,476 Christians killed during their reporting period lived in Nigeria.\n\nAs you know, on May 1, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order to establish the Religious Liberty Commission with the intent for this commission to vigorously enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal law and to work with the White House Faith Office to partner with the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom to further the cause of religious liberty around the world.\n\nOn September 23, 2019, President Trump issued a global call to condemn religious persecution and defend the freedom of all believers stating that:\n\n\u201cToday with one clear voice, the United States of America calls upon the nations of the world to end religious persecution. To stop crimes against people of faith, release prisoners of conscience, repeal laws restricting freedom of religion and belief\u2026America stands with believers in every country who ask only for the freedom to live according to the faith that is within their own hearts.\u201d\n\nWe are grateful for President Trump and your work to champion our founding freedoms at home, as well as to condemn religious persecution around the world. We hope you will carefully consider designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). We look forward to hearing from you.\n\nBest,\n\n/X/\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/09/11/sen-budd-commerce-committee-colleagues-highlight-need-to-bolster-u-s-leadership-in-ai-innovation/", "Sen. Budd, Commerce Committee Colleagues Highlight Need to Bolster U.S. leadership in AI Innovation", "2025-09-11", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Hearing with OSTP Director Kratsios outlines the Trump administration\u2019s AI strategy\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 At yesterday\u2019s Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness hearing titled \u201cAI\u2019ve Got a Plan: America\u2019s AI Action Plan,\u201d Sen. Budd led his Senate Republican colleagues in discussing the Trump administration\u2019s \u201cAI Action Plan\u201d with testimony from Michael Kratsios, Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Below are some highlights from today\u2019s hearing, which can be viewed in its entirety HERE.\n\nSen. Budd Receives Update on the Implementation of Trump\u2019s AI Action Plan\n\nSen. Budd: \u201cNow, the AI Action Plan contains a handful of directives for various government agencies, so can you provide a brief update on how implementation of that\u2019s going along?\u201d\n\nMr. Kratsios: \u201c\u2026there\u2019s been a significant amount of progress at the Commerce Department on the AI export package executive order\u2026We had the second meeting of our AI Education Task Force that was chaired by the first lady just last week\u2026And I think from our office, we\u2019re on the hook to do an RFI relating to identifying regulations that may be hindering the progress of AI, and that should be coming out very shortly.\u201d\n\nSen. Budd Highlights the Administration\u2019s Strategy for Exporting the American AI Stack\n\nSen. Budd: \u201c\u2026in your opening testimony, you mentioned the president\u2019s executive order in promoting the export of the American AI technology stack. So unpack this a bit for us if you would, tell us what makes up that tech stack and how we can encourage other nations to adopt it.\u201d\n\nMr. Kratsios: \u201c\u2026there\u2019s three main components of it, it\u2019s essentially the chips, the algorithms, and then the applications themselves\u2026the hope is that we can flesh out, or the Commerce Department will be fleshing out in the RFP more details around what we\u2019re looking for and we\u2019ll be able to bring together folks from the entire technology community to work on it. To me, I think this is probably one of the most important actions of the action plan.\u201d\n\nSen. Budd Raises Administration\u2019s Concerns if U.S. AI Stack is Not Adopted Globally\n\nSen. Budd: \u201cWe see the optimistic vision in this AI plan, but if we\u2019re not adopted as the U.S. tech stack around the world, if we\u2019re not the standard, what\u2019s the downside to us, and when will Americans know and regret that choice?\u201d\n\nMr. Kratsios: \u201c\u2026the threat we face is that if we aren\u2019t the standard around the world, those models, those applications, we fine-tuned on adversary models, running on adversary chips, and that\u2019s not a long-term solution for the U.S.\u201d\n\nChairman Cruz Secures Backing for AI Regulatory Sandboxes from Director Kratsios\n\nChairman Cruz: \u201c\u2026as part of the legislative framework that I\u2019ve released, I\u2019m going to introduce the SANDBOX Act, which establishes an AI sandbox program within OSTP. Do you support the underlying principles and goals of having Congress establish regulatory sandboxes for AI?\u201d\n\nMr. Kratsios: \u201cYes, the AI Action Plan very definitively promotes the idea of using sandboxes. Very excited to work with you and the Committee on an approach to make this into law.\u201d\n\nChairman Cruz Affirms the Administration\u2019s Support for Federal Preemption of State Laws that Cripple AI Development\n\nChairman Cruz: \u201cWhy does the Administration believe that state AI laws and regulations, such as those in California and Colorado, pose a threat to AI deployment and innovation in the United States? And does the Administration support preemption of those laws?\u201d\n\nMr. Kratsios: \u201cA patchwork of state regulations is anti-innovation. It makes it extraordinarily difficult for America\u2019s innovators to promulgate their technologies across the United States. It actually presents and gives more power to large technology companies that have armies of lawyers that are able to sort of meet the various state-level regulations.\u201d\n\nSen. Schmitt Emphasizes Source Bias in Large Language AI Models\n\nSen. Schmitt: \u201cI wanted to sort of focus at least the questions on large language models, which of course are only as good as the data that they\u2019re trained on. Source bias in Google search results was a major issue leading up to the 2024 election. It remains, I think, a very serious concern as searches transition from typical search engines to the large language models.\u201d\n\nMr. Kratsios: \u201cYes, this was a big concern of the White House and the president. And that is why, on the same day the report was released, the president signed an executive order around Woke AI\u2026most of the large language model builders are beyond excited to try to provide their models for federal use. So I think we have a lot of leverage here to try to create an environment where these models really are true, seeking, and accurate.\u201d\n\nSen. Moreno Discusses the Importance of Semiconductor Manufacturing & Energy Generation for AI Deployment\n\nSen. Moreno: \u201c\u2026we have to make certain that we\u2019re dominating the world in chips. That\u2019s critically important that we support American-made, American-designed chips.\u201d\n\nMr. Kratsios: \u201cYes. And I think that being able to not only design them here in the United States but also fabricate them is very important. The level above that is the models themselves. So we need to lead the world in large language models, which we do. And above that are the applications, and those combined create the stack, which is so important.\u201d\n\nSen. Moreno: \u201cWe need sound energy policy where we have the most reliable, affordable and abundant energy. That\u2019s really important, and that should be co-located as much as humanly possible when we\u2019re building out these AI data centers. Would you agree?\u201d\n\nMr. Kratsios: \u201cYes. In the President\u2019s remarks in the speech that he gave at the Action Summit, he talked about the value of having behind-the-meter power to support some of these data center build-outs. So being able to co-locate that is very important.\u201d\n\nSen. Young Questions Risks of Patchwork Regulations on American Competitiveness\n\nSen. Young: \u201cCan you speak to the risks associated with continuing to subject our AI innovators to a fragmented series of rules, including those enforced by other countries as well as states here at home?\u201d\n\nMr. Kratsios: \u201cI think creating standards at the U.S. level that are prominent globally is very important. In the weekend after the AI Action Plan was released, the PRC held their large AI conference in Shanghai. And one of the main thrusts of their own AI Action Plan they released in response to ours was a desire to create a global entity, an AI entity in Shanghai that would then promulgate global rules around AI for the world. And this is an example of why it\u2019s so important for the U.S. to be the leader in the way that we provide standards around AI, particularly around model evaluation and standard setting.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/09/10/senator-budd-ai-enables-americans-to-make-the-best-and-most-of-themselves-on-daily-basis/", "Senator Budd: AI Enables Americans to Make the Best and Most of Themselves on Daily Basis", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 In his opening statement at today\u2019s Senate Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness hearing, Chairman Ted Budd (R-N.C.) discussed the need to accelerate AI innovation and infrastructure development without subjecting this technology to needless overregulation. To bolster U.S. leadership in technological innovation and counter adversarial nations like China, Senator Budd emphasized the importance of leaning into the free market and private sector approach to exporting American technology abroad. Additionally, Senator Budd underscored the strong leadership displayed by President Trump and Director Kratsios in repealing the Biden-era executive order that sought to stifle the potential of American advancement in AI technology.\n\nHere are Sen. Budd\u2019s remarks as prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cThis morning is the first hearing of the Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness this Congress. I want to thank Ranking Member Baldwin for her help with getting this hearing on the calendar. Our subcommittee has a wide jurisdiction over issues central to creating good paying jobs, expanding economic opportunity, and maintaining America\u2019s competitive edge. I am looking forward to working with her the rest of this Congress to hold hearings on other important topics.\n\n\u201cDirector Kratsios, thank you for being here today. I am very excited about America\u2019s AI Action Plan and to hear your perspective on how we can work collaboratively between the Trump administration and Congress to accelerate AI innovation, build American AI infrastructure, and lead internationally in cooperation with allies and partners.\n\n\u201cPersonally, I am also excited about what the future holds with the acceleration of AI adoption.\n\n\u201cIf developed, deployed, and employed properly, AI stands to enable Americans to make the most and the best of themselves on a daily basis. We must ensure that our AI policy is anchored in maximizing economic opportunity for Americans.\n\n\u201cI am not talking about billionaires in Silicon Valley.\n\n\u201cI am talking about everyday Americans waking up and going to work in family-sustaining careers enhanced by AI, not replaced by it.\n\n\u201cU.S. leadership in technological innovation has been the accelerator that has boosted our economy and growth rates ahead of the rest of the world. General-purpose technologies\u2014like the internet\u2014ushered in sustained years of economic growth, wage gains, new jobs, and increased productivity.\n\n\u201cCritically, U.S. leadership allowed for the open internet and the ecosystem built around it to reflect our national character of entrepreneurship and free expression.\n\n\u201cAI offers similar opportunities as a transformative general-purpose technology. AI, for instance, offers a real chance to help achieve the economic success and enhanced productivity we need to grow our way out of the unsustainable debt path we are on.\n\n\u201cAs your AI Action Plan rightly points out, the competition is fierce.\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration has made American AI leadership a day-one priority, as President Trump rescinded President Biden\u2019s AI Executive Order, which many feared was an over-regulatory, European Union-styled approach that would suffocate innovation and startups while ceding important ground to adversarial nations like China.\n\n\u201cThe PRC has put forward plans to leverage state resources and capital to make China the global leader in AI by 2030. Through their top-down statist economic model, the PRC wants to direct capital and resources to favored firms to embed AI across industries, including in manufacturing, agriculture, robotics, and services. AI is a fast-changing, dynamic field, and industrial policies that might have worked for electric vehicles and solar panels are not guaranteed to win this race.\n\n\u201cI firmly believe that our country\u2019s free-market, private sector-led way of doing things will be key to remaining ahead of Chinese state-backed AI developers.\n\n\u201cTo accelerate AI Innovation, I look forward to hearing from you on how Congress can partner with the administration and industry to remove roadblocks and provide regulatory certainty to let innovators innovate.\n\n\u201cChairman Cruz\u2019s AI regulatory sandbox bill will be very helpful here. The federal government can also continue to be a proactive partner, leading the way on adopting AI tools and solutions to streamline and improve government while also sending an important market signal and presenting a valuable use case.\n\n\u201cTo build out American AI Infrastructure, Congress needs to work on comprehensive permitting reform to ensure we do not lose this race because of a lack of energy production. Enhancing domestic manufacturing capabilities in key inputs like semiconductors and fiber optic cable, which my state of North Carolina knows a good deal about, is critical as well.\n\n\u201cTo lead in AI internationally, the U.S. must lean into exporting our AI tech stack across the world to allies, partners, and important third countries. AI must be globally diffused within a U.S.-led technology ecosystem. I look forward to hearing an update from you on how the implementation of the President\u2019s Promoting the Export of the American AI Technology Stack Executive Order is progressing.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. has all the necessary ingredients to keep our lead and definitively win the AI race. I look forward to working with the Trump administration and my colleagues to put the AI Action Plan to work.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/9/tillis-shaheen-issue-joint-statement-on-russian-airstrike-in-kyiv", "Tillis, Shaheen Issue Joint Statement on Russian Airstrike in Kyiv", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), co-chairs of the Senate NATO ObserverGroup, released the following statement in response to Russia\u2019s recent airstrike on Kyiv, the largest airstrike since the start of the war:\n\n\u201cIt has been three weeks since President Trump met with Vladimir Putin. Since that time, Putin met with fellow autocrats in Beijing to conspire against America and returned to Moscow to escalate his illegal invasion of Ukraine. Russia deliberately struck EU diplomatic facilities and other Western assets in Kyiv\u2014a calculated provocation against America\u2019s allies. Russia has now launched the largest aerial assault since the invasion began\u2014firing more than 800 drones and missiles, setting Ukraine\u2019s Cabinet of Ministers ablaze and killing civilians, including a mother and her infant.\n\n\u201cAt the very moment Putin escalates, the United States appears to be cutting back. Programs like Section 333 security cooperation, which includes the Baltic Security Initiative\u2014lifelines for NATO\u2019s eastern flank\u2014are now on the chopping block, even as Europe takes on more of the burden. The message this sends is dangerous: that the United States is pulling back just as the stakes in Ukraine and for NATO\u2019s security are at their highest. Our adversaries are taking note that they can wait out American support\u2014that does not make America safer.\n\n\u201cPutin has shown us time and again that he is a liar and a murderer. He never wanted peace. Congress should swiftly pass legislation that imposes crippling sanctions on Putin\u2019s regime and cement continued U.S. military support to Ukraine and NATO\u2019s Eastern Flank. America must not hand Putin an advantage; the cost of inaction to America\u2019s security is too high.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/09/09/icymi-senator-budd-applauds-announcement-of-221-million-hurricane-helene-aid-for-north-carolina-farmers/", "ICYMI: Senator Budd Applauds Announcement of $221 Million Hurricane Helene Aid for North Carolina Farmers", "2025-09-09", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) recently joined U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Alexander Vaden and N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler in Asheville, where the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a historic assistance package to help producers recover from Hurricane Helene. The signed block grant agreement with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) will distribute $221.2 million in recovery assistance to eligible North Carolina farmers.\n\nFollowing the announcement, Senator Budd said:\n\n\u201cFor almost a year now, farmers across Western North Carolina have fought to rebuild their livelihoods given widespread devastation to infrastructure and timber and crop losses caused by Hurricane Helene. On Friday, USDA finalized a $221 million block grant to help our farmers recover from these losses. Thank you to all those involved, particularly President Trump, Secretary Rollins, Commissioner Troxler, and members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation. While there\u2019s much more to be done to rebuild Western North Carolina, this block grant goes a long way to help restore the foundation of our state\u2019s largest single industry\u2014agriculture.\u201d\n\nSecretary Brooke Rollins said, \u201cAmerica\u2019s farmers and ranchers across the Southeast and in North Carolina have been hit hard and suffered significant economic losses during 2024. USDA has worked closely with the State of North Carolina to ensure those impacted have the relief they need. President Trump has our farmers\u2019 backs, and we are working quickly to get these much-needed relief funds to those who need to rebuild. This is one part of our daily actions to ensure our farmers have the resources they need to continue to produce the safest, most reliable, and most abundant food supply in the world.\u201d\n\nDeputy Secretary Stephen Vaden said, \u201cToday\u2019s announcement is about delivering on our promise to stand shoulder to shoulder with America\u2019s farmers in times of need. By signing this block grant with North Carolina, USDA is ensuring that producers have the resources to rebuild stronger after Hurricane Helene and keep producing the food and fuel our nation depends on. Under President Trump\u2019s leadership, we are moving quickly to cut red tape, get relief dollars into the hands of those who need it most, and protect the backbone of our rural economy, our family farms.\u201d\n\nNorth Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said, \u201cThis $221.2 million federal disaster assistance block grant for agricultural damage due to Hurricane Helene is welcomed news to North Carolina farmers in western North Carolina who have been holding on in the aftermath of massive ag losses in 2024. We are grateful for USDA\u2019s continued efforts on this block grant and appreciate their willingness to partner with us on this much needed assistance. We all have an interest in the success of agriculture because farmers produce the food and fiber we all depend on.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nIn this agreement, NCDA&CS will receive $221.2 million in funding to administer a program that will cover eligible infrastructure and timber losses in addition to eligible market losses and eligible future year revenue losses. This funding is part of the $30 billion disaster assistance relief effort authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025.\n\nVisit the 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance public landing page to track the status of USDA disaster assistance.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/09/03/senator-budd-joins-cruz-colleagues-to-introduce-the-clean-d-c-act/", "Senator Budd Joins Cruz, Colleagues to Introduce the CLEAN D.C. Act", "2025-09-03", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and several of their Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the CLEAN D.C. Act. The bill would repeal the D.C. Council\u2019s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, which imposed sweeping restrictions on law enforcement in Washington, D.C.\n\n\u201cFor far too long, our nation\u2019s capital has been plagued by rampant crime and unsafe streets. Law-abiding citizens are tired of D.C. politicians hiding the reality facing families: increased gun violence, ignored calls for vehicles broken into and other petty thefts, and an inability to buy basic goods at the local shop without clerks opening locked cases.\n\n\u201cThat is why President Trump has stepped in to restore law and order, and why the DOJ is rightfully exercising its authority to investigate the alleged manipulation of D.C.\u2019s crime rates. I am proud to join Senator Cruz and my colleagues in reaffirming Congressional authority to implement common-sense policing measures in Washington, D.C., to support the President\u2019s agenda\u2014putting safety first,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cViolent crime has become endemic in Washington, DC as a direct result of political and ideological decisions made by Democrats. Those decisions included passing and trying to lock in anti-police measures such as the Orwellian-named Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, which undermined police morale, weakened officer retention, and contributed to a still-ongoing public safety disaster. The CLEAN D.C. Act will reverse that decision, and I call upon my colleagues in Congress to pass it,\u201d Senator Cruz said.\n\nThis legislation was additionally cosponsored by Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.).\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe D.C. Council\u2019s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022 weakens D.C. law enforcement by:\n\n\u2022 Banning longstanding and proven police tactics.\n\n\u2022 Stripping legal protections and due process rights for officers.\n\n\u2022 Threatening police officer safety by authorizing public release of records.\n\n\u2022 Imposing restrictions on policing protests and the use of non-lethal crowd control.\n\nLaw enforcement leaders have warned that these provisions demoralize officers, worsen D.C.\u2019s law enforcement staffing crisis, and embolden criminals.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/9/tillis-padilla-applaud-senate-passage-of-the-trace-act", "Tillis, Padilla Applaud Senate Passage of the TRACE Act", "2025-09-03", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) applauded the Senate passage of the TRACE Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would require the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to include an additional category to the existing National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems (NamUs) database so the public and law enforcement partners can denote cases where the person went missing or was identified on federal land or territorial waters of the United States \u2014including by providing specific location details.\n\nThe bill also requires DOJ to submit an annual report to Congress on the number of cases of persons missing or suspected of going missing on public lands or territorial waters of the United States from the previous year. With this new feature, family and friends of people who have gone missing on public lands could more easily find and include this information in NamUs, while law enforcement agencies can simultaneously work to improve the national records of individuals missing on public lands.\n\n\u201cEvery year, people go missing on public lands without being recorded in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThis oversight is impeding law enforcement from keeping track of those who go missing to help search and rescue efforts. I applaud the Senate for passing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation so these cases can be added to the database and potentially save hundreds of lives in the future, and I urge my colleagues in the House to swiftly pass this critical legislation to ensure no missing person falls through the cracks.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor too long, law enforcement officials have faced unnecessary barriers in tracking down people who go missing on federal lands,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cThe Senate\u2019s passage of the TRACE Act brings us one step closer to saving lives and bringing peace of mind to affected families. I\u2019m committed to working with my colleagues across the aisle to make sure this bill is signed into law.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nAccording to a NamUs report, over 600,000 people go missing in the United States annually. While the majority of these cases are resolved, tens of thousands of people remain missing every year. There are approximately 640 million acres of federal land which include national parks, national forests, and Bureau of Land Management lands.\n\nEstimates suggest that at least 1,600 people have gone missing on public lands, though the number is likely much higher, as isolated or rugged terrain on public lands can make it especially difficult to find or identify people who go missing. Despite this, there is no functional system to report people who have gone missing on public lands. Having accurate data on how many people go missing on our public lands every year is crucial to aid search and rescue efforts and resolve cases.\n\nNamUs is the main system used by law enforcement, families and friends of missing persons, medical examiners, and coroners to report unidentified remains and missing persons, and is also used by the public.\n\nThe TRACE Act is endorsed by the Public Lands Solution, Jewish Women's Institute, Major County Sheriffs Association, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), NDAA, Raven, National Association to End Sexual Violence, and the Outdoor Industry Association.\n\nFull text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T15:07:37Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/08/22/budd-tillis-applaud-nomination-of-four-nc-judges/", "Budd, Tillis Applaud Nomination of Four NC Judges", "2025-08-22", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "All four nominees were recommended by Senators Budd and Tillis\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) applauded President Trump for nominating Susan Rodriguez and Matthew Orso to serve in North Carolina\u2019s Western District and David Bragdon and Lindsey Freeman to serve in North Carolina\u2019s Middle District. All four nominees were recommended by Senators Budd and Tillis.\n\n\u201cEnsuring principled constitutionalist judges are confirmed to the federal courts is a privilege and responsibility I take very seriously. As part of the Senate\u2019s role in this process, I worked to thoroughly review potential nominees, and to make recommendations to the President highlighting individuals who will uphold our Constitution,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cThe nominations of Susan Rodriguez and Matthew Orso to sit on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina and David Bragdon and Lindsey Freeman to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina will fill critical vacancies here in North Carolina with exceptional jurists who will serve our nation with distinction. I am grateful to President Trump for his inspired choices, and to Sen. Tillis for his partnership as we work to confirm these nominees in the Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese four nominees are well-qualified to fill these important judicial vacancies in North Carolina, and I have confidence they will serve our great state with distinction,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cAs a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have worked to review and confirm quality judges who uphold the Constitution and support the rule of law. I want to thank the White House for their partnership in working to select these outstanding nominees and look forward to getting them through the Judiciary Committee and confirmed on the Senate floor.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nSusan C. Rodriguez currently serves as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Rodriguez was previously a partner at the law firm, McGuireWoods LLP, where she was the co-leader of the firm\u2019s financial institutions industry team.\n\nMatthew Orso currently serves as a partner at the law firm, Troutman Pepper Locke LLP. Mr. Orso previously clerked for Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.\n\nDavid Bragdon currently serves as the Appellate Chief for a U.S. Attorneys\u2019 Office. Mr. Bragdon previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and served as the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s Resident Legal Advisor for the Philippines.\n\nLindsey Freeman currently serves as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Ms. Freeman previously clerked for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, was Of Counsel at the law firm O\u2019Melveny & Myers LLP, and served in senior roles at the U.S. Department of Justice.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:02:47Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/8/tillis-announces-68-million-for-raleigh-durham-and-charlotte-douglas-airport-improvements", "Tillis Announces $68 Million for Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte Douglas Airport Improvements", "2025-08-20", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis announced $68 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation for critical improvements at Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) Airport and Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) Airport. The funding comes from the Airport Improvement Program, which is partially funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), legislation that Senator Tillis helped negotiate, write, and pass into law.\n\nAt Raleigh-Durham International Airport, a $23 million grant will be used to shift the existing paved runway by 523 feet to bring it into compliance with current safety and design standards. At Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a $45 million grant will fund the expansion of the airport\u2019s south apron, where aircraft are parked and serviced by an additional 414,000 square feet.\n\n\u201cCharlotte Douglas and Raleigh-Durham are two of North Carolina\u2019s busiest airports, and these upgrades will ensure compliance with safety standards while helping both airports remain efficient and equipped to handle North Carolina\u2019s growing travel demands,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cAs Charlotte and the Triangle continue to grow, it is vital that we invest in our public transportation and infrastructure, including our airports. I am proud to have worked alongside local leaders to secure this critical funding.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/08/12/icymi-budd-applauds-409-4-million-epa-award-to-north-carolina-to-rebuild-improve-drinking-water-infrastructure/", "ICYMI: Budd Applauds $409.4 Million EPA Award to North Carolina to Rebuild, Improve Drinking Water Infrastructure", "2025-08-12", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Post-Helene Grant Funding Will Repair State Water System to Ensure Future Access to Safe Drinking Water Amid Response to Natural Disasters\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)\u2019s recent allocation of $409.4 million to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) for public water systems. This funding will improve local drinking water utility infrastructure so systems across the state are better equipped to withstand natural disasters.\n\n\u201cSince Hurricane Helene struck last September, repairing Western North Carolina\u2019s damaged infrastructure to be stronger and more reliable in the future has been a key component of all ongoing recovery efforts as Western North Carolina rebuilds,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cI am grateful to President Trump and EPA Administrator Zeldin for their efforts to ensure North Carolina receives critical grant funding to restructure and reinforce the quality of our water systems, enabling our recovering communities to build more durable infrastructure. This is a step in the right direction to aid reconstruction efforts and mitigate future natural disasters.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn February, I visited communities in Asheville to witness firsthand the crucial role drinking water utilities have in responding to natural disasters,\u201d said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. \u201cThis funding to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality will help secure the infrastructure of these systems to ensure EPA can fulfill its core mission to protect human health and the environment.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThese funds are part of the 2025 Supplemental Appropriation for Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the Hawai\u2019i Wildfires, administered by the State Revolving Fund. The funds may be used to improve drinking water treatment, distribute water, improve the source of water supply, replace or construct finished water storage tanks, and complete other infrastructure projects needed to protect public health through improved drinking water infrastructure.\n\nSection 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) authorizes states to utilize funds to further the act\u2019s health protection objectives. Funds will capitalize North Carolina\u2019s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), which may then make low-interest loans with principal forgiveness toward the cost of planning, design, and construction of eligible drinking water improvement projects.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:02:47Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/08/06/budd-joins-britt-colleagues-in-effort-to-ban-noncitizens-from-voting-in-d-c-elections/", "Budd Joins Britt, Colleagues in Effort to Ban Noncitizens from Voting in D.C. Elections", "2025-08-06", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and 20 of their Republican colleagues in introducing legislation to ban noncitizens from voting in D.C. elections.\n\n\u201cThe American people\u2019s right to vote in free and fair elections is diminished when jurisdictions like D.C. allow noncitizens to interfere in our democratic process. This must stop. No city, state, territory, or federal district is above the law. I am proud to join Senator Britt and my colleagues in introducing commonsense, bipartisan legislation to strengthen election integrity,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t just about local school boards or fixing potholes. This is about the direction of our nation\u2019s capital,\u201d said Senator Britt. \u201cIn the city representing the strongest democratic republic in the world, the D.C. City Council chose to flagrantly violate one of democracy\u2019s core principles. This is a slap in the face to every American citizen, whether they live in D.C. or not, who should be the only voters deciding who represents them in every election and at every level of government. I am hopeful we gain bipartisan support in the Senate for this commonsense bill\u2014it is our duty to protect the votes of hardworking American citizens, including those who came to our country legally and took the time and effort to go through the naturalization process. Ultimately, this is about strengthening the integrity of our elections.\u201d\n\nSenators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) also co-sponsored the legislation.\n\nRepresentative August Pfluger (R-Texas-11) introduced the companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, where it passed with bipartisan support after 54 House Democrats joined Republicans in backing the measure.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nIn 2022, the D.C. City Council passed a law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. Due to this change, illegal aliens and foreign embassy staff have been given as much say as American citizens over who leads the nation\u2019s capital in elections, including for Mayor, Attorney General, and City Council members.\n\nSurveys repeatedly show an overwhelming majority of Americans\u2014between 85 to 90 percent\u2014support protecting the sanctity of our elections by allowing only U.S. citizens to participate in them.\n\nIn recent years, cities in Maryland, Vermont, and New York have also passed measures allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:02:47Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/08/05/budd-welch-introduce-bill-targeting-foreign-robocalls-scammers/", "Budd, Welch Introduce Bill Targeting Foreign Robocalls, Scammers", "2025-08-05", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Bipartisan bill to increase cooperation between feds, private sector to fight overseas scams backed by AARP, USTelecom\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) recently introduced the bipartisan Foreign Robocall Elimination Act, legislation that would bring together government and private sector experts to find additional means of eliminating unlawful robocalls placed into the U.S. from abroad.\n\n\u201cRobocalls from scammers aren\u2019t just annoying, they victimize tens of millions of Americans, stealing billions of dollars from unsuspecting individuals,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cWith many robocalls originating overseas, combining the efforts of government agencies in charge of protecting Americans from scams with private sector expertise will help us stay ahead of cutting-edge technologies used by foreign criminal enterprises. I am proud to join Sen. Welch to build on the important steps Congress has taken to curb these harmful robocalls, and better protect Americans from being preyed on by criminal enterprises across the globe.\u201d\n\n\u201cVermonters receive nearly 3.5 million robocalls every month. And it\u2019s not only our state\u2014folks in red and blue states alike are sick and tired of picking up the phone and wondering if they\u2019re talking to a friend or being scammed. To make matters worse, foreign robocallers are stepping up their efforts to exploit and prey on vulnerable people,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cOur bipartisan bill will help combat unlawful foreign robocalls and protect Americans from scams.\u201d\n\nThe Foreign Robocall Elimination Act has received key endorsements from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and USTelecom.\n\nBill Sweeney, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, AARP, said:\n\n\u201cAARP, which advocates on behalf of more than 100 million Americans age 50 and older, is pleased to endorse the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act. This legislation represents a critical next step in protecting Americans from fraudulent and abusive robocalls originating from outside the United States. Older Americans are disproportionately targeted by robocall scams, which often lead to financial loss, identity theft, and emotional distress. These calls not only exploit individuals but also erode trust in telecommunications systems and public institutions. The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act builds upon the TRACED Act and addresses this growing threat by convening a task force of government and private sector experts to develop actionable strategies for eliminating harmful foreign robocalls.\u201d\n\nJosh Bercu, Senior Vice President, Policy at USTelecom \u2013 The Broadband Association and Executive Director, The Industry Traceback Group, said:\n\n\u201cIllegal robocalls are not just a nuisance\u2014they\u2019re a threat to vulnerable Americans and a tool for scammers around the world. Thanks to strong partnerships between the Industry Traceback Group and federal, state, and local law enforcement, we\u2019ve made measurable progress in stopping these bad actors. The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act builds on this success to empower industry and law enforcement to use what works to crack down on the bad actors overseas preying on Americans. Big thanks to Senators Budd and Welch for their leadership and commitment to consumer protection.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nBuilding off of important work Congress has already done, like the TRACED Act, the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act would create an interagency taskforce consisting of key representatives from the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and Department of Justice as well as key experts in the field of voice service and analytics, telecommunications technology, marketing organizations, and consumer advocates. This task force will evaluate foreign robocalls and how best to combat them, with the goal of increasing international cooperation to reduce illegal robocalls. The task force will also help ensure that the Department of Justice is adequately equipped to address and prosecute criminals behind the influx of foreign robocalls.\n\nThe bill also extends the FCC\u2019s renewal period for the Industry Traceback Group from one year to three years. That change will help the Traceback Group, established in the TRACED Act, continue its successful work of tracing back the source of unlawful robocalls.\n\nRead the full text of this bill HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:02:47Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/08/04/budd-joins-risch-shaheen-colleagues-in-introducing-bipartisan-human-trafficking-prevention-bill/", "Budd Joins Risch, Shaheen, Colleagues in Introducing Bipartisan Human Trafficking Prevention Bill", "2025-08-04", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in introducing the International Trafficking Victims Protections Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). This legislation seeks to reauthorize and enhance critical programming essential to combating human trafficking worldwide.\n\n\u201cHuman trafficking is one of the most horrific evils\u2014not merely a heinous crime, but a blatant assault on the freedom and dignity of every human being. I\u2019m proud to stand with Chairman Risch and Ranking Member Shaheen to reaffirm America\u2019s global leadership to end modern-day slavery. By equipping President Trump with tools to combat forced labor and sex trafficking,the U.S. will continue to defend victims entrapped in brutal trafficking networks both here at home and around the world,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cHuman traffickers are the worst of the worst\u2014whether it is smuggling people over our southern border, or the millions trapped in modern-day slavery\u2014we must do all we can to stop this abuse and hold the perpetrators accountable. This bill will give the Trump Administration the tools to counter human trafficking both in and outside the U.S. and ensure that our allies are pulling their weight as well,\u201d said Chairman Risch.\n\n\u201cAround the world, horrific acts of human trafficking continue to impact an estimated more than 27 million victims,\u201d said Ranking Member Shaheen. \u201cFor years, the United States has led global efforts to prevent and respond to these despicable practices. That is why I am proud to reintroduce bipartisan legislation requiring the United States to remain committed to this fight. The work of the State Department\u2019s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons should be bolstered, not hit with cuts to programs and staff as has unfortunately been the case. Today\u2019s bill shows Congress\u2019s commitment to ensure this work continues.\u201d\n\nSenators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) also co-sponsored the legislation.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nExpanding upon the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, the TVPRA will:\n\n1. Authorize the Department of State\u2019s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office)\n\n2. Amend the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act to ensure a nation\u2019s commitment and progress towards implementing effective counter-trafficking measures are factors when determining recipients of U.S. development assistance\n\n3. Create new oversight mechanisms for heightened transparency on human trafficking reporting\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:02:47Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/08/04/sen-budd-colleagues-urge-dol-to-repeal-biden-era-rules-harming-farmers-ease-accessibility-for-visas-used-by-ag-producers/", "Sen. Budd, Colleagues Urge DOL to Repeal Biden-Era Rules Harming Farmers, Ease Accessibility for Visas Used by Ag Producers", "2025-08-04", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.-5) recently led a bicameral, bipartisan coalition of 84 of their fellow federal lawmakers in sending a letter to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging the Department of Labor to roll back enforcement of Biden-era regulations that have dramatically increased costs for American farmers. Rules increasing the complexity of the H-2A visa program have increased deficits for farmers and created obstacles for producers seeking to enroll in the program.\n\nAs the Members wrote:\n\n\u201cAs we continue our work during the 119th Congress here in our nation\u2019s capital, it has been made abundantly clear that farmers continue to face serious challenges back home. Our rural communities have long shown resilience in the face of daunting circumstances and have a proven track record of overcoming various difficulties to get food on the table. Today, they face a number of issues, including high input costs, a widening trade deficit, and a long road to recovery after recent natural disasters. On top of these hardships, the ongoing shortage of a reliable agricultural workforce remains a paramount concern that threatens the future of American agriculture.\n\n\u201cWhile consistent access to agricultural labor has always been difficult, the Biden Administration further complicated this issue by applying a series of rules that fundamentally altered the implementation of the H-2A visa program and the methodology used to determine the Adverse Effective Wage Rate (AEWR). These changes placed a significant burden on American farmers by further increasing farm labor wages. Your team at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has recognized the impact of these policies and taken important steps to address them. We commend your efforts, particularly with the recent progress in halting enforcement of the Biden Administration\u2019s farm labor unionization rule and advancing a proposal to rescind provisions within it [\u2026]\n\n\u201cEnforcement of this rule directly contributes to higher food costs for all Americans. Last Congress, various congressional colleagues helped in leading a bicameral resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to protect producers from this rule. Unfortunately, the rule was still finalized, which has caused unnecessary and burdensome cost increases for our nation\u2019s farmers. We encourage you to fully rescind this out-of-touch rule to create more pragmatic labor wages for America\u2019s farmers.\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration has a unique opportunity to bring long-overdue clarity and stability to agricultural labor policy. As you continue your service as Secretary of Labor, we respectfully urge you to not only push back against the Biden Administration\u2019s harmful rules, but also to work collaboratively with your colleagues in President Trump\u2019s Cabinet and in Congress to make the H-2A visa program more accessible and flexible for all producers, and to reform the AEWR methodology to prevent unsustainable wage increases. We stand ready to partner with you and your team at the DOL to find practical, long-term solutions to these pressing challenges.\u201d\n\nFor a full list of signers and to read the full text of this letter, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:02:47Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/08/04/sen-budd-senate-colleagues-urge-secretary-lutnick-to-probe-deepseek-ais-connections-to-chinese-military-intelligence/", "Sen. Budd, Senate Colleagues Urge Secretary Lutnick to Probe DeepSeek AI\u2019s Connections to Chinese Military, Intelligence", "2025-08-04", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) recently led a group of Senate colleagues in urging Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to probe allegations made by U.S. officials that DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence has provided support to the People\u2019s Republic of China\u2019s military and intelligence operations. The letter requests that the Department of Commerce investigate these allegations and thoroughly review threats posed by other Chinese open-source models that may be feeding information back to servers with ties to the Chinese government.\n\nIn the letter to Secretary Lutnick, the Senators wrote:\n\n\u201cWe write to you regarding concerning security vulnerabilities and the potential compromising of American personal and enterprise data through the use of DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence (AI) reasoning models. Recent reporting states that U.S. officials believe that DeepSeek \u201chas willingly provided and will likely continue to provide support to China\u2019s military and intelligence operations.\u201d The article further states that U.S. officials allege that DeepSeek is sharing user information and statistics with Beijing\u2019s surveillance apparatus.\n\n\u201cThese allegations are deeply troubling. DeepSeek\u2019s R1\u2019s model release in late January demonstrated the aptitude of People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) national AI talent and the progress their home-grown models have made relative to leading U.S. products. The Trump Administration has rightly emphasized winning the AI competition against the PRC, and the development of AI use case applications for businesses and consumers is an important facet of that competition. Ensuring that such applications are secure and not prone to leaking secure information and malign exploitation is paramount [\u2026]\n\n\u201cThe U.S. government has previously recognized the threats posed by the wide-spread adoption of certain PRC technologies. For example, Congress funded a multi-billion program to remove Huawei telecommunications hardware from American networks after it was determined that such hardware could contain backdoors for PRC espionage.\u201d\n\nThe letter requests that the Commerce Department evaluate potential backdoors or vulnerabilities posed by Chinese open-source models like DeepSeek\u2019s R1 and provide a briefing to Congress regarding any relevant findings. Specifically, the letter also asks the department to elaborate on its plans to focus on cybersecurity and data protection as part of the work of the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI), and review how AI models may be circumventing export controls on semiconductors.\n\nJoining Sen. Budd in sending this letter were Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Husted (R-Ohio), John Curtis (R-Utah), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).\n\nRead the full text of this letter HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:02:47Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/08/01/senators-budd-kelly-introduce-seize-act-to-authorize-transfer-of-confiscated-iranian-weapons-to-u-s-partners/", "Senators Budd, Kelly Introduce SEIZE Act to Authorize Transfer of Confiscated Iranian Weapons to U.S. Partners", "2025-08-01", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "SEIZE Act also introduced as a floor amendment to FY 2026 NDAA\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) introduced the bipartisan Seized Iranian Arms Transfer Authorization (SEIZE) Act to authorize the use of Presidential Drawdown Authority to transfer confiscated Iranian weapons seized in transit to terror proxies like the Houthi\u2019s in Yemen to U.S. partners for their use. The SEIZE Act would bypass a potentially year-long legal process for the distribution of captured Iranian weapons and equipment held by U.S. CENTCOM, allowing it to be sent directly to U.S. military partners around the globe.\n\n\u201cWhen the United States confiscates Iranian weapons, they not only ensure that Iran\u2019s terror proxies are denied equipment meant to harm American servicemembers and our partners, like Israel, but they also generate stockpiles that would be beneficial in the hands of U.S. allies,\u201d said Sen. Budd. \u201cThe SEIZE Act would make it easier to distribute confiscated weapons to partners actively engaged in conflict with America\u2019s adversaries, without an arbitrary and complicated legal process that leaves Iranian contraband in legal limbo. I am grateful to partner with Sen. Mark Kelly on this legislation which will provide the Department of Defense flexibility to get these weapons in the hands of partners who need them the most.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen the United States intercepts weapons heading from Iran to the Houthi militia, we shouldn\u2019t let bureaucracy stop us from giving those weapons to our trusted allies,\u201d said Sen. Kelly. \u201cThis bipartisan bill cuts red tape and makes it easier to turn Iran\u2019s lawbreaking aggression into security for us and our allies.\u201d\n\nThe caches of Iranian weapons captured en route to Yemen can be substantial and would greatly benefit America\u2019s partners engaged in conflicts if delivered in a timely manner.\n\nAs an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigationsshowed, \u201cBetween May 2021 and January 2023, the U.S. Navy seized the weapons, which included more than 9,000 rifles, 284 machine guns, approximately 194 rocket launchers, more than 70 anti-tank guided missiles, and more than 700,000 rounds of ammunition, during routine maritime security operations conducted in and around the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.\u201d\n\nIn addition to introducing the SEIZE Act as a stand-alone piece of legislation, Sens. Budd and Kelly have offered the legislation for consideration as an amendment to the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\nRead the full text of the SEIZE Act HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:02:47Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/31/senators-budd-gillibrand-lummis-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-stop-illegal-use-of-digital-assets-by-criminals-and-terrorists/", "Senators Budd, Gillibrand, Lummis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Stop Illegal Use of Digital Assets by Criminals and Terrorists", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) was joined by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) in reintroducing the Financial Technology Protection Act. The bipartisan bill aims to address the illegal use of financial technologies and digital assets to prevent sanctions evasion, terrorist financing, and money laundering.\n\n\u201cWhile financial technologies are driving innovation and expanding individual freedom, criminals and terrorists are exploiting digital assets \u2013 putting both our financial and national security at risk. We must take these threats seriously and work toward solutions that put a stop to this rampant criminal activity. I introduced the bipartisan Financial Technology Protection Act to do just that, because we cannot continue to ignore this illicit abuse or hinder this pro-growth technology. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation before these crimes and threats escalate further,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cAs financial technology continues to evolve, we must ensure it strengthens, not threatens, our national security. The bipartisan Financial Technology Protection Act would establish an independent working group that brings together government agencies, regulators, and industry experts to proactively identify emerging risks and develop robust, innovative solutions. This collaborative discourse will ensure we can keep our financial systems safe while bolstering the United States\u2019 leadership on digital asset innovation on the global stage. This bipartisan legislation has already passed the House four times, including a unanimous vote in House Financial Services earlier this month. I look forward to working with Senator Budd to advance it in the Senate,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand.\n\n\u201cDigital assets are the future of American financial innovation and it is critical that as we craft pro-growth legislation that we also maintain security standards. The Financial Technology Protection Act strikes the right balance of developing safeguards against illicit activities without stifling the innovation that makes our digital economy thrive. I am proud to join Senator Budd in securing America\u2019s position as a leader in the digital asset space while protecting consumers and maintaining the integrity of our financial system,\u201d said Senator Lummis.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nFinancial Technology Protection Act:\n\nEstablishes an independent working group to combat terrorism and illicit financing, made up of:\n\nRepresentatives from the following agencies: Department of the Treasury, Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Drug Enforcement Administration.\n\nPrivate sector participation from: Financial Technology Companies, Blockchain Intelligence Companies, Financial Institutions, Research Organizations, and Privacy and Civil Liberties Organizations.\n\nSenator Budd\u2019s legislation was included in the Senate\u2019s market structure bill, led by Senate Subcommittee on Digital Assets Chair Lummis. This legislative package will provide the crypto industry with the regulatory certainty needed to unlock new investments and innovation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/31/senators-budd-scott-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-stop-federal-government-overreach-in-small-business-lending/", "Senators Budd, Scott, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Stop Federal Government Overreach in Small Business Lending", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) in reintroducing the Protecting Access to Credit for Small Businesses Act to protect community banks and credit unions from competing with the federal government. The bill does so by prohibiting a Biden-era rule that allows the Small Business Administration (SBA) to facilitate direct government lending.\n\n\u201cTime and again, the federal government has shown it is neither efficient nor effective when it comes to delivering direct loan support to small businesses. Community banks and credit unions, not Washington bureaucrats, understand the needs of the businesses they serve. It\u2019s time we stop sidelining them. I am proud to join Senator Scott and my colleagues to put power back in the hands of local institutions that invest in our communities, rather than forcing them to compete with the federal government,\u201dsaid Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cThe SBA has a poor track record as a direct lender, especially compared to local banks that know the communities they serve. Allowing the SBA to directly offer loans is not just another example of government overreach, it would also hurt Main Street by creating unnecessary competition with community banks and credit unions. The private sector has a much stronger record of managing loans effectively, and the last thing we need is big government disrupting a system that local businesses rely on,\u201d said Senator Scott.\n\nSenators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), James Risch (R-Idaho), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) also co-sponsored the legislation.\n\nThe bill has received support from the American Bankers Association, America\u2019s Credit Unions, Bank Policy Institute, Carolinas Credit Union League, Consumer Bankers Association, Independent Community Bankers of America, and South Carolina Bankers Association.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nPresident Biden\u2019s fiscal year 2025 budget included a proposal that allows the SBA to directly make loans under the 7(a) lending program.\n\nThe SBA has a history of performing poorly in lending programs compared to the private sector.\n\nAccording to the SBA Office of Inspector\u2019s 2023 report, the government-led COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program had $136 billion in potential fraud (33 percent of total funds disbursed). In contrast, the private-sector-led Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) had $64 billion (8 percent of funds disbursed).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/31/sens-budd-heinrich-introduce-amendment-to-crack-down-on-illicit-anti-obesity-drugs-entering-the-u-s-from-china/", "Sens. Budd, Heinrich Introduce Amendment to Crack Down on Illicit Anti-Obesity Drugs Entering the U.S. from China", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Bipartisan amendment would help ensure FDA can utilize existing statutory authority to protect Americans from counterfeit, unapproved drugs from unregistered facilities in China\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) recently introduced an amendment to the 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to ensure the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can activate regulatory and enforcement authorities to prevent the importation of illicit weight loss drugs and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) from the Republic of China and other foreign countries.\n\nThese illicit products, which include unregulated versions of ingredients used in name-brand GLP-1 medicines, are often produced in facilities in China that are not always registered with the FDA and pose serious risks to American consumers, with sometimes fatal consequences.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party has proven time and again that it is willing to exploit our supply chain and endanger American lives to advance its own interests,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cThat includes flooding our country with counterfeit, unapproved weight-loss drugs made in unregulated facilities. It is critically important that the United States maintains the gold standard for safe, effective medicines and we must act decisively to protect American patients. I am glad to partner with Senator Heinrich on this important issue, and I look forward to working with Commissioner Makary and Secretary Kennedy to help ensure the FDA can shut the door on these dangerous products at our borders and hold bad actors accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility to protect Americans from dangerous, counterfeit drugs entering our country,\u201d said Senator Heinrich. \u201cToo many of these unapproved weight-loss drugs are being produced in unregistered facilities in China with no oversight and no regard for safety. That\u2019s why I\u2019m introducing bipartisan legislation with Senator Budd to ensure the FDA can crack down on these illicit imports and keep American consumers safe.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nA recent Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) public service announcement warned that counterfeit weight loss products have been found to contain both \u201cdrugs with high levels of impurities\u201d and \u201cunsafe or unapproved drugs\u201d with misbranded or adulterated packaging. To protect America\u2019s supply chain from these potential threats, actions from the FDA may include refusing the entry of illicit drugs and API, issuing warning letters to foreign suppliers, and initiating civil enforcement actions.\n\nThis amendment follows a bipartisan letter Representative Richard Hudson (R-N.C.-09) led in sending to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, which urged immediate action against the rising threat of illegal, counterfeit anti-obesity medications entering the United States.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/7/tillis-colleagues-introduce-framework-to-combat-foreign-online-piracy-protect-american-copyright-holders", "Tillis, Colleagues Introduce Framework to Combat Foreign Online Piracy, Protect American Copyright Holders", "2025-07-30", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced a discussion draft of the Block Bad Electronic Art and Recording Distributors (Block BEARD) Act of 2025 bipartisan legislation that would allow copyright owners, who have had their property stolen, to seek U.S. federal court action to block dedicated foreign online piracy operations from making that stolen content available to American households.\n\n\u201cForeign piracy sites are stealing from American creators, threatening good-paying jobs, and exposing U.S. consumers to real online harms via malware, identity theft, and the like,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThe Block BEARD Act gives us a smart, targeted tool to stop these criminal operations at the source without infringing on legitimate speech or due process. I\u2019m proud to lead this bipartisan discussion to protect our creative economy and digital security and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the House to address this important matter.\u201d\n\n\u201cForeign websites pirating American movies, TV shows, art, and books steal tens of billions of dollars from the U.S. economy each year,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cThis costs our creative community hundreds of thousands of jobs. Today, the United States takes an important step to join the many other nations around the world that have taken steps to crack down on foreign IP theft. This bipartisan legislation will give Americans the tools they need to protect their intellectual property rights, while ensuring the internet remains a vibrant forum for free speech. I look forward to working with my colleagues and with stakeholders on all sides of this issue to advance this much-needed bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cTennessee\u2019s thriving creative community must be protected from the theft of creative works by foreign criminals,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cForeign piracy operations jeopardize the American creative industry through phishing, identity theft, and financial fraud, and the Block BEARD Act would protect creators by enabling them to pursue legal action in U.S. federal courts against these criminals.\"\n\n\u201cI'm proud to join my colleagues in this effort to protect creators and consumers alike from foreign criminal enterprises seeking to steal our intellectual property and exploit Americans,\u201d said Senator Schiff. \u201cAs Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and a steadfast advocate for the creative community, I understand that robust protections are essential for innovation and economic growth in the digital age. This commonsense approach will provide the courts with the tools they need to combat foreign piracy operations and help level the playing field for American artists and creators who deserve to be fairly compensated for their work.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Senators Tillis, Coons, Blackburn, and Schiff for their leadership in crafting a carefully tailored proposal that empowers US federal courts to protect consumers, rightsholders, and markets from large scale foreign piracy while preserving the protections contained in the DMCA,\u201d said Mitch Glazier, Chairman and CEO, Recording Industry Association of America. \u201cSimilar tools have been proven effective around the world over the last ten years with no harm to speech, Internet infrastructure or security, or participation online, and we strongly support this effort to create a simple, effective, judicial remedy with due process in the U.S.\u201d\n\n\u201cPiracy steals hundreds of thousands of jobs from the film and television industry, drains billions from the U.S. economy, and puts millions of American consumers at risk \u2013 and the Block BEARD Act will provide us with a safe and effective way to counter this danger and combat large-scale copyright infringement,\u201d said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Association. \u201cWith bold leadership from Senators Tillis, Coons, Blackburn, and Schiff, the Block BEARD Act will equip our nation with a tool that\u2019s worked in dozens of countries worldwide: a narrow, targeted means to fight the worst forms of foreign piracy while protecting free speech and the rule of law.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Block BEARD Act would empower copyright owners to seek U.S. federal court orders against foreign websites dedicated to digital piracy, preventing them from making stolen content accessible to American households. To obtain relief, copyright holders must present evidence of specific harm and demonstrate the criminal nature of the targeted site. Courts could then direct internet service providers block access to the identified sites, while granting those providers immunity from liability, including for claims related to the petitioner\u2019s actions. The legislation includes strong public interest safeguards to protect free expression, due process, and legitimate online services operating in compliance with U.S. law. This targeted legal tool mirrors successful approaches used in over 50 democratic countries to curb foreign piracy operations that undermine creative industry jobs and expose users to malware, identity theft, and fraud.\n\nFull text of the Block BEARD Act is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/29/senator-budd-joins-chairman-cruz-colleagues-in-introducing-the-rotor-act-to-improve-aviation-safety-following-dca-crash/", "Senator Budd Joins Chairman Cruz, Colleagues in Introducing the ROTOR Act to Improve Aviation Safety Following DCA Crash", "2025-07-29", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Budd delivers remarks at press conference with Secretary Sean Duffy, key transportation leaders, and families of DCA crash victims\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today joined Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in introducing the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, legislation responding to the tragic accident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that occurred on January 29, 2025, and the ongoing concerns to improve aviation safety in the National Capital Region (NCR) and around the country.\n\nThe ROTOR Act would establish new requirements for virtually all aircraft to use Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). ADS-B technology allows aircraft to accurately communicate their location with greater precision than traditional radar.\n\nOn the six-month anniversary of the DCA crash, Sen. Budd joined Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, Senate colleagues, and family members representing victims at a press conference to unveil the ROTOR Act.\n\nWATCH: Sen. Budd Delivers Remarks in Support of ROTOR Act\n\nDuring the press conference, Sen. Budd said:\n\n\u201cI wish we weren\u2019t here because I wish this wasn\u2019t an anniversary at all [\u2026] This hits home, because six out of the 67 souls that lost their lives that day were North Carolinians, or North Carolina connected, including all four members of the Charlotte-based flight crew and one of the helicopter pilots.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m hopeful that our efforts in Congress, starting today, are going to make a difference in making our entire air traffic control system and our airspace a lot safer. ADS-B is a critical safety technology. Mandating that aircraft are equipped and using this technology [\u2026] I think is a key step in making sure that all Americans are safe.\u201d\n\nSenators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) also co-sponsored the ROTOR Act.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe ROTOR Act additionally:\n\nRequires all aircraft in controlled airspace to be equipped with \u201cADS-B In,\u201d which will allow pilots to communicate better with other aircraft, air traffic control (ATC), and vehicles on the ground.\n\nCloses a loophole that permits the Department of Defense to fly aircraft domestically without having to use \u201cADS-B Out\u201d technology.\n\nEnhances oversight of helicopter routes near commercial service airports, requires quarterly reports on \u201cADS-B Out\u201d compliance, and studies potential improvements to the airspace around DCA.\n\nMandates all newly manufactured aircraft to be equipped with ADS-B technology for use in crowded airspaces.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/7/tillis-urges-senate-leaders-to-replenish-disaster-relief-fund", "Tillis Urges Senate Leaders to Replenish Disaster Relief Fund", "2025-07-29", "2025", "2025-07", "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) recently sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME), and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) urging swift action to address the impending budget shortfall in the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF).\n\n\u201cIn March, Congress passed the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution, which again provided additional funding to the DRF. While OMB and DHS publicly maintain that the DRF is solvent through the end of the fiscal year, recent data indicate otherwise. Additionally, state emergency management leaders report sudden delays in reimbursements starting in June in what appears to be an attempt to avoid initiating Immediate Needs Funding (INF) before the end of the fiscal year to avoid exhausting the DRF\u2019s Major Disasters account. This de facto INF posture jeopardizes my state\u2019s recovery, and more concerningly, places FEMA in a precarious financial posture as Congress leaves town for the August state work period,\u201d wrote Senator Tillis.\n\n\u201cAs we head into the heart of hurricane and wildfire season, we simply cannot afford to wait until after disaster strikes to provide FEMA the emergency funding necessary to adequately respond. Therefore, I respectfully request that Congress act to replenish the FEMA DRF in the current work period,\u201d Senator Tillis concluded.\n\nFull text of the letter is available HERE.\n\nBackground:\n\nIn June, Senator Tillis introduced legislation to replenish the DRF to ensure FEMA has the financial resources it needs to respond to natural disasters in the months ahead. Tillis\u2019 legislation would provide $25 billion for the DRF, which would fulfill President Trump\u2019s historic DRF funding request for Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/28/budd-hagerty-colleagues-reintroduce-bill-to-protect-american-assets-from-unlawful-seizures-by-foreign-governments/", "Budd, Hagerty, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Protect American Assets from Unlawful Seizures by Foreign Governments", "2025-07-28", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and several of his Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the Defending American Property Abroad Act. This legislation will deter and punish any nation in the Western Hemisphere that unlawfully seizes American assets. The bill responds to ongoing efforts by the Mexican government to seize a deep-water port owned by U.S.-based Vulcan Materials Company, in flagrant violation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which governs trade between our two nations.\n\n\u201cThe illegal seizure of American-owned property is a blatant violation of international law, and the Government of Mexico has knowingly crossed that line. The Defending American Property Abroad Act creates consequences for Mexico\u2019s reckless actions. It\u2019s time to implement firm protections to ensure American companies operating abroad are no longer exploited or undermined by foreign governments,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cI strongly condemn the Mexican government\u2019s threats against Vulcan Materials Company and I am pleased to see this bipartisan and bicameral rebuke from the United States Senate. Under the leadership of Mexico\u2019s previous president, Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador, and now the current president, Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican government is committing a blatant theft against a major American company and, by extension, the United States itself. No nation should be allowed to bully an American firm without consequences. Our legislation will counter any attempt by the Mexican government to profit from illegal moves to expropriate, nationalize, or otherwise seize U.S. assets,\u201d said Senator Hagerty.\n\n\u201cAmerican companies operating abroad should not have to fear arbitrary government actions that undermine their property rights. The Defending American Property Abroad Act will ensure that such actions do not go unchecked and that American businesses are protected from unjust expropriation. The protection of American property rights abroad is essential for fostering economic growth and maintaining our national security. I urge my colleagues in Congress to support this critical legislation and send a clear message that the United States will not tolerate unjust actions against American companies,\u201d said Representative Pfluger.\n\nU.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) co-sponsored the legislation. Representative August Pfluger (R-Texas-11) has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nIn January of this year, Senator Budd asked a question for the record directed toward U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, regarding the Mexican army\u2019s invasion of Vulcan Materials\u2019 Mexico facility in 2022, which led to the halting of shipments containing building materials into the U.S.\n\nSenator Budd called the actions taken by the Government of Mexico \u201cegregious\u201d and called on the Trump administration to put pressure on Mexico for harming its trade relationship with the U.S.\n\nIn response, Secretary Lutnick stated, \u201cI will stand up for American companies whenever improper actions are taken against them by foreign governments.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/7/tillis-colleagues-advocate-for-critical-nih-research-funding", "Tillis, Colleagues Advocate for Critical NIH Research Funding", "2025-07-28", "2025", "2025-07", "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) and 13 of his Senate Republican colleagues sent a letter to Russell Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), advocating for the disbursement of appropriated funds to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support initiatives across a range of critical research areas, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and rare pediatric disorders.\n\n\u201cWe write to ask you to fully implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, including funds appropriated for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The continuing resolution supports NIH initiatives across a range of critical research areas \u2014 cancer, cardiovascular disease, rare pediatric disorders, and more. These vital efforts are not only necessary to Make America Healthy Again, but also have a direct impact on American families, biomedical innovation, our economy, and competing with Communist China,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\n\u201cWe are concerned by the slow disbursement rate of FY25 NIH funds, as it risks undermining critical research and the thousands of American jobs it supports. Suspension of these appropriated funds \u2014 whether formally withheld or functionally delayed \u2014 could threaten Americans' ability to access better treatments and limit our nation's leadership in biomedical science. It also risks inadvertently severing ongoing NIH-funded research prior to actionable results. We share your commitment to ensuring NIH funds are used responsibly and not diverted to ideological,\u201d the senators continued.\n\n\u201cWe share your commitment to ensuring NIH funds are used responsibly and not diverted to ideological or unaccountable programs. We are confident Secretary Kennedy and Director Bhattacharya are well positioned to uphold gold standard research by ensuring that NIH awards are grounded in transparency, scientific merit, and a clear alignment with national interests. Our shared goal is to restore public trust in the NIH precisely because its work is focused on results, accountability, and real-world impact. Withholding or suspending these funds would jeopardize that trust and hinder progress on critical health challenges facing our nation,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nFull text of the letter is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/25/budd-joins-cornyn-colleagues-in-introducing-bill-to-hold-illegal-aliens-accountable-for-committing-murder/", "Budd Joins Cornyn, Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Hold Illegal Aliens Accountable for Committing Murder", "2025-07-25", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) in introducing the Justice for Victims of Illegal Alien Murders Act, which would create a new federal offense for an illegal alien or deportable alien who commits murder in the United States.\n\n\u201cUnder the Biden administration\u2019s reckless open border policies, far too many innocent Americans tragically lost their lives at the hands of violent criminals who should not have been in the country. Now that President Trump has secured our border, I am committed to putting ironclad policies in place to hold illegal aliens accountable for heinous crimes committed on U.S. soil. I am proud to join Senator Cornyn and my colleagues to bring justice to victims by making an act of murder committed by an illegal or deportable alien a federal offense,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cJoe Biden rolled out the red carpet for illegal immigrants to come into this country and brutally murder innocent Americans. I\u2019m proud to join with my GOP colleagues to deliver justice for the victims who were tragically ripped from their families at the hands of the criminal aliens by holding these perpetrators accountable for their heinous actions and subjecting them to the death penalty,\u201d said Senator Cornyn.\n\nU.S. Senators Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) also co-sponsored the legislation.\n\nU.S. Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas-08) is leading this legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Justice for Victims of Illegal Alien Murders Act would:\n\nAllow the federal government to prosecute illegal aliens who commit murder in the United States, and if convicted of first-degree murder under this statute, offenders could face the death penalty or life in prison;\n\nClose a dangerous loophole by enabling the federal government to step in and vigorously prosecute an illegal alien murder in certain jurisdictions where a prosecutor may fail to seek an adequate penalty due to a lack of resources or partisan views;\n\nAnd ensure those who are unlawfully in the U.S. and commit these heinous crimes do not slip through the cracks of the legal system due to jurisdictional challenges.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/7/tillis-padilla-applaud-senate-judiciary-committee-passage-of-the-trace-act", "Tillis, Padilla Applaud Senate Judiciary Committee Passage of the TRACE Act", "2025-07-25", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) applauded the passage of the TRACE Act out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The TRACE Act is a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would require the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to include an additional category to the existing National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems (NamUs) database so the public and law enforcement partners can denote cases where the person went missing or was identified on federal land or territorial waters of the United States \u2014including by providing specific location details.\n\nThe bill also requires DOJ to submit an annual report to Congress on the number of cases of persons missing or suspected of going missing on public lands or territorial waters of the United States from the previous year. With this new feature, family and friends of people who have gone missing on public lands could more easily find and include this information in NamUs, while law enforcement agencies can simultaneously work to improve the national records of individuals missing on public lands.\n\n\u201cEvery year, people go missing on public lands without being recorded in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThis oversight is impeding law enforcement from keeping track of those who go missing to help search and rescue efforts. I applaud the Senate Judiciary Committee for passing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation so these cases can be added to the database and potentially save hundreds of lives in the future, and I look forward to supporting this legislation on the Senate floor.\u201d\n\n\u201cThousands of people go missing on public lands every year in the United States, but without an effective tracking system, law enforcement faces significant challenges in finding them,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cPublic lands should be safe for everyone. That\u2019s why I will keep working with Senator Tillis and my colleagues across the aisle to pass this bipartisan legislation to improve data accuracy and accessibility, give law enforcement better tools to resolve cases, and bring peace of mind to affected families.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nAccording to a NamUs report, over 600,000 people go missing in the United States annually. While the majority of these cases are resolved, tens of thousands of people remain missing every year. There are approximately 640 million acres of federal land which include national parks, national forests, and Bureau of Land Management lands.\n\nEstimates suggest that at least 1,600 people have gone missing on public lands, though the number is likely much higher, as isolated or rugged terrain on public lands can make it especially difficult to find or identify people who go missing. Despite this, there is no functional system to report people who have gone missing on public lands. Having accurate data on how many people go missing on our public lands every year is crucial to aid search and rescue efforts and resolve cases.\n\nNamUs is the main system used by law enforcement, families and friends of missing persons, medical examiners, and coroners to report unidentified remains and missing persons, and is also used by the public.\n\nThe TRACE Act is endorsed by the Public Lands Solution, Jewish Women's Institute, Major County Sheriffs Association, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), NDAA, Raven, National Association to End Sexual Violence, and the Outdoor Industry Association.\n\nFull text of the bill is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/24/budd-votes-to-advance-senates-intelligence-authorization-highlights-wins-for-privacy-and-national-security/", "Budd Votes to Advance Senate\u2019s Intelligence Authorization, Highlights Wins for Privacy and National Security", "2025-07-24", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence,released the following statement after the release of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (IAA).\n\n\u201cI was proud to support the Intelligence Authorization Act, my first since joining the Intelligence Committee earlier this year,\u201d said Sen. Budd. \u201cThis important legislation ensures our Intelligence Community has the resources and flexibility needed to keep Americans safe from foreign threats. I am especially proud of the reforms made to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to improve the agency\u2019s efficiency by reducing its increasingly bloated bureaucracy. The Intelligence Authorization Act also supports policy priorities in my work on the Commerce and Armed Services Committees, including preserving key spectrum bands used by the Intelligence Community, improving access to artificial intelligence, protecting Americans\u2019 privacy, and ensuring key facilities are protected from emerging technological threats.\u201d\n\nThe Intelligence Authorization Act includes several policy priorities Sen. Budd has championed in his new role on the Intelligence Committee, including:\n\nReducing bureaucratic red tape to return the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to its original size, scope, and mission.\n\nEarlier this Congress, Sen. Budd joined Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.) in introducing the Intelligence Community Efficiency and Effectiveness Act.\n\nImproving the Intelligence Community\u2019s AI capabilities by establishing new guidelines for procuring and using AI.\n\nPreserving spectrum bands used by the Intelligence Community by clarifying agencies\u2019 eligibility under the Spectrum Relocation Fund.\n\nProtecting Americans\u2019 personal privacy by requiring new procedures for sharing information about U.S. identities and preventing the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Office of Intelligence and Analysis from collecting intelligence on American citizens.\n\nCreating additional review processes for foreign purchases of U.S. land near facilities used by Intelligence Communities to protect against potential hostile drone attacks.\n\nLearn more about the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/7/tillis-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-increase-housing-supply-reduce-costs", "Tillis, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Increase Housing Supply, Reduce Costs", "2025-07-24", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tim Scott (R-SC), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Katie Britt (R-AL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) recently introduced the bipartisan Housing Supply Expansion Act of 2025, legislation that modernizes the federal definition of \u201cmanufactured housing\u201d to include modular or prefabricated homes built without a permanent chassis. By allowing off-chassis manufactured homes, the bill expands consumer access to more efficient and cost-effective designs, providing greater architectural flexibility to better integrate into existing neighborhoods.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to support this commonsense legislation that expands housing options for hardworking families in North Carolina and across the country,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cBy modernizing the definition of manufactured homes, we can encourage innovative and affordable designs and help more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership.\u201d\n\n\u201cManufactured housing plays an important role in helping more Americans access homeownership, but we need to make sure outdated regulations aren\u2019t preventing newer, potentially more innovative models from coming to market,\u201d said Chairman Scott. \u201cThis legislation will remove red tape and lower the costs of building these types of homes, increasing access to affordable housing opportunities for Americans across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cManufactured homes are some of the most affordable housing solutions on the market, but outdated laws are preventing newer, safer models from becoming widely available,\u201d said Senator Gallego. \u201cOur bipartisan bill makes a simple update to allow for greater design flexibility and bring down the cost of manufactured homes.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to build as many homes as we can to address our national shortage, and we can\u2019t let outdated rules needlessly constrain supply,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cOur bill will unlock manufactured homes in both urban and rural areas around the country, making manufactured homes and all housing more accessible and affordable.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must find new, innovative ways to expand affordable housing venues so more individuals can achieve the American Dream of owning their home,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cIt is time to throw out established norms and cut bureaucratic hurdles that stand in the way of innovative designs to increasing affordable housing.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith this small adjustment, our legislation would help increase the production of affordable housing in California during a historic housing crisis,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cSimply modifying the definition of manufactured houses would cost the government nothing and could unlock greater design flexibility while increasing the desperately needed affordable housing supply.\u201d\n\nFull text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/22/budd-joins-young-colleagues-to-urge-end-to-foreign-free-riding-burdening-american-patients-calls-for-ip-negotiator-appointment/", "Budd Joins Young, Colleagues to Urge End to Foreign Free-Riding Burdening American Patients & Calls for IP Negotiator Appointment", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), and several of his Senate Republicans colleagues, in sending a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick urging the Trump Administration to use ongoing trade negotiations to eliminate foreign price controls that leave American patients footing the cost for pharmaceutical research and development.\n\n\u201cWe welcome President Trump\u2019s efforts to ensure foreign nations pay their fair share toward the cost of pharmaceutical research and development. For too long, some developed nations have benefited from American-financed innovation by implementing policies that suppress prices and limit spending on new medicines in their own markets,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cThese actions have contributed to American patients bearing a disproportionate share of global pharmaceutical innovation costs. U.S. trade negotiations offer a valuable mechanism to address these unfair practices, which not only burden Americans, but also function as non-tariff barriers to trade.\u201d\n\nThe letter also urges the Administration to designate a senior political official within the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to lead trade discussions on pharmaceutical pricing in the near term, and to promptly nominate a qualified individual to fill the long-vacant Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator role, who would ultimately assume leadership of this effort. Created by Congress in 2015, the position was intended to \u201caddress acts, policies, and practices of foreign governments that have a significant adverse impact on the value of United States innovation.\u201d\n\n\u201cAppointing an experienced Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator would send a strong signal to our trading partners that the United States is committed to addressing imbalanced pharmaceutical pricing and ensuring that any commitments secured are effectively implemented and enforced over the long term,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nU.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also joined in signing the letter.\n\nRead the full letter text HERE and below:\n\nDear Secretary Lutnick and Ambassador Greer,\n\nWe welcome President Trump\u2019s efforts to ensure foreign nations pay their fair share toward the cost of pharmaceutical research and development. For too long, some developed nations have benefited from American-financed innovation by implementing policies that suppress prices and limit spending on new medicines in their own markets. These actions have contributed to American patients bearing a disproportionate share of global pharmaceutical innovation costs. U.S. trade negotiations offer a valuable mechanism to address these unfair practices, which not only burden Americans, but also function as non-tariff barriers to trade.\n\nExecutive Order 14297, issued on May 12, directed the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to pursue the removal of policies and practices abroad that have \u201cthe effect of forcing American patients to pay for a disproportionate amount of global pharmaceutical research and development, including by suppressing the price of pharmaceutical products below fair market value in foreign countries.\u201d Consistent with this directive, it is important that Commerce and USTR engage with U.S. trading partners to negotiate binding commitments to remove these market-distorting price controls.\n\nCurrently, dozens of countries\u2014including those with longstanding pricing policies affecting U.S. pharmaceutical products\u2014have expressed interest or are currently undergoing tariff negotiations. Now is the time for Commerce and USTR to clarify top priorities, capitalize on opportunities, and resolve unfair foreign government policies in support of American workers and patients.\n\nGiven the complexity of the issues and their importance to the American public, we urge the Administration to immediately designate a senior political official at USTR to lead the effort to secure and enforce pharmaceutical pricing commitments through trade negotiations and also to promptly nominate a qualified individual to fill the vacant position of Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator. Congress created this important position in 2015 to \u201caddress acts, policies, and practices of foreign governments that have a significant adverse impact on the value of United States innovation.\u201d Once filled, we recommend this role\u2014supported by a team within USTR\u2014be charged with leading this effort.\n\nAppointing an experienced Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator would send a strong signal to our trading partners that the United States is committed to addressing imbalanced pharmaceutical pricing and ensuring that any commitments secured are effectively implemented and enforced over the long term.\n\nWe look forward to working with you as you confront these longstanding and unfair price controls that leave Americans disproportionately funding global health care innovation. Eliminating these egregious practices could increase investment in medical research and development by billions of dollars and lower overall health care costs for Americans. In addition, encouraging foreign governments to appropriately value medicines developed and produced in the United States would significantly bolster U.S. exports and jobs. We appreciate your continued attention to this issue and stand ready to support efforts that promote fair and sustainable trade outcomes.\n\nSincerely,\n\n/X/\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/22/sens-budd-blunt-rochester-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-streamline-american-manufacturing/", "Sens. Budd, Blunt Rochester Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Streamline American Manufacturing", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, introduced the bipartisan Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act. The bill would amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to align the timelines for multiple advanced manufacturing initiatives to every four years on the same cycle.\n\n\u201cUnleashing the next generation of technological innovation will make Americans\u2019 everyday lives easier, create new jobs, and help American companies stay competitive in the global market. North Carolina has one of the most talented workforces in the nation, which has made the Old North State a leader in advanced manufacturing. I am proud to partner with my colleague, Senator Blunt Rochester, on this common-sense bill to ensure that our nation has a clear vision to keep American manufacturers ahead in the technological race and driving our economy forward,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cI have spent my career in Congress working to strengthen American manufacturing to create jobs and lower costs for hardworking people in Delaware and across the nation. The introduction of our bipartisan Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act is another critical step in that effort. This bill will ensure everyone can be on the same page and cut unnecessary red tape across the American manufacturing sector. I am grateful to Senator Budd for his partnership on this effort on behalf of our constituents and look forward to working with our colleagues on the Commerce Committee and throughout the Senate to get this bill passed into law,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Council welcomes the introduction of the Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act. This legislation is a beneficial, commonsense, and bipartisan step that will improve the alignment of important national strategy initiatives for domestic advanced manufacturing. The USMIC appreciates this effort to improve the national planning process,\u201d said Franz Wuerfmannsdobler, Executive Director of the U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Council.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGOUND\n\nAs it currently stands, the Manufacturing USA Strategic Plan establishes a 3-year planning cycle for updating the 17 Manufacturing USA Institutes, as mandated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act. However, the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing is updated every four years on a different cycle.\n\nThe alignment established under the Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act will set clear goals, synchronize data collection, and increase collaboration for U.S. advanced manufacturing stakeholders.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/7/tillis-statement-on-the-importance-of-an-independent-federal-reserve", "Tillis Statement on the Importance of an Independent Federal Reserve", "2025-07-17", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis released the following statement on the importance of an independent Federal Reserve:\n\n\u201cThe independence of the Fed is paramount. Terminating Chairman Powell risks a protracted legal battle with potential economic consequences like the disruptions we briefly saw in U.S. Treasury and dollar markets yesterday. These impacts will only threaten the foundation for long-term economic growth, including all the economic progress made by President Trump over the last six months. While dramatic fluctuations may not make the wealthy lose sleep at night, they can seriously harm those working-class Americans I grew up with who are already struggling to get by.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/16/sens-budd-justice-hawley-ricketts-introduce-bill-to-increase-transparency-of-foreign-funds-fueling-left-wing-agitators/", "Sens. Budd, Justice, Hawley, Ricketts Introduce Bill to Increase Transparency of Foreign Funds Fueling Left-Wing Agitators", "2025-07-16", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "FRONT Act would require U.S. nonprofits to register under FARA if they accept funds from hostile nations\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) led his colleagues in introducing the Foreign Registration Obligations for Nonprofit Transparency (FRONT) Act today, which would require nonprofits in the United States that receive funding from foreign principals in countries of concern, such as China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba, to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The bill would also require nonprofits to disclose the activities they use foreign funds to engage in to mitigate future unrest.\n\n\u201cThere are serious indicators recent left-wing riots, protests, and rallies resulting in violence and political unrest are funded by foreign agitators. It\u2019s time for American nonprofit organizations to be transparent about where they are getting their funding from. No foreign country with hostile intentions should be meddling in our democratic process. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the FRONT Act to increase transparency and help put a stop to this,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cLet me just say this and be clear: foreign influence in our country\u2019s nonprofits ends now. The FRONT Act ensures that any money coming from our adversaries, like China, will be fully disclosed. This bill is common-sense, provides much needed transparency, and I\u2019m proud to join Senator Budd in this effort,\u201d said Senator Justice.\n\n\u201cI am concerned that U.S. non-profits are receiving foreign funding from our adversaries and countries of concern. Senator Budd\u2019s FRONT Act hardens the United States\u2019 ability to monitor potentially malign influence of non-profits from foreign adversaries. In order to stop adversaries such as Communist China, Russia, and Iran, we must have the tools to better understand their efforts to infiltrate our American system and influence our institutions,\u201d said Senator Ricketts.\n\nSenators Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) joined Senator Budd in introducing the bill.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBackground\n\nRecent civil unrest has raised alarms about possible foreign influence impacting U.S. nonprofits that organize and provide material support for protests.\n\nFor example, when it comes to riots against ICE enforcement operations, FBI Director Kash Patel has publicly stated, \u201cThe FBI is investigating any and all monetary connections responsible for these riots.\u201d Reports have also indicated that \u201c[the] socialist group [which] promoted the chaotic anti-deportation protests in Los Angeles\u2026is tied to a network of groups bankrolled by a pro-China millionaire.\u201d\n\nBut this is just the surface of a deeply troubling trend of foreign interference in our political processes. As former Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines claimed, \u201cWe have observed actors tied to Iran\u2019s government posing as activists online, seeking to encourage protests, and even providing financial support to protesters,\u201d following the October 7 attacks.\n\nWhat we\u2019re witnessing is not isolated. Safeguarding our political system from continued foreign interference must be a top national security priority to protect the integrity of our democracy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/7/tillis-announces-24-million-for-raleigh-durham-international-airport-improvements", "Tillis Announces $24 Million for Raleigh-Durham International Airport Improvements", "2025-07-16", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis announced a $24 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to realign key sections of the roadway in front of two terminals at Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) Airport and widen the roadway from two lanes to four lanes. The funding comes from the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program for fiscal year 2025, which is partially funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), legislation that Senator Tillis helped negotiate, write, and pass into law.\n\n\u201cThis funding will ensure that RDU not only meets national standards but also continues to provide an exceptional experience for passengers,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cAs the Triangle region continues to grow, it is vital that we invest in our public transportation and infrastructure, including our airports. I am proud to have worked alongside local leaders to secure this critical funding.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/15/budd-lee-introduce-bill-to-protect-americans-right-to-control-their-digital-assets-and-secure-individual-financial-freedom/", "Budd, Lee Introduce Bill to Protect Americans\u2019 Right to Control Their Digital Assets and Secure Individual Financial Freedom", "2025-07-15", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) was joined by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) in reintroducing the Keep Your Coins Act to ensure that the federal government cannot infringe upon an individual\u2019s right to control their digital assets.\n\n\u201cSelf-custody is a founding principle of the digital asset ecosystem and needs to be protected. I introduced the Keep Your Coins Act of 2025 to ensure the federal government cannot infringe on a person\u2019s ability to control their own digital assets. If cryptocurrencies are going to be digital cash, we need to protect a person\u2019s right to hold their digital cash however they want. I urge my colleagues to support this common-sense legislation to ensure financial freedom for the digital asset ecosystem,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cAmericans deserve to keep their crypto assets where they choose \u2013 not where they\u2019ve been forced by the federal government. Washington\u2019s dragnet-style surveillance has eroded the financial privacy of law-abiding Americans for decades. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Budd\u2019s Keep Your Coins Act to protect Americans\u2019 privacy and ability to maintain self-custody of crypto assets,\u201d said Senator Lee.\n\nLeading wallet platforms Exodus, Ledger, Casa, Block, MetaMask, and Uniswap joined in celebrating the reintroduction of the Keep Your Coins Act, saying:\n\n\u201cAs leading providers of self-custodial wallets, we applaud Senator Budd\u2019s introduction of the Keep Your Coins Act, which mirrors Congressman Davidson\u2019s bill in the House. This crucial legislation protects individuals\u2019 fundamental right to own digital property by safeguarding against regulatory overreach. We look forward to continuing to support this legislation and establishing the United States as a haven for financial autonomy and economic freedom.\u201d\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Keep Your Coins Act prevents the federal government from having access to and surveillance of transactions in the digital asset ecosystem by:\n\nProhibiting any federal agency from promulgating a rule that would impair an individual\u2019s ability to act as a self-custodian.\n\nProtect an individual\u2019s right to conduct peer-to-peer transactions with their digital assets without the need to utilize a third-party intermediary.\n\nEmpowering individuals to maintain control over their digital assets through self-hosted wallets to ensure financial freedom and a decentralized cryptocurrency ecosystem.\n\nSenator Budd previously introduced the Keep Your Coins Act in 2023.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/15/senate-defense-bill-includes-dozens-of-budd-led-provisions-to-boost-americas-military-readiness-end-affirmative-action-at-service-academies/", "Senate Defense Bill Includes Dozens of Budd-Led Provisions to Boost America\u2019s Military Readiness & End Affirmative Action at Service Academies", "2025-07-15", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), recently voted to advance the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to the Senate floor after securing numerous provisions to improve readiness and quality of life for our troops, increase funding for North Carolina military installations, protect the homeland, and strengthen alliances.\n\nSenator Budd said in a statement:\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud that the FY 2026 NDAA contains dozens of provisions I led that will boost America\u2019s fighting force in North Carolina and around the world by improving our facilities and programs, bolstering America\u2019s air superiority, reducing regulatory burdens, supporting our friend and ally Israel, combatting terrorism, and banning discriminatory affirmative action policies at the service academies. Refocusing the Department of Defense on its core mission will send a clear deterrent message to potential adversaries and make America safer.\u201d\n\nBelow is a summary of the provisions Senator Budd championed in the recent SASC legislative markup that the full Senate will consider in the coming weeks:\n\nBoosting America\u2019s Military Readiness & Supporting Military Families\n\nThe SASC-passed NDAA represents an investment in America\u2019s military personnel, a refocusing of the Pentagon\u2019s priorities to boost troop readiness, and a needed reduction of bureaucratic red tape. Senator Budd championed a number of key priorities that will improve the quality of life and the effectiveness of our troops by:\n\nProviding a 3.8% raise across the board for service members.\n\nCreating a pilot program to improve Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for North Carolina service members and their families.\n\nProhibiting affirmative action in U.S. Service Academies admissions\n\nCutting burdensome environmental regulations that prohibit the Defense Department from procuring basic items.\n\nAccelerating the development, prototyping, and deployment of mobile nuclear microreactor systems to enhance energy resilience and forward-deployed power capability for U.S. military operations.\n\nDelivering for North Carolina Military Installations & Manufacturers\n\nThe FY 2026 NDAA authorizes more than $700 million for military construction projects and planning and design funding at facilities across North Carolina. Senator Budd successfully worked to include authorizing provisions to support the following facilities, programs, and units:\n\nMarine Corps Air Station Cherry Point\n\nAuthorizing $40M in funding to boost the F-35 Aircraft Sustainment Center\n\nAuthorizing $15M in funding to design the next phase of the Flightline Utilities Modernization project\n\nMarine Corps Base Camp Lejeune\n\nAuthorizing $34M in funding for the expansion of the Special Operations Forces Combat Service Support/Motor Transport\n\nAuthorizing $90M in funding to boost the Special Operations Forces Marine Raider Battalion Operations Facility\n\nAuthorizing $48.28M in funding to boost Amphibious Combat Vehicle Shelters\n\nFort Bragg\n\nAuthorizing $19M in funding to boost the Automated Infantry Platoon Battle Course\n\nAuthorizing $24M in funding to complete the construction of the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar\n\nAuthorizing $80M in funding to improve the Fort\u2019s power generation and microgrid\n\nAuthorizing $32M in funding for the Special Operations Forces Mission Command Center\n\nAuthorizing $80M in funding to boost the Special Operations Forces Operational Ammunition Supply Point\n\nAuthorizing $5M in funding for the Pathfinder Airborne Program to improve soldier readiness\n\nSeymour Johnson Air Force Base\n\nAuthorizing $54M in funding to improve the Child Development Center\n\nAuthorizing $41M in funding to boost the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Complex\n\nNorth Carolina National Guard\n\nAuthorizing $69M in funding for the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar Addition/Alteration project at Salisbury Training Center\n\nNorth Carolina Manufacturers & Projects\n\nAuthorizing $34M in funding to procure Infantry Squad Vehicles manufactured in Concord, which will support the Army Transformation Initiative\n\nAuthorizing $4M in funding to procure rare earth magnets manufactured in Durham\n\nAuthorizing $8M in funding to procure Army Load-Carrying Technology Advancements built in Concord\n\nAuthorizing $5M in funding to expand the Defense Innovation Unit OnRamp Hub, which Senator Budd has advocated for bringing to North Carolina\n\nProtecting Our Homeland & Standing With Our Allies\n\nThe core mission of America\u2019s Armed Forces is to protect the United States and its citizens from threats and to defend our interests both at home and abroad. Sen. Budd led the inclusion of several key priorities that will help our troops and our allies carry out this vital mission by:\n\nProtecting Our Homeland:\n\nRequiring a plan to ensure installation commanders have adequate guidance and authority to interdict hostile or suspicious drone activity with force immediately.\n\nDirecting the Secretary of the Army to diversify and expand the Army\u2019s counter-drone capabilities to protect bases and installations at home and abroad.\n\nDeterring Threats from China:\n\nCutting bureaucratic red tape to permit fighter aircraft to use tactical datalinks needed for advanced air combat training, enhancing the preparation and readiness of 45 combat-coded fighter squadrons for high-end conflict.\n\nDirecting a report on the People\u2019s Republic of China\u2019s (PRC) operation, ownership, or control of strategic foreign ports and Department of Defense efforts to counter or mitigate the national security threats posed by PRC control of such foreign ports.\n\nSupporting the U.S.-Israel Bilateral Relationship & Countering Terrorism in the Middle East:\n\nAuthorizing $80M in funding forU.S.-Israel Anti-Tunnel Cooperation and extending the program through December 2028.\n\nAuthorizing $75M in funding for U.S.-Israel counter-UAS Cooperation and extending the program through December 2028.\n\nAuthorizing $15M in funding for US-Israel Joint Research & Development on Emerging Technologies.\n\nExtending the authorization to provide assistance to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).\n\nDirecting DoD to provide a briefing on the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund, status of equipment delivery to Kurdish Peshmerga Forces, and plans to improve the Kurdish Peshmerga Forces\u2019 ability to conduct counter terrorism operations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/11/budd-joins-risch-to-introduce-bill-banning-radical-gender-ideology-in-k-12-schools/", "Budd Joins Risch to Introduce Bill Banning Radical Gender Ideology in K-12 Schools", "2025-07-11", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) in introducing the Say No to Indoctrination Act to codify President Trump\u2019s executive order preventing taxpayer dollars from funding radical gender ideology in K-12 schools.\n\n\u201cFor far too long, radical left-wing ideology has preyed on K-12 students in our nation\u2019s school systems. It\u2019s high time we put a stop to these woke lesson plans that take advantage of children and undermine parental rights. I am proud to join Senator Risch and my colleagues to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding public schools that teach gender ideology,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cSchools should prepare our children for the future, not promote radical gender ideology. The Say No to Indoctrination Act puts an end to woke education practices in K-12 schools and makes President Trump\u2019s common-sense policy permanent,\u201d said Senator Risch.\n\nThe bill was also co-sponsored by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).\n\nThe Say No to Indoctrination Act has received support from Concerned Women for America and American Principles Project.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Say No to Indoctrination Act codifies the Executive Order President Trump issued on January 20, 2025, declaring that no taxpayer dollars be sent to K-12 schools that teach or promote radical gender ideology.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/10/after-calls-from-senator-budd-usda-opens-aid-applications-for-farmers-to-receive-natural-disaster-recovery-assistance/", "After Calls from Senator Budd, USDA Opens Aid Applications for Farmers to Receive Natural Disaster Recovery Assistance", "2025-07-10", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) opened applications for natural disaster recovery assistance for farmers. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for $16 billion in assistance through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP).\n\n\u201cOur farmers are the lifeblood of our nation, sustaining our communities and our economy. When severe weather events, like Hurricane Helene, and drought struck North Carolina last year, it devastated our crops and shattered countless livelihoods. Unfortunately, this tragic pattern repeats itself whenever major natural disasters strike. Without swift disaster relief, agricultural producers face the stark reality of downsizing or closing their operations altogether. This is why I am deeply grateful to the Trump administration for ensuring that critical aid reaches our farmers, in North Carolina and across the country, helping them recover and continue feeding America,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nIn March, Senator Budd led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the USDA urging the department to expedite the rulemaking process on administering disaster relief aid for farmers, which was provided by Congress in December 2024. A lack of clarity in the federal government\u2019s rulemaking process for natural disaster programs threatened the ability of farmers to fully utilize the allocated aid. In the letter, Senator Budd called on the Trump administration to ensure a fair and efficient disbursement of federal dollars for rural Americans to access emergency funding.\n\nIn May, Senator Budd received news that his effort was successful when the USDA released a plan to get critical aid to agricultural producers impacted by natural disasters.\n\n***\n\nApplications for Supplemental Disaster Assistance for agricultural producers open today, July 10, 2025.\n\nThe SDRP will aid eligible producers for necessary expenses due to losses of revenue, quality, or production of crops due to weather-related events in 2023 and 2024. USDA\u2019s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is delivering SDRP assistance in two stages. Producers can receive payments in both stages, if applicable, and for one or both years, depending on losses.\n\nFor more information, please visit: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/supplemental-disaster-relief-program-sdrp\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/07/01/sen-budd-votes-for-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-todeliver-historic-tax-cuts-for-north-carolina-families/", "Sen. Budd Votes for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act\u00a0To Deliver Historic Tax Cuts for North Carolina Families", "2025-07-01", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after voting in support of President Trump\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, historic legislation that lowers taxes for families, makes America safer and more secure, and unleashes economic growth for the future:\n\n\u201cI voted in favor of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act because the people of North Carolina deserve more of their hard-earned wages, a more secure border, a reinvigorated military, responsible spending reforms for government programs, and a thriving economy. My colleagues and I fought successfully to protect North Carolina\u2019s tobacco growers to help them stay competitive with China. I am also grateful that this bill included my PELL Act, which will help Americans earn in-demand credentials for rewarding careers. I hope my colleagues in the House quickly get this bill on President Trump\u2019s desk because Americans cannot afford the largest tax increase in our nation\u2019s history,\u201d said Sen. Budd.\n\nHere\u2019s How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Directly Benefits North Carolina:\n\nProvides Unprecedented Tax Relief for Families\n\nThis legislation helps Americans keep more money in their pockets by extending key provisions of President Trump\u2019s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Preventing the largest tax increase in American history will save the average North Carolinian $2,474 in 2026.\n\nWorking families will receive significant savings with the increase and permanence of the child tax credit, expanded tax credits for paid leave, enhanced 529 savings accounts, and additional childcare access.\n\nThis legislation lowers taxes for seniors relying on Social Security.\n\nGives Workers the Tools They Need to Advance Their Careers\n\nSen. Budd fought to have his PELL Act included in this legislation, a provision that expands Pell Grant eligibility for high-quality, short-term workforce programs. This would benefit individuals seeking to advance their careers without long-term debt while also providing American businesses with a broader, better-prepared talent pool ready to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.\n\nProtects North Carolina Agriculture\n\nSen. Budd successfully defended tobacco\u2019s eligibility to receive the \u201cduty drawback,\u201d allowing tobacco manufacturers to receive reimbursement for the tariffs they pay on materials used to produce tobacco products that they ship to international markets. This will protect North Carolina growers and prevent the tobacco market from being flooded with cheaper, lower-quality products from China and Brazil.\n\nThis legislation provides serious tax relief for North Carolina farmers by raising the death tax exemption, ensuring family farms can be passed down to future generations, rather than being broken up and sold.\n\nUnlocks Economic Growth & American Manufacturing\n\nThis legislation will create a renaissance in American manufacturing by delivering full expensing for companies that build new factories and invest in equipment and machinery. This will help create new, good-paying jobs.\n\nBy enhancing the small business deduction and making it permanent, small businesses will be able to hire more workers.\n\nIncreasing deductions for small businesses\u2019 equipment and property will quickly help businesses grow.\n\nReduces Government Spending to Preserve & Protect Government Programs\n\nThis legislation contains the first structural reforms to address waste, fraud, and abuse in key government programs like SNAP and Medicaid in over three decades. Slowing the rate of exponential cost increases will result in significant deficit savings and will preserve and protect these programs for future generations.\n\nInvests in America\u2019s National Defense\n\nSen. Budd helped secure funding to boost manufacturing capacity for the next generation of the F-15, the F-15EX, which will sustain the training mission at Seymour Johnson far into the future.\n\nThis legislation also includes significant funding to enhance America\u2019s air superiority by preventing the retirement of the F-15E aircraft flying out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.\n\nAmerica\u2019s troops deserve a pay raise. This legislation increases pay and allowances while making improvements to housing, healthcare, childcare, and education.\n\nThis legislation makes generational investments in our military readiness that will protect the American homeland and deter our adversaries by boosting America\u2019s missile defense by building the \u201cGolden Dome.\u201d\n\nSen. Budd worked to secure investments to improve housing at Fort Bragg and Seymour Johnson and funds for restoration and modernization at Camp Lejeune.\n\nThis legislation creates new production lines to scale innovative, cost-effective munitions, so we are no longer shooting $4M missiles at $50,000 drones.\n\nThis legislation makes the largest ever investment in the Coast Guard\u2019s history, which will purchase more than 40 new helicopters and six new C-130J aircraft, which will be serviced at the Aviation Technical Training Center in Elizabeth City. The legislation also funds 17 new icebreakers to protect American interests and 21 new cutters to combat drug runners and human traffickers.\n\nKeeps America\u2019s Border Secure\n\nWhile President Trump\u2019s policies have resulted in a dramatic drop-off of illegal immigration, this legislation also boosts America\u2019s border security by surging funding for 3,000 new Border Patrol agents and 10,000 new ICE agents. The One Big Beautiful Bill also increases funding to finish President Trump\u2019s border wall.\n\nUshers in Next-Generation Technologies\n\nThis legislation includes funding for the transformational air traffic control modernization project underway at the FAA. This will quickly update aging and failing technologies to keep Americans safe in the sky.\n\nThis legislation makes a historic amount of spectrum available for commercial use, which will create new jobs and unleash the next generation of wireless technology. This will ensure America remains the premier destination for innovation and help unleash a new area of advanced manufacturing. This will also make the internet faster & more dependable across the country through commercial success stories like 5G, 6G, wi-fi, and private networks using CBRS.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/statement-from-senator-thom-tillis", "Statement from Senator Thom Tillis", "2025-06-29", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, North Carolina U.S. Senator Thom Tillis issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cIt has been a blessing to go on a journey from living in a trailer park and making minimum wage as a young man to having the honor of serving as U.S. Senator for North Carolina.\n\n\u201cI am proud of my career in public service, including hard-fought victories like passing historic tax reform as North Carolina Speaker, and working in the Senate to help pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and confirm three conservative Supreme Court justices and counting.\n\n\u201cWhat I'm most proud of are the bipartisan victories: passing the first-in-the-nation eugenics compensation as Speaker, and working across the aisle in the Senate to pass the largest investment in mental health in American history, passing the Respect for Marriage Act and monumental infrastructure investments, and reestablishing the Senate NATO Observer Group. Sometimes those bipartisan initiatives got me into trouble with my own party, but I wouldn't have changed a single one.\n\n\u201cIn Washington over the last few years, it's become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species.\n\n\u201cDemocrats recently lost two such leaders who were dedicated to making the Senate more of a functional and productive legislative body. They got things done. But they were shunned after they courageously refused to cave to their party bosses to nuke the filibuster for the sake of political expediency. They ultimately retired and their presence in the Senate chamber has been sorely missed every day since.\n\n\u201cIt underscores the greatest form of hypocrisy in American politics. When people see independent thinking on the other side, they cheer. But when those very same people see independent thinking coming from their side, they scorn, ostracize, and even censure them.\n\n\u201cToo many elected officials are motivated by pure raw politics who really don't give a damn about the people they promised to represent on the campaign trail. After they get elected, they don't bother to do the hard work to research the policies they seek to implement and understand the consequences those policies could have on that young adult living in a trailer park, struggling to make ends meet.\n\n\u201cAs many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, and at times even joked about, I haven't exactly been excited about running for another term. That is true since the choice is between spending another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with the love of my life Susan, our two children, three beautiful grandchildren, and the rest of our extended family back home. It's not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election.\n\n\u201cI am beyond grateful for the friends I've made over the years in North Carolina and our nation's capital, as well as my amazing staff who are among the very best the Senate has to offer.\n\n\u201cI still look forward to continuing to serve North Carolina over the next 18 months. I look forward to solely focusing on producing meaningful results without the distraction of raising money or campaigning for another election. I look forward to having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit and representing the great people of North Carolina to the best of my ability.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T12:29:27Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/tillis-statement-on-senate-reconciliation-vote", "Tillis Statement on Senate Reconciliation Vote", "2025-06-28", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) issued the below statement on the Senate reconciliation vote:\n\n\u201cI will always do what is in the best interest of North Carolina, even when that puts me at odds with my own party. When Senate leaders of my party presented this bill, I did what every American should expect from their U.S. Senator: I worked to gather the facts and comprehensively analyze what the impact would be on the people I swore an oath to represent.\n\n\u201cI did my homework on behalf of North Carolinians, and I cannot support this bill in its current form. It would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities. This will force the state to make painful decisions like eliminating Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands in the expansion population, and even reducing critical services for those in the traditional Medicaid population.\n\n\u201cWe can and must do better than this. The Senate should return to the House\u2019s Medicaid approach. That plan includes commonsense reforms to address waste, fraud, and abuse, and implements work requirements for some able-bodied adults to ensure taxpayer-funded benefits are going to our most vulnerable neighbors.\n\n\u201cThere is a lot for North Carolinians to love about the rest of the One Big Beautiful Bill, including extending the historic Trump Tax Cuts, increasing the child tax credit, providing historic funding for border security, and ending wasteful spending. We can and must accomplish this without hurting our rural communities and hospitals, and without jeopardizing access to care for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians who need it the most.\u201d\n\nSee the analysis HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T12:29:27Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/06/27/budd-joins-cotton-colleagues-in-introducing-bill-to-reform-improve-and-streamline-odni/", "Budd Joins Cotton, Colleagues in Introducing Bill To Reform, Improve, and Streamline ODNI", "2025-06-27", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, in introducing the Intelligence Community Efficiency and Effectiveness Act, legislation that would realign resources to intelligence missions, eliminate duplicative efforts and inefficient, non-functioning bureaucracies across the intelligence community (IC) and return the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to its original size, scope, and mission.\n\n\u201cThe ODNI was established to unify America\u2019s intelligence community, enhancing coordination among agencies efficiently and collectively focusing on the threats to our nation. Over the years, the ODNI has become a bloated bureaucracy, contrary to the vision laid out for this vital agency. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Cotton and our colleagues in introducing needed reforms to stop ODNI from stumbling over bureaucratic red tape and return the agency to its original, lean form\u2014one solely focused on our nation\u2019s security, said Senator Budd.\u201d\n\n\u201cCreated after the September 11th attacks, ODNI was intended to be a lean organization to align America\u2019s intelligence resources and authorities, not the overstaffed and bureaucratic behemoth that it is today, where coordinators coordinate with other coordinators. These reforms will be vital to keeping our country safe from the wide range of threats that we continue to face,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nSenators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), and James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) are also cosponsoring the legislation.\n\nText of the Intelligence Community Efficiency and Effectiveness Act may be found here.\n\nThe Intelligence Community Efficiency and Effectiveness Act would:\n\nCap ODNI full-time staff at 650.\n\nEliminate certain reporting requirements and the transfer of personnel authorities.\n\nModify the National Intelligence Council\u2019s duties and terminate the National Intelligence Managers\u2019 positions.\n\nTerminate the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) at ODNI and transfer its responsibilities to the FBI.\n\nRedesignate the National Counterterrorism Center as the National Counterterrorism and Counternarcotics Center and limit its mission to foreign intelligence authorities.\n\nTerminate the National Counterproliferation and Biosecurity Center (NCBC) at ODNI, transfer NCBC\u2019s responsibilities to the CIA, and redesignate it as the National Counterproliferation Center.\n\nRepeal various positions (including the Director of the NCSC, the Director of the NCBC, and the Intelligence Community Chief Data Officer) and seven units, centers, councils, offices, and programs (including obsolete bureaucratic entities that have failed to function, such as the Joint Intelligence Community Council).\n\nProhibit National Intelligence Program funds from being used to outsource IC analytic efforts to organizations that take funds from foreign governments.\n\nRequire the DNI to wind down and terminate the National Intelligence University within 180 days.\n\nProhibit the use of National Intelligence Program funds to implement any diversity, equity, or inclusion practice in the intelligence community.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/06/26/budd-bill-would-prevent-key-aviation-safety-technology-from-being-improperly-used-to-charge-punish-pilots/", "Budd\u00a0Bill\u00a0Would Prevent Key Aviation Safety Technology from Being Improperly Used to Charge, Punish Pilots", "2025-06-26", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act limits the use of ADS-B data\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), joined by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), and Representative Bob Onder (R-Mo.-3), recently introduced the bicameral Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act to limit the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance\u2013Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and require greater transparency in how airports impose fees on general aviation aircraft.\n\n\u201cADS-B is a critical safety technology mandated by the FAA and is more accurate than radar. Abusing this technology to levy unfair, sometimes duplicative fees and threatening pilots with legal action will keep some general aviation pilots grounded, which is a loss for America\u2019s economy, emergency response, and the aviation community at large,\u201dsaid Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cMisusing vital safety technology like ADS-B for non-safety purposes, such as generating unwarranted fees or initiating inappropriate actions, jeopardizes pilot privacy and undermines the very foundation of this critical airspace system. Prioritizing the trust and participation of pilots is essential by ensuring ADS-B remains dedicated solely to its intended safety function,\u201d said Senator Sullivan.\n\n\u201cFlight safety technologies like ADS-B are vital for pilots to ensure safety on the ground and in the skies, but penalizing pilots for using this technology with arbitrary fees jeopardizes both pilot privacy and flight safety by incentivizing operators to avoid using this critical technology. As we enact reforms to keep American aviation the safest in the world, I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues on this commonsense legislation to increase transparency and make certain pilots across the country can focus solely on the safety of their aircraft and their passengers,\u201d said Senator Sheehy.\n\n\u201cAs a pilot with years of experience using ADS-B technology, I understand the game-changing impact it has had on aviation safety. By communicating an aircraft\u2019s identification, airspeed, heading and altitude, ADS-B has dramatically improved situational awareness for pilots, as well as the real-time data air traffic controllers need to keep pilots and passengers safe. Unfortunately, some third parties have taken advantage of this data to impose and collect exorbitant third-party landing fees and frivolous lawsuits targeted at general aviation pilots and travelers. These uses of data for purposes other than air traffic safety act as a deterrent for pilots to equip their aircraft with this potentially life-saving technology,\u201d said Representative Onder.\n\nBackground:\n\nWhile ADS-B is designed to be used as a safety technology, some airports have begun improperly using these systems to track aircraft for the purposes of assessing landing fees and collecting revenue from pilots. To avoid duplicative and unfairly assessed fees, aircraft owners, operators, and pilots may feel compelled to fly without ADS-B installed or active on their aircraft, increasing the risk of close calls and collisions. In addition, these fees are often assessed without justification or transparency, placing unreasonable financial burdens on pilots, flight students, charitable organizations, and small aviation businesses that rely on access to the national airspace.\n\nGeneral aviation plays a critical role in U.S. transportation, economic development, and emergency response. The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act protects the privacy and economic viability of the aviation community, ensuring the freedom to fly without undue surveillance or cost.\n\nSpecifically, this bill:\n\nProhibits government agencies and private actors from using ADS-B data to identify aircraft for the purpose of imposing fees or charges.\n\nClarifies that ADS-B data may only be used by air traffic controllers for air traffic safety, efficiency, or for other purposes approved by the Secretary of Transportation following public comment.\n\nEnsures that investigations cannot be initiated on the basis of ADS-B data.\n\nRequires public-use airports to disclose financial information and the projected impact before imposing new fees on general aviation, and requires that any such fees must be used exclusively for airside safety improvements.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/tillis-colleagues-lead-effort-to-strengthen-review-of-foreign-land-purchases-near-sensitive-u-s-military-sites", "Tillis, Colleagues Lead Effort to Strengthen Review of Foreign Land Purchases Near Sensitive U.S. Military Sites", "2025-06-24", "2025", "2025-06", "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) and 10 of his Republican Senate colleagues introduced the Protect Our Bases Act, legislation that strengthens national security by ensuring the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) can effectively review foreign land purchases near sensitive military, intelligence, and national laboratory sites.\n\n\u201cWe must address the growing threat from the Chinese Communist Party and other hostile regimes trying to get close to our most sensitive military and intelligence sites,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThe Protect Our Bases Act ensures the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has the most up-to-date information on key U.S. national security locations so dangerous land purchases can be blocked well before they become security risks.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nIn 2022, Fufeng Group, a Chinese company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, announced it would purchase land near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. CFIUS determined that it could not evaluate the transaction for national security risks because the Department of Defense had not listed the base as a sensitive site for national security purposes. Although the City of Grand Forks ultimately blocked the transaction, the incident demonstrated a significant flaw in the review process of foreign land purchases. CFIUS relies on its member agencies to provide updated information on sensitive military, intelligence, and national laboratory sites in order to properly assess the security risk of foreign investment in our country. If CFIUS member agencies do not appropriately update their site lists, CFIUS cannot ensure an accurate review.\n\nIn addition to requiring agencies represented on CFIUS to provide updated records of the military, intelligence, and national laboratory facilities that should be sensitive sites on an annual basis, the Protect Our Bases Act makes these records easier for CFIUS to use for national security reviews and requires CFIUS to submit an annual report to Congress certifying the completion of such reviews and the accuracy of its real estate listings.\n\nFull text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/06/23/budd-joins-tillis-colleagues-to-make-obstruction-of-public-roads-a-federal-crime/", "Budd Joins Tillis, Colleagues to Make Obstruction of Public Roads a Federal Crime", "2025-06-23", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Safe and Open Streets Act is a Direct Response to Radical Tactics Used by Anti-ICE Riots in L.A.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in introducing the Safe and Open Streets Act. The bill would make it a federal crime to purposely obstruct, delay, or affect commerce by blocking a public road or highway.\n\n\u201cProtestors who willfully block traffic pose a serious threat to public safety by impacting the flow of emergency vehicles and personnel. They can also significantly inconvenience Americans trying to get to and from work, school, or important personal business. The First Amendment protects the right to assemble and protest peacefully, but it does not permit such behavior. I\u2019m proud to join Sen. Tillis and our colleagues in ensuring America\u2019s streets are kept clear for everyone,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cThe emerging tactic of radical protestors blocking roads and stopping commerce is not only obnoxious to innocent commuters, but it\u2019s also dangerous and will eventually get people killed. It needs to be a crime throughout the country. I\u2019m proud to introduce the Safe and Open Streets Act so that radical activists who resort to these reckless and dangerous tactics are held accountable under the full weight of the law for endangering public safety,\u201d said Senator Tillis.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBackground\n\nThe Safe and Open Streets Act is in direct response to radical tactics of anti-ICE protestors who have intentionally blocked roads and highways across the country, including in Los Angeles, stranding drivers and compromising the free flow of commerce. The bill would penalize lawbreakers through fines or up to five years of imprisonment.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/in-response-to-l-a-riots-tillis-reintroduces-bill-to-make-blocking-public-roads-a-federal-crime", "In Response to L.A. Riots, Tillis Reintroduces Bill to Make Blocking Public Roads a Federal Crime", "2025-06-23", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) recently reintroduced the Safe and Open Streets Act, legislation that would make it a federal crime to purposely obstruct, delay, or affect commerce by blocking a public road or highway.\n\nThe Safe and Open Streets Act is in direct response to radical tactics of anti-ICE protestors who have intentionally blocked roads and highways across the country, including in Los Angeles, stranding drivers and compromising the free flow of commerce. The Safe and Open Streets Act would penalize lawbreakers through fines or up to five years of imprisonment.\n\n\u201cThe emerging tactic of radical protestors blocking roads and stopping commerce is not only obnoxious to innocent commuters, but it\u2019s also dangerous and will eventually get people killed. It needs to be a crime throughout the country,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the Safe and Open Streets Act so that radical activists who resort to these reckless and dangerous tactics are held accountable under the full weight of the law for endangering public safety.\u201d\n\n\u201cBlocking major roads to stop traffic flows is nothing short of lawlessness that should not be tolerated,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThese activists are not only intentionally creating a dangerous situation for themselves, but perhaps for a citizen who is awaiting an ambulance or a hard worker who will lose their job for being late. The Safe and Open Streets Act is critical to stopping this reckless behavior, particularly by Hamas sympathizers, in our U.S. cities.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor nearly a week, we watched as domestic terrorists assaulted ICE and law enforcement officers, set fire to cop cars, and blocked the streets of Los Angeles\u2014all while Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass sat on their tails and did nothing,\u201d said Senator Tuberville. \u201cThis is a prime example of what happens when lawlessness goes unpunished. The First Amendment gives us the right to freedom of assembly, but it doesn\u2019t give the right to block our streets and put American lives at risk. I\u2019m proud to join the Safe and Open Streets Act that penalizes and holds radical protestors accountable who put citizens in danger by purposely blocking our roadways.\u201d\n\n\u201cProtestors who willfully block traffic pose a serious threat to public safety by impacting the flow of emergency vehicles and personnel,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cThey can also significantly inconvenience Americans trying to get to and from work, school, or important personal business. The First Amendment protects the right to assemble and protest peacefully, but it does not permit such behavior. I'm proud to join Sen. Tillis and our colleagues in ensuring America's streets are kept clear for everyone.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn America, people have the right to peacefully gather and make their voices heard. They do not have the right to obstruct roads, riot, and undermine people\u2019s livelihoods,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy.\n\nFull text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/06/17/budd-joins-peters-colleagues-to-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-critical-drug-supply-chains-mitigate-shortages/", "Budd Joins Peters, Colleagues to Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Critical Drug Supply Chains & Mitigate Shortages", "2025-06-17", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C) joined Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in reintroducing the bipartisan Rolling Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug (RAPID) Reserve Act to help increase supply chain resiliency for critical generic drugs and their key ingredients by bolstering supply reserves and domestic production capacity through federal contracts. The RAPID Reserve Act would help reduce drug shortages, enhance preparedness, and mitigate national security threats from U.S. overreliance on China for critical medications and their key ingredients.\n\n\u201cFor far too long, America has faced a drug shortage that not only threatens patients\u2019 health but poses a national security risk by forcing us to rely on Communist China\u2019s supply chains for essential medications. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan RAPID Reserve Act to bring drug manufacturing back to the U.S., prioritize sufficient medication reserves, and support increased production in emergencies to reliably meet patient demand,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cEvery American should be able to get the medicine they need when they need it. Increasing domestic and reliable manufacturing capacity for our critical, lifesaving medications is essential to addressing drug shortages that can compromise patient care. This bipartisan bill will help ensure Americans receive the essential medications they need while strengthening our ability to respond to future public health crises,\u201d said Senator Peters.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBackground\n\nThe RAPID Reserve Act would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award contracts to quality manufacturers of critical generic drug products who are based in the United States or in a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in order to maintain reserves of critical medications and their key ingredients while building the capacity to surge production when needed. Through these contracts, which would prioritize domestic manufacturers, the RAPID Reserve Act would help strengthen vulnerable supply chains by ensuring that when there is a disruption in supply, manufacturers can draw on reserves and surge production to meet demand.\n\nSenators Budd, Peters, Blackburn, and Kaine have also sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting the agency examine underutilized domestic manufacturing capacity and federal efforts to invest in advanced manufacturing capabilities.\n\nThe RAPID Reserve Act is supported by the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA), and Phlow.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/tillis-coons-announce-new-bipartisan-support-for-legislation-to-restore-american-innovation", "Tillis, Coons Announce New Bipartisan Support for Legislation to Restore American Innovation", "2025-06-17", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chris Coons (D-DE) announced that Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) have joined the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) as cosponsors. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will restore patent eligibility to important inventions across many fields while also resolving legitimate concerns over the patenting of mere ideas, the mere discovery of what already exists in nature, and social and cultural content that everyone agrees is beyond the scope of the patent system. It also affirms the basic principle that the patent system is central to promoting technology-based innovation.\n\n\u201cIn recent years the Supreme Court has expanded judicial exceptions to such a degree that patent eligibility has gone from being a coarse filter to a fine one \u2013 resulting in U.S. inventors being unable to obtain patents in areas where our economic peers offer protections, such as for diagnostic medicine and for artificial intelligence,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cPatent eligibility is but one of four criteria that determines whether a patent application can be issued as a patent. PERA will expand the aperture of patent eligibility \u2013 it does not automatically render something patentable \u2013 and will ensure that the U.S. does not shut the door to innovations that is welcomed by the patent systems of our economic peers. We cannot allow the U.S. to fall behind on the global stage and I\u2019m glad to see more of my Senate colleagues recognize this pressing need.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen American innovators know their ideas are eligible for patent protection, they take the risks that push us into the future \u2013 whether that\u2019s the next groundbreaking medical test or the latest AI technology,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cPERA restores clarity to the law on what can be patented and what cannot \u2013 guidance that federal courts have been requesting for years and that the Supreme Court has refused to provide. I\u2019m excited to welcome my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to this bill. This is another step toward providing America\u2019s inventors with the stable legal foundation they need to produce the cutting-edge technologies that power our economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur patent system must fuel innovation and secure America\u2019s competitive edge over adversaries like Communist China,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe bipartisan Patent Eligibility Restoration Act would restore patent eligibility for important inventions across many critical fields to ensure America remains ahead of the curve when it comes to technological innovation.\u201d\n\n\u201cA series of Supreme Court decisions restricting patent eligibility have constricted American innovation,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThe Patent Eligibility Restoration Act will help clarify patent eligibility law, encouraging technological innovation to help ensure that our country does not fall behind on innovation. Importantly, this legislation only affects patent eligibility, it does nothing to affect the many other requirements for patentability.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nUnfortunately, due to a series of Supreme Court decisions, patent eligibility law in the United States has become confused, constricted, and unclear in recent years. This has resulted in a wide range of well-documented negative impacts \u2013 inconsistent case decisions, uncertainty in innovation and investment communities, and unpredictable business outcomes.\n\nAs of 2021, all 12 then-sitting judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit lamented the state of the law. Witnesses and stakeholders from a wide array of industries, fields, interest groups, and academia have testified and submitted comments confirming the uncertainty and detailing the detrimental effects of patent eligibility confusion in the United States. There is now widespread bipartisan agreement in Congress and across all recent Administrations that reforms are necessary to restore the United States to a position of global strength and leadership in key areas of technology and innovation, such as medical diagnostics, biotechnology, personalized medicine, artificial intelligence, 5G, and blockchain.\n\nThe Patent Eligibility Restoration Act achieves this critical goal by restoring patent eligibility to important inventions across many fields, while also resolving legitimate concerns over patenting of mere ideas, the mere discovery of what already exists in nature, and social and cultural content that everyone agrees is beyond the scope of the patent system, which is a system aimed at promoting technology-based innovation. As a general approach, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act maintains the existing statutory categories of eligible subject matter, which have worked well for over two centuries, but eliminates the overly malleable set of current judicial exceptions \u2013 replacing them with five specific, defined statutory exclusions. By eliminating and replacing the current judicial exceptions, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act provides predictable patent eligibility for important computer-implemented technological developments and medical advances, creating a solid bedrock for America\u2019s innovation future.\n\nFull text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/06/12/budd-blumenthal-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-award-macv-sog-elite-special-operations-units-with-congressional-gold-medal/", "Budd, Blumenthal Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Award MACV-SOG Elite Special Operations Units with Congressional Gold Medal", "2025-06-12", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Military Assistance Command Vietnam-Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG). The bill recognizes the service members of MACV-SOG, one of the most distinguished and elite special operations units in United States military history, for their achievements in conducting rescue missions for downed pilots, deep-penetration reconnaissance, sabotage, and direct-action missions against the North Vietnamese.\n\n\u201cMACV-SOG operators rank among the most elite special operations forces in U.S. military history. During the Vietnam War, they carried out highly classified, extraordinarily dangerous missions to combat communist insurgencies by obtaining vital intelligence for critical military operations, setting the gold standard for U.S. special operations. In North Carolina, there are fifty-nine living members of this unit, and many more across the country. Their devotion to duty deserves our deepest respect and recognition. I hope my colleagues will join Senator Blumenthal and I in our effort to honor these service members with a Congressional Gold Medal for their unparalleled bravery, sacrifice, and enduring contributions to our nation\u2019s security,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cThe servicemembers who were a part of MACV-SOG played a vital role in protecting and defending our great nation. Performing highly covert operations, facing incredible dangers, and gathering invaluable intelligence, members of MACV-SOG displayed a bravery and dedication to our country that is profoundly inspiring. Awarding these servicemembers a Congressional Gold Medal rightfully recognizes their great contributions to our nation and shines a light on the pivotal roles they played in our military history,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBackground\n\nMACV\u2013SOG was established in January 1964 as a dedicated joint military task force to conduct high-risk and special activities in the denied areas of North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.\n\nThese covert operations remained unacknowledged by military leadership and unknown to the United States public until their existence began to be declassified decades later. This secret war denied MACV\u2013SOG members their just recognition and deprived the families of deceased and wounded operators from knowing the full extent of the sacrifice of their loved ones to the United States.\n\nTo date, twelve MACV\u2013SOG operators have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/06/11/wyden-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-prevent-disastrous-wildfires/", "Budd, Wyden Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Disastrous Wildfires", "2025-06-11", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), alongside U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier (D-Wash.) and David Valadao (R-Calif.), introduced the bicameral, bipartisan National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 today. The legislation would support prescribed burns as an essential, cost-effective, science-based strategy to save lives and property, and address the harmful impacts of the recent wildfires across the nation.\n\nThe National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 would invest in hazardous fuels management to reduce the risk of blistering infernos by increasing the pace and scale of prescribed burns during cooler, wetter months. The legislation would grow a technically skilled prescribed fire workforce, provide new tools to aid smoke management, and prescribed fire permitting during winter months to reduce ruinous fires and smoke in the summer.\n\n\u201cFollowing the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, thousands of acres of North Carolina forest were left destroyed. Now, these downed trees and piles of leaves represent a serious wildfire risk. By enabling the Forest Service to better conduct controlled burns of unchecked vegetation and scattered debris, we can protect our forests from catastrophic wildfires that may occur in the hottest months of the year. I am proud to join my colleague, Sen. Wyden, in introducing this common-sense, proactive approach to preventing disastrous wildfires,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s no secret that rising temperatures and increased drought are leading to more and more wildfires, and firefighters are struggling to keep up as they put their lives on the line. We can no longer wait for disaster to strike before we address these fires destroying our neighborhoods and even taking people\u2019s lives. I have heard firsthand from Oregonians who are sick and tired of inaction while the West burns. Our bipartisan, bicameral bill will tackle wildfires head-on by focusing on prevention to get the West out of the cycle of crisis and devastation every wildfire season,\u201d said Senator Wyden.\n\n\u201cHere in Washington State, we experience devastating wildfires every year. That\u2019s why Congress must act now and address this issue. My bill, the National Prescribed Fire Act, expands the use of prescribed fire to lower the risk of catastrophic wildfires,\u201d said Rep. Schrier.\n\n\u201cIn California, we understand the dangerous impact of wildfires\u2014from damage to property to loss of life. By prescribing controlled burns to fire-adapted land in a safe and supervised way, we can limit dangerous fuel buildup and help reduce the threat of future wildfires. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in re-introducing this bipartisan bill to protect our communities from wildfire risk,\u201d said Rep. Valadao.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\nBackground\n\nIn 2024 alone, 8.9 million acres of land were burned by wildfires, one of the highest totals on record. As vegetation continues to grow, the Forest Service has been unable to address the current hazardous fuel backlog, which is exacerbated by the nation\u2019s hot and dry fire seasons.\n\nHurricane Helene resulted in 822,000 acres of downed timber and debris in North Carolina. As this debris dries out, it poses a significant risk of wildfire. According to the North Carolina Forest Service, there have been 4,193 wildfires burning more than 26,000 acres so far this year, on pace to dramatically exceed 2024\u2019s totals of 4,588 fires burning over 15,000 acres.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/tillis-op-ed-the-senate-s-one-big-beautiful-opportunity", "Tillis Op-Ed: The Senate\u2019s One Big, Beautiful Opportunity", "2025-06-11", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) published an op-ed in The Hill outlining the Senate\u2019s one big, beautiful opportunity to deliver tax relief and pass President Trump\u2019s agenda.\n\nRead the full op-ed HERE.\n\nSenator Tillis on Delivering President Trump\u2019s Campaign Promises:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump ran \u2014 and won \u2014 on a bold promise: supercharge America\u2019s economy and restore strength at home and abroad. Now the Senate is on the verge of helping him fulfill that commitment with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Getting the bill through the House was a Herculean effort in itself, given the Republicans\u2019 thin majority. That required many compromises to be made. While there is a lot of good in the House version of the bill, some big improvements still need to be made. That is what the Senate is currently working on.\u201d\n\nSenator Tillis on Democrats Opposition to the One Big, Beautiful Bill:\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t buy the spin of Democrats who oppose this bill and falsely give the impression that it\u2019s just tax cuts for billionaires. Instead, look at the numbers. By voting against this bill, Democrats are voting to double the federal taxes on every married couple with two kids making $80,000 a year, from roughly $1,400 in taxes owed to more than $3,000. By voting against this bill, Democrats are voting to force single parents with two kids making $40,000 a year to go from getting a net tax credit to owing nearly $1,500 in taxes. By voting against this bill, Democrats are also betraying tens of millions of small businesses. They\u2019ll be voting to triple the income tax bill for married small business owners with three kids and a net income of $180,000. They will also be voting against the most ambitious welfare reform in a generation.\u201d\n\nSenator Tillis on Improvements to the One, Big Beautiful Bill:\n\n\u201cDespite a lot of good, there are some big areas in need of improvement. First, the Senate needs to find additional spending cuts and savings. While the House version saves taxpayers $1.6 trillion in spending, we need to push further for fiscal restraint. This will be easier said than done, as the reconciliation process that allows Congress to pass major tax legislation with a simple majority vote has major restrictions on what and where the Senate can cut. A prime target is the House\u2019s inexplicable decision to quadruple the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, which wealthy taxpayers in high-tax blue states utilize. While I understand why lawmakers from California and New York want to increase the SALT deduction, it\u2019s not the responsibility of federal taxpayers to subsidize state tax bills. The SALT increase overwhelmingly benefits the wealthiest of taxpayers and carries a significant price tag of $320 billion. The Senate needs to fix this and unlock additional cost savings to help working families, not coastal elites.\u201d\n\nSenator Tillis on the Senate\u2019s Work Moving Forward:\n\n\u201cMoving forward, each Republican senator will have input, and each provision should be scrutinized. My simple request to all my Republican colleagues in both chambers is: do not let the perfect become the enemy of the good. We have narrow majorities in both the House and Senate and cannot waste the historic opportunity we have to deliver tax relief and pass Trump\u2019s agenda. Whether it takes the next few weeks or the next few months, let\u2019s do the hard work to find common ground, get the job done, and put the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on Trump\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/tillis-leads-efforts-to-protect-patients-from-counterfeit-glp-1-medications", "Tillis Leads Efforts to Protect Patients from Counterfeit GLP-1 Medications", "2025-06-10", "2025", "2025-06", "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) recently sent a letter to Attorney General Bondi, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Noem, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Makary expressing concerns over the growing public health threat posed by counterfeit and illegally imported GLP-1 receptor agonist medications.\n\n\u201cFDA-approved GLP-1 therapies such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound have revolutionized the treatment of obesity and Type 2 diabetes for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, the success of and demand for these therapies have also attracted the attention of criminal enterprises seeking to exploit vulnerable patients. Counterfeiters have introduced falsified products into the U.S. market, including counterfeit Ozempic pens bearing fraudulent lot and serial numbers, non-sterile needles, and misleading labeling. These products have even infiltrated legitimate distribution channels, putting patients at risk of receiving contaminated, ineffective, or unsafe medications,\u201d the senator wrote.\n\n\u201cIn addition to these finished counterfeits, a recent report from the Partnership for Safe Medicines details a disturbing pattern of illegal importation of unverified semaglutide and tirzepatide APIs from unregistered foreign suppliers, particularly from China. Between 2023 and 2025, 239 shipments of these unapproved APIs were identified, with more than 80% allowed to enter the United States. Shockingly, many shipments were misrepresented as originating from entities such as hotels, fitness centers, and public schools, which raises significant concerns about the legitimacy of these supply chains. It is my understanding that some domestic compounders may have used these APIs during a period when the drugs were in shortage. However, federal regulations require that ingredients be sourced only from FDA-registered manufacturers to ensure compliance with quality and safety standards. With drug shortage resolved, compounding of GLP-1s is now considered unlawful, unless a prescriber determines that a commercially available product cannot meet the specific needs of an individual patient,\u201d the senator continued.\n\n\u201cTo that end, I encourage the FDA to expand public and provider education about the dangers of counterfeit and illegally imported GLP-1 products, while also prioritizing enforcement efforts to hold accountable those responsible for introducing these unsafe products into the supply chain. Strengthened collaboration between the FDA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Justice is essential to prevent these illicit products from reaching patients in the first place. Equally important is providing clear guidance to health care providers and pharmacies to ensure that all medications are sourced exclusively from FDA-registered manufacturers. Finally, the FDA can help restore public confidence by improving transparency around its enforcement actions and ensuring these efforts are clearly communicated to the public,\u201d the senator concluded.\n\nFull text of the letter is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/tillis-shaheen-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-establish-senate-nato-observer-group", "Tillis, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Establish Senate NATO Observer Group", "2025-06-10", "2025", "2025-06", "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) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group (SNOG), recently introduced bipartisan legislation to establish the Senate NATO Observer Group as a new body within the Senate dedicated to addressing and advising on matters related to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This initiative underscores the Senators' commitment to strengthening the vital transatlantic alliance and ensuring robust Congressional oversight and engagement on NATO-related issues.\n\nThe Senate NATO Observer Group will serve as a crucial forum for addressing NATO matters that span the jurisdictions of multiple Senate committees. Its core functions will include advising the Senate on issues related to NATO, particularly concerning NATO enlargement. The group will also facilitate close interactions between the executive branch, the Senate, NATO, member countries, and candidate countries during negotiations on NATO enlargement.\n\n\u201cAs the global landscape continues to evolve, the importance of NATO to American security and global stability cannot be overstated,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cEstablishing the Senate NATO Observer Group will enhance our ability to proactively engage with our allies, address challenges, and ensure that the U.S. remains a strong and reliable partner within the alliance.\u201d\n\n\u201cNow more than ever, it's imperative that the United States work closely with NATO to respond to global threats, including Russia\u2019s unprovoked war in Ukraine,\u201d said Senator Shaheen. \u201cThis legislation to make the Senate NATO Observer Group permanent will enshrine bipartisan focus and support for NATO within the Senate. I am pleased to support this effort and make the Senate NATO Observer Group a permanent convener for conversation between the Senate and NATO Allies to strengthen transatlantic bonds.\u201d\n\nSenators Tillis and Shaheen re-established the Senate NATO Observer Group in 2018 and have led bipartisan efforts in the Senate in support of the transatlantic Alliance. The group aims to monitor various aspects of the NATO alliance, including defense spending, military capabilities, counter-terrorism efforts, enlargement, and the ability to address unconventional warfare threats.\n\nDuring the 119th Congress, the Senate NATO Observer Group will operate as established by the Majority and Minority Leaders in the Congressional Record. This bipartisan legislation would require that, beginning with the 120th Congress, the Majority and Minority Leaders will each appoint no more than seven Senators to the Group within 60 days of the first session convening. Each leader will also appoint one co-chairperson from their respective appointees.\n\nThe bill also authorizes co-chairs and one designated staff member to engage in foreign travel for official purposes, provided such travel is authorized by the other co-chair. The Office of Interparliamentary Services of the Senate will provide administrative support and protocol functions to the Group.\n\nThe Senate NATO Observer Group will be required to submit an annual report to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate and the Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. This report will detail the Group's activities during the preceding fiscal year, including travel, legislative efforts, and public diplomacy initiatives.\n\nRead the bill HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/06/06/budd-nehls-applaud-president-trumps-push-to-legalize-supersonic-flight/", "Budd, Nehls Applaud President Trump\u2019s Push to Legalize Supersonic Flight", "2025-06-06", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Representative Troy Nehls (R-Texas-22), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today celebrated the news that President Trump issued a transformative executive order to repeal the prohibition on overland supersonic flight, establish an interim noise-based certification standard, and repeal other regulations that hinder supersonic flight.\n\nThe executive order follows Senator Budd and Representative Nehls\u2019 introduction of the Supersonic Aviation Modernization (SAM) Act, which would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator to issue regulations to legalize civil supersonic flight in the United States. President Trump\u2019s executive order directly aligns with the goals of this legislation.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s swift leadership to unleash supersonic flight will boost America\u2019s ability to compete with China in the race for next-generation aircraft and revolutionize commercial air travel. For too long, outdated restrictions on civil supersonic flight have stifled innovation. I am grateful that President Trump has leaned in to legalize this vital technology in the United States and promote international engagement for international operations. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Washington, like my friend Rep. Nehls, to advance policies that unleash cutting-edge technologies like supersonic aviation,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cPresident Donald J. Trump\u2019s executive order promoting supersonic aviation in the United States is a crucial step in ensuring we remain competitive in the aviation industry against our foreign adversaries. Congress must pass the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, which I introduced alongside Senator Ted Budd, to codify President Trump\u2019s actions immediately so we can ensure that out-of-touch FAA policies don\u2019t hinder the Golden Age of American air travel,\u201d said Representative Nehls.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nFor the past fifty-two years, the United States has had a speed limit in the sky. 14 CFR \u00a7 91.817, enacted in 1973, dictates that no person may operate a civil aircraft in the United States at a true flight Mach number greater than 1. This rule prohibits non-military related supersonic flight over the United States, setting an artificial speed limit in the national airspace.\n\nAmerican companies, like Boom Supersonic, have developed quiet supersonic technologies and have already demonstrated that their aircraft can operate above Mach 1 without a sonic boom reaching the ground.\n\nThis is due to a well-known phenomenon called Mach cutoff, in which a sonic boom refracts in the atmosphere and never reaches the ground.\n\nDespite these innovations, FAA regulations continue to restrict supersonic operations.\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s executive order will permit operators to fly aircraft at supersonic speeds within the National Airspace System if no sonic boom reaches the ground, the intended outcome of the SAM Act.\n\nThe SAM Act was cosponsored by Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.). Representative Sharice Davids (D-Kan.-3) joined Representative Nehls in introducing the bill in the House.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/tillis-introduces-legislation-to-replenish-disaster-relief-fund-as-north-carolina-prepares-for-hurricane-season", "Tillis Introduces Legislation to Replenish Disaster Relief Fund As North Carolina Prepares For Hurricane Season", "2025-06-06", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 With hurricane season officially underway, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has introduced legislation to replenish the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to ensure FEMA has the financial resources it needs to respond to natural disasters in the months ahead.\n\nTillis\u2019 legislation would provide $25 billion for the DRF, which would fulfill President Trump\u2019s historic DRF funding request for Congress. Since last year, North Carolina has received roughly $4.45 billion from the DRF to respond and recover from Helene.\n\n\u201cWith Western North Carolina still recovering from Helene and an above-normal hurricane season expected this year, we have to ensure that FEMA has the constant flow of resources it needs to help states respond to natural disasters,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cCongress shouldn\u2019t wait until the last minute, and I\u2019m proud to lead the effort to replenish the DRF and ensure that President Trump\u2019s request is fulfilled so FEMA can focus on its critical mission of helping states and local communities respond to emergencies.\u201d\n\nRead the bill HERE.\n\nBackground:\n\nSenator Tillis has been pushing for federal assistance for Western North Carolina since the moment Helene made landfall.\n\nOn October 1, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter to Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) on the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and the urgent need to pass an appropriations package to support the millions of Americans affected by the storm.\n\nOn October 16, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan group of senators in urging the White House to rapidly submit a government funding request to Congress that will fully cover costs associated with clean-up and recovery following Hurricanes Helene and Milton so that affected communities could begin to heal. The Senators called for Congress to return to Washington from the October in-state work period to approve federal disaster relief legislation.\n\nOn October 23, 2024, The Hill published an op-ed by Senator Tillis addressed to members of Congress to step up and be proactive with long-term disaster recovery assistance.\n\nOn October 29, 2024, Senator Tillis and his colleagues announced plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program with families and small businesses across WNC unable to get loans approved until then. The Senators outlined their plan to seek passage of the legislation when Congress returned to session.\n\nOn November 14, 2024, Senator Tillis attempted to pass legislation to replenish the SBA Disaster Loan Program through a unanimous consent request on the Senate floor, but was blocked by another Senator.\n\nOn November 15, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) immediately send a supplemental appropriation request to Congress to support the communities we represent, which were devastated after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The OMB sent the request to Congress a few days later.\n\nOn November 18, 2024, Senator Tillis introduced the standalone RELIEF Act to provide Hurricane relief to small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene.\n\nOn November 20, 2024, Senator Tillis called on Congress to quickly pass Hurricane Helene relief during his testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee.\n\nOn November 21, 2024, Senator Tillis met with Governor Cooper, Governor-Elect Stein, members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation and the North Carolina General Assembly, and local leaders from Western North Carolina to discuss efforts to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.\n\nOn December 5, 2024, Senator Tillis joined Fox News\u2019 Your World with Neil Cavuto where he discussed the urgent need for Congress to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.\n\nOn December 10, 2024, Senator Tillis hosted N.C. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, N.C. House of Representatives Speaker-elect Destin Hall, State Senators Bill Rabon and Ralph Hise, and State Representative Dudley Greene to discuss efforts to provide immediate assistance to North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene\u2019s devastation.\n\nOn December 18, 2024, Senator Tillis committed to filibustering any continuing resolution that did not include disaster aid for Western North Carolina.\n\nOn December 21, 2024, Senator Tillis voted to pass a bipartisan government funding bill that included more than $100 billion in disaster relief for states and communities hit by natural disasters, including North Carolina during Hurricane Helene.\n\nOn January 7, 2025 Senator Tillis announced $1.65 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to help rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.\n\nOn January 24, 2025, Senator Tillis released a statement thanking President Trump for his visit to Western North Carolina to survey the devastation left behind by Helene.\n\nOn January 31, 2025, Senator Tillis introduced the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025, legislation that excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, any qualified catastrophe mitigation payment made under a state-based catastrophe loss mitigation program.\n\nOn March 11, 2025, Senator Tillis reintroduced the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act, bipartisan legislation to simplify the application process for federal disaster recovery assistance.\n\nOn April 1, 2025, Senator Tillis sent a letter urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to work with Congress to quickly distribute the more than $23 billion Congress passed in December to assist farmers, ranchers and rural Americans in responding to devastating natural disasters in 2023 and 2024.\n\nOn April 3, 2025, Senator Tillis (R-NC) introduced the FEMA Independence Act, bipartisan legislation to restore the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent cabinet-level agency and improve efficiency in federal emergency response efforts.\n\nOn April 24, 2025, Senator Tillis introduced the Helene Recovery Small Business Act and the Loans in Our Neighborhoods (LIONs) Act of 2025, legislation that would provide much-needed relief to small businesses as they work to recover from the devastation of Helene.\n\nOn June 4, 2025, Senator Tillis announced he helped secure approximately $1.45 billion in federal funding for disaster-impacted communities, including those in Western North Carolina affected by Helene.\n\nIn addition to Senator Tillis\u2019 legislative efforts the Senator has met with local leaders, residents, and elected officials across Western North Carolina including in: Asheville, Black Mountain, Boone, Burnsville, Canton, Clyde, Fairview, Flat Rock, Hendersonville, Hot Springs, Marshall, Morganton, Spruce Pine, Swannanoa, Waynesville and Wilkesboro.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/wsj-editorial-highlights-tillis-bill-to-end-predatory-litigation-funding-practices", "WSJ Editorial Highlights Tillis Bill to End Predatory Litigation Funding Practices", "2025-06-05", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal published an editorial supporting the Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act, legislation introduced by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) which would impose a new tax on profits earned by third-party entities that finance civil litigation and curb predatory practices in the litigation funding industry.\n\nRead the full op-ed here or below.\n\nEnding a Tax Break for Lawsuits\n\nWSJ\n\nJune 4, 2025\n\nWhy are foreign investment funds that finance predatory lawsuits against U.S. companies allowed to dodge taxes on their legal payouts? Good question, and now North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern are seeking to close this anti-growth loophole.\n\nThird-party litigation financing has exploded in recent years as private investment funds chase high returns goosed by America\u2019s tort-friendly legal system. Investors give law firms money to recruit plaintiffs and file often meritless lawsuits against companies in return for a share of the eventual settlement or judgment.\n\nAnnual returns average about 25% thanks to jackpot jury verdicts, which also create an incentive for businesses to settle claims early to avoid costly, drawn-out litigation. In 2023, 39 investors had committed some $15.2 billion in capital to U.S. commercial litigation, according to the litigation finance advisory firm Westfleet Advisors.\n\nInvestment funds such as Fortress Investment Group have financed major mass torts, including Roundup fertilizer claims against Bayer AG and talc litigation against Johnson & Johnson. Fortress, which is majority owned by an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, has also harassed Apple and Intel with dubious patent lawsuits.\n\nThird-party financing arrangements with law firms are typically not required to be disclosed, so foreign investors could be funding lawsuits with the goal of harming U.S. businesses that may be competitors. Bloomberg Law last year detailed how Russian oligarchs had dodged sanctions by funding lawsuits in the U.S.\n\nHere\u2019s the kicker: Foreign investors in U.S. litigation don\u2019t have to pay tax on lawsuit proceeds because the tax code exempts foreigners from paying U.S. capital-gains tax, and their legal payouts are treated as capital gains. American litigation funders pay tax at the capital gains rate (23.8%), while the actual plaintiffs in lawsuits pay at the ordinary income rate.\n\nThe preferential tax treatment for funders, especially foreigners, is an incentive to plow money into lawsuits rather than business investment that creates jobs, boosts productivity and improves living standards. Lawsuits do the opposite. Costs of defending against litigation get passed along to workers, consumers and shareholders.\n\nEnter Messrs. Tillis and Hern, who are seeking to add a provision to the current tax bill that would require U.S. and foreign litigation funders to pay tax on their earnings at the ordinary income rate (typically 37%), plus a 3.8% surcharge. This could discourage excessive litigation, which the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says costs U.S. households some $4,200 each in 2022.\n\nWill Hild of the right-leaning outfit Consumers\u2019 Research recently tweeted that the Tillis-Hern provision would \u201crob everyday Americans of a fundamental tool in fighting back\u201d against \u201clarge, woke corporations.\u201d This is a giant red herring. The provision wouldn\u2019t ban third-party funding lawsuits. It would merely eliminate a tax break for them.\n\nExcessive litigation is a tax on everyday Americans, which is why Republican Governors like Georgia\u2019s Brian Kemp and Florida\u2019s Ron DeSantis have championed tort reform. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt last week signed legislation that will ban lawsuit funding from entities controlled by foreign adversaries and cap non-economic damages in personal injury suits at $500,000.\n\nThe plaintiffs lobby has the Senate votes to block national tort reform with a 60-vote filibuster. But Republicans only need 51 votes in their reconciliation bill to ensure that the tax code doesn\u2019t give the Abu Dhabi wealth fund a tax break for funding lawsuits that harm America.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 208, "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": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 208, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC&year=2025&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 208, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NC&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "NC", "label": "NC", "count": 208, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 208, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2025-06-05,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Etillis~2Esenate~2Egov~2F2025~2F6~2Fwsj-editorial-highlights-tillis-bill-to-end-predatory-litigation-funding-practices", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=NC&year=2025&_next=2025-06-05%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Etillis~2Esenate~2Egov~2F2025~2F6~2Fwsj-editorial-highlights-tillis-bill-to-end-predatory-litigation-funding-practices&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 260.9380311332643, "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"}